European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care最新文献

Background: Induced abortion, as a legal medical practice in China, has an enormous negative impact on women's sexual and reproductive health. After the implementation of the three-child policy, guiding women to choose appropriate contraceptive measures to protect their fertility is the focus of China's family planning. But little is known about the impact of the family planning policy on women's contraceptive behaviour.

Methods: We collected 7022 cases who underwent abortion between July 2020 and June 2022 in Wuhan. Based on the time of implementation of the policy, the study population was divided into two groups, namely, the pre-policy group (before July 2021, Group 1) and the post-policy group (after July 2021, Group 2). Logistic regression was used to analyse the effect of the policy on women's choice of different contraceptive methods for abortion.

Results: There were a total of 3487 cases in Group 1, accounting for 49.65%, and 3535 cases in Group 2, accounting for 50.34%. The proportion of women choosing efficient contraceptive methods after the Three-Child Policy decreased compared with before. A correlation was observed between the implementation of the Three-Child Policy and whether to choose efficient contraceptive methods after abortion (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The study has found that after the Three-Child Policy, women opting for induced abortion tend to prefer less effective contraceptive methods, particularly condoms. There is a marked shift towards more effective contraception methods both before and after the implementation of the Three-Child Policy.

Background/introduction: On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the 1973 verdict in the Roe v. Wade legal suit that had established the constitutional right to medical abortion [1]. With the right to abortion now being left to the states, many restrictions regarding abortion procedures are being established [2]. We aim to evaluate whether this has led to an increase in the number of birth control prescriptions and sterilisation procedures at Cape Fear Valley Medical Centre in rural North Carolina.

Methods: SlicerDicer program within EPIC medical records database was used to retrieve the records of all women that had an obstetrics and gynaecology appointment with Cape Fear Valley Health System between 11/01/21-12/31/2022 for contraception. The data was sorted into race/ethnicity, age, and types of birth control. Principal outcomes measured the trends in birth control prescription or sterilisation procedure appointments before and after the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

Results: Contraceptive pill prescriptions decreased from 51.70% to 32.40%. IUD insertions decreased from 39.40% to 11.30%. Injectable birth control remained consistent, at approximately 16%. Nexplanon implantations dropped from 20.60% to 9.70%. Lastly, sterilisation procedures increased from 6.7% to 10.7%.

Conclusion: Majority of birth control prescriptions decreased following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, except for sterilisation, which increased by 4.0%. This may indicate that women are now looking for more permanent birth control options after the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Future research should investigate whether similar trends of increasing prevalence of sterilisation procedures is seen throughout the United States.

Introduction: We aim to investigate the relationship between individuals' perceptions of their neighbourhood environment and early menarche.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 7,486 girls of Ethiopia, India, South Korea, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US), born in 1997-2011 was analysed. Early menarche was defined as being below the 10th to 20th percentiles in each cohort, considering the varying distributions across countries. Perceived neighbourhood environments were assessed based on the responses for neighbourhood pollution, safety, and recreational facilities. We calculated the relative risk (RR) of early menarche for unfavourable environment.

Results: The mean age at menarche was lowest in South Korea (10.6 years) and highest in Ethiopia (13.7 years). Unfavourable environment was associated with higher risk of early menarche overall (RR = 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.09-1.65) and each country (3.03, 95% CI: 1.15-7.96 in Ethiopia; 1.99, 95% CI: 0.97-4.10 in India, 1.23, 95% CI: 0.67-2.27 in Korea; 1.26, 95% CI: 0.96-1.64 in the UK). Specifically, pollution (1.29, 95% CI: 1.03-1.62) and low safety (1.19, 95% CI: 1.60-1.88) were associated with early menarche.

Conclusions: Our finding highlights the potential role of perceived neighbourhood environment in the timing of puberty.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of virtual reality (VR) as a distraction technique in the management of acute pain and anxiety during outpatient uterine aspiration using a manual vacuum aspirator (MVA).

Materials and methods: This mixed methods study included a prospective multi-centre randomised controlled trial and structured individual interviews. Of the 72 patients approached, 50 consenting, eligible participants were randomised to VR intervention (immersive video content 'The Forest of Serenity') or standard care during MVA for the management of miscarriage or incomplete abortion from July 2021-July 2022 across two university hospitals in London, UK. Expected and actual pain scores, and anxiety before and after the procedure were measured as numeric rating scores (0-10). Structured interviews were undertaken after the procedure in women randomised to VR. Statistical analysis of pain and anxiety scores were by intention-to-treat including all randomised participants, using Stata-12 software. Qualitative analysis was achieved by thematic analysis of transcribed interviews.

Results: There was no significant difference in pain or anxiety scores reported by participants randomised to VR compared with standard care. Mean worst pain scores were 5.98 and 6.88 in the standard care and VR groups respectively (p-value 0.13), with corresponding anxiety scores at the end of the procedure 3.94 and 3.3 (p-value 0.57). Qualitative analysis from interviews was highly favourable from women randomised to VR with all participants reporting a positive experience. 90% (18/20) of participants reported that VR reduced their anxiety and 71% (15/21) stated that it helped to reduce or distract from their pain.

Conclusion: While virtual reality did not decrease pain or anxiety scores during MVA, it is a feasible and acceptable option that may improve patient experience.

Purpose: Annually, approximately 31,000 people experience a termination of pregnancy (TOP) in the Netherlands. In 2021, about one-third of them chose medical termination of pregnancy (MTOP). We explored experiences with MTOP and to what extent expectations, pain, and counselling in the clinic are associated with satisfaction with MTOP.

Materials and methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire. We included 138 respondents, ≥16 years, who chose MTOP (September 2020-March 2022).

Results: The majority of respondents experienced MTOP more positively than expected or as expected (67%). For 24%, the experience was more negative than expected. In the event of another TOP, half of these respondents would hesitate to choose or would not choose MTOP, mainly due to physical side effects. The majority of respondents (73%) would choose MTOP again. Their main motivation was self-determination during treatment. Respondents cited four key elements: pain, intensity of experience during and after treatment, blood loss, and duration. Correspondence between MTOP expectations and experiences was associated with satisfaction with MTOP, while pain and satisfaction with counselling were not.

Conclusions: The majority of respondents were satisfied with MTOP and would choose the treatment again. Non-correspondence between expectations and experiences negatively affected satisfaction with MTOP. This highlights the importance of managing expectations by providing accessible information about the variety in expectations and experiences to patients with a focus on key elements of the experience.

On 19 July, 2024, at the age of almost 105 years, Joseph W. Goldzieher, the last survivor of the group of pioneers who created oral contraception, peacefully passed away. Here we briefly reconstruct the salient points in his long, productive life, and highlight his achievements in the development of hormonal contraception. His work is indissolubly enshrined in the complex history of hormonal contraception, from the first, fundamental observations, to the first clinical trials, both in the form of combined oestrogen-progestin oral pills and long-acting injectable contraceptives. After Pincus and his Group created an oral contraceptive containing an oestrogen and a progestin, Goldzieher was the second international scientist to conduct clinical trials of the new modality. He teamed-up with investigators in Mexico creating a fruitful, long-lasting collaboration. They produced evidence that ovulation inhibition could be achieved with all the progestins used at the time. Of importance, he was among the first to explore the possibility of using oestrogens to block ovulation, and developed the concept of sequential contraception. For all this lifetime of work, we believe he deserves to be named a 'giant in reproductive endocrinology'.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of outpatient medical induction at 13-18 weeks' gestation to limit overnight hospital stays.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, participants with 13-18-week pregnancies seeking abortions at two government hospitals swallowed mifepristone 200 mg and self-administered misoprostol 400 mcg buccally 24-48 h later, 1-2 h before returning to the outpatient clinic (OPD). Repeat misoprostol was dosed every 3 h until expulsion. Participants requiring care beyond OPD hours were admitted as inpatients. Acceptability was evaluated by exit interview before discharge. Participants were contacted two weeks later to assess any subsequent issues.

Results: Ninety-eight (82%) of 120 participants had successful outpatient abortions using a median two (IQR 2, 3) misoprostol doses. The median induction-to-abortion time was five hours (IQR 4, 7.5). Eleven (9%) participants expelled before clinic arrival. Twenty-two (18%) participants were transferred as inpatients at OPD closing. Transferred participants remained inpatient for a median 18 h (IQR 18, 21.25). There were no serious adverse events and satisfaction with the abortion process was high.

Conclusions: Although the outpatient model did not meet statistical expectations, it is clinically feasible, acceptable, and improves efficiency, expands access, and reduces burdens for women and providers. Operational adjustments may facilitate higher outpatient success.

Background: In low- and middle-income countries, pregnancy in adolescence represents an important public health issue. Rates of early pregnancy have significant social and economic consequences that extend beyond the individual sphere, impacting public/governmental budgets.

Aim: To estimate the cost implications of early pregnancies from the perspective of the Brazilian Unified Public Health System.

Methods: This retrospective secondary data analysis focuses on assessing direct hospital costs. The study cohort comprises adolescents and young adults who underwent prenatal care at a reference maternity hospital between January and December 2021. Individual procedure costs were extracted from hospital records and converted into monetary values using the Brazilian Federal Fee. The sample size for each group was determined based on preliminary data collected during a pilot study. Descriptive analyses presented costs stratified by age groups. To estimate budgetary impacts and sensitivity we used national live birth incidence rates.

Results: The mean cost per case of adolescent pregnancy was US$ 704.92 (SD: 1,707.74) and for adult pregnancy was US$ 592.40 (SD: 941.43). The cost of hospital admission accounted for 61% of the total cost of adolescent pregnancies. The annual budget impact of pregnancies among women under 30 years was estimated at US$ 1 billion, with 239 million coming from women under 20 years old.

Conclusion: Pregnancy in adolescence may lead to a significant annual budget impact, representing 24% of costs attributed to pregnancies among women under 30 years. Costs related to hospital admissions and complications represent a substantial share of the total costs of adolescent pregnancy.

Background: In the Netherlands, the use of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods increases. Studies show high premature discontinuation rates of LARCs, but comprehensive insights into the Dutch situation remain limited.

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine (1) the rate and reasons of discontinuation of different types of LARC in the first 2.5 years of use and (2) what patient characteristics are associated with premature discontinuation.

Design and setting: Retrospective cohort study utilising data from a Dutch primary care research network.

Methods: We included all women who received a LARC between 2017 and 2019 with a 2.5-year follow-up period. We performed a descriptive analysis, Kaplan Meier and logistic regression analysis to answer the research questions.

Results: We included 642 women. In total, 166 women (25.9%) discontinued their LARC within 2.5 years. Discontinuation rates were 22% for levonorgestrel intra-uterine systems (LNG-IUS) 52 mg, 25% for LNG-IUS 19.5 mg, 39% for copper IUDs and 47% for subdermal implants. Common reasons for discontinuation were: alterations in bleeding pattern (68%), abdominal pain (32%), headache or mood fluctuation (24%) and a preference for natural contraceptive methods (23%). Factors associated with discontinuation for reasons other than pregnancy wish were: age between 30 and 34 years old (OR 5.1, 95% CI [1.26-20.48]) and a history of sexual, physical and/or psychological abuse (OR 3.16, 95% CI [1.60-6.23]). A high educational level (OR 0.33, 95% CI [0.12-0.89]) was associated with a lower risk of discontinuation.

Conclusion: The discontinuation rates of LARCs are high. Better counselling might prevent premature discontinuation.

Implanon NXT^® is a single rod contraceptive implant that is a long-acting reversible contraceptive method. Placement and removal is usually simple if the instructions of use are followed. Deviation from these instructions may lead to the implant becoming impalpable and consequently difficult to remove. We report on a case of a 46- year- old woman who had an impalpable implant in both the left and the right upper arms simultaneously. They had been placed approximately ten and seven years previously and were probably not releasing etonogestrel and were no longer relied on for contraceptive efficacy. The implants were removed relatively easily after ultrasound mapping. This case highlights some of the problems with the provision of implants in low-resource settings. The problems of implant management and some practical suggestions regarding its use in these settings is discussed.