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Preterm labour — DRCOG MCQ

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HardLabourPreterm labourDRCOG

A 27-year-old woman at 33+4 weeks has painful regular contractions and pelvic pressure. The cervix is 2 cm dilated on speculum examination and membranes are intact. There is no fever or bleeding. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: C — Preterm labour

Regular painful contractions with cervical dilatation before 37 weeks is preterm labour. Braxton Hicks contractions do not cause progressive cervical change. The teaching point is that cervical change is the key discriminator between threatened symptoms and established preterm labour.

Reference: NICE NG25; NICE NG235