Women In Denmark Research Articles

Danish Urogynaecological Database.

The Danish Urogynaecological Database is established in order to ensure high quality of treatment for patients undergoing urogynecological surgery. The database contains details of all women in Denmark undergoing incontinence surgery or pelvic organ prolapse surgery amounting to ~5,200 procedures per year. The variables are collected along the course of treatment of the patient from the referral to a postoperative control. Main variables are prior obstetrical and gynecological history, symptoms, symptom-related quality of life, objective urogynecological findings, type of operation, complications if relevant, implants used if relevant, 3–6-month postoperative recording of symptoms, if any. A set of clinical quality indicators is being maintained by the steering committee for the database and is published in an annual report which also contains extensive descriptive statistics. The database has a completeness of over 90% of all urogynecological surgeries performed in Denmark. Some of the main variables have been validated using medical records as gold standard. The positive predictive value was above 90%. The data are used as a quality monitoring tool by the hospitals and in a number of scientific studies of specific urogynecological topics, broader epidemiological topics, and the use of patient reported outcome measures.

Increased risk of borderline ovarian tumors in women with a history of pelvic inflammatory disease: A nationwide population-based cohort study

ObjectiveSome studies suggest that pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a potential risk factor for ovarian cancer. However, only few studies have investigated the association between PID and risk of borderline ovarian tumors. We conducted a population-based cohort study to investigate the association between PID and risk of borderline ovarian tumors. MethodsUsing various nationwide Danish registries we identified all women in Denmark during 1978–2012, who were born during 1940–1970 (n=1,318,925). Of these, 81,263 women were diagnosed with PID in the study period, and 2736 women had a borderline ovarian tumor (1290 serous and 1344 mucinous). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between PID and risk of borderline tumors were estimated using Cox regression models with adjustment for potential confounders. ResultsA history of PID was associated with an increased risk of borderline ovarian tumors (HR=1.39; 95% CI: 1.19–1.61). However, histotype-specific analyses revealed significant variation in risk as PID was only associated with an increased risk of serous borderline tumors (HR=1.85; 95% CI: 1.52–2.24), but not with mucinous borderline tumors (HR=1.06; 95% CI: 0.83–1.35). ConclusionsPID is associated with an increased risk of serous borderline tumors. Further research on the potential underlying biological mechanisms and on the identification of the subset of women with PID who are at increased risk of serous borderline tumors is warranted.

Varicella-zoster immunoglobulin treatment in pregnant women in Denmark from 2005 to 2015: descriptive epidemiology and follow-up.

Primary infection with varicella-zoster virus in pregnancy poses a risk of severe infection and embryopathies. Upon exposure, seronegative women are candidates for varicella-zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG). The aim of this paper was to describe risk factors for VZIG treatment including sources of varicella exposure and to study how many women developed clinical infection and received postpartum vaccination. We identified all pregnant women who received VZIG from December 2005 to March 2015. Additional information was obtained from Danish registers and a follow-up questionnaire. A total of 104 women were included and 88 completed the questionnaire. Significantly more women had 'other country of origin' than Denmark. They were more often second para (57%) and had most commonly been exposed to varicella by their own child (58%). Five women developed clinical varicella infection, and only 26·5% were vaccinated after delivery. The study concludes that few women developed infection after VZIG and none developed pneumonia. General practitioners should be particularly aware of obtaining varicella anamnesis in parous women from non-temperate countries in order to perform selective vaccination prior to pregnancy. In case of varicella exposure during pregnancy in a seronegative woman, postpartum vaccination is crucial.

High fruit intake, lower alcohol consumption associated with lower breast cancer risk

Researchers in 2 linked studies recently published in BMJ have revealed new data on the relation of alcohol and diet with breast cancer and heart disease.1, 2 The first study found that high fruit consumption during adolescence is associated with lower breast cancer risk, whereas the second reports that increased alcohol intake in later life is associated with an increase in breast cancer. Evidence about whether fruit and vegetable intake protects against breast cancer is conflicting. Most studies in this area have assessed intake during midlife and later, which may be after the period when breast tissue is most vulnerable to carcinogenic influences. As a result, researchers examined whether fruit and vegetable consumption would affect subsequent breast cancer risk. In the first study, participants included more than 90,000 premenopausal women aged 27 to 44 years from the Nurses' Health Study II who completed a questionnaire in 1991 on diet as well as more than 44,000 who completed a questionnaire in 1998 that focused on their diet during adolescence. The investigators concluded that high fruit consumption during adolescence (2.9 vs 0.5 servings per day) was associated with an approximately 25% lower risk of premenopausal breast cancer diagnosed in middle age. The association with adolescent fruit intake was stronger for both estrogen and progesterone receptor-negative cancers than estrogen and progesterone receptor-positive cancers. Specifically, apple, banana, and grape consumption during adolescence and orange and kale consumption during early adulthood were significantly associated with a reduced breast cancer risk; however, there was no link between the intake of fruit juice in either adolescence or early adulthood and risk. In an accompanying editorial, University of Oxford researchers note that although much more evidence is needed before conclusions can be drawn about the protective associations between adolescent fruit intake and breast cancer risk, fruit and vegetable intake should continue to be encouraged at all ages because of the known beneficial health effects.3 In the second study, Danish researchers analyzed the effect of a change in alcohol intake on the risk of breast cancer and heart disease. They followed the health of nearly 22,000 postmenopausal women in Denmark and found that women who increased their alcohol intake by 2 drinks per day over 5 years had an approximately 30% increased risk of breast cancer but an approximately 20% decreased risk of coronary heart disease in comparison with women who had stable alcohol intake. Decreased alcohol intake in women during the 5-year period, however, was not significantly associated with the risk of either breast cancer or coronary heart disease. The authors note that although their findings support the theory that alcohol is associated with breast cancer and coronary heart disease risk in opposite directions, the true effect of alcohol on ischemic heart disease is not certain. They add that although low to moderate alcohol consumption may provide some benefit to the heart, this is outweighed by an increased risk of breast cancer and other morbidities. Furthermore, heart disease risk can be substantially reduced by other lifestyle changes and drugs such as statins.

Undocumented migrant women in Denmark have inadequate access to pregnancy screening and have a higher prevalence Hepatitis B virus infection compared to documented migrants in Denmark: a prevalence study.

BackgroundPregnant residents of Denmark are tested by their GP for current infections with Hepatitis B virus (HBV), HIV and syphilis through the Danish pregnancy screening programme to identify infections and initiate interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Documented migrants (DM) have access to this screening but undocumented migrants (UM) do not, instead relying on ad-hoc care from clinics run by non-governmental organisations. We aimed to assess screening frequency in UM and to compare prevalence of infection in UM with DM.MethodsWe obtained individual-level information on HBV, HIV and syphilis testing frequency and results for pregnant women attending three clinics specialising in care for UM between August 2011 and August 2014. We obtained aggregate data on the prevalence of the three infections for documented migrants from the Danish pregnancy screening programme and birth register between January 2011 and January 2014. Planned abortions were excluded from the study. We described demographic features of pregnant UM and estimated the screening frequency for HIV, HBV and syphilis. We compared prevalence of current infections in UM and DM by calculating standardised prevalence ratios (SPR).ResultsThe three UM clinics registered 219 pregnancies qualifying for screening. Overall 43, 58 and 60 % of pregnant UM had a test result recorded for HBV, Syphilis and HIV respectively, compared to >99 % in the general Danish population including DM.The prevalence of HBV was higher in UM than in DM (SPR: 2.4; 95 % CI: 1.1–5.3). The SPR of 2 (95 % CI: 0.5–8.0) for HIV was not statistically significant, potentially due to small sample size of UM. None of the pregnant UM tested positive for Syphilis.ConclusionsPregnant UM have a poorer chance of being tested for HIV, HBV and syphilis, despite having a higher prevalence of HBV than DM. We recommend giving systematic access to routine pregnancy screening to all UM to prevent mother-to-child transmission and to address the observed health care inequity.

Spontaneous Pregnancy Loss in Denmark Following Economic Downturns.

An estimated 11%-20% of clinically recognized pregnancies result in spontaneous abortion. The literature finds elevated risk of spontaneous abortion among women who report adverse financial life events. This work suggests that, at the population level, national economic decline-an ambient and plausibly unexpected stressor-will precede an increase in spontaneous abortion. We tested this hypothesis using high-quality information on pregnancy and spontaneous loss for all women in Denmark. We applied time-series methods to monthly counts of clinically detected spontaneous abortions (n = 157,449) and the unemployment rate in Denmark beginning in January 1995 and ending in December 2009. Our statistical methods controlled for temporal patterns in spontaneous abortion (e.g., seasonality, trend) and changes in the population of pregnancies at risk of loss. Unexpected increases in the unemployment rate preceded by 1 month a rise in the number of spontaneous abortions (β = 33.19 losses/month, 95% confidence interval: 8.71, 57.67). An attendant analysis that used consumption of durable household goods as an indicator of financial insecurity supported the inference from our main test. Changes over time in elective abortions and in the cohort composition of high-risk pregnancies did not account for results. It appears that in Denmark, ambient stressors as common as increasing unemployment may precede a population-level increase in spontaneous abortion.

Veil as Stigma: Exploring the Role of Representations in Muslim Women's Management of Threatened Social Identity

AbstractThis study extends research on the relations between social representations and social identities through an exploration of how Muslim women manage the stigma of veiling. Based on analysis of individual and group interviews among Muslim women in Denmark and the UK, the study highlights the dialectical nature of social identity as constructed through and against others' representations of social groups and the norms of valuing they impose. It shows how, for the women here, the reinforcement of a shared sense of Muslim identity goes together with re‐evaluation of aspects of that identity, principally in response to representations of the veil that deny Muslim women agency and cast them as oppressed. It shows how norms of gender and agency are in this process variously resisted and affirmed, resulting in the reframing of gendered religious values. Theoretically, the study argues that an account of the role of representations in the construction of identity challenges the inter‐group framework of existing approaches to threatened social identity and sheds light on intersectional dynamics of identity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism and breast cancer risk: a nationwide cohort study.

The association between thyroid disease and breast cancer risk remains unclear. We, therefore examined the association between hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and breast cancer risk. This was a population-based cohort study. Using nationwide registries, we identified all women in Denmark with a first-time hospital diagnosis of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, 1978-2013. We estimated the excess risk of breast cancer among patients with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism compared with the expected risk in the general population, using standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) as a measure of risk ratio. Breast cancer diagnoses in the first 12 months following diagnosis of thyroid disease were excluded from the calculations to avoid diagnostic work-up bias. We included 61, 873 women diagnosed with hypothyroidism and 80, 343 women diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Median follow-up time was 4.9 years (interquartile range (IQR): 1.8-9.5 years) for hypothyroidism and 7.4 years (IQR: 3.1-13.5 years) for hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism was associated with a slightly increased breast cancer risk compared with the general population (SIR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.07-1.16), which persisted beyond 5 years of follow-up (SIR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.08-1.19). In comparison, hypothyroidism was associated with a slightly lower risk of breast cancer (SIR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.88-1.00). Stratification by cancer stage at diagnosis, estrogen receptor status, age, comorbidity, history of alcohol-related disease and clinical diagnoses of obesity produced little change in cancer risk. We found an increased risk of breast cancer in women with hyperthyroidism and a slightly decreased risk in women with hypothyroidism indicating an association between thyroid function level and breast cancer risk.

Anti-hemorrhagic effect of prophylactic tranexamic acid in benign hysterectomy—a double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial

Hysterectomy is one of the most frequently performed major gynecological surgical procedures. Even when the indication for theprocedure is benign, relatively high complication rates have been reported. Perioperative bleeding seems to represent the most common cause of complications and in 2004, 8% of all women in Denmark undergoing benign hysterectomy experienced a bleeding complication. Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic agent that has shown to effectively reduce bleeding complications within other surgical and medical areas.However, knowledge about the drug's effect in relation to benign hysterectomy is still missing. To investigate the antihemorrhagic effect of prophylactic tranexamic acid in elective benign hysterectomy. A double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted at 4 gynecological departments in Denmark from April 2013 to October 2014. A total of 332 women undergoing benign abdominal, laparoscopic, or vaginal hysterectomy were included in thetrial, randomized to either 1 g of intravenous tranexamic acid or placebo at start of surgery. Chi-square test and Student t test statistical analyses were applied. The primary outcome of intraoperative total blood loss was reduced in the group treated with tranexamic acid compared to the placebo group when estimated both subjectively by the surgeon and objectively by weight (98.4 mL vs 134.8 mL, P= .006 and 100.0 mL vs 166.0 mL, P= .004). The incidence of blood loss ≥500 mL was also significantly reduced (6 vs 21, P= .003), as well as the use of open-label tranexamic acid (7 vs 18, P= .024). Furthermore, the risk of reoperations owing to postoperative hemorrhage was significantly reduced in the tranexamic acid group compared to the placebo group (2 vs 9, P= .034). This corresponds to an absolute risk reduction of 4.2% and number needed to treat of 24. No incidence of thromboembolic events or death was observed in any of the groups. The results support the hypothesis that prophylactic treatment with tranexamic acid reduces the overall total blood loss, the incidence of substantial blood loss, and the need for reoperations owing topostoperative hemorrhage in relation to benign hysterectomy. No incidences of serious adverse events occurred. Thus, tranexamic acid should be considered as a prophylactic treatment prior to elective benign hysterectomy.

Pedersen, Marianne Holm. Iraqi women in Denmark: ritual performance and belonging in everyday life. ix, 197 pp., maps, bibliogr. Manchester: Univ. Press, 2014. £70.00 (cloth)

Pedersen, Marianne Holm. Iraqi women in Denmark: ritual performance and belonging in everyday life. ix, 197 pp., maps, bibliogr. Manchester: Univ. Press, 2014. £70.00 (cloth)

Trends in gynecologic cancer among elderly women in Denmark, 1980–2012

ABSTRACTBackground The aim of this analysis was to describe trends in incidence, mortality, prevalence, and survival in Danish women with gynecologic cancer from 1980–2012 comparing women aged 70 years or more with younger women.Material and methods Gynecologic cancers included were ICD-10 codes C53 (cancer of the cervix uteri), C54 (corpus uteri cancer), C56 (ovarian cancer) and C57 (Fallopian tube cancer). Data derived from the NORDCAN database with comparable data on cancer incidence, mortality, prevalence and relative survival in the Nordic countries, where the Danish data are delivered from the Danish Cancer Registry and the Danish Cause of Death Registry with follow-up for death or emigration until the end of 2013.Results For cervical cancer the incidence decreased among women aged less than 70 years and remained stable among the elderly. The mortality rates were clearly separated by age groups with a 2–3 fold higher mortality rate among 70 + years-old than younger women. The mortality rates, however, decreased in all age groups from 1980–2012.For ovarian and Fallopian tube cancers the incidence was almost constant, whereas the average annual number of deaths decreased over time from 466 in 1980 to 396 in 2012. The mortality rates were clearly separated by age groups with mortality rates 3–4 times higher among the elderly. The mortality rate decreased among women less than 70 years during the entire period.The average annual number of newly diagnosed corpus uteri cancer increased from 631 in 1980 to 773 in 2012. The mortality rates were clearly separated by age groups with much higher mortality rates among the 70+ years-old as compared with younger women. Overall the mortality rates decreased from 1980 to 2012.Conclusion In gynecologic cancer both mortality rates and survival are age-dependent with a significantly shorter survival in the group of elderly.

Patients’ strategies for eating after gastric bypass surgery: a qualitative study

There is considerable variation in the amount of weight patients lose after gastric bypass surgery, and this may be related to the way they adjust to the operation in their daily eating practices. Little is known about how this varies. On the basis of a qualitative research design, this study therefore explores how patients deal with gastric bypass surgery in their daily lives. The study is based on interviews with 24 men and women in Denmark diagnosed with morbid obesity who have had, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. The interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed using 'grounded theory' methodology. Three strategies used by patients to cope with postoperative changes were identified. In the first strategy, patients treat surgery as time-out, using the operation to facilitate a change in their ordinary habits of daily life, but not as a solution to overweight in itself. Patients adopting the second strategy of surgery as solution would expect their smaller stomach to hinder excess food intake automatically. The third strategy of abstaining was adopted by patients who were afraid to experience negative side effects, or who believed they might 'ruin the operation'. Patients adjust to their postoperative condition in very different ways. The variation in the ways patients comprehend and cope with the operation and in its effects on their eating routines and practices needs to be further investigated and compared more systematically with the outcomes of the operation in terms of weight loss and overall well-being.

Pregnant smokers: Potential for improvement of intervention

Background In many countries, smoking is considered as the most important preventable risk factor for a complicated pregnancy and delivery. However in Denmark, there is no clear picture of pregnant women. The aim was therefore to examine the prevalence, characteristics and registration of maternal smoking and quitting during pregnancy as well as estimate the potential for improvement. Methods This is a cohort study on smoking and quitting prevalence among 422,221 pregnant women in Denmark from 2006- 2012. Data from the Danish National Birth Register was linked with data from the Danish National Smoking Cessation Database in order to identify pregnant smokers undertaking a formalised smoking cessation intervention. Results Overall, 13% of the pregnant women were smokers. The smoking prevalence was highest among mothers younger than 25 years of age (29%) compared to 10-11% among the other age groups. All prognostic factors in the final analyses were in some way associated with the outcome. A group of 1,279 pregnant women underwent formal smoking cessation intervention programs with follow-up after 6 months. Of these, 232 were registered as non-smokers and 40 had no information on smoking in the Danish National Birth Registry. The potential for reducing smoking among pregnant women was high. 25-32% more quitters would be expected with a comprehensive Gold Standard Programme for smoking cessation. Conclusion This study indicates an urgent need for increased focus on offering effective smoking cessation programs to all groups of pregnant smokers, but with a special attention to the youngest group.

Pregnant smokers: Potential for improvement of intervention

Background In many countries, smoking is considered as the most important preventable risk factor for a complicated pregnancy and delivery. However in Denmark, there is no clear picture of pregnant women. The aim was therefore to examine the prevalence, characteristics and registration of maternal smoking and quitting during pregnancy as well as estimate the potential for improvement.Methods This is a cohort study on smoking and quitting prevalence among 422,221 pregnant women in Denmark from 2006-2012. Data from the Danish National Birth Register was linked with data from the Danish National Smoking Cessation Database in order to identify pregnant smokers undertaking a formalised smoking cessation intervention.Results Overall, 13% of the pregnant women were smokers. The smoking prevalence was highest among mothers younger than 25 years of age (29%) compared to 10-11% among the other age groups. All prognostic factors in the final analyses were in some way associated with the outcome. A group of 1,279 pregnant women underwent formal smoking cessation intervention programs with follow-up after 6 months. Of these, 232 were registered as non-smokers and 40 had no information on smoking in the Danish National Birth Registry. The potential for reducing smoking among pregnant women was high. 25-32%more quitters would be expected with a comprehensive Gold Standard Programme for smoking cessation.Conclusion This study indicates an urgent need for increased focus on offering effective smoking cessation programs to all groups of pregnant smokers, but with a special attention to the youngest group. (Less)

Finding the right spouse: Young Sri Lankan Tamil Hindu women in Denmark

This article focuses on second-generation, well-educated Sri Lankan Tamil Hindu women whom now live in the university towns of Denmark. After leaving their parents' homes in Denmark, they have begun to speak out, criticising matters concerning the Tamil Hindu tradition that they believe conflict with their lives in modern Danish society, both as Tamil Hindus, and as women. At the same time, they emphasise elements within the same tradition that, from their point of view, are so important, they want to pass them on to the next generation. This contradiction or conflict between connecting and disconnecting to tradition becomes obvious with regard to the discussion of finding the right spouse, where the young Sri Lankan Tamil Hindu women are caught in a conflict between following their parents marriage patterns and requirements with respect to including caste or kinship, or following their new effort to find an equally educated husband no matter of caste affiliation. This article gives examples from this discussion, which I have followed on the Internet over the last couple of years, supplemented with about 50 semi-structured interviews with young, second-generation, Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus.

Comparison of health behaviors among women brothel workers to those of the general population of women in Denmark

ABSTRACTPrevious research on behavioral risk factors for illness among sex workers has been limited and based on mixed, poorly defined groups of sex workers. The aim of the present study was to compare the health behaviors and weight of women brothel workers with women in the general population in Denmark. Logistic regression analyses were used to compare data from eighty-eight women working in brothels in 2010 with data from 3,225 women of similar age from the nationally representative Danish Health Survey 2010. Compared to Danish women, the prevalence of daily and heavy smoking was higher among brothel workers, but the prevalence of wanting to quit smoking was lower. The prevalence rates of exceeding the Danish high-risk level of alcohol consumption, binge drinking, and illicit drug use were higher among women brothel workers compared to Danish women. The prevalence of underweight was higher and overweight and obesity lower among brothel workers compared to Danish women. These differences were significant when adjusted for age and educational level. Few differences were noted regarding dietary habits and no differences regarding physical activity. Findings suggest the need for health-promotion initiatives, particularly for smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug use, targeted at women brothel workers.

Outcomes of transplantations of cryopreserved ovarian tissue to 41 women in Denmark.

What are the results of transplanting cryopreserved ovarian tissue? The transplanted ovarian tissue can last up to 10 years, with no relapses following the 53 transplantations, and the chance of a successful pregnancy is currently around one in three for those with a pregnancy-wish. Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue is now gaining ground as a valid method for fertility preservation. More than 36 children worldwide have now been born following this procedure. This is a retrospective cohort study of 41 women who had thawed ovarian tissue transplanted 53 times over a period of 10 years, including 1 patient who was lost to follow-up. The 41 Danish women, who had in total 53 transplantations, were followed for ovarian function and fertility outcome. Safety was assessed by monitoring relapse in cancer survivors. Among 32 women with a pregnancy-wish, 10 (31%) had a child/children (14 children in total); this included 1 woman with a third trimester on-going pregnancy. In addition, two legal abortions and one second trimester miscarriage occurred. A total of 24 clinical pregnancies were established in the 32 women with a pregnancy-wish. The tissue remained functional for close to 10 years in some cases and lasted only a short period in others. Three relapses occurred but were unlikely to be due to the transplanted tissue. Self-report through questionnaires with only in-one hospital formalised follow-up of transplanted patients could result in unreported miscarriages. The longevity of the tissue may vary by few months compared with those reported because some patients simply could not remember the date when the tissue became non-functional. Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue is likely to become integrated into the treatment of young women, with cancer, who run a risk of losing their fertility. The full functional lifespan of grafts is still being evaluated, because many of the transplanted women have continued to maintain ovarian activity. Some of our first cases have had tissue functioning for ∼ 10 years.

Improved response to warning signs among pregnant migrant women in Denmark: A feasibility study

Improved response to warning signs among pregnant migrant women in Denmark: A feasibility study

P08.37 Epidemiological trends in chlamydia testing in denmark 1991 to 2011 and formation of a retrospective, population-based cohort: the danish chlamydia study

Background Despite widespread, sustained testing for chlamydia in high income countries, there remain questions about the population impact of chlamydia screening. We analyse the epidemiological trends in chlamydia testing and chlamydia diagnoses in Denmark (1991 to 2011) and describe cases and controls for The Danish Chlamydia Study. Methods We describe the Danish Chlamydia Study; a unique database of individuals involving linkage of administrative health data, chlamydia tests and hospital records. We analyse trends in testing and diagnosed incidence of chlamydia and selected reproductive outcomes in men and women in Denmark. The laboratory dataset contained 4,150,498 test records from 1,348,058 individuals (1/1/1991 to 2/11/2011). Cases: individuals with a positive chlamydia diagnosis; controls: age and gender matched, selected from Danish population register. The proportion ever tested and test positivity were calculated by age, gender and calendar year. Results The cleaned laboratory dataset (1 confirmed test result per person, per day) consists of 3,298,104 test records with 264,410 (8%) positive chlamydia diagnoses. 1,277,463 individuals were tested (346,235 men and 904,587 women). Nearly all women and almost half of men in Denmark have been tested for chlamydia by age 30. Most individuals had only negative tests: 80% of men and 86% of women. Test coverage has increased and been sustained since 2008 but there has been no decline in positivity over time. Individuals included in the Danish Chlamydia Study dataset: Women: 574,679 (114,936 cases, 459,743 controls (279,905 only negative tests, 179,838 never tested)), contributing 1,807,618 tests and 20,912 reproductive outcomes; Men: 325,337 (65,068 cases, 260,269 controls) contributing 291,655 tests and 9,698 reproductive outcomes. Conclusion This large, rich dataset including long term follow up of a nationally representative sample of men and women from Denmark is a step forward in addressing some of the outstanding questions about the population impact of chlamydia screening.

Physical exercise and pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy: A nested case–control study within the Danish National Birth Cohort

ObjectivePelvic girdle pain is a frequent cause of sick leave among pregnant women in Denmark. Studies regarding prevention of pelvic girdle pain are sparse. The aim of this study was to examine the association between physical exercise and pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy. Study designA nested case–control study within the Danish National Birth Cohort (n = 5304). MethodsThis study used self-reported data on pelvic girdle pain obtained from an interview six months after childbirth. Information on physical exercise was obtained from the pregnancy interview around gestational week 16. The association was estimated using logistic regression analysis. ResultsPhysical exercise in pregnancy was associated with decreased risk of overall pelvic girdle pain (OR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.77–0.99, p = 0.028). Tests for trend indicated decreasing odds for pelvic girdle pain with increasing number of hours per week spent on exercise (p < 0.001). Compared to no exercise, swimming was associated with a decreased risk of pelvic girdle pain (OR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.58–0.91, p = 0.005). ConclusionsThe findings suggest a possible protective effect of physical exercise on pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy.