The biological mechanism responsible for the association between alcohol use and preterm birth complications may be explained in terms of an enhanced prostaglandin level among drinkers, because a rise in prostaglandin level can cause preterm birth [210]. Progesterone hormone has been shown to suppress prostaglandin production [211-213], which is an important regulator of prostaglandin synthesis during parturition. Heavy alcohol exposure decreases the progesterone synthesis and level [214;215], hence resulting in failure to control the prostaglandin level and eventually leading to the onset of the physiological events associated with parturition [210;216].
