Health Reforms May Reduce Birth Rates
German health reforms that came into affect in January may cause the birth rate to fall by as much as 10,000 in that country according to the Federal Association for Reproductive Medicine Centers. The changes to the health policy means that German people must now pay for more treatments and medications, including those costs associated with fertility treatments. Many couples have complained that they cannot afford to pay for fertility treatments and are therefore less likely to seek them out. Germany currently has one of the lowest births rates in the world and it is estimated that more than a third of the population will be over 60-years-old by the year 2030. Source: Reuters
Study: Flu in Pregnancy Linked to Schizophrenia
A study done in New York has shown a direct relation to women getting the flu in their first trimester and schizophrenia in their offspring. The highest risk seems to apply to women in the first half of their first trimester whose babies had a seven-times increased risk of developing the disorder. Women who got the flu during the midpoint of their first trimester up until the half way mark of their second trimester had a three-times greater risk of their child developing schizophrenia. After this, the risk did not increase. Researchers suggested that the schizophrenia was caused by damage to the fetal brain, possibly through the maternal body temperature rising or from antibodies crossing the placenta and affecting the developing immune system. The study also suggested that over-the-counter medications may affect the central nervous system in the fetus. Source: Reuters
Battered Women at Three-Fold Risk of Miscarriage: Survey
A recent study has shown that women who experience violence during their pregnancy are at an increased risk of miscarrying, having an abortion, a stillbirth or a premature birth. The study indicated that women involved in a violent relationship had a three-times greater risk of having a miscarriage. Women in violent relationships also appeared to have an increased risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection, in particular the human papilloma virus, which is the main cause of cervical cancer. Women who removed themselves from violent circumstances lowered their chances of complications with their pregnancy. Researchers felt that their study showed the importance of intervening when a pregnant woman appears to be in an abusive situation. Source: Health News, 123Bharath.com
August 3, 2004
Chlamydia, the Silent Killer of Your Fertility
Doctors are trying to bring the public's attention to the effects of chlamydia, a sexually transmitted infection, if it is left untreated. Chlamydia is a potentially serious infection and can lead to infertility in both women and men. Symptoms of the infection in women include burning when you urinate and an unusual vaginal discharge. However, many people won't experience any symptoms. Women's fertility is compromised by chlamydia because one of the first places the infection attacks is the cervix. A baby born to a mother with chlamydia is at risk of also being infected, developing infant pneumonia or neotorum, an infection of the eyes. Source: Margaret Ziribaggwa, allAfrica.com
August 3, 2004
TeKay Designs Launches New Maternity Bridal Line
TeKay Designs has recently introduced a new line of bridal gowns designed just for pregnant women. This latest line is in addition to the other maternity bridal gowns they have been designing since 1998.The company reports the maternity bridal gowns have been a big hit as it is often hard to find an affordable and attractive bridal dress if you are pregnant. TeKay Designs will even custom make dresses for their clients. They also design a variety of other maternity wear and will ship to various countries throughout the world. Source: Press Release
August 4, 2004
Easing Pregnancy Worries
A new screening process is being offered to pregnant women in their first trimester. The screening consists of a blood test and an ultrasound and is offered to women between the 11th and 14th week of their pregnancy. The tests screen for things like Down syndrome, congenital heart defects, and other chromosomal abnormalities. Since the screening is done earlier in the pregnancy, women can put their fears to rest sooner. For those few women who do screen positive for a problem, they can decide how they would like to deal with it sooner.
Source: Patricia Hagen, Tucson Citizen
August 5, 2004
Preventing Vertical HIV Transmission
A study conducted in Thailand by Thai, American and French researchers has found that it is possible to reduce the risk of transmitting the HIV virus from mother to child if properly treated with two drugs. Previously, mothers were only treated with the AZT drug, which was found to be effective in reducing the risk of transmission by a third. However, due to the costs associated with the drug, it was not an option for everyone, especially for women living in developing countries. Researchers found that using a short treatment AZT plus one dose of nevirapine (NVP) could reduce the risk of transmission from mother to child to as little as 2%. However, it is still possible to transmit the infection to a child through breastfeeding, therefore researchers recommended bottle feeding babies whose mothers were infected with HIV. Source: The Hindu
Plastics Cause Gender Change
The UK Environment Agency has just finished a survey of 42 rivers in Britain and the survey's findings are rather disturbing. The Environment Agency has found that a third of male fish have begun to grow female genitals. This sex change is blamed on the endocrine disrupters (chemicals that cause changes and mutations in genes) from shampoo, pesticides, food packaging, and pesticides that build up in the environment. Researchers also worry that other species, like dolphins, seals, otters, some birds and even bees, have begun to be affected. They also suggest that humans have begun to be affected by these chemicals, pointing to the decline in fertility rates and the fact that sperm counts dropped off by a third between 1989 and 2002. Two years ago the World Health Organization strongly recommended governments start investigating the effects of endocrine disrupters but so far little has been done. Source: Mark Townsend, The Hindu
Pediatricians to Issue Cold Rub Warning
The Canadian Paediatric Society will soon be issuing a statement to warn parents about the potentially fatal hazards of ingesting products with camphor or eucalyptus. Camphor and eucalyptus are ingredients commonly found in chest rubs and cough and cold medications. It is believed the statement will strongly encourage parents of two- to five-year-olds to get rid of any medication that contains these ingredients. The Society has also said that these medications have not been proven to actually work as a decongestant. Common effects of children ingesting these oils include vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and lethargy. However, ingesting just one teaspoon of camphor oil can cause death in a two-year-old child. Source: Sharon Kirkey, National Post (A1, A16) August 5, 2004
Old Remedies, New Use
More doctors are suggesting women with fertility problems try acupuncture to help try to conceive. They recommend acupuncture because it can help increase blood flow to the uterus, which can help implantation of fertilized embryos. It can also simply help a woman to relax. It has been shown that women undergoing IVF treatment who were also having acupuncture were 50% more likely to conceive than those who just did IVF. Along with acupuncture, mind-body support groups are gaining popularity in the United States. These groups allow couples to talk openly about their fertility problems with other people who are going through the same thing. The groups also teach yoga and meditation techniques that can help stressed couples relax. According to a Harvard study, 55% of couples successfully conceived after doing a mind-body course. Source: Judy Muller, Worlds News Tonight
Switched Before Birth
A San Francisco woman, Susan Buchweitz, has won a $1million settlement after being implanted with the wrong embryo. Buchweitz was to be implanted with a fertilized embryo from a donor egg and sperm the same day as another couple were to be implanted with a donor egg. Although the embryologist notified the doctor, Dr. Steven Katz, within a few minutes of the error, Dr. Katz chose not to notify Buchweitz of the mistake. The couple whose embryo was implanted in Buchweitz is now trying to gain custody of Buchweitz's son. They are also suing Dr. Katz. Source: Hattie Kauffman, Health Watch CBS News
Qualms Over 'Frozen Ovaries' Pregnancy
New technology has been developed that would allow women to have their ovaries removed, frozen then implanted back into them at a later date. This technology was developed in order to allow women who are undergoing serious medical treatment, like cancer treatments, to still have the opportunity to become pregnant once their treatment is done. However, experts at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England have expressed concern over the potential for healthy women to access this technology in order to have children at a later age and possibly avoid menopause. The technique still has to be perfected, though, and carries many risks with it. Source: Karen Hambridge, ICCoventry
August 6, 2004
Delaying Premature Baby Birth Beneficial
Researchers in England have said that delaying the birth of a premature baby by as little as a few days can decrease the risk of brain damage and disabilities. While some doctors are reluctant to delay delivering a child who is not doing well in the womb, the research article published in The Lancet medical journal states that waiting can help with brain development. However, it is difficult to determine best time to deliver a baby prematurely. A baby born too soon is at an increased risk for a variety of problems, while waiting too long can result in a stillbirth. Source: Patricia Reaney, Houston Chronicle
