Abstract: Premature birth is considered the main cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality，remains a complex medial and social problem. Obstetric scholars have done a lot of researches on many aspects to predict and prevent preterm birth. Current surveys and collected evidences find predicted factors including fetal fibronectin（fFN），insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1（IGFBP-1），serum relaxin（SRLX） and multiple proteins in maternal serum，amniotic fluid and cervical secretions to predict preterm labour. The usage of tocolysis decreases the odds of delivery within 48 hours，but has not consistently been shown to improve neonatal and perinatal outcomes. A delay of delivery for 48 hours allows for corticosteroid administration or maternal transfer. Adrenergic beta-agonists，calcium channel blockers，magnesium sulfate，oxytocin antagonists，progesterone and cyclooxygenase inhibitors may provide alternative choices for the treatment of preterm. The author reviewed the progress in prediction and therapeutics of preterm to assess the predicted factors and available tocolytic agents in clinical applications.

Key words: Premature birth, Risk factors, Magnesium sulfate, Adrenergic beta-agonists