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Hormones Helping Women Prevent Postpartum Cigarette Smoking and Reduce Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Infants and Children

Trial Status: active

This phase IV trial evaluates whether modifying hormones (progesterone) levels improves quitting smoking (cessation) and prevents a return to smoking (relapse) in women after pregnancy (postpartum). Pregnancy provides a strong motivation for many women to quit or want to quit cigarette smoking for their health and the health of their families. However, up to 90% of women who are able to quit smoking during pregnancy relapse within 12 months of delivery. In addition to the health consequences for new mothers, cigarette smoke exposure has health consequences for children, including increased risk of developing health and behavioral problems. Unfortunately, effective postpartum relapse interventions are lacking. Progesterone is a naturally occurring hormone that increases during pregnancy, and then drops after childbirth. Higher levels of progesterone seem to help some women quit smoking and stay quit. Increasing progesterone levels with supplementation may help pregnant women quit smoking and remain smoke-free after delivery.