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Chapter 16 - Hormones and Multiple Pregnancy

from Section II - Hormones and Gestational Disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2022

By
Viola Seravalli ,
Noemi Strambi  and
Mariarosaria Di Tommaso
Edited by
Felice Petraglia ,
Mariarosaria Di Tommaso  and
Federico Mecacci
Felice Petraglia
Affiliation:
Università degli Studi, Florence
Mariarosaria Di Tommaso
Affiliation:
Università degli Studi, Florence
Federico Mecacci
Affiliation:
Università degli Studi, Florence
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Summary

In multiple gestations, an increased fetal-placental mass is believed to be responsible for higher maternal levels of placental hormones, such as human chorionic gonadotropin, estrogens, progesterone, and others, compared to singleton gestations. While some of these differences may confer an advantage to twins in terms of chance of survival in early pregnancy, on the other hand they can increase the risk of developing pathological conditions in pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes and obstetric cholestasis, which seem to occur more frequently in multiple than in singleton gestations.

Twin pregnancies have an increased risk of pre-term delivery compared to singleton gestations, and the reason for this is not completely understood. Differences in placental hormone profiles and in the degree of uterine stretch might explain this effect. Furthermore, the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in pre-term delivery may require different preventive and therapeutic strategies compared to singleton pregnancies.

Type
Chapter
Information
Hormones and Pregnancy
Basic Science and Clinical Implications
 , pp. 183 - 188
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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References

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