Women's Reproductive Outcomes Research Articles

Disease exposure in infancy affects women's reproductive outcomes and offspring health in southern Sweden 1905–2000

Ample evidence demonstrates that early-life adversity negatively affects morbidity and survival in late life. We show that disease exposure in infancy also has a continuous impact on reproduction and health across the female life course and even affects early-life health of the next generation. Using Swedish administrative data, obstetric records, and local infant mortality rates as a measure of disease exposure, we follow women's reproductive careers and offspring health 1905–2000, examining a comprehensive set of outcomes. Women exposed to disease in infancy give birth to a lower proportion of boys, consistent with notions that male fetuses are more vulnerable to adverse conditions and are more often miscarried. Sons of exposed mothers are also more likely to be born preterm and have higher birthweight suggesting in utero out-selection. Exposed women have a greater risk of miscarriage and of male stillbirth, but their overall likelihood of giving birth is not affected.

Comparison of fertility outcomes after laparoscopic myomectomy for barbed versus nonbarbed sutures

To assess the impact on women's reproductive outcomes of barbed sutures to repair uterine breaches during laparoscopic myomectomy compared with traditional smooth sutures. Retrospective, monocentric cohort study, with information on subsequent pregnancies prospectively acquired for some women. Tertiary-level academic referral center. Women older than 18 years who had undergone a laparoscopic myomectomy and had sought pregnancy afterward, divided into two groups based on type of suture used to repair the uterine wall: group A (nonbarbed) and group B (barbed). Laparoscopic removal of FIGO types 3, 4, 5, and 6 uterine leiomyomas by use of either only barbed sutures or only traditional smooth sutures to reconstruct the uterine defect. Pregnancy achievement rates, delivery modes, main pregnancy complications, perioperative complications for both kinds of suture, and the trend of the use of barbed sutures over time at our center. Of 164 patients included, 83 were in group A and 81 in group B. Ninety-one patients (55.5%) experienced at least one postoperative pregnancy, with no differences between the groups (group A 60.5%; group B 50.6%). Of the 103 recorded postoperative pregnancies, 70 (68%) resulted in live births, 29 (28.1%) in first-trimester miscarriages, and 4 (3.9%) were ongoing. Barbed sutures have a similar impact on reproductive outcomes as smooth conventional threads, both in terms of pregnancy and obstetric complication rates, after laparoscopic myomectomy.

Birth Outcomes Among Women Affected by Reproductive Coercion.

Reproductive coercion is a form of intimate partner violence that includes behaviors that interfere with autonomous decision-making over reproductive outcomes. Unintended pregnancy is associated with exposure to reproductive coercion; however, little is known about the outcomes of continued pregnancies. The purpose of this study is to assess whether women who reported reproductive coercion during their last pregnancy experienced differences in birth outcomes compared with women without contemporaneous reproductive coercion. This was a cross-sectional survey study administered in obstetric and gynecologic offices. A survey comprised of standardized reproductive coercion, birth outcome, and intimate partner violence questions was given to English- or Spanish-speaking women with at least one prior pregnancy. Self-reported birth outcomes of interest included late or no prenatal care, low birth weight, prolonged neonatal hospitalization, preterm birth, and intrauterine fetal demise or neonatal death. Descriptive and bivariable comparisons were performed. Of 202 participants, 8.6% of women reported reproductive coercion during their last pregnancy. Women with a reported reproductive coercion history were younger, more likely to be a student, more likely to have anemia and anxiety at the time, and less likely to be married to the father of the incident pregnancy. Women with this history were more likely to express that they never wanted to be pregnant (29.4% vs 6.2%, P = .04), report other forms of intimate partner violence (35.3% vs 11.9%, P = .02), and have low-birth-weight neonates (17.6% vs 3.1%, P = .03). There were no observed differences in other birth outcomes. The response rate was 68%. In this exploratory study, women who reported reproductive coercion during their most recent completed pregnancy were more likely to report pregnancy ambivalence, other tactics of intimate partner violence, and low-birth-weight neonates. These data provide insight into the impact of violence on women's reproductive outcomes.

Oral contraceptive use as a determinant of plasma concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances among women in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort (MoBa) study

ObjectiveBecause oral contraceptives (OC) tends to lessen menstrual fluid loss – a route of excretion for perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) – we hypothesized that such use would be positively associated with PFAS concentrations. MethodsThis analysis was based on the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort (MoBa) study. We included 1090 women from two previous substudies of women enrolled from 2003 to 2007. Characteristics of OC use were obtained at baseline: use in the past 12months, duration and recency of use, age at first use. We examined log-transformed plasma concentrations of seven PFASs (perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluoroheptane sulfonate (PFHpS), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)). Linear regression analyses, adjusted for maternal age, menstrual cycle length, parity, and education, were used to examine whether OC use characteristics were determinants of PFAS concentrations. ResultsExcept for PFDA and PFUnDA, women who used OCs in the 12months preceding the baseline interview had 12.9–35.7% higher PFAS concentrations than never OC users. To a lesser extent, past OC use was positively associated with PFASs (estimates ranged from 7.2–32.1%). Compared with never users, using OCs for 10 or more years was associated with increased PFAS concentrations, except for PFDA and PFUnDA (estimates for other PFASs ranged from 18.9–46.2%). We observed little effect of age at first OC use. ConclusionsThis analysis shows that characteristics of OC use, and duration of use in particular, may be important considerations when investigating relationships between women's reproductive outcomes and PFASs.

Effects of maternal smoking on offspring reproductive outcomes: an intergenerational study in the North East of Scotland.

STUDY QUESTIONHow does exposure to cigarette smoke in utero influence women's reproductive outcomes?SUMMARY ANSWERWomen exposed to cigarette smoke in utero were more likely to have a pregnancy and more likely to experience miscarriage.WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWNExisting epidemiological studies have been inconsistent, but generally suggest a small decrease in fertility of women exposed to cigarette smoke in utero.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONThis cohort study included all women born prior to 31st December 1972 as recorded in the Aberdeen Maternity and Neonatal Databank. Exposure to maternal cigarette smoking in utero was retrieved from their birth records within the database. The primary outcome was any pregnancy occurring in the offspring over the course of their reproductive life. The 12 321 eligible women were followed up for 40 years for any pregnancies and the outcome of those pregnancies recorded in the same database.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSWithin the cohort, 3836 women were exposed to cigarette smoke and 8485 women were not exposed to cigarette smoke in utero. Generalized estimating equations were used to generate odds ratios (OR) and 95% CIs for all outcomes with adjustment made for all differences between groups at baseline.MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCEThe study did not find a link between exposure to cigarette smoke in utero and a decrease in fertility. Women exposed to cigarette smoke in utero were more likely to have a pregnancy than those whose mother did not smoke; adjusted OR = 1.25 (95% CIs: 1.13–1.38). Women exposed to cigarette smoke in utero were also likely to have a pregnancy earlier (adjusted OR for age at first delivery ≤19 years 1.31 [95% CIs: 1.12–1.54)] than those not exposed. Women exposed to cigarette smoke in utero were significantly more likely to have a miscarriage than those not exposed; adjusted OR = 1.16 (95% CIs: 1.01–1.32).LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONAlthough the cohort in this study was large, there were women for whom exposure data was unavailable. Data on the adult circumstances of women who did not record a pregnancy was unavailable, precluding adjustment for their own smoking status or social class. In addition, women who migrated from the area or chose childlessness voluntarily were not included in the study.WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGSDespite the wide-ranging harmful effects of cigarette smoke on foetal reproductive development, the effect at a population level remains uncertain. An increased risk of miscarriage in women exposed to cigarette smoke is a potentially important novel finding, which should be investigated further. This study illustrates the lack of consensus on the reproductive effects of in utero cigarette exposure, compelling continuing study in this important area.STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)No funding received. No competing interests.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERN/A.

Fertility after natural disaster: Hurricane Mitch in Nicaragua.

This investigation evaluates the effect of Hurricane Mitch on women's reproductive outcomes throughout Nicaragua. This research aim is achieved by analyzing a unique Nicaraguan Living Standards Measurement Study panel dataset that tracks women's fertility immediately before and at two time points after Hurricane Mitch, combined with satellite-derived municipality-level precipitation data for the 10-day storm period. Results show higher odds of post-disaster fertility in municipalities receiving higher precipitation levels in the immediate post-Hurricane Mitch period. However, fertility normalizes between disaster and non-disaster areas four to six years after the storm. These findings suggest that the disruptive effects of a natural disaster such as Hurricane Mitch can have an initial stimulative effect on fertility but the effect is ephemeral.

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Outcome of Reproduction in Women Irradiated for Skin Hemangioma in Infancy

The possible impact of early gonadal irradiation on the results of future pregnancies is unclear. This study is based on the progeny of 17,393 women who were treated with irradiation for skin hemangiomas at the age of 18 months or less. The mean ovarian dose was 6 cGy, and the maximum was 8.55 Gy. Using Swedish central health registers, the outcome of delivery was studied in these women; 19,494 infants born were identified. The treated women deviated from the general population by having a longer education and by smoking less. This may explain a reduced risk for low birth weight and preterm birth (not related to radiation dose). Women with ovarian doses greater than 1 cGy had fewer infants than women with a lower ovarian dose. An excess of perinatal deaths was evident as well as a slight excess in the rate of malformation, but neither was related to dose. There was a statistically significant trend of an increasing rate of neural tube defects with ovarian dose, possibly a chance result of multiple statistical testing. Cleft lip/palate occurred at levels significantly below expectation. No increase in the rate of infants with Down syndrome or in childhood malignancies was detected. No major adverse results in outcome of delivery were seen after ovarian irradiation in childhood with the possible exception of neural tube defects.