Prenatal progesterone. I. Its effect on development and on intellectual and academic achievement.

The development of two groups of children whose mothers had been given progesterone supplements during pregnancy to relieve symptoms of toxaemia was assessed, one group at 2 yr of age and the other at 16 yr of age. There was no evidence that progesterone supplements accelerated development in the 2-yr-old age group or enhanced intellectual and academic attainment in the 16-yr-old age group. In addition, the evidence regarding the reported beneficial effects on intellectual attainment of in utero exposure to excess sex steroids is discussed.