Fertility History Research Articles

Moderate phosphorus additions consistently affect community composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in tropical montane forests in southern Ecuador.

Anthropogenic atmospheric deposition can increase nutrient supply in the most remote ecosystems, potentially affecting soil biodiversity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities rapidly respond to simulated soil eutrophication in tropical forests. Yet the limited spatio-temporal extent of such manipulations, together with the often unrealistically high fertilization rates employed, impedes generalization of such responses. We sequenced mixed root AMF communities within a seven year-long fully factorial nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) addition experiment, replicated at three tropical montane forests in southern Ecuador with differing environmental characteristics. We hypothesized: strong shifts in community composition and species richness after long-term fertilization, site- and clade-specific responses to N vs P additions depending on local soil fertility and clade life history traits respectively. Fertilization consistently shifted AMF community composition across sites, but only reduced richness of Glomeraceae. Compositional changes were mainly driven by increases in P supply while richness reductions were observed only after combined N and P additions. We conclude that moderate increases of N and P exert a mild but consistent effect on tropical AMF communities. To predict the consequences of these shifts, current results need to be supplemented with experiments that characterize local species-specific AMF functionality.

Isolation of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria from subtropical soils with different fertilization histories

Phosphorus is one of the most abundant chemical elements but has a low bioavailability index. Therefore, microrganisms play a fundamental role in providing insoluble phosphorus to plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of bacteria to solubilize inorganic phosphates in soils with different fertilization histories. Soil and rhizosphere samples were collected from a Red Distroferric Latosol, including a control without mineral or organic fertilizer (C), treatment with mineral fertilizer (MF) according to the needs of each crop, and treatment with organic fertilizer [300 m3 ha-1 of swine wastewater (SW)]. The medium containing calcium phytate presented more colony-forming units (CFU) for all fertilization histories, and growth in treatments C and MF was 50% higher than treatment with SW. CFU values in soils treated with SW were lower than those in the other treatments, and the diversity of insoluble phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) was higher in treatment C. These results indicate a negative relationship between phosphorus concentrations and the number of PSB.

Gray divorce and mental health in the United Kingdom.

The number of older people who experience marital break-up has increased in many Western countries. However, limited empirical attention has been given to the study of the consequences of later-life divorce or separation. Previous studies on gray divorce are often cross-sectional and tend to capture a mix of short- and long-term effects of divorce and possibly selection effects into divorce. Drawing on data from nine waves of the UK Household Longitudinal Study (2009/2010-2017/2018), we analyze the effect of marital break-up on the mental health of 909 adults aged 50 or over to test the crisis model and the chronic strain model of divorce. We use fixed effects linear regression models to account for time-invariant confounders and distinguish between pre- and post-divorce effects. Our results indicate that older adults' depressive symptoms (GHQ) increase in the years before and upon union dissolution. After separation, depressive symptoms decrease and return to approximately previous baseline levels. Our analyses on heterogeneity in the effects of gray divorce show that post-divorce adjustment is faster for childless adults than for parents. We find no evidence that adjustment after gray divorce is slower for women than for men, or for persons who already experienced a prior union dissolution than for those who separate for the first time. The results are consistent with the crisis model of divorce but in contrast with the chronic strain model of divorce. Older adults are able to adjust to marital break-up, and their fertility histories tend to moderate the negative effect of later-life divorce on mental health.

SAT-073 Testicular Abnormalities in the Absence of Precocious Puberty in Mccune-Albright Syndrome

Background: Mc-Cune Albright Syndrome (MAS) is a rare disorder characterized by skeletal lesions, skin hyperpigmentation and hyperfunctioning endocrinopathies. Gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty is the most common endocrinopathy, known to be more common in females than males, but little is known about male gonadal pathology in MAS. Clinical case: 3-year-old boy presented with worsening unilateral limp and was noted to have a pathologic femoral fracture. Bone scan demonstrated extensive fibrous dysplasia in the long bones and skull base. He had a large café au lait spot on the back. He was diagnosed with MAS on clinical criteria.At 4 years of age, initial exam was normal without signs of precocious puberty. Linear growth followed the 70th percentile, on track for his genetic background (mid parental height 70th percentile). Initial hormonal work up showed normal thyroid function, prolactin, growth factors and pre-pubertal gonadotropins and testosterone.At 6 years of age, he started to demonstrate bilateral testicular enlargement of 4-6 mL with pubic hair Tanner stage I. Bone age was concordant with chronologic age. Gonadotropins and testosterone level were pre-pubertal. Testicular ultrasound showed bilateral enlargement with punctuate densities without evidence of hydrocele or mass.By 8 years of age, he had further testicular enlargement to 8 mL bilaterally, normal penile length 5.5 cm (6.2 ± 1.0) and no pubic hair. Biochemical evaluation showed normal thyroid function and pre-pubertal gonadotropins and testosterone. Repeat testicular ultrasound showed heterogeneous echotexture representing microlithiasis, without a focal mass. Conclusion: Macroorchidism can be present in the absence of gonadotropin independent precocious puberty in MAS. Testicular ultrasound evaluation is important, as hyper-hypoechoic lesions, bilateral microlithiasis, focal calcifications, are the most common testicular abnormality in males with MAS.Microlithiasis, due to calcium deposits within the seminiferous tubules, have been described often in this condition, and should be considered a marker of male MAS. The natural history of male fertility and testicular cancer risk in the context of microlithiasis and testicular calcifications is unknown. Close observation and testicular imaging at baseline and after age 5, to characterize subclinical involvement, are an appropriate course to follow.

Motherhood after cancer: fertility and utilisation of fertility-preservation methods

PurposeDue to modern and individualised treatments, women at reproductive age have a high survival rate after cancer therapy. What are pregnancy and birth rates of women after cancer and how often do they use cryopreserved ovarian tissue or gametes?MethodsFrom 2007 to 2015, 162 women aged 26.7 ± 6.9 years were counselled for fertility preservation at a single University Fertility Centre. A questionnaire study was performed in average 3 and 6 years after the diagnosis of cancer. The women were asked about their fertility, partnership, family planning, and pregnancy history. 72 women (51%) answered a written questionnaire in 2016. 59 women were reached again by phone in 2019 (82%).ResultsThe preferred method of fertility preservation was ovarian tissue cryopreservation (n = 36, 50%); none of the women had ovarian hyperstimulation in order to cryopreserve oocytes. About 3 years after treatment, 37 women of 72 women (51%) of the women with a mean age of 29.9 years had a strong wish to conceive. 21/72 (29%) had actively tried to conceive after successful cancer treatment; eight women (11%) were already pregnant or had children. Six years after cancer diagnosis 16/59 (27%) women had ongoing anticancer treatment. 12/59 (20%) were pregnant or had children, while 39% (23/59) had no menstrual cycle. Only one woman used her cryopreserved ovarian tissue, but did not become pregnant.ConclusionAfter cancer and gonadotoxic treatment, women’s desire to have a child is substantial. In this study, the rate of spontaneous pregnancies and births was 20% 6 years after gonadotoxic therapies. Not every woman, however, has the opportunity to conceive: factors impairing fertility include ongoing cancer treatment or persistent disease, no partner, no menstrual cycle, as well as other reasons for infertility.

Men and me(n)

There is an absence of literature on the dynamics of men interviewing men generally and particularly, on sensitive subjects. Childless men are, compared to women, absent from geographical, gerontological, psychological, reproductive and sociological research. These disciplines have mainly focussed on motherhood, women and family formation. Over the past 15 years, research literature on both involuntary childlessness and ageing has highlighted the paucity of material on men’s experience. Consequently, the fertility intentions, history and experience of men have been overlooked. Infertility research has shown that failure to fulfil the status of parenthood may lead to a complex form of bereavement and is a significant challenge to identity. In this piece, I draw on my experience of conducting an auto/biographical doctoral study on the life experiences of 14 involuntarily childless older men. I briefly explore the literature surrounding research interviews with men participants. I highlight the gender dynamics encountered in both interview and wider academic settings. I identify how danger, harm and risk are present in academic environments such as conferences. I use my experience to illustrate how physical, emotional and ethical dangers affect one’s sense of self. I argue that ethical standards should be applied to all research locations.

Cornuostomy and Cornuectomy: Laparoscopic Management of Interstitial Ectopic Pregnancies

To demonstrate and contrast 2 techniques of laparoscopic management of interstitial ectopic pregnancies. Stepwise demonstration of the technique with narrated video footage. Tertiary referral center in Manchester, United Kingdom. Nontubal ectopic pregnancies typically involve the cervix, ovary, myometrium, cesarean scar, and the interstitial portion of the fallopian tube. Interstitial ectopic pregnancies account for 2% of all ectopic pregnancies [1] and are caused by implantation of a fertilized embryo within the proximal and intramural portion of the fallopian tube [2]. They represent specific challenges in diagnosis and management and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality when compared with tubal ectopic pregnancies [3]. The techniques for minimal access surgical management includes laparoscopic cornuectomy and cornuostomy. We present 2 cases of interstitial ectopic pregnancies managed laparoscopically using the 2 different techniques. Case 1: A 33-year-old women, para 2+1, presented at 8 weeks' gestation with lower abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and an episode of loss of consciousness. An ultrasound scan showed a gestational sac lateral and posterior to the endometrial cavity with the interstitial line sign present. A yolk sac and a 2-mm fetal pole were noted with fetal heart action present. At laparoscopy, an 800 mL hemoperitoneum was noted, and a laparoscopic cornuectomy was performed (Fig. S1). Operating time was 80 minutes, and she was discharged on day 1 postoperation. Case 2: A 34-year-old women, para 1, presented at 6 weeks' gestation to her local hospital with symptoms of vaginal bleeding and intermittent abdominal pain. A diagnosis of an interstitial ectopic pregnancy was suspected on the ultrasound scan, and conservative management was started because the diagnosis was uncertain. A follow-up scan 7 days later confirmed the diagnosis of a live interstitial ectopic pregnancy, and after consultation, she presented herself to a tertiary referral unit. Serum human chorionic gonadotropin was greater than 11 000 IU/L and 2-dimensional ultrasound scan confirmed the presence of a gestational sac with a yolk sac and fetal pole within the left interstitial space. A slow fetal heart action was seen. A diagnosis of a left interstitial ectopic pregnancy was further confirmed on 3-dimensional ultrasound scan. A laparoscopic cornuostomy was performed as demonstrated in the attached video (Figs. S2-S3). Operating time was 38 minutes with minimal blood loss. At day 7, serum human chorionic gonadotropin level was 364 IU/L. Although more research is needed to determine the optimal surgical technique for the management of interstitial ectopic pregnancies, the potential risks and benefits of different techniques should be discussed with the patient, and an individual decision should be made. This decision often depends on the desire for future fertility and previous gynecologic history.

Social space and family reproduction among Quebec City leather workers in 1911

Cet article explore les caractéristiques de la reproduction familiale au sein du groupe socio-professionnel que forment les travailleurs du cuir dans la ville de Québec au tournant du xx e siècle. Il en examine les dimensions sociale, spatiale et familiale de manière à contextualiser les dynamiques de reproduction en période d’industrialisation. Ancrée dans une perspective d’histoire sociale, cette étude vise à outrepasser la dichotomie entre, d’un côté, les interprétations matérialistes, et, de l’autre, les interprétations culturelles des changements démographiques. Nous nous concentrons ici sur les dynamiques de l’économie familiale issues de l’enchevêtrement des expériences individuelles de travail et du vivre ensemble au quotidien ainsi que des perceptions des normes et rôles accolés aux hommes, femmes et enfants. Nous adoptons une perspective analytique qui s’appuie sur les concepts de communication communities et de réseaux familiaux multigénérationnels en examinant de manière très détaillée la distribution résidentielle et les réseaux de parenté de ces familles. Pour ce faire, nous tirons profit des microdonnées du recensement de 1911, lesquelles ont été géoréférencées à l’échelle du bâtiment et jumelées aux registres de l’état civil. Les résultats de cette micro-étude apportent un éclairage nouveau sur les comportements de fécondité et sur la complexité de l’articulation entre les modes de production et les stratégies de reproduction.

Fertility History and Biomarkers Using Prospective Data: Evidence From the 1958 National Child Development Study

Research on the later-life health implications of fertility history has predominantly considered associations with mortality or self-reported indicators of health. Most of this previous research has either not been able to account for selection factors related to both early-life and later-life health or has had to rely on retrospectively reported accounts of childhood circumstances. Using the 1958 National Child Development Study, and in particular the biomedical survey conducted in 2002–2003, we investigate associations between fertility histories (number of children and age at first and at last birth) and biomarkers for cardiometabolic risk and respiratory function in midlife among both men and women. Results from models that adjusted for a very wide range of childhood factors, including early-life socioeconomic position, cognitive ability, and mental health, showed weak associations between parity and biomarkers. However, we found an inverse association between age at first birth and biomarkers indicative of worse cardiometabolic health, with poorer outcomes for those with very young ages at entry to parenthood and increasingly better outcomes for those becoming parents at older ages. A very young age at last birth was also associated with less favorable biomarker levels, especially among women. Results highlight the value of prospectively collected data and the availability of biomarkers in studies of life course determinants of health in midlife and later.

Predictors of infertility-related concerns in a Canadian survey of men and women seeking fertility treatment

ObjectiveTo examine if and how factors associated with infertility-related concerns and opportunity to discuss concerns differ between male and female fertility patients. MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 313 female and 254 male patients recruited from Canadian fertility clinics. An online survey asked about sociodemographic characteristics, psychological distress, the severity of psychosocial concerns on a scale of 0 (not concerned) to 5 (very concerned) related to fertility treatment, and their opportunity and desire to discuss concerns with healthcare providers (HCPs). ResultsFor women, higher stress, educational attainment and being childless were associated with higher concern (F(6, 287) = 14.73, p < .001). For men, higher stress, being religious and longer treatment duration were associated with higher concern (F(8, 222) = 9.87, p < .001). No significant difference existed between men’s and women’s average concern scores (t(558) = -1.62, p = .11) or opportunity to discuss concerns (t(149) = 0.28, p = .78). ConclusionOur results indicate an unmet need and desire for support among subgroups of patients who were concerned about psychosocial issues related to infertility, but did not have the opportunity to discuss these issues with HCPs. Practice ImplicationsThere is a need to tailor resources to address the concerns of male and female fertility patients from diverse sociodemographic backgrounds and with different fertility histories.

Tubal factor infertility with prior ectopic pregnancy: a double whammy? A retrospective cohort study of 2,892 women

To investigate the impact of a history of previous naturally conceived tubal ectopic pregnancy (TEP) on subsequent IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. Retrospective cohort study. Reproductive medicine center in a tertiary hospital. A total of 2,892 women with tubal infertility undergoing the first fresh IVF/ICSI cycle. Women were stratified into three groups according to the type of previous naturally conceived pregnancy: TEP, intrauterine pregnancy (IUP), and no pregnancy. Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes were analyzed for each cohort and stratified into the following categories based on female age: <30 years, 30-35 years, and ≥35 years. Of the 2,892 patients with tubal factor infertility, 511 (17.7%) women had a history of TEP, 1,044 (36.1%) had prior IUP, and 1,337 (46.2%) had never been pregnant. Couples with an initial TEP tended to be younger and had experienced a shorter duration of infertility. Across the whole cohort, the optimal live birth rate decreased in older age groups. Live birth rates stratified by maternal age (<30, 30-35, ≥35 years) did not differ between the TEP group (59.9%, 53.7%, 45.5%) and the IUP (62.0%, 53.8%, 40.6%) and no pregnancy group (56.7%, 54.4%, 45.6%). This did not change after adjusting for confounders such as age and years of infertility. Previous treatment of TEP with salpingectomy, salpingostomy, or medical treatment did not significantly affect subsequent fertility outcomes. The rates of preterm and low birth weight after TEP were also not significantly higher than in women with a previous IUP. Fertility history, including previous TEP, does not influence the probability of live birth after IVF/ICSI in women with tubal factor infertility.

Occurrence and 15N-quantification of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in N-fertilised soils incubated under oxygen-limiting conditions

Nitrification and denitrification are known to co-occur in soils, but the effect of fertilisation history on N2O fluxes and the relative source partitioning of the N2O has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we therefore combined a high-tech 15N stable isotope tracing technique with quantitative PCR (qPCR) to explore the relative contributions of nitrification and denitrification to N2O production by a sandy-loam Eutric Cambisol soil treated repeatedly with ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4] or potassium nitrate (KNO3) for 3 years prior. Both soils (historically (NH4)2SO4 and historically KNO3 treated) were amended separately with (15NH4)2SO4 and K15NO3 and incubated at 80% water filled pore space for 30 days. Soil N2O emissions, NH4+ and NO3− concentrations and their corresponding 15N-enrichments were determined. The effect of N addition on N transformation rates was also calculated. The total abundance of nitrifiers was estimated by qPCR of the amoA gene from bacteria and archaea, and that of denitrifiers by using the nirK, nirS, norB and nosZI genes as molecular targets. In the historically (NH4)2SO4-treated soil, 49.0–58.0% of the N2O emitted originated from nitrification and 42.0–51.0% from denitrification during incubation. The production of N2O was accompanied by a decrease in soil NH4+ concentrations and a parallel increase in the concentration of soil NO3−. In addition, the abundance of the bacterial and archaeal amoA gene increased during the incubation. Conversely, in the soil historically treated with KNO3, the 15N isotopic analyses showed that denitrification contributed 84.0–99.0% of the total N2O produced. Decreases in soil NO3− concentrations paralleled the increase in 15N enrichment of N2O and the abundance of the nirK, nirS, norB and nosZI genes. The results also showed that values of 15N2 enrichment were significantly higher in the KNO3-treated soil, which is in line with the higher abundance of the nosZI gene. Calculation of the N transformation rates indicated that autotrophic nitrification and denitrification were responsible for N2O production in the historically (NH4)2SO4-treated soil and that denitrification was the most important N2O source in the soil treated with KNO3. We conclude that N-fertilisation history, and not simply soil oxygen availability, affect the relative contributions of nitrification and denitrification to soil N2O emissions. Indeed, here we have shown that nitrification can be an important N2O source process even in soils maintained at high moisture contents.

Who is really ‘left behind’? Half a century of gender differences in the school-to-work transitions of low-educated youth

ABSTRACT At a time of growing expectations about educational attainment, young people who did not complete upper-secondary schooling can easily be ‘left behind’ to face risks of social exclusion. Being able to make a rapid and successful transition into a first significant job is crucial for long-term labor-market attachment. We approach the question of continuity or change in school-to-work transitions by comparing the experiences of four birth cohorts of early school leavers in Italy, where they still constitute a sizeable group as of today. Italy makes for an interesting case study due to the length of school-to-work transitions and the extent of gender differences in this phase. In an era of educational expansion and increased female activation, studying changes in low-educated women’s labor-market access brings into focus the question of who is really left behind. Using data from the 2009 ‘Multi-purpose Survey on Household and Social Subjects,’ we use discrete time logistic regression models to estimate the probability of transitioning to the first significant job for early school leavers born between 1954 and 1993. We find that gender differences are strikingly persistent across birth cohorts, even after controlling for sociodemographic variables as well as for time-varying fertility and partnership histories.

Child Mortality Influencing Fertility in Estonia during the Demographic Transition

The correlation between infant and child mortality and fertility holds an important place in the demographic transition theory. The Princeton project that aimed to empirically check the validity of the theory with reference to the material of European states, however, produced mixed if not contradictory results, which led to a disagreement on the importance of infant mortality for fertility transition. This research considers the peculiarities of Estonia’s demographic transition and is relevant because as early as the nineteenth century, Estonia was among the countries whose fertility decline was the fastest. This article refers to a nominative source, the Family Register of the Estonian Republic, and adds to a series of research works studying the correlation between infant and child mortality and fertility. More specifically, the article focuses on the fertility histories of two generations of Estonian women born between 1860 and 1879 and 1880 and 1899 and reaching childbearing age at the beginning and at the end of the demographic transition period respectively, as well as Estonia’s industrialisation and urbanisation. The data received as a result of the analysis testify to the fact that parents who had lost a child aimed at making up for the loss; as a result, new pregnancies were more likely to occur following the loss of children. In scholarly literature, this phenomenon is referred to as replacement, and in Estonia it was particularly noticeable among women residing in cities and those of the later generation which resulted from the spread of control over reproductive behaviour. The research demonstrates that in terms of spacing, child deaths decreased the interval before the next birth. This is a mix of both deliberate behaviour and a biological effect caused by the death of an infant that has been breastfed. The effect on the spacing, however, does not gain strength among urban women and women of the later generation, but rather the contrary, and the decrease in the birth ratio was not so much due to an increase in the intervals between births, but due to the conscious decision of Estonians to have a small family.

Depression In Pregnancy: Prevalence And Clinical Correlates

Introduction: Pregnancy increases the risk of various psychiatric illness including depression. Such illness can result in prematurity, low birth weight and mother-child bonding. Depression is more common in women who have had negative experiences in previous pregnancies, have prior history of psychiatric disorder or are experiencing stressful life events. Unfortunately, psychiatric disorders among pregnant women are still undiagnosed and untreated, especially in developing country like Nepal. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence and correlates of depression in pregnancy. &#x0D; Material and Method: A cross-sectional, hospital based, descriptive study was conducted among 135 pregnant women attending Manipal Teaching Hospital’s antenatal clinic. Sociodemographic data and relevant clinical variables were collected using a predesigned proforma after obtaining informed written consent. The subjects were interviewed with Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI). For the assessment of correlates, regression analysis was carried out. All statistical analyses were done using SPSS v 20.0. P values &lt; 0.05 were considered significant. &#x0D; Results: The prevalence of depression was 13.3 % according to BDI with additional 19% fulfilling criteria of mild mood disturbance. Factors such as history of sub fertility, pregnancy-induced illness and presence of domestic violence were found to be statistically significant predictors of depression during pregnancy. &#x0D; Conclusion: Depression can occur frequently among pregnant women. Certain factors can be identified, which further increase the risk of such mental illnesses. Thus, pregnant women who are at high risk such as with pregnancy induced illness, have history of sub fertility, exposed to domestic violence etc., must be identified and diagnosed so that they can be treated timely.

Rethinking the contemporary history of fertility: family, state, and the world system

The paper highlights the drivers of contemporary fertility history in developed countries “forgotten” by theory: fundamental changes in the world system after the Second World War and in the late 1980s and early 1990s; competing ideas of the “right” family and family and demographic policy; centre-peripheral relations and their impact on the resource capabilities of such policy. Statistical analysis shows that the periods during which countries’ positions by total fertility rates remained stable were disrupted by intervals in which significant changes in these positions occurred. Twice, due to the Second World War and the disintegration of the Soviet bloc, such intervals coincided with fundamental shifts in the world system. In addition, such intervals occurred in Western countries in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the negative association between women’s participation in the labour force and fertility became positive, and then in the 2000s in Russia, countries of Eastern and Central Europe and the former Yugoslavia during fertility “recovery”. Contemporary fertility changes in the developed world are directed by “gravitational fields” of four attractors. Three of them are institutional traps created by low living standards, or contradictions between the “new” economy and “old” family relations, or, in varying proportions, both. The fourth attractor is an ideal condition in which generous family policy and men’s participation in the home maintain fertility at the replacement level. Currently, France and the Scandinavian countries come closest to this. The question of whether the developed semi-peripheral countries will be able to approach this condition, or, due to resource constraints, it will remain a privilege accessible only to the core countries, remains open.

An assessment of the multifactorial profile of steroid-metabolizing enzymes and steroid receptors in the eutopic endometrium during moderate to severe ovarian endometriosis

BackgroundPrevious studies of expression profiles of major endometrial effectors of steroid physiology in endometriosis have yielded markedly conflicting conclusions, presumably because the relative effects of type of endometriosis, fertility history and menstrual cycle phases on the measured variables were not considered. In the present study, endometrial mRNA and protein levels of several effectors of steroid biosynthesis and action in patients with stage III-IV ovarian endometriosis (OE) with known fertility and menstrual cycle histories were compared with the levels in control endometrium to test this concept.MethodsEndometrial samples were collected from patients without endometriosis (n = 32) or OE stages III-IV (n = 52) with known fertility and cycle histories. qRT-PCR and immunoblotting experiments were performed to measure levels of NR5A1, STAR, CYP19A1, HSD17Bs, ESRs and PGR transcripts and proteins, respectively. Tissue concentrations of steroids (P4, T, E1 and E2) were measured using ELISAs.ResultsThe levels of expression of aromatase and ERβ were lower (P < 0.0001) and 17β-HSD1 (P < 0.0001) and PRA (P < 0.01) were higher in OE endometrium. Lower aromatase levels and higher 17β-HSD1 levels were detected in fertile (aromatase: P < 0.05; 17β-HSD1: P < 0.0001) and infertile (aromatase: P < 0.0001; 17β-HSD1: P < 0.0001) OE endometrium than in the matched control tissues. Both proliferative (PP) and secretory (SP) phase OE samples expressed aromatase (P < 0.0001) and ERβ (PP: P < 0.001; SP: P < 0.01) at lower levels and 17β-HSD1 (P < 0.0001) and PRA (PP: P < 0.01; SP: P < 0.0001) at higher levels than matched controls. Higher 17β-HSD1 (P < 0.01) and E2 (P < 0.05) levels and a lower (P < 0.01) PRB/PRA ratio was observed in infertile secretory phase OE endometrium than in control.ConclusionsWe report that dysregulated expression of 17β-HSD1 and PGR resulting in hyperestrogenism and progesterone resistance during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, rather than an anomaly in aromatase expression, was the hallmark of eutopic endometrium from infertile OE patients. Furthermore, the results provide proof of concept that the fertility and menstrual cycle histories exerted relatively different effects on steroid physiology in the endometrium from OE patients compared with the control subjects.

The Intersections of Women’s Economic and Reproductive Empowerment

ABSTRACTThis article examines the connections between women’s reproductive health, care responsibilities, and the quality of work. The research suggests that the economic empowerment of women, manifest in their choice of where and when to work, and of the terms and conditions of that work, is intimately linked to reproductive empowerment and reproductive outcomes. Simplistic discourse in development policy about educating girls and getting women into the labor force will not translate into goals being met unless attention is paid to women’s reproductive health and rights. This analysis highlights the data limitations inherent in existing surveys that frustrate a more-nuanced inquiry into employment and fertility outcomes. Analysts and statistical agencies responsible for household and labor force survey design could certainly apply some of the information they gain from questions that elicit retrospective histories of contraception and fertility to inform their interpretations of women’s employment history, job quality, and labor market intermittency.

Museum Specimens Reveal Life History Characteristics in Plethodon montanus

Amphibian life history strategies can vary across broad geographic patterns, which have been explained, at least in part, by how development, growth, maintenance, and reproduction respond to temperature. However, there is a dearth of information regarding life history traits and their variation among populations for many amphibian species, which prevents assessment of these broad patterns among species. Therefore, we used museum specimens to assess the variation in reproductive condition of Plethodon montanus across its range and used skeletochronology at five populations along an elevational gradient to determine the elevational variation in age, growth rate, and asymptotic size. We found that body size and temperature seasonality best explained the variation in the presence of eggs and a mental gland, whereas body size alone best explained the presence of enlarged pigmented testes. We also found that longevity in P. montanus is at least 12 years with higher elevations having a higher proportion of older individuals compared to lower elevations and that size was a better explanation of reproductive condition than age across the elevation. Our results further demonstrate the importance of body size for amphibian life history traits and the utility of museum specimens to estimate these traits. Variation in reproductive condition across the range of P. montanus is likely the result of variation in growing season length. Lastly, we found evidence suggesting asymptotic size and growth rates may have changed over the last half century, which would ultimately affect fertility and other life history traits and warrants future studies.

Fertility History and Cognitive Function in Late Life: The Case of Mexico.

Mexico is aging rapidly, which makes identification of life-course factors influencing cognition a public health priority. We evaluate how the number of children one has relates to cognition in Mexico, a rapidly aging country that experienced fertility declines across recent cohorts of older people. We analyze older adults (age 50+, n = 11,380) from the 2015 Mexican Health and Aging Study. Respondents were categorized by number of children ever born (0-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6+). Using ordinary least squares regression, we estimate independent associations between fertility history and cognition accounting for demographic, socioeconomic, health, and psychosocial factors. We observed an inverse U-shaped relationship between number of children (peaking at 2-3 children) and cognitive function, regardless of gender. In regression analyses adjusted for confounding variables, having 0-1 (vs 2-3 children) was associated with poorer cognitive function only for females. Regardless of gender, having 6+ (vs 2-3 children) was associated with poorer cognitive function. These associations remained significant even after accounting for socioeconomic, health, employment, and psychosocial factors. Our results suggest fertility history may play a role in late-life cognitive health and provide evidence that both low and high fertility may relate to poorer cognitive function. We discuss differences by gender.