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The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of risky sexual activities among adolescents within the context of other behavioural factors that contribute to compromised health outcomes, for both sexes, those who initiated sexual activity at an early age were more likely to engage in a variety of significant risks behaviours factor. Possibility engaging in sexual activity is associated with age, low academic performance, substance abuse, violence, depression, and suicidal tendencies. The more regular occurrence of these risk factors, the higher the chances of engaging in sexual activity. The aim of various examining is to find efforts on how specific ways of conceptualizing to reduce multiple risk factors and to determine how adolescents’ views on reproductive issues influence may develop sexual initiation and patterns of behaviour in sexual activity over the time. KEYWORD: Adolescent, Healthy, Sexual Activity, Therapy, Emotional, Multiple Risk

The study examines how doctors in interwar Czechoslovakia intervened in reproductive issues and related areas of life in an attempt to combat the declining birthrate, a trend that was considered a threat to society. Inspired by Foucault’s concept of medicalization and biopower, through the analysis of medical literature and articles from the press in the interwar period, I will demonstrate how Czechoslovak doctors, not only but especially under the influence of eugenics, foregrounded the categories of health and sickness in order to assert definitions of “correct” forms of reproduction while attempting to stigmatize and discourage forms of reproduction that they considered detrimental to the health of society or the nation. The aim of the study is not only to expand the body of knowledge about the activities and attitudes of Czechoslovak doctors in the interwar period but also to call attention to the still current topic of the political background of reproductive policy Studie zkoumá, jak lékaři v meziválečném Československu zasahovali do oblasti reprodukce a souvisejících oblastí, ve snaze bojovat s klesající porodností, tedy trendem, který byl považován za jednu z hrozeb tehdejší společnosti. Inspirována Foucaultovými koncepty medikalizace a biomoc, se prostřednictvím analýzy lékařské literatury a tisku z meziválečného období, pokusím ukázat, jak českoslovenští lékaři (nejen, ale především) pod vlivem eugeniky, usilovali o prosazení „správných“ forem reprodukce a stigmatizaci a těch forem reprodukce, které považovali za škodlivé zdraví společnosti nebo národa, a to prostřednictvím zdůrazňování kategorie zdraví a nemoci. Cílem studia není pouze rozšíření znalostí o činnosti a postojích československých lékařů v meziválečném období, ale také upozornit na stále aktuální téma politického pozadí reprodukční politiky.

A pesquisa tem como objetivo correlacionar com os padrões de autoestima e fatores associados em gestantes de alto risco em uma maternidade de referência na cidade do Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, transversal, com abordagem quantitativa. A população amostral incluiu 112 mulheres, gestantes, adultas. Na coleta de dados foi utilizado um formulário adaptado da versão no Brasil da Escala de Autoestima de Rosenberg (EAR), acrescido de questões socioeconômicas, obstétricas e reprodutivas. Observou-se que escolaridade foi í única variável com associação significativa com autoestima (p < 0,05) e para a referida variável se destaca que o percentual com autoestima insatisfatória reduziu com o grau de escolaridade, sendo 96,0% entre as que tinham até fundamental incompleto, 75,0% entre as que ensino fundamental e 61,0% entre as que tinham ensino médio/superior. Reconhece-se que as maternidades funcionam muitas vezes como porta de acesso para identificação e acolhimento dessas gestantes sendo necessária a atualização/capacitação dos profissionais de saúde para o atendimento adequado e direcionado, uma vez que poucas mulheres têm acesso í avaliação de seu estado emocional durante a gestação.

The concern about the offspring’s health is one of the reasons for a reduced family size of women with rheumatic diseases (RD). Increased risk of autoimmune diseases (AD) and neurodevelopmental disorders (ND) has been reported in children born to patients with RD. Within a nationwide survey about reproductive issues of women with RD, we aimed at exploring the long-term outcome of their children. By surveying 398 patients who received their diagnosis of RD during childbearing age (before the age of 45), information about the offspring were obtained from 230 women who declared to have had children. A total of 148 (64.3%) patients were affected by connective tissue diseases (CTD) and 82 (35.7%) by chronic arthritis. Data on 299 children (156 males, 52.1%; mean age at the time of interview 17.1 ± 9.7 years) were collected. Twelve children (4.0%), who were born to patients with CTD in 75% of the cases, were affected by AD (8 cases of celiac disease). Eleven children had a certified diagnosis of ND (3.6%; 6 cases of learning disabilities); 9 of them were born to mothers with CTD (5 after maternal diagnosis). No association was found between ND and prenatal exposure to either maternal autoantibodies or anti-rheumatic drugs. Absolute numbers of offspring affected by AD and ND were low in a multicentre cohort of Italian women with RD. This information can be helpful for the counselling about reproductive issues, as the health outcomes of the offspring might not be an issue which discourage women with RD from having children.

This thesis explores attitudes towards different forms of reproductive rights in Europe, both variation in such attitudes and what factors can help us explain this variation. The gender and politics literature has begun disaggregating women’s issues into sub- categories. Due to the varied nature of the reproductive issues, I argue needs this important sub-category needs to be disaggregated further. One important reproductive issue is abortion, and the relevant factors for explaining variation in individual attitudes are well-established. In comparison, much less is known about what explains variation in attitudes toward assisted reproductive technology (ART), which is an emerging issue in the field of reproductive rights. Drawing on explanations identified for abortion attitudes, I rely on party explanations and cultural and religious explanations to explain individual attitudes towards ART. Employing the most comprehensive survey data available (European Values Study), I test what country-level explanations account for variation in aggregated attitudes toward assisted insemination (AI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) compared to abortion in Europe. I find that political orientation has a relatively little explanatory power for AI/IVF and abortion attitudes, while religiosity is a substantial predictor of negative attitudes towards AI/IVF and abortion. I draw on data from the EVS as well as the Norwegian National Election Study (NNES), which includes variables on both surrogacy and abortion attitudes, to disaggregate attitudes towards reproductive rights further. The results suggest Christian Democratic Party support and religiosity are strong predictors of negative attitudes toward AI/IVF, surrogacy and abortion. My findings point to the importance of disaggregating the sub-category of reproductive issues even further, as the explanatory power of political orientation and religiosity differ between AI/IVF and abortion attitudes, as well as AI/IVF and surrogacy attitudes.

Tissue engineering is an innovative approach to develop allogeneic tissues and organs. The uterus is a very sensitive and complex organ, which requires refined techniques to properly regenerate and even, to rebuild itself. Many therapies were developed in 20th century to solve reproductive issues related to uterus failure and, more recently, tissue engineering techniques provided a significant evolution in this issue. Herein we aim to provide a broad overview and highlights of the general concepts involved in bioengineering to reconstruct the uterus and its tissues, focusing on strategies for tissue repair, production of uterine scaffolds, biomaterials and reproductive animal models, highlighting the most recent and effective tissue engineering protocols in literature and their application in regenerative medicine. In addition, we provide a discussion about what was achieved in uterine tissue engineering, the main limitations, the challenges to overcome, and future perspectives in this research field. Impact Statement This review presents the applications of tissue engineering in uterine reconstruction and in regenerative therapies of uterine wall injuries.

Reproductive problems in dairy animals emerged as prime concern for farmers due to their significant effect on the profitability and sustainability of dairy ventures in India. The present study was undertaken to assess the major reproductive problems of dairy animals as well as to develop and validate the extension strategies for managing reproductive problems. A total of 60 respondents from three villages viz Dilawara, Chundipur and Dhakwada of Karnal district were selected through simple random sampling. Data were gathered through structured interview schedule from dairy farmers who had at least one milch animal. Study revealed that repeat breeding, anestrous, retention of fetal membrane and prolapse were the major reproductive problems of dairy animals as perceived by 46.67, 36.67, 28.33 and 26.67 per cent of respondents respectively. Among 14 selected extension strategies, development and demonstration of video on specific reproductive issues with Rank Based Quotient (RBQ) value of 81.19 and preparation of extension literature with RBQ value of 72.38 were found to be the two best strategies for faster dissemination of information onmanagement of reproductive problems. The mean knowledge gain was found to be 10.75 per cent, 13.28 per cent and 15.23 per cent after exposure to different treatments i.e. booklet, video and both (video+booklet) respectively in the studyvillages. This explains the effectiveness of extension strategies and warrants the extension personnel to contextualise and deploy appropriate combinations of different extension strategies in order toimprove the information delivery system.

Objective Sexual and reproductive health rights are the rights of all people regardless of their age, sex and other characteristics to make choices about their own sexuality and reproductive issues. However, little is known about the knowledge and attitude towards SRH rights in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess knowledge and attitude towards SRH rights and associated factors among Adet Tana Haik college students in northwest Ethiopia. Results Overall, about 59.6% students were knowledgeable and more than half (53.4%) had favorable attitude towards SRH rights. In this study, students attending third-year class (AOR = 2.20;95% CI 1.29, 3.33), discussion with parents (AOR = 3.35;95% CI 1.61, 6.96), respondent’s mothers attended secondary/above school (AOR = 3.01; 95% CI 1.28, 7.13), participation in RH clubs (AOR = 1.72; 95% CI 1.09, 2.70) and favorable attitude towards SRH rights (AOR = 2.41; 95% CI 1.56, 3.74) were significantly associated with knowledge of participants. On the other hand, knowledge of students (AOR = 2.33; 95% CI 1.36, 7.07), participation in RH clubs (AOR = 1.41;95% CI 1.09, 2.20) and discussion with parents (AOR = 2.50; 95% CI 1.15, 5.47) were the predictors for the attitude of students towards SRH rights. Hence, strengthening women’s education, encouraging discussions with parents and participation in RH clubs may improve the knowledge and attitude of students towards SRH rights. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-019-4116-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Montmorillonite clay due to its abundance and environmental friendliness, has several industrial applications among which is the adsorption of mycotoxins in foods and feeds as binding agents. Fungal species from the genus Fusarium produce zearalenone (ZEA); an oestrogenic compound, which has been implicated in hormonal and reproductive issues for both animal and man. In this study, various nanoformulations from montmorillonite clay and Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) extracts were developed for the decontamination of ZEA in millet. The various formulations developed included montmorillonite clay and essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus (Mont-LGEO), montmorillonite clay mixed with C. citratus (lemongrass) powder (Mont-LGP) and montmorillonite clay washed with 1 mM NaCl (Mont-Na). Unmodified montmorillonite clay (Mont) and C. citratus (lemongrass powder) (LGP) served as the negative controls for the treatment. Each of the formulations was exposed to millet grains at concentrations of 8 and 12% and stored for 4 weeks. All the formulations were effective in the decontamination of ZEA in millet after 4 weeks with LGP exposed at 12% recording the highest reduction of 98.3% while the second most effective formulation, Mont-LGP exposed at 12% showed a 66% reduction of ZEA in millet (p = 0.05).

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are replacing warfarin and other vitamin K antagonists for a wide range of indications. Advantages of DOAC therapy are fewer food and drug interactions and fixed dosing without routine laboratory monitoring, making DOACs the perfect choice especially for younger patients, in whom the main indication for anticoagulation is prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Although DOACs are safer and much more convenient than other anticoagulant alternatives, their profile may have drawbacks, especially for younger female patients in whom reproductive issues need special considerations. These may include the issue of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) during anticoagulant therapy, the embryotoxicity risk from inadvertent DOAC exposure during pregnancy, and the prevention or planning of pregnancies during DOAC therapy. This review summarizes the most relevant evidence in this increasingly important field of women’s health.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that may lead to different types of symptoms and disabilities. with the better quality of life and decreased disability due to early diagnosis and the availability of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), the treating physician is increasingly asked to counsel patients on its effects on fertility and reproduction. In particular, reproductive issues are still scarcely studied and discussed in men. Among the still open questions are the following: (a) Does multiple sclerosis cause infertility per sè? (b) Is multiple sclerosis correlated with conditions that increase the risk of infertility? (c) Do DMTs or other therapies for multiple sclerosis impact gonadal function in men? The aim of this review is to provide an overview on the available literature data about the reproductive issues unique to men with multiple sclerosis, underlining the numerous areas where evidence is lacking and, therefore, the priorities for future research.

Background: This study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning reproductive health (RH) and sexuality among in- and out-of-school adolescents in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Philippines. Methods: Using a quantitative, cross-sectional approach, this study examined 739 in- and out-of-school adolescents who were recruited through snowball and simple random sampling. Results: Statistically significant differences were noted in the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding sexuality based on age. Age was associated with knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning RH. Educational attainment toward sexuality also caused statistically significant changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The KAP regarding sexuality and sex only showed statistically significant differences in attitudes and RH and sex to attitudes. Schooling produced statistically significant differences in knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding sexuality; for RH, statistically significant differences were found only in knowledge and attitudes. Conclusion: The results can inform educational campaign development, which can be used when devising appropriate behavioral change materials suitable for and responsive to the needs and demands of the CAR adolescents.

Despite its strong affirmation on the international scene, reproductive liberty has not been very successful in realizing reproductive rights under European human rights law. The aim of this article is to examine two possible argumentative avenues for reframing reproductive rights, the market and the health frameworks. The authors argue that those approaches to reproductive issues enrich reproductive rights and should be better considered by the European Court of Human Rights in order to frame a European concept of reproductive rights. Despite its strong affirmation on the international scene, reproductive liberty has not been very successful in realising reproductive rights under European human rights law. The aim of this article is to examine two possible argumentative avenues for reframing reproductive rights, the market and the health frameworks. The authors argue that those approaches to reproductive issues enrich reproductive rights and should be better considered by the European Court of Human Rights in order to frame a European concept of reproductive rights.

The election of Donald Trump to the presidency came as a severe and unexpected shock to the already beleaguered pro-choice movement in the US. This article will review what the president-elect said during the campaign about abortion and what his administration is likely to do after his inauguration.

The presence of pollutants in water makes the environment toxic to all living biota and affect s reproduction in fish . One of such pollutants is e ndosulfan , which is an off-patent organochlorine insecticide, widely used in various agricultural activities. Endosulfan is extremely toxic to fish and all other aquatic organisms, showing a range of chronic effects, including genotoxicity, and reproductive issues . Therefore , the aim of the research was to find the effect of endosulfan on c GnRH, sGnRH, GtH-I and GtH-II gene expression in male hard-lipped barb fish . These fish were kept in aquarium containing several levels of endosulfan (0 mg/L [control]; 0.88 mg/L [low level]; 1.76 mg/L [medium level]; and 2.64 mg/L [high] level) for 60 days. The effects of endosulfan on GnRH performance on the fish were evaluated by the expressions of these genes; cGnRH-II, sGnRH, GtH -I , and GtH-II . In the 8th week, there was a decrease in the expression of all the four genes in fish with high dose of endosulfan compared with the control group (P < 0.05). These findings showed that endosulfan in hibits the expression of c GnRH, sGnRH, GtH -I and GtH-II genes in male hard-lipped barb.

Montmorillonite clay due to its abundance and environmental friendliness has several industrial applications among which are the adsorption of mycotoxins in foods and feed. The mycotoxin; zearalenone (ZEA) is oestrogenic and has been implicated in hormonal and reproductive issues for both man and animals. Thus, nanoformulations from Montmorillonite clay and Cymbopogoncitratus (lemongrass) extracts were developed for the reduction of the toxin in millet. The various formulations include: Montmorillonite clay to which extract of Cymbopogoncitratus(lemon grass essential oil)has been incorporated (Mont-LGEO), Montmorillonite clay mixed with C. citratus(lemon grass)powder (Mont-LGP) and Montmorillonite clay washed with NaCl (Mont-Na). Pure Montmorillonite clay (Mont) and C. citratus (lemon grass) powder (LGP) served as the controls for the treatment. Each of these compositions were applied to millet samples at a concentration of 8 % and 12% and stored for 4 weeks. XRD patterns for compositions containing Montmorillonite clay revealed major peaks at 2-Theta value of 20.06° representing Montmorillonite and 26.56° and 68.53°representing quartz. The level of ZEA in all treated samples was quantified after 4 weeks using the Liquid Chromatography tandem mass spectrophotometer LC-MS/MS. All the compositions were effective in the decontamination of zearalenone. Furthermore, C. citratus powder was the most effective in the decontamination of zearalenone in the cereal after 4 weeks.

Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome is a rare condition, wherein a genetic male is phenotypically female and is raised as a female. Treatement requires timely gonadectomy, need for long term hormonal replaceent therapy, psycological and genetic counseling. The type, dose, duration of hrt is not well studied. Reproductive issues also need to be addressed in these young woman. We report here a case of complete androgen insensitivity which posed a quandary for management of long term bone health. Review of literature for management is discussed. These cases are best managed by a multi-disciplenary team comprising of gynecologist, geneticist, endocrinologist and clinical psycologist or psychiatrist.

Since the first Pharmacopoeia under the title "De Materia Medica," the importance of the utilization of plants and herbs has been an invaluable medicinal tool successfully employed for strengthening the immune system for combating a number of diseases in general, or assisting fertility and reproductive issues in particular. The beneficial use of herbal extracts, constituting the basis of modern medicines, is lately under the shadow of Codex Alimentarius that threatens, if not properly applied, serious immunity features rendering the host defenseless for intercepting harmful invaders, one of which is the mesenchymal endometriotic stem cell causing endometriosis.

Background: Although concern about future fertility for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer is high, referrals to reproductive endocrinologists (REI) are low. Oncology nurses are well positioned to facilitate these referrals but may lack the knowledge and training. This report describes a learning activity in the Educating Nurses about Reproductive Issues in Cancer Healthcare (ENRICH) program whereby oncology nurses interviewed REIs. Method: Participants were instructed to conduct an interview with an REI using a semistructured guide and provided a written report of the discussion. We examined responses to each question using qualitative content analysis. Results: Seventy-seven participants across 15 states provided a summary. Learner summaries highlighted four themes related to FP, including Cost, Time, Lack of Information or Referrals, and Learning About Available Options. Conclusion: Oncology nurses have an opportunity for a partnership to ensure that concerns about fertility among AYA patients are addressed. J Contin Educ Nurs . 2016;47(8):376–384.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-limiting autosomal recessive disorder affecting ~1 in 2500–4000 Caucasians. As most CF patients have no family history of the disorder, carrier screening for CF has the potential to prospectively identify couples at risk of conceiving an affected child. At-risk couples may consequently choose to act on the provided information and take steps to avoid the birth of a child with CF. Although carrier screening is widely believed to enhance reproductive autonomy of prospective parents, the practice also raises important ethical questions. A written questionnaire was administered to adult patients and parents of children with CF with the aim to explore participants’ attitudes toward CF carrier screening and related reproductive issues. The study population was recruited from a CF patient registry in Belgium and comprised 111 participants (64 parents, 47 patients aged 16 or older). We found that more than 80% of all participants were in favor of preconception carrier screening for CF. However, some were concerned over potential negative consequences of population-wide CF carrier screening. Regarding future reproductive intentions, 43% of the participants indicated a desire to have children. Among these, preimplantation genetic diagnosis was found to be the most preferred reproductive option, closely followed by spontaneous pregnancy and prenatal diagnosis. Although the findings of our study suggest that patients and parents of children with CF support a population-based carrier screening program for CF, they also highlight some issues deserving particular attention when implementing such a program.

SHROUDED GENDER AND REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES IN CHILD WELFARE AND PROTECTION PROCEEDINGSThis commentary examines the case of Haringey London Borough Council v C (a child), E and another (referred subsequently in this article as the Haringey LBC case). The case focused on child protection issues under the Children Act 1989 (the 1989 Act) arising from a UK charity’s claims that it could provide infertile couples with miracle babies through supernatural means.

SUMMARY Reproduction is quintessential to species survival. But what is underappreciated for this discipline is the wondrous array of reproductive mechanisms among species—variations as diverse as the morphology of the species themselves (more than 55,000 vertebrate and 1.1 million invertebrate types). We have investigated only a tiny fraction of these species in reproductive science. Besides the need to fill enormous gaps in a scholarly database, this knowledge has value for recovering and genetically managing rare species as well as addressing certain reproductive issues in humans. This article provides examples, first to advise against oversimplifying reproduction and then to show how such knowledge can have practical use for managing whole animals, populations, or even saving an entire species. We also address the expected challenges and opportunities that could lead to creative shifts in philosophy and effective actions to benefit more species as well as a future generation of reproductive scientists.

Turner syndrome is one of the most common chromosomal abnormalities affecting female infants. The severity of clinical manifestations generally varies and affects multiple organ systems. Women with Turner syndrome have a threefold increase in mortality, which becomes even more pronounced in pregnancy. There are several reproductive options available for women with Turner syndrome, including adoption or surrogacy, assisted reproductive techniques, and in rare cases spontaneous pregnancy. There are well-documented risks for women with Turner syndrome during pregnancy, including specific risks of aortic pathology, hepatic disease, thyroid disease, type 2 diabetes, and Cesarean section delivery. Several professional societies have published guidelines to aid in the care of women with Turner syndrome prior to and during pregnancy. It is important for providers who care for these women to be familiar with the specific risks and recommendations in caring for women with Turner syndrome of reproductive age.

Biology and Reproduction Due to their size and anatomical similarity to humans, baboons make an excellent model for reproductive studies. Baboons have a simple short cervix, muscular uterus, ovaries just lateral to the uterus and similar vasculature to that of humans. Because of the size of the animals, instruments designed for use in women can be readily used on baboons. Noninvasive determination of phase of estrous cycle is readily made by observation of changes in perineal sexual skin turgor and color. Advantages Some advantages of use of baboons compared to other nonhuman primates is that they are nonseasonal breeders allowing for studies to be conducted year round, have minimal infectious disease risks to humans as they do not carry Herpes B and have a social structure allowing for easy group formation. Baboons serve as good models for many conditions in humans and should be considered for studies investigating reproductive issues.

Reproductive alterations are a mainstay of the classic definition of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), as defined in 1992 by the NIH consensus statement on PCOS [1]. These abnormalities still represent one of the three cardinal aspects used for diagnosing PCOS according to the current criteria, as defined by the Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM consensus workshop [2] and by the AE-PCOS Society [3]. In addition, the reproductive alterations of PCOS are a key point in the treatment of this condition. Although there are several guidelines on the management of infertility in PCOS women, this issue remains controversial. Moreover, most of the documents on this topic were produced, by both the human reproduction societies and the endocrinology societies, with pregnancy as an immediate objective. However, reproductive abnormalities are frequently a central problem in these women beyond this specific aim, and come before and after this goal. Physicians are thus called to manage the reproductive alterations of PCOS women also when a pregnancy is not on the program, while taking into account comprehensively the whole spectrum of clinical problems of these patients. This concept is especially important for endocrinologists, who need to manage the many problems of these women for long periods, ideally for all of their lives. With the objective of reviewing the literature on the treatment of the reproductive alterations of PCOS, and developing evidence-based guidelines aimed at improving the management of these abnormalities, The Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE) Board appointed a panel of experts, selected from researchers who published relevant articles in the field. The project and panel composition was also steered by the conviction that the clinical issues of PCOS should be managed with a network-oriented approach, primarily through strict interaction between endocrinologists and gynecologists.

PURPOSE To describe language used in consent documents at one academic medical center to inform women participating in studies of potential reproductive and fetal risks. METHOD The authors reviewed consent document language describing reproductive and fetal risks in 114 approved protocols. Protocols were identified as being of high, low, or unknown risk based upon FDA drug-risk and radiation-risk categories. RESULTS Although most consent documents advised women against participating for one or more pregnancy-related reasons, specific information about reproductive or fetal risks was included in fewer consent documents: 8 (73%) of the high-risk studies, 12 (40%) of the low-to-moderate-risk studies, and 29 (40%) of the unknown-risk studies. CONCLUSIONS Investigators often omit fetal risk information from consent documents. Full disclosure of reproductive and fetal risks in consent documents and discussions can be taught and modeled during the research training period. The authors present a template with language that can be used in consent documents and recommend ongoing discussion of reproductive and fetal risks with women subjects throughout the study period.

The timeliness of the publication of the peer-reviewed publication is due to the paradoxical situation that has developed in the large market of books on reproductive issues: despite the fact that the latter occupy the first place among medical publications both in terms of the number of monographs and their circulation, in recent years no practical manual for doctors has appeared. gynecologists, which would reflect modern knowledge, new technologies and methods of treatment of gynecological diseases at all stages of a woman's life.

Objective. To determine the prevalence and risk factors for anemia in child bearing age women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Design. Cross-sectional survey was conducted using two-stage cluster sampling. 25 clusters (primary health care centers (PHCC)) were identified from all over Riyadh, and 45–50 households were randomly selected from each cluster. Eligible women were invited to PHCC for questionnaire filling, anthropometric measurements, and complete blood count. Blood hemoglobin was measured with Coulter Cellular Analysis System using light scatter method. Setting. PHCC. Subjects. 969 (68%) women out of 1429 women were included in the analysis. Results. Mean hemoglobin was 12.35 ( ) g/dL, 95% CI 12.24–12.46 with interquartile range of 1.9. Anemia (Hb Conclusion. Women should be educated about proper diet and reproductive issues in order to reduce the prevalence of anemia in Saudi Arabia.

This brief describes the need to promote education about birth spacing to the women in Eastern Uganda. Statistics determined that most women discussed birth spacing with a spouse instead of a health care provider. Moreover most women reported that their husband had more say in reproductive issues than they did. Lastly only a small percentage of women had discussed birth spacing with a professional prior to this study thus demonstrating the lack of health care provider involvement in postpartum family planning. Copyright © 2013 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

In 2007, the Scottish Government announced an in-school vaccination programme for teenage girls to protect against cervical cancer. In Scotland a young person under the age of 16 is deemed to have the legal capacity to consent to health care and treatment in certain circumstances. This raised a number of issues with schools and parents about the programme and choices around the vaccination decision. This briefing examines research findings that explored parents’ and young people’s understanding of these issues prior to the introduction of the new vaccine.

Infertility is a serious personal, social and public health issue in developing countries such as Malawi. Infertility is often a ‘hidden’ problem in this context as the policy and service emphasis is on issues like infant mortality and family planning. Social expectations can also contribute to the problem. This research briefing reports on the first in-depth qualitative study of infertility in Malawi. These findings aim to form a starting point for development of services and programs that are based on people’s own views, local needs and go beyond family planning.

Hysteroscopic myomectomy currently represents the standard minimally invasive surgical procedure for treating submucous fibroids, with abnormal uterine bleeding and reproductive issues being the most common indications. While hysteroscopic myomectomy has been shown to be safe and effective in the control of menstrual disorders, its effects on infertility remain unclear. The review provides a comprehensive survey of all hysteroscopic techniques used to treat fibroids found completely within the uterine cavity (G0) and those with intramural development (G1 and G2). MEDLINE and EMBASE searches identified published papers from 1970. The choice of the technique mostly depends on the intramural extension of the fibroid, as well as on personal experience and available equipment. ‘Resectoscopic slicing’ still represents the ‘gold standard’ technique for treating fibroids G0, even if several other effective techniques including ablation by neodymium-yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser, morcellation and office myomectomy have been proposed. On the other hand, the present review clearly indicates that there is still no single technique proven to be unequivocally superior for treating fibroids G1 and G2. Most techniques aim at the transformation of an intramural fibroid into a totally intracavitary lesion, thus avoiding a deep cut into the myometrium. At present, the ‘cold loop’ technique seems to represent the best option as it allows a safe and complete removal of such fibroids in just one surgical procedure, while respecting the surrounding healthy myometrium.

Scotland experiences relatively low fertility rates compared to the other countries in the UK. The rates also vary significantly within Scotland, with the highest fertility in 2003 being recorded in the Shetland Islands and the lowest in Edinburgh. Understanding why fertility varies geographically is important for both academic and policy-related reasons. Low fertility has implications for population ageing, labour supply and the costs of sustaining health and welfare services. Understanding more about the processes underpinning fertility variation is an important step in broadening our understanding of such population dynamics. This Briefing is the second based on findings from a recently completed research project that investigated the attitudes to fertility of men and women of child-bearing age in Scotland. A module was added to the 2005 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey in order to collect information on, among other things, fertility attitudes and how they relate to peer networks and the local context in which the respondents live. Here we provide some initial results which demonstrate the importance of local contexts to fertility decision-making

Scotland is one of many developed countries whose fertility is below the level required to replace their populations. Its fertility rate (1.62 in 20051) is slightly above the average for the EU but below that of other countries and regions in the UK and just over half the post-war peak rate of 3.09 in 1964. However, there are marked variations in fertility rates across Scotland, with rates in some areas much higher or lower than the average (General Register Office for Scotland 2003, Graham and Boyle 2003). Low fertility is a controversial issue because of its possible implications for population ageing, labour supply and the costs of sustaining health and welfare services. This briefing reports some key findings of a recently completed research project that investigated the attitudes to fertility of men and women of child-bearing age in Scotland. It is based on a specially commissioned module on fertility in the 2005 Scottish Social Attitudes survey. It reviews some general findings about respondents’ attitudes to and experiences of childbearing, and how these vary according to a number of factors.

Among patients with cancer, young men being treated with drugs that may affect their fertility are much more likely to take part in discussions over fertility preservation arrangements than are young women, but uptake in both sexes remains low, concludes a US study published in Cancer .1 Better strategies are needed for dealing with reproductive issues among young patients with cancer, it says. The potentially toxic effect of anticancer therapy on future fertility is a major issue for adolescents and young adults with …

Described as ‘one of the most remarkable changes in social behaviour in the twentieth century1, declining fertility is related to wider changes in families and relationships occurring in recent decades such as later marriage, increased cohabitation, and increased divorce and cohabitation breakdown. Declining fertility combined with low rates of mortality results in population ageing and potentially population decline2. These have implications for areas such as social security provision and labour supply, as well as the provision of unpaid care. It has been suggested that one important factor explaining declining fertility is higher levels of delayed childbearing and increased childlessness. This research investigates some of the factors associated with later childbearing and childlessness amongst men and women in Britain and whether these have changed over time. Through analysing data from large-scale cohort studies, the 1958 National Child Development Study (NCDS) and the 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS), this ESRC funded project compared fertility patterns of those born in 1958 and 1970.

It has been almost 50 years since the first child was born to a female transplant recipient. Since that time pregnancy has become common after transplantation, but physicians have been left to rely on case reports, small series and data from voluntary registries to guide the care of their patients. Many uncertainties exist including the risks that pregnancy presents to the graft, the patient herself, and the long-term risks to the fetus. It is also unclear how to best modify immunosuppressive agents or treat rejection during pregnancy, especially in light of newer agents available where pregnancy safety has not been established. To begin to address uncertainties and define clinical practice guidelines for the transplant physician and obstetrical caregivers, a consensus conference was held in Bethesda, Md. The conferees summarized both what is known and important gaps in our knowledge. They also identified key areas of agreement, and posed a number of critical questions, the resolution of which is necessary in order to establish evidence-based guidelines. The manuscript summarizes the deliberations and conclusions of the conference as well as specific recommendations based on current knowledge in the field.

Concern about the sexual behaviour and health of young people and the rate of teenage pregnancy has given sexual health a high policy profile in recent years. Much less explored are the meanings given to sexual behaviour by young people themselves. The study reported here explored what young women say about their first heterosexual intercourse.

This paper discusses findings from separate focus group discussions among boys, girls, and parents in two communities in Ghana on the kinds of attitudes expressed with regard to specific gender roles and sexual and reproductive behaviour. The FGDs also point to some of the ways adolescents recognise sex role disparities in their own socialisation and that of other young people. The two communities reflect two lineage types, one matrilineal and the other patrilineal. The data show that with few exceptions patriarchal attitudes essentially prevail across age, sex and lineage type. The paper concludes by suggesting programmatic implications for strengthening the abilities of young males to be responsible in their sexual relations.

Pregnancies, births, and abortions among US teenagers aged 15 to 19 have fallen to historical lows, according to a report by the Guttmacher Institute, which studies reproductive issues. Teenagers were more likely to engage in sex but less likely to become pregnant.1 The report covers rates of pregnancies, births, and abortions from 1972 until 2010 among US teenage women. In 2010, the Guttmacher report says the pregnancy rate among teens aged 15 to 19 in the US was 57.4 per 1000 women, less than half its peak of 116.9 in 1990. In 2010, about 625 000 women younger than 20 became pregnant. Most pregnancies were in teenagers aged 18 to 19, a group that during the study period …

Results: The response rate was 53% (85/160). Gastroenterology trainees, general internists and gastroenterologists scored, 15.8+2.2, 17.0+1.4, and 16.9+1.7, and had higher CCPKnow scores than general practitioners (9.8+3.7) (p < 0.001). Characteristics that significantly influenced CCPKnow included years in practice, type of practice, total number of IBD patients and pregnant IBD patients seen per year. There were significant deficits in physician knowledge and use of medications in the reproductive period, some of which could be harmful to the pregnancy. Gastroenterologists (87%) and general internists (100%) were more likely to discuss family planning. Physicians with very good CCPKnow (84%) were more likely to discuss family planning and address medication issues appropriately. Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate that general practitioners have limited knowledge regarding reproductive issues in IBD compared to specialists. Furthermore, despite good knowledge, gastroenterologists and general internists have widely varied practices regarding the management of pregnant IBD patients.

Since the first Pharmacopoeia under the title “De Materia Medica,” the importance of the utilization of plants and herbs has been an invaluable medicinal tool successfully employed for strengthening the immune system for combating a number of diseases in general, or assisting fertility and reproductive issues in particular. The beneficial use of herbal extracts, constituting the basis of modern medicines, is lately under the shadow of Codex Alimentarius that threatens, if not properly applied, serious immunity features rendering the host defenseless for intercepting harmful invaders, one of which is the mesenchymal endometriotic stem cell causing endometriosis.