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Biomedical subjects

I Milsom

Publications and source records attributed to I Milsom.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Sexuality and STD infections among teenage girls. "Unprotected sex" is common in spite of sufficient knowledge about the risks].

A 2-year prospective study of sexual behaviour transmitted diseases (STDs) in 98 healthy 16-year-old schoolgirls showed human papillomavirus (HPV) infections to have spread rapidly among sexually active girls, whereas none of the virgins manifested HPV DNA in the cervix or anti-HPV 16 or anti-HPV33 antibodies in serum. A high level of knowledge of STDs and their prevention failed to induce appropriate behaviour among the sexually active.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

A longitudinal study of birth control and pregnancy outcome among women in a Swedish population.

The prevalence of contraception and pregnancy outcome in the same women, at 19, 24, and 29 years of age, was assessed in a longitudinal cohort study using a postal questionnaire technique. A one-in-four random sample of all women born in 1962 and resident in the city of Göteborg in 1981, was obtained from the population register (n = 656). Respondents from 1981 were re-assessed in 1986 and 1991. Four hundred thirty women (66%) answered the questionnaire on all three occasions and are included in the analysis. Contraceptive usage was as follows (at 19, 24, and 29 years of age, respectively): oral contraception (OC) 47%/51%/22%; intrauterine device 3%/11%/19%; barrier methods 12%/12%/20%; depot gestagen 0/0.2%/0.4%; no contraception 39%/26%/25%. OCs had been taken at some time by 93%. Reasons give for cessation of OC were: contraception not required 10%/21%/20%; fear of OC 28%/32%/35%; menstrual disorder 17%/13%/14%; weight increase 20%/16%/15%; mental side effects 14%/ 21%/20%; desire to become pregnant 7%/33%/52%. Pregnancy outcome was as follows: Ever pregnant 17%/42%/ 71%; children 5% had 1-2 children/27% had 1-3 children/ 59% had 1-5 children; 12%/25%/30% > or = 1 legal abortion; 3%/8%/15% > or = 1 miscarriage; and > or = 1 ectopic pregnancy 0.2%/1.2%/2.1%. On all three survey occasions, more than 97% of the legal abortions were performed < or = 12 weeks gestation. The complication rate following legal abortion was 7%. The proportion of live births to the total number of pregnancies was 25%, 45%, and 61%. The relationship between method of contraception, history of pregnancy, legal abortion, and smoking habits was analyzed in detail. Despite the availability of effective contraception, the ratio of legal abortions to live births was high. Fear of side effects was the commonest reason for discontinuing OC.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Urinary incontinence and lower urinary tract symptoms: an epidemiological study of men aged 45 to 99 years.

PURPOSE: We assessed the prevalence of urinary incontinence and other lower urinary tract symptoms in men 45 years old or older. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample (10,458) of the total population of men 45 years old or older living in Göteborg, Sweden. The response rate was 74%. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of urinary incontinence was 9.2% increasing (p < 0.001) linearly from 3.6% in men 45 years old to 28.2% in men 90 years old or older. Daily leakage was reported by 64%, and 31% believed that urinary incontinence limited their social and vocational life. However, only 46% of the men with urinary incontinence had sought medical advice. Overall prevalence of other voiding disturbances included hesitancy in 9.1% of the patients, weak stream in 30.5%, dribbling in 33.7%, sensation of incompletely emptied bladder in 26.4%, nocturia in 56.1% and history of urinary tract infection in the last 2 years in 6.3%. Prevalence of all symptoms increased with increasing age. Childhood enuresis was reported by 9.1%. Impotence was reported by 7.6% and there was a linear increase (p < 0.001) in the number of men reporting impotence up to 80 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of urinary incontinence and lower urogenital tract symptoms, such as hesitancy, weak stream, dribbling, sensation of incompletely emptied bladder, nocturia, urinary tract infection and impotence, increased linearly with increasing age.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Womens attitudes and knowledge about the climacteric period and its treatment. A Swedish population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate womens knowledge and attitudes about the menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Women aged 46, 50, 54, 58 and 62 years, born on uneven days, resident in Göteborg, Sweden (n = 5.990) were invited by letter to complete a questionnaire concerning the menopause and HRT. RESULTS: The response rate was 76% (n = 4504). Current estrogen use was reported by 21%. Another 20% had stopped estrogen use e.g. because of a fear of cancer (9%) or other side-effects (14%). The most common reasons to refrain from HRT were minor climacteric symptoms (27%), fear of cancer (9%) or side-effects (15%) and the opinion that the menopause is a natural process (20%). A majority (67%) preferred HRT without withdrawal bleedings, especially elderly women (80%). Thirty-five per cent could accept life-long HRT if treatment was free from withdrawal bleedings. Almost 70% received their information about the menopause and HRT from a physician. Forty-five percent of the women considered the menopause to be a relief. Approximately 60% had a regular sex-life. The most common reasons for not having a regular sex-life were irrespective of the womans age, the absence of a partner (43%). Loss of sexual desire (29%) or partners loss of desire (12%), both of which showed an increase with age, were other reasons given. Only 8% of the total population had no sexual activity because of vaginal dryness but in the oldest cohort (62 years old) 32% gave this as a reason. CONCLUSION: Physicians require more time for counselling of patients about the menopause and HRT. Many women refrain from therapy because of fear and misconceptions. To achieve better long-term compliance especially in elderly women the use of 'non-bleeding' regimes requires further attention.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

Microorganisms in vaginal fluid from women in prolonged pregnancy.

In order to compare the vaginal microflora of women in prolonged pregnancy with that of women who delivered at term, samples for quantitative aerobic and anaerobic microbiological culture were collected from 100 women at 42 weeks of gestation and from 60 women at term. The occurrence of lactobacilli-dominated flora was similar in women at term and women with prolonged pregnancy. However, non-hydrogen-peroxide-producing lactobacilli (p < 0.01) were significantly more common and Peptostreptococci species (p < 0.05) significantly less common in postterm women as compared with term controls. In postterm women, Candida albicans was more common (p < 0.001) in microfloras dominated by non-hydrogen-peroxide-producing lactobacilli than in floras dominated by hydrogen-peroxide-producing lactobacilli. The ecosystem of the vagina in asymptomatic postterm women was disrupted concerning the composition of lactobacilli as compared with term controls.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Fetal fibronectin in vaginal fluid of women in prolonged pregnancy.

The aim of this study was to determine fetal fibronectin in vaginal fluid of women in prolonged pregnancy, its relationship to a modified Bishop score and its predictiveness of delivery within 3 days. Vaginal samples were collected from 80 women at 42 weeks of gestation for the fetal fibronectin assay. A modified Bishop score was estimated. Fetal fibronectin was determined by a quantitative enzyme immunoassay. The concentration of fetal fibronectin in vaginal fluid was elevated in only 36 of the 80 women. The Bishop score and the time between sampling and delivery were not associated with an elevated fetal fibronectin (> or = 0.05 mg/l). We conclude that fetal fibronectin is not a good indicator of delivery within 3 days. The findings add to our understanding of the complexity of the etiology of postterm labor.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Epstein-Barr virus DNA in the uterine cervix of teenage girls.

OBJECTIVES: To: (i) evaluate longitudinally the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in the cervix of healthy teenage girls, (ii) relate the presence of cervical EBV DNA to virginity or sexual experience, and (iii) relate the occurrence of cervical EBV DNA to the presence of specific IgG antibodies to EBV virus capsid antigen (EBV-VCA) in serum and to signs of genital infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-six teenage girls were followed for 2 years between the ages of 16 and 18 years. A sexual history was taken and a gynecological examination was performed on each occasion. The presence of EBV DNA in the cervix and of EBV VCA antibodies in serum was determined on each occasion. RESULTS: Coitus debut was reported by 23/36 girls (64%) and by 31/36 (86%) at 16- and 18-years of age, respectively. Two girls (only one with sexual debut) harbored EBV DNA in the cervix at 16 years of age. At the age of 18, no EBV DNA was found in these two girls, but another three girls carried EBV DNA in the cervix. All were sexually active and reported 1, 4 and 7 life-time sexual partners respectively. Serum EBV-VCA antibodies were found in 83% of the 16-year old girls and in 89% of the 18-year old girls (no significant difference between sexually experienced and virginal girls at either age). All the girls with cervical EBV DNA had antibodies against EBV-VCA. None of the girls with EBV DNA were found to carry HPV DNA or have a chlamydial infection in the cervix at any time during the study. There was no significant difference in the number of girls with a cervix secretion predominated by leucocytes between girls with positive and negative cervical EBV DNA samples. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that among these healthy teenage girls the non-sexual route of transmission of EBV is more plausible than the sexual one.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Fetal fibronectin and microorganisms in vaginal fluid of women with complicated pregnancies.

OBJECTIVES: To determine vaginal fetal fibronectin in women with pregnancies complicated by preterm labor (PTL), preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) or bleeding; to investigate possible relationships to the vaginal microflora; and to assess the ability to predict preterm delivery from these measures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Group comparative study between women of the same gestational age with a normal pregnancy (n = 28) and consecutive women admitted with PTL (n = 63), PPROM (n = 18) and bleeding (n = 21). Samples of vaginal fluid were collected at the time of admission in complicated pregnancies and from the women with normal pregnancies. Fetal fibronectin was determined by enzyme immunoassay and quantitative aerobic and anaerobic microbiological cultures were performed. RESULTS: The number of positive (> or = 0.05 mg/L) vaginal fetal fibronectin values was higher among women with PTL, PPROM and bleeding compared to controls (p < 0.001). A positive fibronectin value was predictive of delivery < or = 34 weeks (sensitivity 64%, specificity 87%). The absence of hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli was predictive for preterm delivery < 34 weeks (sensitivity of 100%, specificity 35%). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of vaginal fibronectin and the absence of hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli was indicative of an increased risk for preterm delivery < 34 weeks.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The prevalence and severity of climacteric symptoms and the use of different treatment regimens in a Swedish population.

OBJECTIVES: To determine (i) the prevalence and severity of climacteric symptoms, and (ii) the prevalence of treatment for climacteric complaints, in a population based, random sample of Swedish women aged 46-62 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A random sample of 5990 women from the birth cohorts 1946, 1942, 1938, 1934 and 1930, resident in the city of Göteborg, was obtained from the population register. The women were invited by letter to complete a questionnaire concerning general health, reproductive history, climacteric symptoms (severity graded on a scale 0,1,2,3) and the treatment of climacteric complaints. The overall response rate was 76%. RESULTS: The prevalence of climacteric symptoms was as follows: vasomotor symptoms 53%, depression/irritability 57%, sleeping disturbance 52%, muscle/joint pain 57%, loss of libido 37% and vaginal dryness 21%. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with medium potency estrogens was currently being used by 13.4% and 7.7% were using low potency estrogens. Medium potency estrogens had previously been used by 14% and 6% had used low potency estrogens. HRT was reported to be effective against the most common climacteric complaints in 70%-90%. Non-hormonal treatment regimens had been used by 45% of the women and 31-63% reported a positive effect on climacteric symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of peri- and postmenopausal women reported suffering from climacteric complaints only 21% were current users of estrogens. Non-hormonal treatment modalities had been used by 45% of the women and were reported to have a good effect on climacteric symptoms in 45% compared to up to 90% of the HRT users.

Aged↗