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Emotional impact and acceptability of medical abortion with mifepristone: a German experience.

In Germany, four years of experience with mifepristone as an alternative procedure to surgical abortion have revealed a still reluctant use of the new method. In the public discussion, the more participatory role of the women in the abortion procedure is often feared to have negative consequences for the emotional processing of the event. This study compares the women's criteria for selecting a method and the psychological responses before and four weeks after medical or surgical abortion. Two hundred and nineteen women answered questions regarding demographic data, motivation, medical details and social support. Additionally, the women completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Impact of Event Scale (IES). There were no differences regarding sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics among both groups. Comparing data before and a month after the abortion, our study showed a significant decline of both anxiety and depression for both abortion methods. The medical group had significantly lower entrance levels of anxiety than the surgical group. The medical regimen caused significantly more sequelae such as prolonged bleeding, pain and other side effects. However, this did not have a negative influence on the coping process. A vast majority of women in both groups evaluated choosing between different abortion methods as being highly important to them. Our study supports the consensus view that termination of an unwanted pregnancy is a positive first solution to the conflict, regardless of the chosen method. The positive outcome and high satisfaction levels among the participants illustrate the importance of an ongoing and improved accessibility of medical abortion for women in Germany.

Abortifacient Agents↗

Medical abortion in rural Tamil Nadu, South India: a quiet transformation.

The medical abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol are now widely available in rural Tamil Nadu, India, and the practice of abortion is being transformed. This paper reports on current attitudes and practices concerning medical abortion among qualified abortion providers in a rural area of Tamil Nadu. Interviews were carried out with a purposive sample of 40 doctors, 15 informants at chemist shops, 10 village health nurses and 23 women who had recently had an abortion. Twelve of the 37 private doctors who were providing abortions, were providing medical abortion to 70-80% of their patients and 12 others to a selected minority. Eleven had largely rejected it and still used D&C, two had never heard of it. A number of doctors were using misoprostol for cervical dilatation prior to D&C. Some doctors and women who were concerned about incomplete abortion and heavy bleeding did not have a clear idea of what normal bleeding with medical abortion was. Incorrect regimens with second trimester medical abortions might have been responsible for cases of excessive bleeding. Most chemist shops said they were selling the tablets only on prescription, but doctors reported widespread over-the-counter sales. Medical abortion appeared to be quite acceptable to most women, and women were increasingly requesting it. Mechanisms are needed for sharing information about medical abortion among professionals, community health workers and rural families. The state government should develop a comprehensive plan for incorporating medical abortion into the public health system.

Abortifacient Agents↗

Features of chromosomal abnormalities in spontaneous abortion cell culture failures detected by interphase FISH analysis.

Cytogenetic analysis of reproductive wastage is an important stage in understanding the genetic background of early embryogenesis. The results of conventional cytogenetic studies of spontaneous abortions depend on tissue culturing and are associated with a significant cell culture failure rate. We performed interphase dual-colour FISH analysis to detect chromosomal abnormalities in noncultured cells from two different tissues-cytotrophoblast and extraembryonic mesoderm-of 60 first-trimester spontaneous abortions from which cells had failed to grow in culture. An original algorithm was proposed to optimize the interphase karyotype screening with a panel of centromere-specific DNA probes for all human chromosomes. The overall rate of numerical chromosomal abnormalities in these cells was 53%. Both typical and rare forms of karyotype imbalance were found. The observation of six cases (19%) of monosomy 7, 15, 21 and 22 in mosaic form, with a predominant normal cell line, was the most unexpected finding. Cell lines with monosomies 21 and 22 were found both in cytotrophoblast and mesoderm, while cells with monosomy 7 and 15 were confined to the cytotrophoblast. The tissue-specific compartmentalization of cell lines with autosomal monosomies provides evidence that the aneuploidy of different human chromosomes may arise during different stages of intrauterine development. The effect of aneuploidy on selection may differ, however, depending on the specific chromosome. The abortions also revealed a high frequency of intratissue chromosomal mosaicism (94%), in comparison with that detected by conventional cytogenetic analysis (29%; P<0.001). Confined placental mosaicism was found in 25% of the embryos. The results of molecular cytogenetic analysis of these cell culture failures illustrate that the diversity and phenotypic effects of chromosomal abnormalities during the early stages of human development are underestimated.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Transvaginal sonography and the conservative management of spontaneous abortion.

Once a diagnosis of early pregnancy failure has been made, it is normal gynaecological practice to proceed to evacuation of any retained products of conception. In many cases, however, there may be little residual tissue within the uterus, and the patient may be exposed to an unnecessary operative procedure. The purpose of this study was to use sonographically derived measurements of the uterine cavity to select cases suitable for conservative management. Of 50 women presenting with a diagnosis of spontaneous abortion, 32 were chosen for non-operative treatment based upon their uterine cavity measurements. In all of these cases, bleeding had ceased within 2 weeks of selection and the pregnancy test had become negative. There were no subsequent complications. In our opinion, sonographic examination of the uterus allows the selection of those cases which can safely be managed conservatively.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Management of twin pregnancies discordant for anencephaly.

OBJECTIVE: To examine options of management and outcome of twin pregnancies discordant for anencephaly. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Research Centre for Fetal Medicine. POPULATION: Twenty-four twin pregnancies discordant for anencephaly. METHODS: A computer search was made of our database for twin pregnancies discordant for anencephaly. The data were reviewed for gestation at presentation, chorionicity, management and pregnancy outcome. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pregnancy outcome in relation to chorionicity and management. RESULTS: There were 13 dichorionic and 11 monochorionic twin pregnancies discordant for anencephaly. In the dichorionic group five pregnancies had selective fetocide at 17 to 21 weeks; one pregnancy resulted in spontaneous abortion but in the others a healthy infant was born at a median gestation of 37 weeks. The other eight dichorionic pregnancies were managed expectantly, but three developed polyhydramios at 26 to 30 weeks; in one case amniodrainage was performed and in another selective fetocide was carried out. In this group the median gestation at delivery was 35 weeks. All 11 monochorionic pregnancies were managed expectantly and in three there was intrauterine death of both fetuses. In the other eight cases the normal twin was liveborn at a median gestation of 34 weeks; in four of these pregnancies polyhydramnios developed and two were managed by amniodrainage. CONCLUSIONS: In monochorionic pregnancies, expectant management is associated with a high rate of intrauterine lethality of the normal twin. In dichorionic pregnancies selective fetocide in the second trimester prevents the development of polyhydramnios and is associated with a lower risk of preterm delivery but can cause miscarriage.

Anencephaly↗

Assessing the prevalence and determinants of unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in Nigeria.

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in the Jos and Ife local government areas of Nigeria. A total of 1,516 randomly selected women aged 15-45 responded to a pretested structured questionnaire designed to elicit information concerning previous unwanted pregnancies and induced abortions in a value-free manner. Nearly 20 percent of the women reported having had an unwanted pregnancy. Of these, 58 percent reported that they had successfully terminated the pregnancies; 32 percent continued the pregnancies; and nearly 9 percent stated that they had attempted termination but failed. Overall, the prevalence of self-reports of induced abortion was 11 percent. The results reveal that information can be obtained on abortion in areas with restrictive abortion policies if an indirect interviewing approach is used.

Abortion, Induced↗

[The influence of paternal lymphocyte immunization on the balance of Th1/Th2 type reactivity in women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion].

OBJECTIVES: Paternal lymphocyte immunization has been proposed as an efficient treatment for unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), however precise mechanism that underlie the benefits of this immunotherapy are still unclear. It was proposed that successful pregnancy is reminiscent of T helper 2 (Th2)--dominant situation but unsuccessful pregnancy is a Th1-type situation. The aim of the study was the evaluation of influence of paternal lymphocyte immunization on the balance of Th1/Th2--type reactivity in women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 8 patients with a history of 3 or more consecutive primary spontaneous abortions of unknown etiology and no positive autoimmune factors were selected for the study. Immunization with paternal lymphocytes, obtained from 100 ml of peripheral blood, was performed twice prior conception with a 4-week interval. The following immunological parameters were studied: peripheral blood T lymphocyte subpopulations (CD3, CD4, CD8) and secretion of the Th1-type cytokines (IL-2, IFN-gamma), Th2-type cytokines (IL-6) and TGF-beta 1 by phytohaemaglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes. Evaluation of immunity parameters were performed before and 2 weeks after immunotherapy. RESULTS: It was found that paternal lymphocytes immunization significantly increase the percentage of CD4 T lymphocytes (37.11 +/- 7.65 vs. 41.38 +/- 5.57, p = 0.007). Immunotherapy also leads to a significant enhancement in Th2-type cytokines (IL-6) secretion (22,677 +/- 17,907 mg/ml vs. 44,550 +/- 15,907 mg/ml, p = 0.008) and a significant decreasing in Th1-type cytokines (IL-2) secretion (6.50 +/- 5.98 mg/ml vs. 0.00 +/- 0.00 mg/ml, p = 0.0179). CONCLUSIONS: The data of the present studies suggest that paternal lymphocytes immunization modulate of immunity in women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion. Our studies indicate a shift in the balance fo cytokine profiles away from Th1-type reactivity to a Th2-type reactivity after immunotherapy.

Abortion, Habitual↗

Senescence-induced expression of cytokinin reverses pistil abortion during maize flower development.

Maize is a monoecious species that produces imperfect (unisexual), highly derived flowers called florets. Within the spikelet, the basic repeating unit of the maize inflorescence, the spikelet meristem gives rise to an upper and a lower floret. Although initially bisexual, floret unisexuality is established through selective organ elimination. In addition, the lower floret of each ear spikelet is aborted early in its development, leaving the upper floret to mature as the only pistillate floret. Expression from the cytokinin-synthesizing isopentenyl transferase (IPT) enzyme under the control of the Arabidopsis senescence-inducible promoter SAG (senescence associated gene)12 was observed during early maize floret development. Moreover, the lower floret was rescued from abortion, resulting in two functional florets per spikelet. The pistil in each floret was fertile, but the spikelet produced just one kernel composed of a fused endosperm with two viable embryos. The two embryos were genetically distinct, indicating that they had arisen from independent fertilization events. These results suggest that cytokinin can determine pistil cell fate during maize floret development.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

[Estimating the frequency of induced abortion: a comparison of two methods].

OBJECTIVE: To compare two methods-the "ballot box" method and the "indirect questioning" method-for estimating the frequency of induced abortions in population-based studies. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted with a representative sample of 3 002 women between 15 and 49 years of age living in the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The women were selected through multistage sampling and randomly assigned to answer questions concerning induced abortion with one of the two methods, after they had answered a general questionnaire that collected socioeconomic and demographic information. With the "ballot box" method, women received a small piece of paper containing direct questions on abortion. Each woman marked her answers on the paper and then deposited it into a small "ballot box" carried by the interviewer, thus assuring the confidentiality of the responses. With the second method, the interviewer verbally asked the woman a series of questions that indirectly inquired about abortion. RESULTS: Among the women assigned to the ballot box method, 7.2% reported having induced at least one abortion, versus 3.8% of the women assigned to the indirect questioning method. The ratio between the two methods was 1.89 (95% confidence interval: 1.39 to 2.60; P < 0.001). Of the women surveyed who were 45-49 years old (at the end of their reproductive life) and answered using the ballot box method, 12% of them reported having had at least one induced abortion in their lifetime. Among the women who answered using the ballot box method, the main reasons they gave for having had an abortion were economic difficulties, being too young, and being single. Approximately half of the women responding to the ballot box method questions reported they had used unsafe procedures to induce abortion, with 13% of them using misoprostol. CONCLUSIONS: The ballot box method was suitable for studying the frequency of induced abortion and for researching other topics that may lead to underreporting by the persons interviewed, especially in population-based samples. Rephrasing the ballot box method question about abortion (for example, eliminating the word "child") would probably increase the method's sensitivity, that is, its ability to detect induced abortions that had occurred.

Abortion, Induced↗

The use of vaginal misoprostol for second-trimester pregnancy termination in women with previous single cesarean section.

INTRODUCTION: This retrospective study reports of 85 women in the second trimester with one prior cesarean section undergoing medical abortion of a viable unwanted pregnancy using vaginal misoprostol. Two regimens that were selected in a nonrandomized manner were used. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-five women treated with vaginal misoprostol in a 3-year period were retrospectively analyzed. All received 400 mug of misoprostol initially and 22 (25.8%) aborted. Then Group A (n=43) received subsequent administration of 200 microg every 6 h, whereas Group B (n=20) received 400 microg/6 h. RESULTS: All patients aborted. The groups had no statistical difference in mean age, gravidity, parity, gestational age, and time from previous cesarean section, and there was no difference in occurrence of side effects and mean induction to abortion time interval. The lower dosage group received a median of 600 microg of vaginal misoprostol (min 600 microg to max 1000 microg). There were no uterine ruptures, need for hysterotomy, or excess bleeding in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest series reported to date of second-trimester pregnancy termination in cases with one previous cesarean section using only vaginal misoprostol. The study shows that both used regimens are safe and equally effective. All 85 women aborted.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal↗