Twin pregnancy breakthrough? study tests simple devices to stop early labor

NCT ID NCT02518594

Completed Prevention Sponsor: The George Washington University Biostatistics Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This large phase 3 trial tested whether a vaginal progesterone capsule or a silicone pessary (a supportive device) could prevent early preterm birth in women carrying twins who have a short cervix. Over 1,300 participants were randomly assigned to receive one of these treatments or a placebo from around 16 to 35 weeks of pregnancy. The goal was to see if either intervention could reduce the number of deliveries or fetal losses before 35 weeks.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Vaginal progesterone (Prometrium) and Arabin Pessary
What this could lead to: If effective, this could provide a simple, low-cost way to reduce preterm births in twin pregnancies with a short cervix, improving outcomes for babies.
What could go wrong: This trial is completed but results may not show a clear benefit over placebo. The interventions may not work for all twin pregnancies, and individual risks like infection or discomfort exist.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

SHORT CERVICAL LENGTH

Contacts and locations

Locations

Baylor College of Medicine

Houston, Texas, United States
Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island, 02905, United States
Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, Ohio, 44109, United States
Columbia University

New York, New York, 10032, United States
Duke University

Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
Magee Women's Hospital

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
Northwestern University-Prentice Hospital

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
Ohio State University

Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco

San Francisco, California, United States
University of Alabama - Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, 35294, United States
University of Colorado

Denver, Colorado, 80045, United States
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States
University of Texas - Galveston

Galveston, Texas, 77555, United States
University of Texas - Houston

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
University of Utah Medical Center

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84132, United States