Abortion means the end of a pregnancy before the fetus can survive. It may be either spontaneous ? when it is also known as miscarriage ? or induced, when it is a deliberate termination of pregnancy.
Most pregnancy-related infections are caused by four treatable conditions – In low-and-middle income countries, pregnancy-related infections are a major cause of maternal death, can also be fatal to unborn and newborn babies, and are mostly caused by four types of conditions that are treatable and preventable, according to a review by US researchers published in this week’s PLOS Medicine.
Increased risk of prematurity and low birth weight in babies born after 3 or more abortions – Women who have had three or more abortions have a higher risk of some adverse birth outcomes, such as delivering a baby prematurely and with a low birth weight, revealed by researchers in one of the largest studies to look at the effect of induced abortions on a subsequent first birth.
Immediate use of an IUD following abortion more likely to prevent unintended pregnancies — Study finds women who are asked to make an appointment for a later date may not return, are at higher risk for another unintended pregnancy – Immediate use of any contraceptive method after abortion has been linked to a reduced risk of repeat abortion with the immediate use of an IUD being the most effective method for reducing the risk for another unintended pregnancy. IUDs are found safe and highly effective.
Recurrent miscarriage raises heart attack risk fivefold in later life — Pregnancy loss and risk of cardiovascular disease: A prospective population-based cohort study (EPIC-Heidelberg) – Recurrent miscarriage increases a woman’s chance of having a heart attack fivefold in later life, indicates research published online in the journal Heart.
UN estimates reveal fewer women dying from pregnancy-related causes, but 1000 still die a day and more needs to be done to achieve set targets – The number of women dying due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth has decreased by 34% from an estimated 546 000 in 1990 to 358 000 in 2008, according to a new report, Trends in maternal mortality, released by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Bank.
Antidepressants in pregnancy increase risk of miscarriage – There is a 68% increase in the overall risk of miscarriage in pregnant women using antidepressants, found a new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Study Finds H1N1 Associated With Serious Health Risks for Pregnant Women – Pregnant women who contract the H1N1 flu strain are at risk for obstetrical complications including fetal distress, premature delivery, emergency cesarean delivery and fetal death, according to a report in the May 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Quantifying the number of pregnancies at risk of malaria in 2007: A demographic study – Research published this week in PLoS Medicine concludes that at least 125.2 million women at risk of malaria become pregnant each year.
Teenage birth rates higher in more religious states – There is a strong association between teenage birth rates (Teenage pregnancy) and state-level measures of religiosity in the U.S. Rates of births to teenage mothers are strongly predicted by conservative religious beliefs, even after controlling for differences in income and rates of abortion.
Off-label morning sickness drug deemed safe for fetuses — Ben-Gurion U. researchers. Collaborative research findings published in New England Journal of Medicine support safe use of metoclopramide for morning sickness nausea. – Metoclopramide, a drug approved in the U.S. for nausea, vomiting and heartburn poses no significant risks for the fetus according to a large cohort study published in the June 11 issue of the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, “The Safety of Metoclopramide Use in the First Trimester of Pregnancy”.
