A pesquisa aqui relatada foi realizada com 08 casais inférteis em tratamento na Unidade de Medicina Reprodutiva e Imaginologia de um hospital-escola do interior paulista. A fim de compreendermos o instigante fenômeno da infertilidade, acessamos a vivência desses colaboradores mediante uma questão norteadora: Gostaria que você contasse para mim a sua vivência afetivo-sexual durante o namoro, a partir de seu casamento, quando decidiram engravidar, quando perceberam que tinham dificuldade de engravidar e durante a trajetória clínica da investigação e tratamento da infertilidade. Para análise de seus relatos, utilizamos a metodologia qualitativa, alicerçada na fenomenologia, que consiste na leitura e releitura dos depoimentos, discriminção das unidades de significado, elaboração de categorias e identificação das convergências e divergências encontradas em seus discursos. Para o entendimento de suas declarações, nos apoiamos nas perspectivas psicológica, biológica, sociocultural, histórica e da sexologia. Ao analisarmos os depoimentos, destacaram-se as seguintes categorias de significado: 1) Lembranças do tempo de namoro; 2) A arte do convívio a dois; 3) Desvendando a intimidade sexual; 4) A busca por uma ajuda especializada; 5) O estigma da infertilidade; 6) O filho como projeto de vida; 7) A menstruação como marcador de (in)sucesso do tratamento. Como resultado, percebemos que os casais planejam uma família com filhos biológicos, ou seja, uma família nuclear: pai, mãe, filho, partindo do pressuposto que eles têm o controle da função reprodutora. Entretanto, ao deparar-se com a dificuldade de engravidar, buscam um culpado pela infertilidade. Tornam o sexo mecânico, voltado só para a procriação, sentem-se estigmatizados por sua importência e veem a menstruação como sinônimo de fracasso do tratamento. A perda do controle da função procriadora os leva a buscar por novas tecnologias de RHA. E diante do insucesso do tratamento, muitos casais partem para a adoção, construindo uma família adotiva. / The research reported here was conducted with 08 infertile couples undergoing treatment at the Reproductive Medicine and Imaginology Unit of a teaching hospital in the countryside of Sao Paulo state. In order to understand the intriguing phenomenon of infertility, we assessed the experience of these couples by one question: I would like you to tell me your experience during sexual-affective relationship when you were dating, after getting married, when you decided to get pregnant, when you realized you had difficulty to get pregnant and during the course of clinical research and treatment of infertility. For analysis of their reports, we used a qualitative methodology based on phenomenology, which consists of reading and rereading of testimonies, discrimination of the units of meaning, development of categories and identification of similarities and differences found in their speeches. In order to understand their statements, we rely on the psychological, biological, sociocultural and historical perspectives as well as sexology. In reviewing the testimonies, the highlights are the following categories of meaning: 1) Memories of time of dating, 2) The art of living as a couple, 3) Revealing sexual intimacy; 4) The search for expert help, 5) The stigma of infertility, 6) The child as a life project; 7) The menstruation as a marker of (un) successful treatment. As a result, we realized that couples plan a family with biological children, that is, a nuclear family: father, mother, son, assuming that they have the control of reproductive function. However, when faced with the difficulty of getting pregnant, they seek something to blame for infertility. Sex becomes mechanic, aiming at procreation only; they feel stigmatized by their impotence and see menstruation as a synonym for treatment failure. The loss of control of the procreative function leads to the search for new AHR technologies. And faced with the failure of treatment, many couples decide to adopt a child, building an adoptive family.

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a eficácia de um meio de criopreservação sintético para sêmen humano contendo fosfolipídios e antioxidantes (ANTIOX-PL, Invitra/Supera Parque de Inovação e Tecnologia de Ribeirão Preto) em comparação com o meio convencional à base de gema de ovo (TEST-yolk buffer, Irvine Scientific), mensurada pelos parâmetros in vitro de motilidade progressiva dos espermatozoides e índice de fragmentação do DNA espermático. MÉTODOS: Ensaio clínico de não-inferioridade. Foram recrutados 63 homens (julho de 2015 a outubro de 2016), com idade entre 18 a 50 anos, amostra seminal com volume >= 1,5 mL, concentração de espermatozoides >= 15 x 106/mL e motilidade progressiva >= 32%. O sêmen foi dividido em duas alíquotas com volumes iguais, randomizadas aleatoriamente nos grupos estudo (ANTIOX-PC) e controle (TEST-yolk buffer) para receberem os meios de criopreservação. A avaliação dos desfechos foi cega para atribuição de grupo, verificados antes do congelamento e após o descongelamento. Os dados foram comparados pelo teste t pareado pelo SAS versão 9.3; ?=0,05. RESULTADOS: A motilidade progressiva (p=0.83) e o índice de fragmentação do DNA (p=0.32) analisados nas amostras de sêmen congeladas com o meio A (ANTIOXPL) não apresentaram diferença significativa em relação às que foram congeladas com o meio B (TEST-yolk buffer). A concentração (p=0.02), a concentração total (p=0.02), o percentual de espermatozoides I (p<0.01) e a vitalidade (p<0.01) foram superiores nas amostras congeladas com o meio B (TEST-yolk buffer). A motilidade não progressiva (p<0.01) e a motilidade total (p<0.01) foram superiores nas amostras congeladas com o meio A (ANTIOX-PC). E a morfologia (p=0.07) não apresentou diferença significativa entre os meios de criopreservação. CONCLUSÕES: Em relação aos desfechos primários analisados, motilidade progressiva dos espermatozoides e índice de fragmentação do DNA espermático, a nova formulação proposta neste projeto de pesquisa, ANTIOX-PC, mostrou-se não inferior ao meio convencional, TEST-yolk buffer. / OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of a synthetic cryopreservation medium for human semen containing phospholipids and antioxidants (ANTIOX-PC, Invitra / Supera Parque de Inovação e Tecnologia de Ribeirão Preto) compared to conventional egg yolk medium (TEST-yolk buffer, Irvine Scientific), measured by the in vitro parameters of progressive sperm motility and sperm DNA fragmentation index. METHODS: Non-inferiority clinical trial. 63 men (July 2015 to October 2016), aged 18 to 50 years, seminal sample with volume >= 1,5 mL, spermatozoa >= 15 x 106/mL and progressive motility >= 32% were recruited. The semen was divided into two aliquots with equal volumes, randomly randomized in the study (ANTIOX-PC) and control (TEST-yolk buffer) groups to receive cryopreservation media. The evaluation of the outcomes was blind to group assignment, verified before freezing and after thawing. The data were compared by the t-test paired by SAS version 9.3; ? = 0.05. RESULTS: Progressive motility (p=0.83) and DNA fragmentation index (p=0.32) analyzed in the semen samples frozen with medium A (ANTIOX-PL) showed no significant difference in relation to those frozen with the medium B (TEST-yolk buffer). The concentration (p=0.02), the total concentration (p=0.02), the percentage of immobile spermatozoa (p<0.01) and vitality (p<0.01) were higher in the samples frozen with medium B TEST-yolk buffer). Nonprogressive motility (p<0.01) and total motility (p <0.01) were higher in samples frozen with medium A (ANTIOX-PC). And the morphology (p=0.07) showed no significant difference between the cryopreservation media. CONCLUSIONS: The new formulation proposed in this research project, ANTIOX-PC, was not inferior to the conventional medium, TEST-yolk buffer, in relation to the primary endpoints analyzed, sperm motile spermatozoa and sperm DNA fragmentation index.

The purpose of this thesis is to query the legitimacy of offering preimplantation genetic diagnostic (PGD) testing against Down's syndrome on the basis of United Kingdom (UK) law and policies. I will argue that extending PGD testing for Down’s syndrome as a permissible use of this technology does not (straightforwardly) adhere with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) Code of Practice's stated factors which are to be considered when assessing the appropriateness of PGD applications. Indeed, due consideration of the evidence given in the relevant literature about the capacities and quality of life possible for persons living with Down's syndrome would seriously call into question the validity of a positive judgment recommending PGD as a treatment service for Down's syndrome according to the current UK regulatory instruments. I end the thesis by considering why the HFEA's relatively recent decision to limit client access according to an exclusive list of "serious" and therefore "in principle" test-worthy genetic conditions—understood as legitimate applications for PGD—stands to entrench prejudice, stigma, social bias, and unfair discrimination against the disadvantaged social group of persons living with Down's syndrome.

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a eficácia de um meio de criopreservação sintético para sêmen humano contendo fosfolipídios e antioxidantes (ANTIOX-PL, Invitra/Supera Parque de Inovação e Tecnologia de Ribeirão Preto) em comparação com o meio convencional à base de gema de ovo (TEST-yolk buffer, Irvine Scientific), mensurada pelos parâmetros in vitro de motilidade progressiva dos espermatozoides e índice de fragmentação do DNA espermático. MÉTODOS: Ensaio clínico de não-inferioridade. Foram recrutados 63 homens (julho de 2015 a outubro de 2016), com idade entre 18 a 50 anos, amostra seminal com volume >= 1,5 mL, concentração de espermatozoides >= 15 x 106/mL e motilidade progressiva >= 32%. O sêmen foi dividido em duas alíquotas com volumes iguais, randomizadas aleatoriamente nos grupos estudo (ANTIOX-PC) e controle (TEST-yolk buffer) para receberem os meios de criopreservação. A avaliação dos desfechos foi cega para atribuição de grupo, verificados antes do congelamento e após o descongelamento. Os dados foram comparados pelo teste t pareado pelo SAS versão 9.3; ?=0,05. RESULTADOS: A motilidade progressiva (p=0.83) e o índice de fragmentação do DNA (p=0.32) analisados nas amostras de sêmen congeladas com o meio A (ANTIOXPL) não apresentaram diferença significativa em relação às que foram congeladas com o meio B (TEST-yolk buffer). A concentração (p=0.02), a concentração total (p=0.02), o percentual de espermatozoides I (p<0.01) e a vitalidade (p<0.01) foram superiores nas amostras congeladas com o meio B (TEST-yolk buffer). A motilidade não progressiva (p<0.01) e a motilidade total (p<0.01) foram superiores nas amostras congeladas com o meio A (ANTIOX-PC). E a morfologia (p=0.07) não apresentou diferença significativa entre os meios de criopreservação. CONCLUSÕES: Em relação aos desfechos primários analisados, motilidade progressiva dos espermatozoides e índice de fragmentação do DNA espermático, a nova formulação proposta neste projeto de pesquisa, ANTIOX-PC, mostrou-se não inferior ao meio convencional, TEST-yolk buffer. / OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of a synthetic cryopreservation medium for human semen containing phospholipids and antioxidants (ANTIOX-PC, Invitra / Supera Parque de Inovação e Tecnologia de Ribeirão Preto) compared to conventional egg yolk medium (TEST-yolk buffer, Irvine Scientific), measured by the in vitro parameters of progressive sperm motility and sperm DNA fragmentation index. METHODS: Non-inferiority clinical trial. 63 men (July 2015 to October 2016), aged 18 to 50 years, seminal sample with volume >= 1,5 mL, spermatozoa >= 15 x 106/mL and progressive motility >= 32% were recruited. The semen was divided into two aliquots with equal volumes, randomly randomized in the study (ANTIOX-PC) and control (TEST-yolk buffer) groups to receive cryopreservation media. The evaluation of the outcomes was blind to group assignment, verified before freezing and after thawing. The data were compared by the t-test paired by SAS version 9.3; ? = 0.05. RESULTS: Progressive motility (p=0.83) and DNA fragmentation index (p=0.32) analyzed in the semen samples frozen with medium A (ANTIOX-PL) showed no significant difference in relation to those frozen with the medium B (TEST-yolk buffer). The concentration (p=0.02), the total concentration (p=0.02), the percentage of immobile spermatozoa (p<0.01) and vitality (p<0.01) were higher in the samples frozen with medium B TEST-yolk buffer). Nonprogressive motility (p<0.01) and total motility (p <0.01) were higher in samples frozen with medium A (ANTIOX-PC). And the morphology (p=0.07) showed no significant difference between the cryopreservation media. CONCLUSIONS: The new formulation proposed in this research project, ANTIOX-PC, was not inferior to the conventional medium, TEST-yolk buffer, in relation to the primary endpoints analyzed, sperm motile spermatozoa and sperm DNA fragmentation index.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely used flame retardants suspected to act as endocrine disruptors. We tested the commercial PBDE mixture DE-71 and its in vivo metabolites for estrogenic activity. MCF-7 breast cancer cells culture, ERE-luciferase gene expression, 3H-β-estradiol displacement from recombinant ERα, and ovariectomized (OVX) mice served as bioassays. Although DE-71 did not bind ERα, it was able to increase MCF-7 cell proliferation and this was prevented by the antiestrogen fulvestrant. DE-71 co-treatment reduced the effect of estradiol in MCF-7 cells. In the OVX mouse (BALB/c) 3-day assay, DE-71 administered alone had no effect on uterine or vaginal tissues but when administered subcutaneously potentiated estradiol’s effect on uterine weight in a dose-dependent manner. DE-71 administered SQ to BALB/c mice for 34 days slightly increased uterine epithelial height (UEH), vaginal epithelial thickness (VET) and mammary ductal lumen area, and attenuated the estradiol-induced increase in UEH; these effects were not seen in C57BL/6 mice. DE-71 increased liver weight in BALB/c, C57BL/6 and estrogen receptor-alpha knockout (ERαKO) mice. Liver cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) and CYP2B activities increased 2.5-fold and 7-fold respectively when DE-71 was administered PO, but only CYP2B increased (5-fold) after SQ treatment. Six OH-PBDE metabolites were found in mice after 34-day DE-71 treatment and all were able to bind recombinant ERα. Para-hydroxylated metabolites displayed a 10- to 30-fold higher affinity for ERα compared to ortho-hydroxylated PBDEs. Para-OH-PBDEs induced ERE-luciferase and produced an additive effect when coadministered with β-estradiol. DE-71 was also additive with β-estradiol. At high concentrations (≥ 5x10-5 M), ortho-OH-PBDEs were antiestrogenic in the ERE-luciferase assay. In conclusion, DE-71 behaves as a weak estrogen in both MCF-7 breast cancer cells and ovariectomized adult mice. Mice strain, treatment route and duration determined if DE-71 was estrogenic. BALB/c mice are more susceptible to DE-71 effects in estrogen target tissues than C57BL/6 mice. DE-71 increased liver weight, 5%-51% depending on mouse strain and treatment regime, independently of ERα. The observations that the DE-71 mixture does not displace 3H-β-estradiol from ERα while the hydroxylated metabolites do, suggest that the cellular and tissue effects were due to a metabolic activation of individual congeners.

Orientadores: Eliana Amaral, Maria Yolanda Makuch / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-07T13:33:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rossi_AndreadaSilveira_D.pdf: 2215950 bytes, checksum: c190d83a71722140f11b48daa634163e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: Objetivo: Identificar quais Serviços de Reprodução Assistida (SRA) e Serviços de Assistência Especializada em HIV e Aids (SAE) do Sistema de Saúde Pública do Brasil, que oferecem atendimento a pessoas vivendo com HIV com desejo reprodutivo e descrever as vivências, informações adquiridas e barreiras encontradas pelos gestores de programas, profissionais de saúde e usuários, relacionados a essa demanda. Metodologia: Estudo descritivo, de corte transversal através de entrevistas telefônicas com 69 gestores dos programas de saúde da mulher (PSM) e 69 de DST/Aids, estaduais e municipais associado a estudo de casos através de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com profissionais e usuários soropositivos de um serviço de reprodução assistida (SRA) e um serviço de atenção especializada em HIV/Aids (SAE) por região geográfica do país. Foi realizada análise descritiva dos dados quantitativos e análise temática do conteúdo para os dados qualitativos. Resultados: Foram realizadas 64 entrevistas com gestores dos PSM, sendo identificado apenas um SRA universitário que atendia casais soropositivos. Nas 63 entrevistas realizadas com gestores dos Programas de DST/Aids, constatou-se que 64% dos SAE estaduais e 73% dos municipais ofereciam orientação reprodutiva. As dificuldades relatadas pelos gestores para não oferecimento de apoio à reprodução incluíram falta de decisão política, de recursos humanos e financeiros. Nas entrevistas com os profissionais dos seis SAE visitados, foi observado que o foco dos atendimentos era na prevenção, principalmente através do uso do preservativo. A falta de encaminhamentos apropriados e a desatualização do conhecimento científico foram frequentes nos relatos dos profissionais dos serviços. A dificuldade em falar sobre o desejo reprodutivo nas consultas foi observada nas falas dos profissionais e também dos usuários. Para os últimos, isso esteve associado ao medo da discriminação e do preconceito. Entretanto, através da 47 entrevistas realizadas com usuários, o desejo de ter filhos foi vivenciado de maneira natural e expresso independentemente de se ter ou não parceiro fixo, mas, para aqueles que possuem parceiros fixos, o fato de não ter filhos da atual união pareceu aumentar a intenção reprodutiva. Conclusão: Os resultados sugerem a existência de demanda reprimida para reprodução de casais vivendo com HIV, a falta de aconselhamento reprodutivo nos SAE e de investimento em SRA que atenda a essa população, havendo um único SRA universitário no país que oferece esse tipo de atendimento. A falta de integração entre os vários setores sugere a ausência de políticas públicas voltadas para o aconselhamento reprodutivo e a necessidade de diretrizes nacionais específicas voltadas para a redução da transmissão do HIV durante todo o contexto reprodutivo / Abstract: Objective: To identify assisted reproductive services(ARS) and specialized HIV/AIDS services within the Brazilian public health system that provide care to people living with HIV who desire a child and describe the experience, the information, and the barriers encountered by program managers, healthcare professionals and users with respect to this demand. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study in which 69 women's healthcare program managers and 69 STD/AIDS program managers at both state and municipal level were interviewed by telephone, in association with a case study conducted through semistructured interviews with professionals and users of one ARS service and one HIV/AIDS service in each geographical region of the country. Descriptive analysis of the quantitative data and thematic content analysis of the qualitative data were performed. Results: Sixty-four interviews were conducted with women's healthcare program managers. Only one university ARS provided care to seropositive couples. Of the 63 interviews carried out with STD/AIDS program managers, 64% of the state and 73% of the municipal HIV/AIDS services were found to offer reproductive counseling. The difficulties offered by managers as reasons for not providing reproductive support included a lack of political decision and of human and financial resources. At the six HIV/AIDS services the professionals revealed that the focus of consultations was on the prevention, lack of appropriate referrals and outdated scientific knowledge were frequently reported. Difficulty in discussing reproductive issues was perceived in the interviews with the professionals and also with the users. In the latter case, this was associated with a fear of discrimination and prejudice. Nevertheless, as shown in the 47 interviews conducted with users, the desire to have a child was experienced as a natural part of life and was expressed irrespective of whether the individual had a steady partner or not; however, in the former case, the fact of not having a child with the individual's current partner appeared to increase the desire for a child. Conclusion: These findings suggest the existence of a repressed demand for reproduction of PLWHA and lack of reproductive counseling was observed at all HIV/Aids specialized services, as well as investment in ART services to be provided to HIV-positive couples, based on the finding that only one university ART service in the country offers this type of care. Lack of integration between the various sectors suggests an absence of public policies on reproductive counseling and a need for specific national guidelines aimed at reducing HIV transmission within the whole context of reproduction / Doutorado / Ciencias Biomedicas / Doutor em Tocoginecologia

This thesis reports on a qualitative exploration of the experiences of 30 women designated as ‘high risk’ due to the co-existence of ‘maternal obesity’ (BMI ≥ 30) and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)/Type Two Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in pregnancy. This is examined in the context of medico-scientific/public health/ popular media discourses pertaining to ‘maternal obesity’/GDM/T2DM in pregnancy. ‘Maternal obesity’/GDM/T2DM in pregnancy are increasingly prevalent and clinically associated in manifold ways. Increasing prevalence is linked to the ‘global epidemic’ of ‘obesity’/diabetes: now commonly referred to as ‘diabesity’. Current biomedical knowledge asserts ‘maternal obesity’ and diabetes (‘maternal diabesity’) synergise in causing adverse pregnancy outcomes, have long term health implications for the offspring and contribute to an ‘intergenerational cycle’ of ‘obesity’/diabetes. This is the first qualitative study to consider pregnancy/post-birth experiences of women with co-existing ‘maternal obesity’ and GDM/T2DM in pregnancy from a sociological perspective. Participants undertook a series of auto/biographical narrative interviews. Longitudinal engagement provided nuanced psycho-social insight into women’s perceptions/experiences and the socio-cultural context of their lives. Analysis of pertinent ‘pregnancy’ Internet fora postings augmented interview data and was utilised for comparative/corroborative purposes. Participants were predominantly of low socio-economic status, congruent with epidemiological data. The concept of pregnancy ‘planning’ was not resonant and few women accessed/felt predisposed to access preconception care. Women did not identify as ‘obese’, and knowledge/perception of risks associated with the medical ‘conditions’ was low. Women perceived themselves to be stigmatised due to their weight in society and specifically within healthcare. Many participants were experiencing acute/chronic stress which appeared to have mediated risk perceptions/compromised diabetic regimen adherence. Expense of ‘healthy’ eating/diabetic diet was considered prohibitive. Women’s material circumstances/socio-cultural milieux may militate against ability to minimise risk and effect lifestyle change. Policy and practice, for the most part, fails to take this into account.

Thesis (MScMedSc (Obstetrics and Gynaecology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / CHAPTER 1 presents comprehensive background information regarding all aspects addressed in this thesis. Special attention was given to literature on paternal influences on embryonic development, the role of sperm RNA, sperm chromatin and sperm functional aspects i.e. morphology and acrosomal status and size. The experimental design and all relevant methods used during the study as well as the material that were used are presented in CHAPTER 2. The results of the different techniques and evaluations are provided in CHAPTER 3. It was found that 70% of the embryos that showed no developmental potential were Y-chromosome bearing embryos. The sperm selection process for ICSI based on the approach of choosing the “best looking“ spermatozoon in the ejaculate seem to provide cells that can be classified as normal based on the length width ratio set by the WHO for normal cells. The chromatin packaging quality of the sperm correlated significantly and negatively with the percentage normal cells in the ejaculates. CHAPTER 4 comprises of a general discussion of the results and short summary of the major findings during the project. The discussion section focused on the paternal influence on the embryonic development and provided a suggestion for future research that can possibly lead to the use of X-chromosome bearing sperm in case of severe male factor cases. CHAPTER 5 contains the bibliographical information of the study.

This biocultural study examines patterns of infertility, or failure to produce live births, by female age cohorts in the Micronesian population of Butaritari Atoll, Kiribati. Anthropological and demographic methods employed included analysis of census survey, reproductive history collection, structured and semi-structured interviews, participant observation, ethnohistorical research, vital registrations, and clinic records. Primary infertility levels are found to be extremely low in this population. This is argued to be a consequence of low risk of exposure to fertility-inhibiting disease, typically extended exposures to coital activity, and a culturally-influenced resistance to birth-limiting behavior before at least one child is born. There is little reduction in fertility, and therefore in biological capacity for conception, before women reach the end of their thirties. This pattern of high fertility is maintained because of socio-culturally defined patterns of sexual behavior within marriage which tend to maintain coital activity despite increasing marriage durations, and therefore with increasing age. In the study's conclusion infertility patterns by age for this population are discussed in relation to issues of the role of physiological aging and infertility increases in human populations. It is concluded that studies of infertility by age need to be considered as culturally-grounded and population-specific, particularly in reference to patterns observed at the population level in female age groups under forty.

The issue of women's reproductive rights has become an international concern in the recent decade. Ongoing debates on women's reproductive rights in world conferences and conventions have heightened the need for empirical research and theoretical explanations of women's reproductive rights Nevertheless, very few sociological studies have treated women's reproductive rights as a dependent variable. This study examines the effects of family planning programs and the processes of modernization on women's reproductive rights. Several facets of modernization; processes of socioeconomic development, secularization, women's education, and levels of gender equality are considered. The study involves 101 countries identified by the World Bank (1994) as developing countries. It is argued, on the one hand, that variations in women's reproductive rights in developing nations may be explained by the social changes brought about by modernization processes. On other hand, the universality of the anti-natalistic population policies in developing countries in the late 20th century provides a strong state control over fertility rate, which may contribute to the attainment of women's reproductive rights. Using linear structural equation analysis, the study finds that fertility decline due to family planning programs leads to the achievement of women's reproductive rights. The empirical findings support the hypothesis that socioeconomic development has a positive effect on women's education, and that there is no statistically significant relationship between modernization and gender equality. The results of the study, meanwhile, indicate that, in developing societies, women's education is negatively related to women's reproductive rights. The study suggests: first, family planning programs as a social policy in developing countries influence fertility decline, and enhance women's reproductive rights; second, gender equality in society is an important factor that increases the level of reproductive rights for women in developing countries; and finally, the finding that women's education reduces the attainment of reproductive rights may imply the need to develop valid scales for measuring reproductive rights. The findings of this study contribute toward the development of a structural model of reproductive rights.