zhila amirkhani

Unwanted pregnancy (UP) is a worldwide problem. UP mainly results from the improper or lack of use of effective contraceptive methods. Hormonal emergency contraceptive (EC) is a method of family planning that reduces UP among women in reproductive age. We assessed the knowledge and attitudes of EC among married women in the reproductive age group.
In this cross-sectional study, 225 married women aged 15 to 49 years, who were referred to hospitals in Tehran Medical Branch during 2014 and 2015, were studied. Required data were collected through interviews and a questionnaire. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for internal consistency was 0.85, the validity of the questionnaire was detected using content validity, and its reliability was 0.973. Data were analyzed by SPSS 14.0 statistical software. Statistical significance was set at P Women with a mean age of 27.3 ± 3.2 were studied. Significant statistical differences were found between the respondents’ education and awareness (P = 0.02). There was a significant relationship between knowledge and current contraceptive method, with a confidence level of 90% (P = 0.013). About 38.6% of women were aware of the general perception, whereas 61.4% were not aware of it at all. In the target group, 22.6% and 73.3% had positive and negative attitudes toward the use of EC method, respectively, and 4% were neutral on this issue.
UP is one of the most important problems in Iran. Increasing the quality of family plan consoling in health centers and emphasizing the advantages of EC method to promote positive attitudes among women are highly recommended. Timely prevention may decrease adverse consequences for the mother and child.

In view of the effect of hard labor on pregnancy outcomes and to determine risk factors, in this study, the effect of spacing between pregnancies was evaluated for probable effect on the incidence of dystocia in labor.This is a cross - sectional study used the records of 210 pregnant women referred to Azad University hospitals between January 2000 and December 2012. Dystocia was diagnosed according to ICD-9-CM. Data were analyzed using statistical software Spss17.It was found that in pregnancies with 2-4 years spacing between births normal delivery was more prevalent while in the group with 8-10 years spacing labor dystocia was more prevalent.Based on the findings of this study the interval between pregnancies has a significant effect on labor dystocia. Increasing the spacing between pregnancies more than 8 years is a risk factor for dystocia.

Sexual dysfunctions are common and are regarded as important health problems for women of all ages with related quality of life issues. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore the frequency of sexual dysfunction among women in reproductive age group referred to the Islamic Azad University hospitals. This study was performed on married women selected by simple random sampling, aged 15-45 years who referred to Boo–Ali, Amir-Al-Momenin and Javaheri hospitals in Tehran, Iran from August 2011 to August 2012. Data were collected by face-to-face interview and completion of self-report questionnaires that assessed sexual functions among women in six separate dimensions. Analysis was done using Pearson correlation coefficient by SPSS 14.0; significant difference was set at 0.05. A total of 384 women with mean age of 28.6±7.1 years were enrolled. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 27.4±2.6 kg/m2. Ninety-seven subjects (25.2%) had never attained an orgasm, 31 (8%) had a low level satisfactory relationship with their husband, 55(14.3%) had painful intercourse, 42(10.9%) had arousal disorder, all of which increased significantly with age (P=0.003). Female Sexual dysfunctions had a significant negative correlation with BMI (P=0.004). The emotional relationship (P=0.003) and educational level (P=0.08) were significantly associated with the Female Sexual Function (FSF) score. No significant difference was detected in marriage duration (P=0.081) and used contraception methods (P=0.081). The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction including desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain problems increased with age and BMI. In addition, lower educational level is an associated factor that may cause sexual dysfunction. Also, emotional relationship had positive association with FSF score, while it was not associated with the use of contraceptive methods.

To study the pregnancy outcomes in first trimester vaginal bleeding. This cross sectional study was done on 60 pregnant women with first trimestervaginal bleeding referring to university hospitals affiliated to Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Allwomen were evaluated for the outcomes including abortion, preterm rapture of membranes, preterm labor, second and third trimester vaginal bleeding, low birth weight and intra uterine growth retardation and the mode of delivery. Data were analyzed using SPSS- 11. Placenta accreta, second trimester bleeding and preterm labor were significantly more prevalent in pregnant women with first trimester bleeding (P ≤ 0.05). According to results of present study vaginal bleeding in first trimester of pregnancy may predict further maternal and fetal complications. We recommend training pregnant women regarding those complications and their prevention.

To investigate the effect of fluoxetine as an SSRI on menstrual disorders. In this cross-sectional study 200 women referring to the Islamic Azad University affiliated hospitals during March 2011- March 2010 were divided into 4 groups. All included patients in this study had the chief complaint of mood disorders in peri- menstrual period. All patients received daily vitamin B6 tablets as primitive treatment. In groups A, B and C patients also received daily doses of 10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg of fluoxetine respectively for 6 months and in group D as the control group fluoxetine was not given. Data were analyzed by spss18 statistical software. Significant difference was set at p<0.05. In the groups receiving fluoxetine (groups A - C) 34 patients and in control group 5 patients showed irregular menstruation started during fluoxetine administration and following 3 months. Significant difference with p<0.05 was found regarding the incidence of menstrual irregularity between groups with and without fluoxetine prescription. Fluoxetine consumption leads to increased incidence of menstrual irregularity compared to the control group. The incidence increases with increasing dosage of the drug.

Aim and Background. Listeria monocytogenes is the ethiologic agent of abortion, preterm labour, neonatal septicemia and meningitis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of listeriosis in aborted mothers or preterm labour. Two methods of indirect immunofluorescens (IF) and amniotic culturing also were compared. Material and Method. This is an analytical study for evaluation of laboratory tests. In this research, the blood samples were collected from mothers and their serum were tested by indirect IF for anti-listerial antibodies. Products of aborted fetus or preterm labour (amniotic fluid or a piece of placenta) were obtained as a specimen for culturing. Result. In this study, 518 mothers, 29 cases (5.59%) admitted with preterm labour, 125 cases (24.1%) with repeated abortion and 364 cases (70.31%) with first time abortion. Six cases (1.15%) had higher titer of anti-listeria antibody (1/800) in indirect IF but in 5 cases (0.96%) L.monocytogenes was detected in culture. Conclusions. Indirect IF should be confirmed by culturing of infected specimens. Determining of anti-listerial antibody in pregnant women and selection of listeriosis for antimicrobial treatment may prevent the spontaneous abortion, still birth and preterm labour. Therefore, we suggest monitoring L.monocytogenes seropositivity in pregnant women with high risk of threatened abortion, and also microbiological assessment of symptomatic women for detection of L.monocytogenes and insidious infection.