The central role of inflammatory processes in labour and delivery is now well-recognised.
However, the biomolecular, immunological and endocrine mechanisms involved in the
labour process, and the clinical manifestations of inflammation in pregnancy, are complex,
variable and modulated by factors such as aetiology, ethnicity and gestational age. In this
review, evidence is presented of the pivotal relationship between progesterone and
inflammation in pregnancy in terms of determining the timing of labour and delivery. The …