Since the late 1970s empirical reports show maternal psychosocial distress as a significant predictor of spontaneous preterm birth even after data were adjusted for biological risk factors.

Although little research has been conducted on women with histories of childhood sexual abuse, itʼs known that injuries resulting from physical abuse are associated with both low birth weight and preterm birth.

The story of a 66 years old woman is an emblematic demonstration of this. She had two children by cesarean cut, even if she have ever had any sexuale intercourses with her husband because of her severe vaginism. During both her pregnancies she had preterm contractions that led to preterm deliveries: one of the baby didn’t survive because of his severe prematurity, the other one born at 31 weeks.

She came to our attention for an ultrasound check. She had always refused any gynecologic visit, but now in her oldness she felt it was not too late to better her life. She told us she was abused by her father during all her childhood, but since now she have never been able to tell anyone the truth.

Sexual abuse is a worldwide problem, and itʼs increasingly recognized as a potentially modifiable risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes.

A comparison of the long-therm consequences of sexual abuse will provide perspective on the need for future research, prevention activities, and treatment of survivors.