A meta analysis of individual patient data published November 17 2017 in the American Journal of Obstetrics Gynecology shows that use of vagina progesterone reduces the risk of preterm birth neonatal complications and infant death in pregnant women with a short cervix. Progesterone also significantly decreased the rate of respiratory distress syndrome neonatal death low birthweight and admission to neonatal intensive care units for newborns with no deleterious effects on childhood neurodevelopment.