The vagina is an essential organ of the female reproductive system that has been largely understudied in the field of biomechanics. The ability of the vagina to contract gives rise to a set of active mechanical properties that contribute to the complex function of this organ in-vivo. After briefly reviewing experimental studies on the active properties of the vagina, including the differences in contractility with respect to anatomic regions and orientations, neural pathways, life events, pelvic floor disorders, and surgical mesh treatment, we present our novel experimental studies that aim toward filling existing knowledge gaps on vaginal tissue morphology and contractile function of the vagina. First, we quantified the large heterogeneous deformations that the vagina experiences during contractions for the first time. For this study, vaginal specimens were subjected to isometric planar biaxial tests, during which they were induced to contract via KCl at four applied equi-biaxial stretches. The digital image correlation method was used to perform full-field strain analysis during each contraction. The vagina was found to have anisotropic contractile behavior, generating higher forces and experiencing higher magnitude strains along the longitudinal direction (LD) than along the circumferential direction (CD) during contractions. Then, we performed the first detailed quantification of the distribution and alignment of vaginal smooth muscle and nerves throughout the vagina. Toward this goal, vaginas from adult female rats were subjected to a tissue clearing and immunohistochemistry protocol. Tissue clearing increased the transparency of the specimens such that organs could be imaged without sectioning, thus preserving the 3D architecture of the tissue. This analysis revealed a bimodal distribution of muscle alignment angles, with a significantly higher proportion of muscle oriented along the LD than along the CD of the organ. The morphologic and functional properties of the smooth muscle within the healthy vagina need to be fully investigated so that detrimental alterations in vaginal contractility, such as those caused by pelvic floor disorders and current treatment strategies, can be prevented. / Doctor of Philosophy / The vagina is an essential organ of the female reproductive system that has been largely understudied in the field of biomechanics. The ability of the vagina to contract gives rise to a set of active mechanical properties that contribute to the complex function of this organ in-vivo. After briefly reviewing experimental studies on the active properties of the vagina, including the differences in contractility with respect to anatomic regions and orientations, neural pathways, life events, pelvic floor disorders, and surgical mesh treatment, we present our novel experimental studies that aim toward filling existing knowledge gaps on vaginal tissue morphology and contractile function of the vagina. First, we quantified the large heterogeneous deformations that the vagina experiences during contractions for the first time. For this study, vaginal specimens were subjected to isometric planar biaxial tests, during which they were induced to contract via KCl at four applied equi-biaxial stretches. The digital image correlation method was used to perform full-field strain analysis during each contraction. The vagina was found to have anisotropic contractile behavior, generating higher forces and experiencing higher magnitude strains along the longitudinal direction (LD) than along the circumferential direction (CD) during contractions. Then, we performed the first detailed quantification of the distribution and alignment of vaginal smooth muscle and nerves throughout the vagina. Toward this goal, vaginas from adult female rats were subjected to a tissue clearing and immunohistochemistry protocol. Tissue clearing increased the transparency of the specimens such that organs could be imaged without sectioning, thus preserving the 3D architecture of the tissue. This analysis revealed a bimodal distribution of muscle alignment angles, with a significantly higher proportion of muscle oriented along the LD than along the CD of the organ. The morphologic and functional properties of the smooth muscle within the healthy vagina need to be fully investigated so that detrimental alterations in vaginal contractility, such as those caused by pelvic floor disorders and current treatment strategies, can be prevented.

Urban areas are a unique and growing habitat type. Animals living in this novel habitat are faced with new challenges, but may also encounter novel opportunities. Though urban animals have been observed to differ from their rural counterparts in a variety of behavioral and physiological traits, little is known about the specific features of urban areas that drive these differences and whether they are adaptive. Understanding this process is important from a conservation perspective and also to gain insight into how animals colonize novel habitats more generally. Using song sparrows (Melospiza melodia), a native songbird commonly found in urban areas, I explored responses to urbanization and the drivers and consequences of these responses with an eye toward understanding whether song sparrows had successfully adapted to urban habitats (Chapter I). I began by comparing body condition and levels of corticosterone, a hormone associated with energy management and the stress response in birds, between urban and rural populations (Chapter II). There was more variation across years than between habitats, suggesting that a variable environmental factor common to both habitats is the primary driver of these traits. I then compared territorial aggression levels and tested the effect of food availability on aggression (Chapter III). Fed rural birds and all urban birds had higher aggression levels than unfed rural birds, indicating that territorial aggression is related to resource availability in this species and that urban habitats may be perceived as more desirable. Finally, I looked for differences in reproductive timing and success and for relationships between reproductive success and aggression (Chapter IV). Higher reproductive success in urban populations, coupled with differences in the timing of successful nests between habitats, suggest differences in predation risk and predator community structure between habitats. In Chapter V, I synthesize my major findings and suggest directions for future research building on these results. I conclude that urban song sparrows differ from rural birds, that these differences are influenced by resource availability, and that urban habitats can potentially support stable song sparrow populations, though more research is necessary to determine the fitness impacts of specific traits that change with urbanization. / Ph. D.

Sixty-seven adult and 42 subadult female gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) were collected over a period of one year between December, 1966 and November, 1967 in the vicinity of Blacksburg, Virginia. Each squirrel was classified as being in one of four reproductive states (vaginal orifice closed, vaginal orifice open, pregnant, or lactating). Differences in ovarian and uterine characteristics due to month, age, and reproductive state were analysed by analysis of variance and a multiple range test. Pregnant adults had significantly (P<0.05) greater paired ovarian weights than lactating adults or those adults with a closed vaginal orifice. Uterine weights in the four reproductive states were all significantly (P<0.05) different, with pregnant adults highest, adults with open vaginal orifices next highest, lactating adults next highest and adults with closed vaginal orifices lowest. Pregnant adults had significantly (P(O.05) more tertiary follicles and significantly (P<0.05) higher sums of follicular diameters than all other reproductive states. Squirrels with open vaginal orifices had significantly (P<0.05) higher average diameters of the four largest follicles than all other reproductive states. Ovarian and uterine weights of subadults were less than adults during most months. Ovarian and uterine weights increased in late winter, decreased in early spring, increased during the summer and decreased in the fall. Follicular development was more variable, but showed general increases in the summer months. The seasonal trends reflected the frequency of occurrence of the various reproductive states in the monthly samples. Two experiments were conducted on captive female gray squirrels. In the first experiment it was determined that FSH-P can cause the formation of luteal glands in the absence of HCG injection. LH contamination of FSH-P probably caused the luteinization. There were no significant differences in ovarian response between squirrels receiving HCG subcutaneously and those receiving it intravenously after pretreatment with FSH-P. In the second experiment, 2.0 mg FSH-P/d~ on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 with subcutaneous injection of 200 IU HCG on day 13 produced significantly (p<0.05) more luteal glands than 200~ FSH-P on days l~ 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 with subcutaneous injection of 200 IU HCG on day 5. However, there were no significant differences in development of tertiary follicles. Squirrels treated with NIH-FSH-S-6 and HCG had development of large tertiary follicles with no luteinization. / Master of Science

Improvements in turkey reproductive efficiency is a very desirable goal for the turkey industry. The ability to maintain turkey hens in the egg-laying (LAY) stage and produce one additional egg per hen a year is estimated to save the turkey industry approximately $1.5 million dollars per year. Overall protein expression generated by tissues of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal complex, namely the anterior pituitary, of the mature turkey hen have a profound impact on reproductive cycling (Scanes, 2000). One of the key physiological factors produced by the anterior pituitary and shown to play a significant role in the regulation of egg laying is the protein prolactin (Prl). The objectives for this study are to examine the overall protein expression patterns from turkey hen pituitary tissue during the nonphotostimulated (NPS), photostimulated (PS), and egg laying (LAY) stages. Attempts to isolate transcription factors that regulate the expression of Prl using an affinity chromatography technique or southwestern screening of a bacteriophage expression library were not successful. A global analysis of protein expression, using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels (2D gels), was conducted using whole cell, cytoplasmic and nuclear protein extracts from pituitary tissue collected during the NPS, PS and LAY reproductive stages. Approximately 1,046 proteins ranging in pI from 4.6-8.2 and molecular weights between 100 kDa-6kDa were resolved. Protein expression patterns were replicated and verified using pituitaries harvested from NPS, PS and LAY stage turkey hens from another laboratory. Proteins showing considerable changes (563 proteins increased in expression and 98 proteins decreased in expression from the NPS to the LAY stage) in their expression between the reproductive stages were grouped in analysis sets for future identification. These proteins may prove to be important to the reproductive cycling of the turkey hen and warrant future investigation. The results of this study contribute to the overall understanding of the role that the pituitary, as a critical part of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal complex, plays in turkey hen reproductive cycling. / Master of Science

Maternal overweight and obesity (i.e., excess adiposity) are risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes and long-term maternal and offspring health impairments that are rooted in placental dysfunction. Factors contributing to placental dysfunction in pregnancies affected by excess adiposity are not fully understood. We hypothesized that impaired remodelling of uterine spiral arteries and enhanced inflammatory signalling at the placental interface related to compositional and functional differences in uterine macrophage and natural killer (NK) cells in early pregnancy would contribute to placental hypoxia and impaired vascular maturation. We tested this hypothesis using a mouse model of periconceptional high-fat, high-sucrose (HFHS) diet-induced excess adiposity. In Chapter 3, we found that HFHS placental tissues were hypoxic and exhibited histological features of malperfusion and inflammation in late gestation. This was accompanied by elevated circulating fetal endocrine and inflammatory mediators. In Chapter 4, we show that diet-induced excess adiposity does not impair spiral artery transformation at mid-gestation but does promote angiogenic and inflammatory shifts related to decidual macrophage and NK cell populations that might contribute to later placental malperfusion. In Chapter 5, we examined the cell-type-specific impacts of excess adiposity using single-cell gene expression analysis. We found that immune and stromal cell populations from HFHS uterine tissues exhibit pro-fibrotic, pro-thrombotic, and potentially immuno-suppressive gene expression changes immediately following embryo implantation. This coincided with immunophenotypic changes in blood monocytes and neutrophils that might be indicative of low-level systemic vascular injury. Overall, our findings indicate that diet-induced excess adiposity can compromise placental perfusion in the absence of impaired spiral artery remodelling. Altered recruitment and activity of uterine immune cells driven by conditions surrounding excess adiposity likely participate in disrupted uteroplacental perfusion, inflammation, and suboptimal placental function. These data provide new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying placental dysfunction in pregnancies affected by overweight and obesity. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis (MScMedSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The basic semen analysis plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of male infertility and makes a significant contribution to the diagnostic process in andrology, gynecology and clinical urology. In 1902, the man considered to be ―the founding father of modern andrology‖ Edward Martin, proposed that an analysis of a semen sample should be incorporated into all infertility assessments. Following this suggestion in 1956, the scientist John MacLeod advanced the basic semen analysis from beyond a mere observation and introduced the importance of certain semen parameters such as morphology, motility and viscosity. The present day examination includes the analysis of certain established semen parameters, which can provide key information about the quality of a patient‘s semen and the functional competence of the spermatozoa. A semen analysis is also a valuable diagnostic tool in assessing possible disorders of the male genital tract and the secretory pattern of the male accessory sex glands. This information can help to determine the reproductive capacity of the male and can be used in conjunction with the partner to indicate the impact of male genital pathophysiology in the assessment of a couple‘s prospect for fertility. Patients attending the andrology laboratory at Tygerberg Academic Hospital for a semen analysis are referred based on primary, secondary or idiopathic infertility. Amongst these patients, an increase in semen viscosity has been observed over a period of time and created the need to assess the possible causes behind this trend. Despite viscosity being included in a routine spermiogram, it raises a considerable amount of concern as it is assessed semi-quantitatively. In the first part of this study, the possible correlation between seminal hyperviscosity and leukocytospermia was assessed. To achieve the most comprehensive assessment of viscosity, a new approach was used, which is a highly quantitative method to record viscosity in the international unit, centipoise (cP). The analysis of semen samples for possible leukocytospermia was approached by three methods the first of which was cytological. During this method granulocyte grading was performed on stained semen smears during the normal determination of morphology. The same approach was taken for the second method, whereby white blood cell concentrations were quantified with a leukocyte peroxidase test in the total sample group (n=200). Viscosity was compared between the samples classified as leukocytospermic positive or negative, according to the set reference values of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Correlation analysis between the two variables was also performed. In the biochemical approach of detecting leukocytospermia, an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA) was used to quantify the concentration of the extracellular polymorphonuclear (PMN) enzyme released from leukocytes. This test was performed on 124 randomly selected samples. All samples were fractionated before storage in liquid nitrogen, to allow for multiple assessments to be performed on each sample. The PMN elastase concentration was assessed against viscosity to investigate a possible correlation and relationship with the presence of leukocytospermia. All three methods of detecting possible infection showed a significantly positive relationship with increased viscosity in semen samples. The second approach in the study was to assess increased viscosity and leukocytospermia against parameters included in the spermiogram. An evaluation of hyperviscosity and its correlations to the various other semen parameters can allow for a detailed study into the effects that this anomaly may elicit. With the assessment of each of the sperm parameters against the leukocyte count and viscosity (cP), volume, concentration and morphology showed significance. To further the study, the third angle was to investigate a possible correlation between viscosity and the functional status of the male accessory sex glands. The biochemical approach of assessing the secretory patterns of the prostate and seminal vesicles against markers of infection can possibly further the understanding behind hyperviscous semen and leukocytospermia. Citric acid and fructose, secretory products of the prostate and seminal vesicles respectively, showed no significance when assessed against the leukocyte count and viscosity. However, this project was a pilot study and this approach offers an exciting avenue for further research. These research findings may provide a more comprehensive assessment of a man‘s fertility status. Seen in the context of patients attending the andrology laboratory of Tygerberg Academic Hospital, this is greatly needed as the majority of these patients cannot afford advanced assisted reproductive therapies. The introduction of a more accurate method of quantifying viscosity may possibly help to identify, diagnose and treat patients suffering from leukocytospermia in order to ultimately enhance their fertility potential. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die basiese semenanalise speel 'n belangrike rol in die diagnose van manlike infertiliteit en maak dus 'n betekenisvolle bydrae tot die diagnostiese proses in andrologie, ginekologie en kliniese urologie. In 1902 het Edward Martin, wat deur sommige navorsers as die vader van moderne andrologie beskou word, voorgestel dat 'n semenanalise deel moet vorm van alle infertiliteitsondersoeke. In 1956 het die wetenskaplike John MacLeod aanvoorwerk gedoen om die grondslag van 'n basiese semenanalise daar te stel, wat beteken het dat, in plaas van net 'n observasie studie te doen, 'n semenmonster kwantitatief analiseer moes word en dat parameters soos spermmorfologie, motiliteit en viskositeit as deel van die volledige analise gedoen moet word. Die hedendaagse analise sluit, behalwe die basiese semenparameters, ook inligting in oor die funksionele aspekte van spermatozoa. Die semenanalise is dus ook ‗n belangrike diagnostiese hulpmiddel om inligting rakende moontlike abnormaliteite in die manlike genitale traktus en die sekretoriese funksies van die manlike bykomstige geslagskliere te verskaf. Hierdie inligting kan help om 'n moontlike diagnose van die man se fertiliteitspotensiaal te maak. Terselftertyd kan dit ook tesame met die metgesel se reproduktiewe inligting meer lig werp op die impak van die man se genitale patofisiologie op die paartjie se fertilitetspotensiaal. Pasiënte wat die andrologielaboratorium van die Tygerberg Akademiese Hospitaal besoek word verwys op grond van primêre, sekondêre of idopatiese infertiliteit. Gedurende die laaste aantal jare is daar ‗n toename in voorkoms van verhoogde semenviskositeit onder hierdie groep pasiënte waargeneem. Dit het die behoefte laat ontstaan om die moontlike redes hiervoor te ondersoek. Ten spyte van die feit dat viskositeit deel vorm van die roetine semenanalise is dit tog kommerwekkend aangesien dit op 'n semi-kwantitatiewe manier bepaal word. In die eerste deel van hierdie studie is 'n moontlik korrelasie tussen seminale hiperviskositeit en leukositospermie ondersoek. Om die beste moontlike verwantskap te kon bepaal is 'n nuwe en hoogs kwantitatiewe metode gebruik om viskositeit in numeriese waardes volgens internasionale standaarde in centipoise (cP) te meet. Daar is van drie metodes gebruik gemaak om die teenwoordigheid van leukositospermie in 'n semenmonster te ondersoek. Die eerste metode was die sitologiese metode waar die teenwoordigheid van granulosiet op die gekleurde semensmeer tydens die standaard morfologie beoordeling bepaal word. Die tweede was deur middel van 'n leukosietperoksidase toets waarmee daar 'n kwantitatiewe telling gedoen kan word, soos teenwoordig in 'n voorbereide semenmonster. Hierdie twee bepalings is op die totale studiepopulasie van 200 pasiënte gedoen. Die viskositeit van monsters met of sonder die teenwoordigheid van leukositospermie, soos bepaal met die voorafgaande metodes en gebaseer op die WGO riglyne, is met mekaar vergelyk. Korrelasies is ook tussen hierdie twee veranderlikes en verskeie semenparameters van hierdie twee groepe gedoen. Die derde metode was 'n biochemiese ontleding met behulp van 'n ensiemgekoppeldeimmuunsorberende essai (ELISA) vir die bepaling van die ekstrasellulêre konsentrasie van polimorfonukleêre (PMN) elastase ensiem in die seminale plasma. Hierdie toets is op 124 lukraak gekose semenmonsters uitgevoer. Alle monsters is gefraksioneer voor berging in vloeibare stikstof om meervoudige analises van elke monster moontlik te maak. Die PMN elastase konsentrasies is vergelyk met die viskositeit van die semenmonsters vir 'n moontlike korrelasie en verwantskap met die teenwoordigheid van leukositospermie. Die resultate van al drie hierdie metodes, vir die moontlike bepaling van infeksie, het 'n betekenisvolle positiewe verwantskap met die toename in graad van viskositeit in semenmonsters aangetoon. Die tweede benadering van hierdie studie was om die viskositeitsgradering en die kwantitatiewe leukositopermie waardes te vergelyk met die semenparameters wat bepaal is tydens die semenanalise. Die doel van hierdie benadering was om enige verwantskap of effek van viskositeit asook die teenwoordigheid van witbloedselle op die semenparameters te ondersoek. Daar is betekenisvolle verwantskappe gevind tussen die viskositeitstatus van 'n semenmonster, die teenwoordigheid van witbloedselle en die semenparameters, soos motiliteit, morfologie en spermatosoa konsentrasie. Die derde benadering was om 'n ondersoek te doen na die moontlike verwantskap tussen viskositeit en die sekretoriese funksies van die manlike bykomstige geslagskliere, te wete die prostaat en seminale vesikula. Die biochemiese ondersoek na die sekresies van hierdie twee organe, naamlik fruktose en sitroensuur, is gedoen om te bepaal of die teenwoordigheid van infeksies van die manlike traktus, en waargeneem as leukositospermia, ook in verband gebring kan word met die viskositeitstatus van 'n semenmonster. Daar is geen verband gevind tussen die sekresies van hierdie twee kliere en die viskositeit van die semenmonsters nie. Aangesien hierdie deel van die studie net as 'n loodsprojek beskou is, is die biochemiese bepalings slegs op 'n beperkte aantal semenmonsters uitgevoer en kan hierdie tipe ondersoek as 'n moontlike verdere studie onderneem word. Hierdie navorsingsresultate kan lei tot ‗n meer omvattende assessering van mans se fertiliteitstatus. Dit is uiters noodsaaklik in die konteks van omstandighede van die pasiënte wat die andrologielaboratorium van die Tygerberg Akademiese Hospitaal besoek aangesien die meerderheid nie gevorderde in vitro behandeling kan bekostig nie. Die akkurate bepaling van 'n semenmonster se viskositeit kan dus moontlik waarde toevoeg tot die identifisering, diagnose en behandeling van pasiënte met leukositospermie om sodoende hulle fertiliteitspotensiaal te verbeter.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) uses advanced techniques such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to combat human infertility. However, the success rate of ART is poor and can, at least in part, be attributed to detrimental (iatrogenic) damage incurred by gametes and embryos during laboratory treatment or manipulation, thus compromising their functional role and reducing the chances of fertilisation. The sperm plays two fundamental roles upon gamete fusion: (1) to deliver paternal genomic DNA of optimal integrity into the oocyte, and (2) to activate the oocyte to initiate embryogenesis. Protamine and phospholipase C zeta (PLC&zeta;) are two critical sperm proteins fundamentally responsible for facilitating these two key roles, respectively. The essential role of these sperm proteins with regards to male fertility, and fertilisation outcome following ART treatment, has been widely reported. This thesis was predominantly designed to investigate the potential effects of cryopreservation and sperm immobilisation via polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) upon the abundance and localisation of protamine and PLC&zeta; in mouse and human sperm, respectively. Deficiency of these proteins could lead to reduced sperm DNA integrity and oocyte activation ability, respectively. An immunofluorescent quantitative assay was first designed and optimised for the determination of protamine 1 (P1) and 2 (P2) levels in sperm. This assay demonstrated that the total levels of P1 and P2, but not the P1:P2 ratio, were significantly reduced (by approximately 50%) in mouse sperm following cryopreservation. This novel assay may represent a useful clinical tool to predict DNA integrity and help select sperm with the best quality DNA. Clinical screening of PLC&zeta; was also carried out in the largest dataset reported to date and confirmed that total levels of PLC&zeta; in human sperm varied significantly between samples (P &le; 0.05). Cluster analysis led to the development of a PLC&zeta; scoring system with significant potential as a clinical prognostic and diagnostic assay. Regression models also correlated fertilisation rate and PLC&zeta; content in a total of 30 clinical samples. Collectively, these novel tools show significant promise as predictors of oocyte activation ability. Specific case studies involving vasectomy, oocyte activation deficiency (OAD), and globozoospermia, were identified and shown to be associated with significantly reduced levels of PLC&zeta; (P &le; 0.05). In two of these case studies, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was identified in the PLC&zeta; promoter region, potentially indicating a novel mechanism for PLC&zeta; expression in human sperm. Another case of OAD suggested the apparent deficiency of a crucial interacting factor in the oocyte, emphasising that OAD is not exclusively linked to sperm abnormalities. For the first time, efforts were made to assess whether PLC&zeta; expression was linked to male age; total levels and the proportion of sperm exhibiting PLC&zeta; were found not to differ significantly amongst a total of 46 males. Furthermore, in a pilot experiment, levels of PLC&zeta; were significantly reduced (by 23% to 89%) in PVP-treated sperm from 9 controls and 3 infertile patients, with patient sperm showing higher susceptibility to the effects of PVP compared to controls. However, a more robust experiment featuring sperm from 16 fertile donors, failed to show any significant effect of PVP upon PLC&zeta;. Collectively, data arising from this thesis generated a series of potential clinical tools to quantify protamine and PLC&zeta; in sperm, provides strong evidence that levels of protamine are significantly reduced by cryopreservation, and has provided at least some evidence that PVP may cause detrimental effect upon the level of PLC&zeta; in human sperm. Further work on the effects of vasectomy and the relative functional importance of the SNP detected in the PLC&zeta; promoter are highly warranted. Further investigation and clinical translation of these findings may help to improve the success rate of ART.

The rate of adolescent unintended pregnancy in the United States is high compared to other developed countries. While past research and interventions have largely focused on young women, the role of young men in pregnancy prevention has increasingly been recognized. Studies have assessed young men’s knowledge and attitudes toward pregnancy prevention as well as their role in male-controlled methods of birth control like condoms or withdrawal. However, less is known about how young men can contribute to or participate in decision-making with female partners about contraception other than condoms. The purpose of this systematic review was to explore how young men communicate with their partners and its impact on contraception use to prevent pregnancy. A systematic review of five databases was conducted to identify English-language articles published from January 1, 2002, through July 7, 2018. The review specifically explored how male partner communication affects female partner use of contraception other than condoms among young men ages 11-24 years. The systematic review explored additional questions, including those pertaining to the timing of partner communication in a relationship, strategies employed by young men, and which dynamics of partner communication are measured in studies. Of the 15 articles identified as exploring areas of communication, five of the articles used quantitative analysis to measure any association between partner communication and contraception use, and three of those produced statistically significant findings suggesting that communication increases the use of contraception other than condoms. Three qualitative studies provided supporting narratives of how young men have communicated with partners and influenced their contraception use with female partners. The remaining seven articles explored the other research questions of timing, strategies, and dynamics identifying topics, prompts, and communication cues among young men. Measurements of both communication and contraception varied across studies. With the small number of studies identified in this systematic review, it is recommended that future research seek to corroborate the relationship between partner communication and contraception use with more robust and precise measurements of both communication and contraception.

Enyalius perditus e Enyalius iheirngii são duas espécies de lagartos semi- arborícolas pertencentes à nova família Leiosauridae. Apresentam hábitos diurnos, são forrageadores ativos, e estão distribuídos ao longo da Mata Atlântica. E. perditus ocorre na porção sudeste enquanto E. iheringii nas porções sudeste e sul com registros de co-ocorrência em áreas do Estado de São Paulo. Apesar de sua ampla distribuição pouco se conhece sobre a ecologia e menos ainda sobre a biologia reprodutiva do gênero Enyalius. Além disto, informações sobre o comportamento reprodutivo de corte, época de cópula, desova e nascimento dos filhotes são praticamente inexistentes. Para tanto, este estudo investigou a estratégia reprodutiva de ambas as espécies através da dissecção de animais provenientes de coleções científicas, de cativeiro e de coletas em campo. Machos e fêmeas de E.iheringii atingiram maturidade sexual em tamanhos similares. Ambas as espécies são mais abundantes durante a estação chuvosa do que na estação seca. Ciclo de fêmeas de E. iheringii são mais estendidos e há possibilidade dos machos estocarem o espermatozoides nos ductos deferentes durante todo o ano. Foram encontradas fêmeas de E. iheringii estocando espermatozoides durante a primavera no infundíbulo e no outono dentro das criptas de estocagem da junção uterino-vaginal. Nas fêmeas de E. perditus a reprodução é altamente sazonal e ocorre nos períodos mais quentes e úmidos do ano. / Enyalius perditus and Enyalius iheirngii are two semi-arboreal lizard species that belong to the new family Leiosauridae. These specimens present daytime behavior and are active forragers distributed across the Atlantic Rainforest. E. perditus are found in the Southeast and E. iheringii in the Southeast and South. They also present co- occurrence in some areas at São Paulo state. Despite their wide distribution, little is known about their ecology and even less about the reproductive biology of their genera. The information about the reproductive biology of these animals is scarce on the other hand data regarding courtship behavior, mating season, spawning and offspring birth is virtually absent. For this, this study investigated the reproductive strategy of both species through the dissection of animals from scientific collections, captivity and field collections. In E.iheringii males and females reached sexual maturity in similar sizes. Both species are more abundant during the rainy season than in the dry season. Cycle of females of E. iheringii appear more extended and there is possibility of males stocking the spermatozoa in the vas deferens throughout the year. Females of E. iheringii were found stocking sperm during the spring in the infundibulum and in the fall within the storage crypts of the uterine-vaginal junction. In E. perditus females reproduction is highly seasonal and occurs during the hottest and wettest periods of the year.

Orientador: Maria Yolanda Makuch / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-09T15:39:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Filetto_JulianaNicolau_D.pdf: 899402 bytes, checksum: b505244b4e512938da35a1ca1479c305 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Objetivo: Descrever as vivências de homens e mulheres ao estarem iniciando os procedimentos de fertilização in vitro (FIV) e em longo prazo após o fracasso da terapêutica. Metodologia: Para cumprir com os objetivos propostos foram feitos dois estudos qualitativos, ambos realizados no Ambulatório de Reprodução Humana do Departamento de Tocoginecologia da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (UNICAMP). Para o primeiro estudo foi escolhida uma amostra proposital por variedade de tipos - casais sem filhos, com filhos e que a mulher tinha filhos de um relacionamento anterior - que tinham realizado a FIV sem sucesso quatro a sete anos antes de serem entrevistados. O número de participantes foi definido conforme o critério de saturação da informação. Foram conduzidas entrevistas semi-estruturadas utilizando-se um roteiro temático, as quais foram gravadas e transcritas. Para o segundo estudo foi realizada uma re-análise das entrevistas de casais sem filhos realizadas quatro a seis anos após o fracasso da FIV do estudo acima e de casais sem filhos, que estavam iniciando pela primeira vez ou repetindo os procedimentos da FIV de outro estudo. O número de entrevistas analisadas foi definido conforme o critério de saturação da informação. Resultados: No primeiro estudo, homens e mulheres consideraram a FIV como uma experiência válida, apesar de alguns terem vivenciado dificuldades no relacionamento conjugal após o fracasso, as quais foram sendo superadas em longo prazo. Em relação às etapas do procedimento, alguns participantes se referiram ao desenvolvimento folicular como uma etapa difícil e dolorida e alguns acreditavam que a medicação tinha causado mudanças permanentes no corpo das mulheres. Os homens referiram a etapa da coleta do sêmen como uma experiência desconfortável. Após o fracasso da FIV, a maioria dos casais considerou a possibilidade da adoção, porém poucos adotaram e outros participantes se dedicaram a novos projetos de vida que não fosse o de terem um filho. Casais sem filhos decidiram realizar novas tentativas de FIV em outros serviços devido a necessidade de continuarem tentando. No segundo estudo, ao se contrapor as vivências de homens e mulheres, iniciando os procedimentos e em longo prazo, os participantes falaram que a decisão tinha sido baseada principalmente na certeza de sucesso e algumas mulheres mencionaram a necessidade de serem iguais às "mulheres férteis". Nas entrevistas dos homens, tanto no início do procedimento como em longo prazo, foi observado que a decisão tinha sido mais influenciada pelo desejo das parceiras pela gravidez. Em relação às etapas da FIV, as mulheres que estavam iniciando o procedimento, referiram as injeções de hormônios como preocupante, e em longo prazo, as consideraram doloridas e algumas, semelhante ao resultado do primeiro estudo, também acreditavam que a medicação tinha causado mudanças permanentes em seus corpos. Os homens, em geral, falaram da preocupação com a possível repercussão dos medicamentos na saúde da parceira. Algumas mulheres, tanto iniciando como em longo prazo, tinham a percepção de que a coleta do sêmen não tinha incomodado os parceiros. A mesma percepção foi mencionada pela maioria dos homens iniciando os procedimentos, embora a lembrança que prevaleceu em longo prazo foi a de ter sido uma experiência tensa e constrangedora. Conclusão: Homens e mulheres, devido à esperança pela gravidez, tendem a não se incomodarem com as exigências dos procedimentos, o que não ocorreu após o fracasso da FIV. Em longo prazo, homens e mulheres consideraram os procedimentos da FIV como uma experiência positiva e foram capazes de se dedicarem a outros projetos de vida, os quais foram considerados satisfatórios, exceto para os casais sem filhos. / Abstract: Objective: To describe the life experience of men and women at the beginning and after unsuccessful in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. Methods: Two qualitative studies were conducted to achieve the proposed aims, at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Participants for the first study were chosen using a purposive sampling per variety of types - couples without children, couples who already had children and wished to have another child, and couples in which the women had children from a previous relationship - that had experienced unsuccessful IVF four to seven years before the interviews. The number of interviews carried out was defined according to the criteria of information saturation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using a thematic script, which were tape-recorded and transcribed. The second study was based on the re-analysis of the interviews of couples without children interviewed four to six years after an unsuccessful IVF from the study above and couples without children interviewed at the beginning of the procedures the first time they were participating or when repeating IVF from a previously conducted study. The number of interviews carried out was defined according to the criteria of information saturation. Results: In the first study, men and women considered IVF a positive experience, even though some couples recalled difficulties in their relationship after unsuccessful IVF, however they felt that their marital relationship had not been permanently affected. Regarding the stages of the procedure, some participants recalled follicular development as a difficult and painful stage in the treatment and some believed that the medication used during that phase had resulted in body changes, in some cases considered permanent. The men referred to semen collection as an uncomfortable experience. The majority of the couples had considered adoption, but only a few couples actually adopted and others participants had focused on new life projects other than having children. Couples who had no children recalled they had pursued treatment in other clinics due to the necessity to keep trying. In the second study, comparing men and women's life experiences at the beginning of the procedures and in the long-term, all participants recalled that their decision to undergo IVF had been based principally on the certainty of success, and some women referred to their need to be like "a fertile women". In men's interviews, at the beginning of procedures and in the long-term, it was observed that the decision to participate in IVF procedures had been mainly based on woman's desire of pregnancy. Regarding the stages of the procedures, women who were beginning the procedures referred the hormone injections as preoccupying and in the long term they remembered as painful stage and some, similar to the results of the first study, believed that had resulted in permanent body changes. Men, in general, referred to worries about the possible repercussion of the medicines used during this stage in their partner's health. Some women in the beginning and in long-term, had the perception that semen collection was not a stressful experience for the partners. A similar perception was mentioned by the majority of men beginning the procedures, although in the long term their recollection was of a stressful and embarrassing experience. Conclusion: Men and women due the hope for the pregnancy tend not to be bothered with the requirements of the procedures, different of what happened after IVF failure. In long-term, men and women, considered IVF procedures as a positive experience and were able to focus on other life projects, which were considered satisfactory, except for the couples without child. / Doutorado / Ciencias Biomedicas / Doutor em Tocoginecologia