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PLoS One 2022 2;17(6):e0269344. Epub 2022 Jun 2.

Department of Medicine, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland.

Background: Frequencies of ultrasonographic findings and diagnoses in emergency departments in sub-Saharan Africa are unknown. This study aimed to describe the frequencies of different sonographic findings and diagnoses found in patients with abdominal symptoms or trauma presenting to a rural referral hospital in Tanzania.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, we consecutively enrolled patients with abdominal symptoms or trauma triaged to the emergency room of the Saint Francis Referral Hospital, Ifakara. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2022 May 23;15(5). Epub 2022 May 23.

Programa de Salud Sexual y Reproductiva, Partners In Health México/Compañeros En Salud, Ángel Albino Corzo, Chiapas, México.

Globally, obstetric emergencies majorly account for maternal morbidity and mortality. Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas accounted for more than 13% of maternal deaths in the country in 2021. Obstetric haemorrhage was the leading cause of maternal death after COVID-19 infection and hypertensive disorders. Read More

Soc Sci Med 2022 Jun 11;303:115014. Epub 2022 May 11.

University of Southern California, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Spatial Sciences Institute, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, AHF B55, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA. Electronic address:

What little data on transgender healthcare is available often focuses on transgender people's negative experiences in accessing healthcare. However, no research has been conducted that illustrates where gender-affirming hormone therapy, one part of transgender-specific medical care, is available. Without these data, large scale research to discern patterns of availability of and access to gender-affirming medical care is nearly impossible. Read More

PLoS One 2022 19;17(5):e0268812. Epub 2022 May 19.

Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Introduction: Women living in low- and middle-income countries still have limited access to quality second trimester post abortion care. We aim to explore health care providers' experiences of and perceptions towards the use of misoprostol for management of second trimester incomplete abortion.

Methods: This qualitative study used the phenomenology approach. Read More

Am J Perinatol 2022 May 16. Epub 2022 May 16.

Division of Family Planning Services and Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University, Stanford, California.

Objective:  The aim of this study was to quantify the likelihood of assessing all mandated fetal views during the second-trimester anatomy ultrasound prior to the proposed federal 20-week abortion ban.

Study Design:  Retrospective cohort study of a random sample of 1,983 patients undergoing anatomy ultrasound in 2017 at a tertiary referral center. The difference in proportion of incomplete anatomic surveys prior compared with after 20-week gestation was analyzed using and adjusted logistic regression; difference in mean days elapsed from anomaly diagnosis to termination tested using -tests and survival analysis. Read More

PLoS One 2022 9;17(5):e0264494. Epub 2022 May 9.

UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Background: In 2018, the right to lawful abortion in the Republic of Ireland significantly expanded, and service provision commenced on 1 January, 2019. Community provision of early medical abortion to 9 weeks plus 6 days gestation delivered by General Practitioners constitutes the backbone of the Irish abortion policy implementation. We conducted a study in 2020-2021 to examine the barriers and facilitators of the Irish abortion policy implementation. Read More

BMC Public Health 2022 05 5;22(1):901. Epub 2022 May 5.

School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 13, Legon, Accra, Ghana.

Background: Adolescence, a transition period from childhood to adulthood forms the foundation of health in later life. The adolescence period which should have been characterised by good health is often marred with life-threatening and irreparable consequences of public health concern. Teen pregnancy is problematic because it could jeopardise adolescents' safe transition to adulthood which does not only affect adolescents, but also their families, babies and society. Read More

An Acad Bras Cienc 2022 2;94(2):e20211283. Epub 2022 May 2.

Erzincan Binali Yildirim University, Medical Faculty, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Basbaglar District, Haci Ali Akin Street, 32, 24100, Center, Erzincan, Turkey.

Aim of this study is to investigate whether the risk of miscarriage increases in pregnant women who had COVID-19 in first trimester. Our study included 52 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection detected by RT-PCR and 53 patients with negative RT-PCR test in samples taken with nasopharyngeal swab in the first trimester between March 1 and December 31, 2020. Complete abortion, incomplete abortion, blighted ovum, intrauterine exitus, biochemical pregnancies were accepted as in the miscarriage group (MG). Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2022 1;41:90. Epub 2022 Feb 1.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Ituku-Ozalla, P.M.B. 01129, Enugu, Nigeria.

Introduction: single-dose of sublingual misoprostol 400mcg with the participant followed-up at the gynecology clinic one week after with an ultrasound scan for the completeness of the uterine evacuation. Objective: to compare the effectiveness of single-dose sublingual misoprostol to manual vacuum aspiration in the treatment of incomplete spontaneous abortion in Enugu, Nigeria.

Methods: the primary outcome measure was the incidence of complete uterine evacuation (complete abortion) after one week of treatment while the secondary outcome measures included incidence, types, and tolerability of treatment side effects as well as participants' satisfaction with the treatment received. Read More

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2022 Apr 3. Epub 2022 Apr 3.

EngenderHealth, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Objective: To evaluate an intervention that aimed at strengthening voluntary access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) within postabortion care (PAC) in hospitals in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Methods: From 2016 to 2018, we conducted PAC quality improvement interventions, emphasizing family planning (FP) counseling and voluntary access to LARC. Researchers conducted an interrupted time-series analysis of service statistics compiled from 2014 to 2020 using segmented linear mixed effects regression models to assess the interventions' effect on postabortion contraceptive uptake. Read More

Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2022 Mar 17;20(1):51. Epub 2022 Mar 17.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University General Hospital of Patras, 265 04, Rion, Greece.

Background: Demystifying the events around early pregnancy is challenging. A wide network of mediators and signaling cascades orchestrate the processes of implantation and trophoblast proliferation. Dysregulation of these pathways could be implicated in early pregnancy loss. Read More

J Reprod Immunol 2022 Jun 4;151:103503. Epub 2022 Mar 4.

Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland. Electronic address:

The work entitled "Preliminary Findings of mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine Safety in Pregnant Persons" published on April 21, 2021, in The New England Journal of Medicine, presented data collected from American surveillance systems and registries. However, problems with an unanimous interpretation of those results appeared in the public debate and citing articles. Some stated that the risk of miscarriage in vaccinated women was similar to historical values reported before the vaccines' approval. Read More

Case Rep Womens Health 2022 Apr 14;34:e00398. Epub 2022 Feb 14.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, School of Medicine, 1400 S. Coulter St., Amarillo, TX 79106, USA.

Background: Septic abortion with multisystem involvement is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Access to care and legalization of abortion have greatly diminished the incidence of serious sequelae worldwide. Two complications, infective endocarditis and septic arthritis, are rarely encountered in contemporary practice. Read More

CJEM 2022 04 3;24(3):278-282. Epub 2022 Mar 3.

Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Objectives: Incomplete and missed spontaneous abortion cases often first present to the emergency department (ED), where they can be managed operatively via dilation and curettage (D&C) or non-operatively through medical or expectant management. The primary objective of this study was to determine how rates of operative management have changed over time across Calgary EDs. The secondary objective was to assess correlates of effectiveness and potential drivers in management including gynecological consults, ED return visits requiring admission, and subsequent D&Cs. Read More

J Am Vet Med Assoc 2022 Feb 16:1-9. Epub 2022 Feb 16.

Outbreak Response and Prevention Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC, Atlanta, GA.

Objective: To understand large animal veterinarians' knowledge of select zoonotic diseases that cause livestock abortions and identify barriers to using personal protective equipment (PPE).

Sample: A convenience sample of 469 veterinarians currently working with livestock.

Procedures: We sent an electronic survey invitation to large animal veterinarians through various veterinary organizations. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2022 May 20;289:115002. Epub 2022 Jan 20.

Key Laboratory of Coarse Cereal Processing of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Buxue Yimu Pills (BYP) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine prescription which is clinical used in gynecology and obstetrics, and is documented to exhibit therapeutic potential to defective angiogenesis and impaired blood flow.

Aim Of The Study: This study aimed to investigate the effects and biological mechanisms of BYP in improvement of defective angiogenesis and impaired blood flow which represent major health issues associated with various diseases including postpartum or abortion complications.

Materials And Methods: In this study, VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor II (VRI) was used to establish blood vessel loss model in Tg(fli-1a:EGFP) zebrafish embryos. Read More

Contraception 2022 04 11;108:73-77. Epub 2022 Jan 11.

Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

Objectives: To describe the clinical circumstances, surgical approach, intraoperative challenges, and outcomes of patients with two cervices undergoing uterine evacuation for spontaneous, incomplete, or induced abortion at our institution.

Study Design: We used diagnostic and procedure codes related to uterine anomalies and uterine evacuation to identify patients with cervical duplication who underwent uterine evacuation at Penn Medicine from January 2008 to December 2020.

Results: We identified 15 patients with cervical duplication in whom we performed uterine evacuations during 19 pregnancies. Read More

Reprod Sci 2022 03 12;29(3):761-767. Epub 2022 Jan 12.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, 5265601, Ramat Gan, Israel.

The aim of this study was to compare office to conventional operative hysteroscopy for the treatment of retained products of conception (RPOC). This retrospective cohort study included all women who underwent hysteroscopy due to RPOC between January 2018 and December 2019, in a single tertiary medical care center. Exclusion criteria for hysteroscopy included the following: (1) proximity to delivery (up to 3 weeks); (2) hemodynamic instability; (3) active massive bleeding; and (4) genital tract infection. Read More

Cureus 2021 Nov 18;13(11):e19730. Epub 2021 Nov 18.

Research and Development, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, IND.

Background Medical abortion up to seven weeks of pregnancy by using a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol with careful follow-up is approved by WHO guidelines. But due to the counter sale of medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) pills, in our country, pregnant women have easy access to use them landing upon serious complications. The present study aims to assess the outcome of self-medicated MTP pills in pregnant women. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol India 2021 Dec 24;71(Suppl 2):96-98. Epub 2021 Nov 24.

Modern Government Maternity Hospital, Petlaburz, Osmania Medical College, 7-1-212/5, Shiv Bagh, Ameerpet, Hyderabad, Telangana 500016 India.

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2022 Jan 10;156 Suppl 1:20-26. Epub 2021 Dec 10.

Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.

Objective: To examine the relationship between insecurity and quality of care provided for abortion complications in high-volume hospitals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Methods: Using the WHO Multi-Country Survey on Abortion complications, we analyzed data for 1007 women who received care in 24 facilities in DRC. For inputs of care, we calculated the percentage of facilities in secure and insecure areas meeting 12 readiness criteria for infrastructure and capability. Read More

BJOG 2022 May 20;129(6):969-975. Epub 2021 Dec 20.

Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK.

Objective: To determine the potential cost savings resulting from the introduction of routine early medical abortion (EMA) at home by telemedicine in the UK.

Design: A costing study.

Setting: The UK. Read More

Health Technol Assess 2021 11;25(68):1-114

Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.

Trial Design: A randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre study with health economic and nested qualitative studies to determine if mifepristone (Mifegyne, Exelgyn, Paris, France) plus misoprostol is superior to misoprostol alone for the resolution of missed miscarriage.

Methods: Women diagnosed with missed miscarriage in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy were randomly assigned (1 : 1 ratio) to receive 200 mg of oral mifepristone or matched placebo, followed by 800 μg of misoprostol 2 days later. A web-based randomisation system allocated the women to the two groups, with minimisation for age, body mass index, parity, gestational age, amount of bleeding and randomising centre. Read More

BMJ Sex Reprod Health 2021 Nov 24. Epub 2021 Nov 24.

Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Aim: The aim of this review was to systematically review the outcome of routine anti-D administration among unsensitised rhesus (RhD)-negative individuals who have an abortion. This review is registered with Prospero.

Methods: A search for all published and ongoing studies, without restrictions on language or publication status, was performed using the following databases from their inception: EBM Reviews Ovid - Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE Ovid (Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations and Daily), Embase. Read More

Dtsch Arztebl Int 2021 11;118(46):789-794

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Background: Approximately 12% of pregnancies end in an early miscarriage (up to week 12 + 0 of pregnancy). Over the past 10 to 15 years, two alternatives to curettage have appeared in the pertinent international treatment guidelines: expectant treatment and medical (drug) treatment. In this review, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each of these therapeutic options. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021 10;118(40)

Laboratory of Signaling and Gene Regulation, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390;

Miscarriage is a common complication of pregnancy for which there are few clinical interventions. Deficiency in endometrial stromal cell decidualization is considered a major contributing factor to pregnancy loss; however, our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of decidual deficiency are incomplete. ADP ribosylation by PARP-1 and PARP-2 has been linked to physiological processes essential to successful pregnancy outcomes. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2021 Sep 15;57(9). Epub 2021 Sep 15.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, Vasilissis Sofias Str. 12, 67100 Alexandroupolis, Greece.

: Ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of gestation-related deaths during the first trimester. Cervical twin heterotopic pregnancies, when ectopic, constitute a small and rare part of gynecological surgery. : A 30-year-old pregnant woman (gravida 3, para 2) presented with mild pain in the lower abdomen and traces of bleeding per vaginum for three days. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2021 Dec 27;47(12):4158-4163. Epub 2021 Sep 27.

Education Committee of the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (JAOG), Tokyo, Japan.

Aim: In Japan, dilatation and curettage (D&C) is a common procedure for spontaneous miscarriage and induced abortion, and its safety has long been an issue. Electric vacuum aspiration (EVA) is also common, but manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) was introduced recently, with medical abortions using mifepristone or misoprostol which are not yet legally accepted. This nationwide retrospective study surveyed the surgical methods and complications associated with spontaneous miscarriage and induced abortion at less than 12 weeks of gestation in Japan to assess their safety, in comparison with a similar survey for induced abortions in 2012. Read More

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2022 Jul 13;158(1):201-204. Epub 2021 Oct 13.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China.

Objective: To illustrate the predictive value of peripheral blood α1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) in abortion outcomes with mifepristone and the relativity of concentration.

Methods: A total of 134 patients who met the criteria were enrolled. The AAG and mifepristone concentrations were determined, and Student's t-test was used to assess significant differences in the levels of AAG between the complete and incomplete abortion groups. Read More

BJOG 2021 12 15;128(13):2212. Epub 2021 Sep 15.

Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Aydin University, Istanbul, Turkey.