scholarly journals Endometriosis’s impact on reproductive structures and its treatment

Author(s):  
Jamila Gagour ◽  
Lahcen ELMOUMOU

Endometriosis is a painful, chronic disease affecting approximately 10% of all women at reproductive age, and from the most common locations where endometriosis is found: the ovary, fallopian tubes, and uterine ligaments, and, less commonly they are found in the lung, the bladder, rectum, and intestines. It is known that endometriosis, in the reproductive organs, causes pelvic pain before or during menstruation, difficulty in pregnancy or infertility, for reasons that are not entirely clear, but some theories have tried to explain this phenomenon and confirmed that it may be a result of a defect in the immune and hormonal system in addition to some factors that affect egg’s quality and the movement of the gametes and therefore reproduction function.  Treatment options now focus on pain management and attempting to limit the progression of implants, using a range of hormonal medications such as anti-progesterone, progestin, oral contraceptives, and GnRH, also including surgical procedures such as endometriosis and adhesion tissue. In this review, weshed light on the damage and issues that women may face due to this disease. We  discuss some alternative solutions used by specialists for patient susceptibility.

Author(s):  
Sun Y Lee ◽  
Elizabeth N Pearce

Abstract Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can have adverse effects in pregnancy. The most common causes of thyrotoxicosis in pregnancy are gestational transient thyrotoxicosis and Graves’ disease. It is important to distinguish between these entities as treatment options differ. Women of reproductive age diagnosed with Graves’ disease should be counseled regarding the impact of treatment options on a potential pregnancy. Although the absolute risk is small, antithyroid medications can have teratogenic effects. Propylthiouracil appears to have less severe teratogenicity compared to methimazole and is therefore favored during the first trimester if a medication is needed. Women should be advised to delay pregnancy for at least 6 months following radioactive iodine to minimize potential adverse effects from radiation and ensure normal thyroid hormone levels prior to conception. As thyroid hormone is critical for normal fetal development, hypothyroidism is associated with adverse obstetric and child neurodevelopmental outcomes. Women with overt hypothyroidism should be treated with levothyroxine (LT4) to a goal TSH <2.5mIU/L. There is mounting evidence for associations of maternal hypothyroxinemia and subclinical hypothyroidism with pregnancy loss, preterm labor, and lower scores on child cognitive assessment. Although there is minimal risk in LT4 treatment to keep TSH within the pregnancy-specific reference range, treatment of mild maternal thyroid hypofunction remains controversial, given the lack of clinical trials showing improved outcomes with LT4 treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno F. Sunguya ◽  
Yue Ge ◽  
Linda Mlunde ◽  
Rose Mpembeni ◽  
Germana Leyna ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Anemia in pregnancy is behind a significant burden of maternal mortality and poor birth outcomes globally. Efforts to address it need evidence on trends and its pertinent factors as they vary from one area to another. Methods We pooled data of 23,203 women of reproductive age whose hemoglobin levels were measured from two Tanzania Demographic and Health Surveys (TDHS). Of them, 2,194 women were pregnant. Analyses employed descriptive analyses to determine the burden of anemia, its characteristics, and severity; GIS mapping to determine the regional changes of anemia between 2005 and 2015; and logistic regression to determine the remaining determinants of anemia among pregnant women using Stata 15. Results The burden of anemia among pregnant women in Tanzania has remained unprecedently high, and varies between regions. There was no significant decline of anemia in general between the two periods after adjusting for individual, households, reproductive, and child characteristics [AOR = 0.964, 95% CI = 0.774–1.202, p = 0.747). Anemia is currently prevalent in 57% of pregnant women in Tanzania. The prevalence is more likely to be higher among women aged 15–19 years than those aged between 20–34 years. It is more likely to be prevalent among those within large families, with no formal education, food insecurity, lack of health insurance, had no antimalaria during pregnancy, and had low frequency of ANC attendance. On the other hand, delivery in a health facility may be potentially protective against anemia. Conclusions Anemia in pregnancy remained persistently high and prevalent among 57% of pregnant women in Tanzania. Efforts to address anemia are crucial and need to be focused in regions with increasing burden of anemia among pregnant women. It is imperative to address important risk factors such as food insecurity, strengthening universal health coverage, empowering women of reproductive age with education and especially nutritional knowledge and advocating for early antenatal booking, attendance, and facility delivery.


2021 ◽  
pp. 141-146
Author(s):  
Reda Youssef ◽  
Gamal Sayed Ahmed ◽  
Samir Alhyassat ◽  
Sanaa Badr ◽  
Ahmed Sabry ◽  
...  

Dysgerminoma is an uncommon malignant tumor arising from the germ cells of the ovary. Its association with pregnancy is extremely rare, with a reported incidence of about 0.2–1 per 100,000 pregnancies. Women in the reproductive age group are more commonly affected. It can be extremely rare to conceive naturally, without assisted reproductive interventions, in cases with ovarian dysgerminoma. If a pregnancy does occur with a concurrent dysgerminoma, it is even more unusual to carry the pregnancy to viability or childbirth without fetal or maternal compromise. We report a case of right ovarian dysgerminoma in a young female with a viable intrauterine pregnancy at 10 weeks, which is rarely diagnosed and managed at this gestational age. Numerous factors played a role in her favorable outcome, including early suspicion by ultrasound and presenting history, surgery, histopathological assessment, imaging, and involvement of the multidisciplinary oncology team. Ovarian neoplasms may rapidly increase in size within a short period with little or no symptoms. This poses a diagnostic challenge for obstetricians and oncologists. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the role of imaging in pregnancy using ultrasound as an imaging modality for both early detection of ovarian neoplasms and for follow-up. In conclusion, patients with ovarian dysgerminoma in pregnancy can have favorable outcomes. Treatment should be individualized on a case-to-case basis, depending on many factors; cancer stage, previous reproductive history, the impact of imaging in staging or follow-up of tumor on the fetus, fetal gestational age, and whether termination of the pregnancy can improve survival or morbidity for the mother.


Author(s):  
Clara Pons-Duran ◽  
Mireia Llach ◽  
Charfudin Sacoor ◽  
Sergi Sanz ◽  
Eusebio Macete ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is a key malaria prevention strategy in areas with moderate to high transmission. As part of the TIPTOP (Transforming IPT for Optimal Pregnancy) project, baseline information about IPTp coverage was collected in eight districts from four sub-Saharan countries: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Mozambique and Nigeria. Methods Cross-sectional household surveys were conducted using a multistage cluster sampling design to estimate the coverage of IPTp and antenatal care attendance. Eligible participants were women of reproductive age who had ended a pregnancy in the 12 months preceding the interview and who had resided in the selected household during at least the past 4 months of pregnancy. Coverage was calculated using percentages and 95% confidence intervals. Results A total of 3911 women were interviewed from March to October 2018. Coverage of at least three doses of IPTp (IPTp3+) was 22% and 24% in DRC project districts; 23% and 12% in Madagascar districts; 11% and 16% in Nigeria local government areas; and 63% and 34% in Mozambique districts. In DRC, Madagascar and Nigeria, more than two-thirds of women attending at least four antenatal care visits during pregnancy received less than three doses of IPTp. Conclusions The IPTp3+ uptake in the survey districts was far from the universal coverage. However, one of the study districts in Mozambique showed a much higher coverage of IPTp3+ than the other areas, which was also higher than the 2018 average national coverage of 41%. The reasons for the high IPTp3+ coverage in this Mozambican district are unclear and require further study.


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vislava Globevnik Velikonja ◽  
Miha Lučovnik ◽  
Tanja Premru Sršen ◽  
Vesna Leskošek ◽  
Megie Krajnc ◽  
...  

AbstractObjective:To investigate the relationships among different forms of violence before and during pregnancy.Material and methods:An anonymous questionnaire (adapted NorAQ) was given to 1269 women after childbirth.Results:The response rate was 80% (n=1018). Different forms of violence were experienced by 46.9% of the women; 9.2% reported violence in pregnancy. Suffering from the consequences of violence was reported by 43.8% of the women; sexual (76.6%) and psychological (54.1%) ranked the highest. Past experience of any form of violence increased the risk of violence in pregnancy, violences experienced in adulthood even more than that in childhood [odds ratio (OR) 4.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.7–6.5 vs. OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2–2.9]. The onset of violence during pregnancy is rare. Violence was most frequently exerted by the intimate partner.Conclusion:Healthcare systems have access to most women of reproductive age, thus they have the unique opportunity to identify and adequately manage violence against women and its consequences.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bijan J. Borah ◽  
Elizabeth A. Stewart

Uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) affect 20–40% of reproductive age women and are the major indication for hysterectomy. Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (MRgFUS) is a new, potentially disruptive, non-invasive and uterine-sparing treatment option that has been shown to yield similar or better clinical outcomes than other uterine-sparing interventions. However, the costs of MRgFUS and other minimally-invasive treatment options have not been studied using US practice data. This study attempts to fill this void. And since uterine fibroids are the first FDA-approved indication for MRgFUS treatment, this study may also have implications for other indications which are now investigational.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry Evans ◽  
Stefan Rennick-Egglestone ◽  
Serena Cox ◽  
Yvonne Kuipers ◽  
Helen Spiby

BACKGROUND Symptoms of anxiety are common in pregnancy, with severe symptoms associated with negative outcomes for women and babies. Low level psychological therapy is recommended as first line treatment options for women with mild to moderate anxiety, with the aim to prevent an escalation of symptoms and provide women with coping strategies. Remotely delivered interventions have been suggested to improve access to treatment and support for women in pregnancy and provide a cost-effective, flexible and timely solution. OBJECTIVE To identify and evaluate remotely delivered, digital or on-line interventions to support women with symptoms of anxiety in pregnancy. METHODS A mixed method systematic review following a convergent segregated approach to synthesise the qualitative and quantitative data. The ACM Digital Library, AMED, ASSIA, CRD, CENTRAL, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, HTA, IEEE Xplore, JBI, Maternity and Infant Care, Medline, PsycINFO and the Social Science Citation Index were searched in October 2020. Quantitative or qualitative primary research including pregnant women which evaluated remotely delivered interventions reporting measures of anxiety, fear, stress, distress, women’s views, feedback and opinions were included in the review. RESULTS Three qualitative and 14 were quantitative studies included. Populations included a general antenatal population, and pregnant women with anxiety and depression, fear of childbirth, insomnia and pre-term labour. Interventions included CBT, Problem Solving, Mindfulness and Educational designs. Most interventions were delivered via on-line platforms and 8 included direct contact from trained therapists or coaches. A meta-analysis of the quantitative data found for I-CBT and facilitated interventions there was observed beneficial effect in relation to the reduction of anxiety scores (SMD=-0.49; 95% CI=-0.75 to -0.22; SMD=-0.48; 95% CI=-0.75 to -0.22). However, due to limitations in the amount of available data and study quality, the findings should be interpreted with caution. Synthesised findings from quantitative and qualitative data found some evidence to suggest that interventions are more effective when women are motivated to maintain regular participation in interventions. Participation may be enhanced by providing regular contact with therapists, targeting interventions for women with anxiety symptoms; providing peer support forums; including components of relaxation and cognitive based skills; and providing sufficient sessions to develop new skills without being too time consuming. CONCLUSIONS There is limited evidence to suggest that pregnant women may benefit from remotely delivered interventions. The synthesised findings highlighted components of interventions which may improve the effectiveness and acceptability of remotely delivered interventions. These include providing women with contact with a therapist, healthcare professional or peer community. Women may be more motivated to complete interventions which are perceived as relevant or tailored to their needs and situations. Remote interventions may also provide women with greater anonymity to help them feel more confident in disclosing their symptoms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roopali Rajput ◽  
Jitender Sharma

The risk of viral infection during pregnancy is well-documented; however, the intervention modalities that in practice enable maternal-fetal protection are restricted by limited understanding. This becomes all the more challenging during pandemics. During many different epidemic and pandemic viral outbreaks, worse outcomes (fetal abnormalities, mortality, preterm labor, etc.) seem to affect pregnant women than what has been evident when compared to non-pregnant women. The condition of pregnancy, which is widely understood as “immunosuppressed,” needs to be re-understood in terms of the way the immune system works during such a state. The immune system gets transformed to accommodate and facilitate fetal growth. The interference of such supportive conversion by viral infection and the risk of co-infection lead to adverse fetal outcomes. Hence, it is crucial to understand the risk and impact of potent viral infections likely to be encountered during pregnancy. In the present article, we review the effects imposed by previously established and recently emerging/re-emerging viral infections on maternal and fetal health. Such understanding is important in devising strategies for better preparedness and knowing the treatment options available to mitigate the relevant adverse outcomes.


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