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Biomedical subjects

S A Kingsberg

Publications and source records attributed to S A Kingsberg.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Embryo donation programs and policies in North America: survey results and implications for health and mental health professionals.

OBJECTIVE: To use survey results from Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology to describe program policies regarding embryo donation, report protocols used for the disposition of cryopreserved embryos, and discuss clarification of guidelines governing ethical and psychosocially informed embryo donation. METHOD(S): A 66-item questionnaire was sent to the 312 Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology programs, generating 108 responses. RESULT(S): Seventy-eight (72%) of 108 programs offer embryo donation. Forty (37%) have actually performed donation, with 246 cycles completed and 53 "take-home babies." Disposition agreements for donors address divorce (92%) and death (90%). Only 28% require that potential donors undergo psychologic evaluation. Ninety-five percent of programs do not compensate donors. Seventy-one percent require a complete medical and psychologic history and 10% require genetic karyotyping. Three percent limit the number of donations. Eligible recipients include married couples (100%), unmarried couples (61%), lesbian couples (55%), and single women (59%). Sixty-four percent of programs require psychologic screening. Storage limits range from 2-10 years. Forty-nine percent of programs have unclaimed embryos in storage. CONCLUSION(S): Embryo donation is more often contemplated than performed. Variability in program procedures and policies suggests that guidelines need to be clarified. The complexity of the psychosocial and ethical issues underscores the importance of a routine, comprehensive psychologic assessment.

Female↗

The psychological impact of aging on sexuality and relationships.

Aging has a powerful impact on the quality of relationships and sexual functioning. The psychological impact of aging after midlife is a particularly timely topic given improved medical and psychological understanding of sexuality in both women and men, as well as more effective treatment for age-related sexual dysfunctions. It is time to dispel the stereotype of the midlife relationship as the continuation of a traditional heterosexual marriage with grown or almost grown children in order to more effectively address emotional and sexual issues arising in relationships. Regardless of the length or nature of the relationship, however, its quality is enhanced by emotional intimacy, autonomy without too much distance, an ability to manage stress and distractions by external factors, and achieving a satisfying sexual equilibrium. Perception of the quality of the primary relationship and sexuality is influenced by the other factors in a person's life. Thus, the relationship must be examined and issues must be addressed taking these external factors into consideration. Among the most powerful external factors is one's occupation or avocation, as it tends to strongly influence one's sense of identity, self-esteem, and self-worth in all areas of life. To understand and treat effects of aging on sexuality, it is important to address the three components of sexual desire: drive, beliefs/values, and motivation, as well as the sexual equilibrium within the primary relationship. It is also essential to understand how the physiological changes in male and female sexual functioning affect desire and equilibrium. Other health-related changes that occur with aging must be recognized and addressed, including the fact that the oldest of old women will outlive their corresponding male cohort. Treatment implications for these issues are discussed.

Aging↗

Books helpful to patients with sexual and marital problems: a bibliography.

The aim of this project was to develop a current, problem-focused list of books helpful to patients with sexual and/or marital problems. Survey forms requesting respondents to list books helpful to patients with specific marital/sexual problems were sent to all members of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR) and the clinical members of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex (SSSS). Of 933 forms, 170 (18%) were returned. Responses were verified for accuracy and a full citation was developed for each. Tabulations of responses were calculated and a bibliography developed.

Humans↗

Cerebral lateralization of familiar and unfamiliar music perception in nonmusicians: a dual task approach.

In a dual task procedure that controls for attentional trade-off effects, asymmetrical interference effects were observed in dual task conditions of finger tapping and concurrent processing of familiar and unfamiliar music. Laterality effects suggested that perception of orchestral presentations is largely lateralized to the left hemisphere in both males and females. In a second dual task condition of vocalization and music processing, both males and females displayed interference in speech production during concurrent music processing. Males showed greater left hemispheric interference effects during simultaneous vocalization and music processing.

Adult↗

Cerebral lateralization of music perception in the dual task paradigm: unfamiliar melody recognition in sinistrals.

A dual task study of unfamiliar music perception during concurrent right and left hand finger tapping was conducted with a group of left-handed non-musicians. A pattern of symmetrical, bilateral suppression of finger tapping was observed during a concurrent music task of unfamiliar melody recognition. There was no evidence of trade-off effects in the dual task inasmuch as no interference in melody recognition was observed. The absence of attentional shifts strongly suggests that the bilateral symmetry in motor performance in the dual task condition reflects bilateralized cerebral organization among sinistrals for processing unfamiliar music.

Adult↗

The effects of concurrent vocalization on foot and hand motor performance: a test of the functional distance hypothesis.

The effects of concurrent vocalization on hand and foot motor performance were examined in two dual-task experiments as a test of the functional distance hypothesis. No interference effects were found with either hand or foot tapping under two difficulty levels of verbal activity. There was no evidence of differential or asymmetrical interference patterns despite the differential functional and anatomical distances of these motor centers from the speech centers. Consequently, the data provided no support for the functional distance hypothesis.

Adolescent↗

Postmenopausal sexual functioning: a case study.

Most men and women remain sexually active into mid-life and beyond. However, sexual functioning in peri- and postmenopausal women, and their partners, is widely variable. Somatic symptoms, psychological issues, partner's physical, psychological, and relationship status are all important to one's perceived quality of life, and may greatly affect sexuality. These wide-ranging influences complicate assessment, diagnosis, and subsequent management of sexual problems. A number of factors influence sexual functioning in menopausal women. There are age-related changes that are unrelated to menopause, which include changes in drive, body image, and general health status. Beliefs about menopause and sexuality impact sexual functioning in women. Changes in relationship status and the physical health of a partner may also influence sexuality. Physiologic changes, directly related to menopausal hormone changes, often impact sexual functioning, both directly and indirectly. Health care providers can play an important role in treating sexual problems and enhancing sexuality in aging patients. Effective evaluation will result in accurately determining the source(s) of an individual's or a couple's sexual dysfunction. Treatment may include the following: basic education about sexuality and sexual functioning, normalizing sexual activity in aging adults, medical management of symptoms or problems that are interfering with sexual desire or activity (such as HRT for vaginal atrophy or in reduction of hot flashes), referral for treatment of the partner's physical or psychological problem, and/or sex therapy to treat a sexual dysfunction or to manage a chronic physical problem that requires a change in a person's or couple's typical sexual repertoire. This paper includes a detailed case history of a couple to illustrate the concepts mentioned above.

Adaptation, Psychological↗