Introduction: To describe the sociodemographic profile, contraceptive practice, and awareness of HIV infection among unmarried post partum women in the biggest government hospital in Pahang.
Methods: A cross sectional questionnaire-proforma-based study was conducted for one year duration from August 2010 until July 2011 by identifying and recruiting all the unmarried women upon admission for delivery. Basic information were obtained from the use of patients’ case notes, and further related and necessary information were obtained from a direct face-to-face interview based on a proforma.
Results: A total of 121 unmarried women were identified and recruited. The age ranged from 13 to 36 years with a mean age of 21.6 years. 31.4% were teenagers. Only 16% of patients have tertiary education, and 2.5% never had any formal education. About one third of the women were smokers or ex-smokers, 7.5% had consumed alcohol, but none denied ever use of any recreational drugs. Almost 9% has prior history of being sexually assaulted. About three quarter of the women never used any contraceptive method. Majority of the patients (85.1%) were aware of HIV transmission risk; 75% never had any antenatal checkup or booked at late gestation (> 20 weeks); and 45.8% were not aware of any support groups for single mothers. Conclusion: Single unmarried women are associated with disadvantaged sociodemographic profile.
Contraceptive practice was also very low despite significant awareness towards risk of HIV infection. Further follow up, support and care should be offered to these women.
To analyse and describe cases of unexpected ovarian malignancy after conservative laparoscopic surgery for an apparent benign ovarian mass at our centre.
To examine the effect of cryopreservation on developmental potential of human embryos, this study compared quantitative β-HCG concentrations at pregnancy test after IVF-fresh embryo transfer (IVF-ET) with those arising after frozen embryo transfer (FET). It also tracked outcomes of singleton pregnancies resulting from single-embryo transfers that resulted in singleton live births (n = 869; with 417 derived from IVF-ET and 452 from FET). The initial serum β-HCG concentration indicating successful implantation was measured along with the birthweight of the ensuing infants. With testing at equivalent luteal phase lengths, the median pregnancy test β-HCG was significantly higher following FET compared with fresh IVF-ET (844.5 IU/l versus 369 IU/l; P < 0.001). Despite no significant difference in the average period of gestation (38 weeks 5 days for both groups), the mean birthweight of infants born following FET was significantly heavier by 161 g (3370 g versus 3209 g; P < 0.001). Furthermore, more infants exceeded 4000 g (P < 0.001) for FET although there was no significant difference for the macrosomic category (≥4500 g). We concluded that FET programme embryos lead to infants with equivalent (if not better) developmental potential compared with IVF-ET, demonstrated by higher pregnancy β-HCG concentrations and ensuing birthweights.
This seven-year retrospective study analysed the live birth rate (LBR) for women undergoing IVF treatment with various antral follicle counts (AFC). The LBR decreased with lower AFC ratings, and in 290 treatment cycles for women in the poorest AFC category, ≤4 follicles (group E), the LBR was the lowest at 10.7%. The pregnancy loss rate (PLR) significantly increased with poorer AFC categories, from 21.8% in AFC group A (≥20 follicles), to 54.4% in AFC group E (p<0.0001). This trend was repeated with advancing age, from 21.6% for younger women (<35years), to 32.9, 48.5 and 100% for ages 35-39, 40-44 and ≥45 years, respectively (p<0.0001). However, LBR within the specific AFC group E cohort was also age-dependent and decreased significantly from 30.0% for <35 years old, to 13.3, 3.9 and 0% for patients aged 35-39, 40-44 and ≥45 years, respectively. Most, importantly, LBR rates within these age groups were not dependent on the number of IVF attempts (1st, 2nd, 3rd or ≥4 cycles), which indicated that cycle number should not be the primary deciding factor for cessation of IVF treatment in responding women <45years old.