O aborto espontâneo recorrente (AER) é caracterizado pela ocorrência de três ou mais abortos consecutivos e acomete 2-4% das mulheres em idade fértil. A etiologia está associada a vários fatores de risco, tais como anomalias uterinas, aberrações cromossômicas, autoimunidade, trombofilias, elevação na concentração de homocisteína (tHcy), porém cerca de 40% dos casos permanece sem causa definida. O metabolismo de unidades de carbono desempenha papel fundamental na disponibilidade de folato na célula, sendo essencial para o desenvolvimento placentário e fetal. Deficiência de vitaminas que regulam este metabolismo, como o ácido fólico, e polimorfismos em genes que codificam enzimas relacionadas ao metabolismo de folato (MTHFR, RFC1, GCP2 e MTHFD1) podem levar à redução das concentrações desta vitamina e ao aumento das concentrações de tHcy. Objetivo foi avaliar a associação entre polimorfismos em genes relacionados ao metabolismo do folato (RFC1, GCP2, MTHFR e MTHFD1) e o risco de se ter AER, bem como avaliar a associação entre estes polimorfismos e as alterações nas concetranções de folato, cobalamina e homocisteína. Foram constituídos três grupos: AER primário: 117 mulheres com AER e nenhum feto viável; AER secundário: 139 mulheres com AER e pelo menos um feto viável; e Controle: 264 mulheres sem história de aborto espontâneo. Nenhuma das mulheres estava grávida no momento da coleta do sangue. Amostras de sangue foram obtidas para dosagens bioquímicas (folato, Cbl, tHcy, entre outras), imunológicas e extração de DNA genômico. As genotipagens foram feitas por PCR-RFLP ou PCR em tempo real. As concentrações séricas de folato e Cbl foram maiores no AER primário e secundário (p<0,05). A distribuição dos genótipos de todos os polimorfismos foi semelhante nos três grupos. O aumento nas concentrações de folato sérico (OR: 1,05, 95% IC: 1,03 - 1,07, p<0,001), Cbl (OR: 1,00, 95% IC: 1,00 - 1,00, p= 0,016), tHcy (OR: 1,03, 95% IC: 0,97 - 1,11, p= 0,033) e T4 (OR: 1,02, 95% IC: 1,00 - 1,03, p= 0,006) e a presença de FAN reagente (1:160) (OR: 2,90, 95% IC: 1,25 - 6,75, p= 0,013) foram considerados fatores de risco para aborto primário. Para o aborto secundário, foram considerados fatores de risco o aumento nas concentrações de folato sérico (OR: 1,04, 95% IC: 1,02 - 1,05, p<0,001), Cbl (OR: 1,00, 95% IC: 1,00 - 1,00, p= 0,019) e tHcy (OR: 1,05, 95% IC: 1,00 - 1,09, p= 0,039), maiores idades (OR: 1,02, 95% IC: 0,98 - 1,06, p= 0,031), hábito de fumar (OR: 2,54, 95% IC: 1,41 - 4,60, p= 0,002) e ter maior IMC (OR:1,42, 95% IC: 1,07 - 1,88, p= 0,015). Os polimorfismos estudados não foram associados ao maior risco de se ter AER, quando analisados isoladamente, e também não foram associados a alterações nas concentrações séricas de folato, Cbl e tHcy, com exceção do genótipo MTHFR 677TT, cujas portadoras apresentaram maior concentração de tHcy, quando comparadas com as portadoras de genótipos 677CC e 677CT nos três grupos. As variáveis concentrações de folato, Cbl, tHcy e T4 e presença de FAN reagente foram associadas ao maior risco de se ter aborto primário. As variáveis idade, IMC, tabagismo, concentrações de folato, Cbl e tHcy foram associadas ao maior risco de aborto secundário. / The recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is characterized by the occurrence of three or more consecutive miscarriages and affects 2-4% of women of childbearing age. The etiology is associated with several risk factors such as uterine abnormalities, chromosomal aberrations, autoimmunity, thrombophilia, increased concentration of homocysteine (tHcy). About 40% of cases remains unknown cause. The units of carbon metabolism plays an essential role in the availability of the cell folate, is essential for the placental and fetal development. A deficiency of the vitamins that regulate this metabolism, like folic acid, and polymorphisms in genes encoding enzymes related to folate metabolism (MTHFR, RFC1, and GCP2 MTHFD1) may lead to decreased concentrations of this vitamin and increased concentrations of tHcy. Objective was to evaluate the association between polymorphisms in genes related to folate metabolism (RFC1, GCP2, MTHFD1 and MTHFR) and the risk of having AER, and to evaluate the association between these polymorphisms and changes in concetranções folate, cobalamin, and homocysteine. Three groups were divided: AER primary: 117 women with RSA and no viable fetus, AER secondary: 139 women with RSA and at least one viable fetus and Control: 264 women with no history of miscarriage. None of the women was pregnant at time of blood collection. Blood samples were taken for biochemical (folate, Cbl, tHcy, etc.), immunological and genomic DNA extraction. The genotyping were carried out by PCR-RFLP or real time PCR. Serum concentrations of folate and Cbl were higher in groups 1 and 2 (p <0.05). The distribution of genotypes of MTHFR c.677C> T, MTHFR c.1298A> C, MTHFD1 c.1958G> A, RFC1 c.80G>GCP2 A and c.1561C> T was similar among the three groups. The increased concentrations of serum folate (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03 - 1.07, p <0.001), Cbl (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.00, p = 0.016), tHcy (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.97 to 1.11, p = 0.033) and T4 (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.03, p = 0.006) and the presence of ANA (1:160) (OR: 2.90, 95% CI: 1.25 - 6.75, p = 0.013) were considered risk factors primary for abortion. For secondary abortion, were considered risk factors increased the concentrations of serum folate (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02 - 1.05, p <0.001), cobalamin (OR: 1.00, 95 % CI: 1.00 to 1.00, p = 0.019) and tHcy (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.09, p = 0.039), higher age (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.06, p = 0.031), cigarette smoking (OR: 2.54, 95% CI: 1.41 to 4.60, p = 0.002) and had a higher BMI (OR : 1,42,95% CI: 1.07 to 1.88, p = 0.015). The studied polymorphisms were not associated with increased risk of having RSA when analyzed separately, and were not associated with changes in serum folate, Cbl and tHcy, with the exception of the MTHFR 677TT genotype, whose patients had a higher concentration of total tHcy compared with those with 677CC and 677CT genotypes in the three groups. The variable concentrations of folate, Cbl, tHcy, and T4, presence of ANA and have been associated with increased risk for miscarriage primary. The variables age, BMI, smoking, concentrations of folate, Cbl and tHcy were associated with increased risk of secondary miscarriage.

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is one potential risk factor for spontaneous abortion (SAb). Prior research suggested that heavy drinking during pregnancy was associated with significantly increased rates of SAb, but results for lower levels of drinking have been inconsistent. We examined the association between different levels and patterns of prenatal alcohol consumption and SAb in a high-risk inner-city sample. We hypothesized that higher levels, binge patterns, and more frequent drinking would be associated with increased rates of SAb. The quantity and frequency of self-reported peri-conceptional and repeated in-pregnancy maternal drinking volumes per beverage type were assessed with semi-structured interviews in a prospective subsample of 302 African-American mothers. Relations between various measures of prenatal alcohol exposure and SAb were assessed using logistic regression. After controlling for various potential confounders, there was a significant positive relation between average absolute alcohol use per day across pregnancy and SAb. Greater frequency of drinking episodes also predicted SAb: an average of even one day of drinking per week across pregnancy was associated with an increase in the incidence of SAb. However, contrary to our hypothesis, neither the amount of alcohol drunk per drinking day nor a measure of binge drinking was significantly related to SAb after controlling for confounders. Differences in when women who drank at risk levels initiated antenatal care may have under-estimated the impact of alcohol on SAb in this low-SES urban African-American sample. Some drinking measures averaged across pregnancy may have under-estimated consumption and overestimated risk of SAb, but other risk drinking measures that avoid this limitation show similar relations to SAb. Identifying fetal risk drinking in pregnant women is critical to increasing the effectiveness of interventions that reduce risk level alcohol consumption and protect from pregnancy loss.

Spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, is an event that affects approximately one in four women during their reproductive years. Despite the psychological and physiological trauma associated with the loss of pregnancy, few evidence-based practice recommendations exist to guide nursing care of women experiencing first trimester miscarriage. The purpose of this integrative review of literature was to examine research related to women's health care experiences of first trimester miscarriage and discuss common themes relating to nursing care. Inclusion criteria consisted of peer review research articles published after 2001 and available in the English language and women that experienced miscarriage during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Current literature was collected from Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE- EBSCOhost and PsycINFO databases using combinations of various key words. Six qualitative studies and one quasi-experimental study met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. The results indicated that nursing care of women experiencing miscarriage should include therapeutic communication, psychological support, and provision of information and follow-up care. While there is little research reviewing nursing interventions related to first trimester miscarriage, these themes may help guide the development of further research reviewing the efficacy and effectiveness of specific nursing interventions.

Introduction Radiologic Technologists exposed to continuous low dose radiation may have an increased risk for spontaneous abortions. Although the federally mandated radiation dose limit to the developing fetus of an occupational worker is 5mSv, well below the documented threshold of 100mSv, some studies have suggested an increased risk for spontaneous abortions in occupationally exposed females. The effects of exposure to low levels of radiation are difficult to discern from the usual occurrence and are limited in the literature because of the large sample size needed to achieve statistical power. This study contains data from 152,439 self-reported pregnancies and possesses the appropriate sample size to assess the risk of spontaneous abortions incident to radiologic technologists who maintain fetal radiation dose levels within federal guidelines. Methods This non-experimental retrospective designed study uses data from the United States Radiologic Technologist Study (USRTS). The USRTS began in 1982 as a joint effort between the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT),UniversityofMinnesotaand the National Cancer Institute to study the radiation effects from low-dose occupational exposure. This longitudinal study follows more than 90,000 current and former technologists through periodic surveys and contains a sufficient sample size to overcome statistical power concerns. The provided data included the order and outcome of each self-reported pregnancy as well as the year of each live birth. The data were therefore manipulated to provide a likely gestational interval for both a reported live birth and spontaneous abortion. After calculating the spontaneous abortion rate for the final sample, a binary logistic regression was performed to determine if levels of estimated fetal radiation dose are associated with predicting the odds of a reported spontaneous abortion. A linear regression analysis was then performed to assess the relationship between the calculated odds ratios of a reported spontaneous abortion as a function of estimated fetal radiation dose, specifically to determine the significance of the linear relationship Results The overall spontaneous abortion incidence to the cohort reporting at least one live birth or spontaneous abortion was 14.8%, lower than the reported national incidence of 15-20%. Using up to 1mSv as the reference fetal radiation dose category, the odds ratios of a spontaneous abortion for 1-2mSv, 2-3mSv, 3-4mSv and 4-5mSv were calculated as 1.57, 1.82, 2.11 and 2.15 respectively. This increase in odds was linear with estimated fetal radiation dose as demonstrated by the significant regression equation (F=29.93, p = .01) and an R2 of 0.9089. Conclusions By demonstrating an increased risk at levels of radiation as low as natural background, and further demonstrating the risk increases linearly with radiation dose, the Linear Non-Threshold Theory appears to be the more likely risk model for predicting spontaneous abortions in lieu of the belief that a 100mSv threshold must first be exceeded for a radiation induced spontaneous abortion to occur. Application of this model demonstrates the risk of a spontaneous abortion is twice as likely in occupational workers whose fetal radiation doses are closer to the maximum allowable limit of 5mSv compared with those who maintain fetal radiation doses below 1mSv.

L’avortement spontané (AS) désigne la perte du produit de conception avant sa viabilité, c'est-à-dire avant la 22e semaine d’aménorrhée, ou un poids fœtal inférieur à 500 g. La cause génétique est à l’origine de plus des deux tiers des AS, les aneuploïdies autosomiques, représentant à elles seules jusqu’à 70% des pertes fœtales du 1er trimestre. Le caryotype présente une très bonne sensibilité en ce qui concerne le dépistage des trisomies autosomiques (13, 18 et 21) et des aneuploïdies affectant les chromosomes sexuels, mais il montre d’importantes limites, d’une part en raison des échecs de culture cellulaire et d’autre part en raison de l’existence de remaniements non détectables au caryotype standard. Actuellement plusieurs techniques moléculaires de dépistage rapides des aneuploïdies liées aux échecs de grossesses ont été vérifiées : 1°) la fluorescence in situ par hybridation (FISH) 2°) l’amplification multiplex de sondes nucléiques dépendant des ligatures (MLPA). Ces deux méthodes présentent l’avantage d’être réalisables, sans culture préalable, sur noyaux en interphase ou sur ADN extrait et de permettre la détection d’anomalies cryptiques. Notre étude repose sur l’étude cytogénétique des produits d’AS pour mettre en évidence les anomalies chromosomiques les plus fréquentes à l’origine de ces pertes fœtales et d’en mieux appréhender les mécanismes de survenue. Elle a été réalisée sur 220 patientes âgées de 19 à 45 ans, et était fondée sur l’analyse directe par FISH sur noyaux interphasiques (AneuVysionTM) de prélèvements de villosités choriales et sur l’analyse de l’ADN extrait de tissus fœtaux par MLPA afin de révéler d’éventuelles aneuploïdies et micro-remaniements. L’âge gestationnel au moment des prélèvements était compris entre 7 et 38 semaines d’aménorrhée. Sur un total de 151 échantillons analysés par AneuVysionTM, 10 anomalies chromosomiques ont été observées: 3 trisomies 21, 1 trisomie 18, 1 trisomie 13, 1 mosaïque 46,XX/47,XX+21, 3 triploïdies et 1 monosomie X (Turner). Par ailleurs, sur les 69 autres échantillons analysés par MLPA, 6 étaient ininterprétables. Les anomalies trouvées par cette technique étaient: 2 monosomies X. Pour les échantillons restants, la MLPA a été négative. Nous avons en parallèle réalisé une étude rétrospective fondée sur l’analyse comparative d’un échantillon recruté à Sidi Bel Abbès, de femmes ayant subi un AS et admises à la maternité del’hôpital Hassani Abdelkader de Sidi Bel Abbès et d’un échantillon recruté à Clermont-Ferrand de femmes ayant subi un AS et pour lesquelles un prélèvement pour établir le caryotype du produit de fausse-couche avait été adressé dans le service de cytogénétique du CHU Estaing de Clermont-Ferrand. Cette étude a couvert une période de six années, allant de janvier 2005 à décembre 2010. Les techniques de FISH et de MLPA représentent des outils simples, rapides et sensibles pour la détection des remaniements chromosomiques. Elles représentent une alternative très intéressante à la culture cellulaire, et permettent le diagnostic de désordres génomiques indécelables par les techniques conventionnelles. / Spontaneous abortion (SA) is the loss of the product of fertilization before its viability, that is, before22 weeks of gestation or fetal weight less than 500 g. Genetic causes account for more than two thirds of SA, autosomal aneuploidies alone accounting for up to 70% fetal loss. Chromosomal cytogenetic techniques show significant limitations on the one hand because of the failures of cell culture, and secondly because of the existence of undetectable alterations to the standard karyotype. It was therefore planned to use molecular techniques :- Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)- Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). Both techniques have the advantage of being achievable without prior culture of cores interphase or DNA extracted and to enable detection of cryptic abnormalities. The project is based on cytogenetic study of AS products to highlight the most frequent chromosomal abnormalities causing fetal losses, and to better understand their occurrence. Our study was performed on 220 patients from 19 to 45 years, and was based on the direct analysis by FISH on interphase nuclei (AneuVysionTM) of chorionic villus sampling and analysis of DNA extracted fetal tissue by MLPA to reveal any aneuploidy and rearrangements. The gestational age of the samples ranged from the 7th to the 38th week of gestation. In a total of 151 samples analyzed by AneuVysionTM, 10 chromosomal abnormalities were observed: three trisomies 21, one trisomy 18, one trisomy 13, one mosaic 46,XX/47,XX+21, 3 triploidies and one monosomy X (Turner). In addition, among the other 69 samples analyzed by MLPA, 6 were uninterpretable. The abnormalities found by this technique were 2 monosomies X. For the remaining samples, the MLPA was negative. We conducted a retrospective parallel study based on the analysis of a sample recruited in Sidi Bel Abbes, women who have had an AS and were admitted to the maternity hospital Abdelkader Hassani, Sidi Bel Abbes ; and a sample recruited in Clermont-Ferrand : women who underwent AS for which a levy to establish the karyotype product miscarriage had been addressed in the Department of Cytogenetics of CHU Estaing, Clermont-Ferrand. This study covered a period of six years, from January 2005 to December 2010. The techniques of FISH and MLPA are simple, rapid and sensitive tools for the detection of chromosomal rearrangements. They represent a very interesting alternative to cell culture and allow diagnosis for genomic disorders undetectable by conventional techniques.

Many women experience miscarriage every year. Every fourth woman who has given birth reports that she has previous experience of miscarriage. In a study of all women in the Swedish Medical Birth Register 1983-2003, we found that the number of cases of self reported miscarriage had increased in Sweden during this 21 year period. This increase can be explained by the introduction of sensitive pregnancy tests around 1990, as well as an increase in the mean age of the mothers, by approximately 3 years, during the observation period. The risk of miscarriage is 13% with the first child. With subsequent pregnancies, the risk of miscarriage is 8%, 6% and 4% with the second, third and fourth child, respectively. Thirteen of these women who had suffered a recent miscarriage were interviewed four months later, and their feelings of guilt and emptiness were explored. Their experience was that they wanted their questions to be answered, and that they wanted others to treat them as the mothers to be that they felt themselves to be. They also experienced the need for time to grieve their loss. Measurement of grief by means of the Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS) is used in research but has also been proposed for clinical use. We have translated this psychological instrument to Swedish, back-translated and tested it in a small pilot study. In a randomized controlled study, women with early miscarriage were allocated, either to a structured visit (study group) or a regular visit (control group) to a midwife. The structured visit was conducted according to the Swanson caring theory. We could conclude that the structured visit had no significant effect on grief compared to the regular visit, as measured using the PGS. However, women with the sub-diagnosis missed abortion have significantly more grief four months after early miscarriage, regardless of visit type. We also performed a content analysis of the tape-recorded structured follow-up visit. The code-key used was Bonanno and Kaltman’s general grief categorization. Women’s expression of grief after miscarriage was found to be very similar to the grief experienced following the death of a relative. Furthermore, the grief was found to be independent of number of children, women’s age, or earlier experience of miscarriage. Conclusions: Every fourth woman who gives birth reports that she has also experienced early miscarriage. The experience of these women is that they have suffered a substantial loss and their reaction is grief similar to that experienced following the death of a relative. / On the day of the public defence of the doctoral thesis the status of article III was In Press and article IV was In Press.

Dissertação(mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Escola de Enfermagem, 2005. / Submitted by eloisa silva (eloisa1_silva@yahoo.com.br) on 2012-10-30T14:40:56Z No. of bitstreams: 1 patriciadasilva.pdf: 907631 bytes, checksum: 0d9864df80aaed22f5d58742aa1f439c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Bruna Vieira(bruninha_vieira@ibest.com.br) on 2013-06-13T17:26:52Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 patriciadasilva.pdf: 907631 bytes, checksum: 0d9864df80aaed22f5d58742aa1f439c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-06-13T17:26:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 patriciadasilva.pdf: 907631 bytes, checksum: 0d9864df80aaed22f5d58742aa1f439c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Com a intenção de contribuirmos para o conhecimento dos riscos da exposição ambiental e a influência de outros fatores sobre a saúde, realizou-se este estudo transversal, com mulheres em idade fértil (15-49 anos)residentes nas comunidades próximas ao parque industrial do município do Rio Grande/RS, sendo identificado a prevalência de abortos espontâneos e os fatores relacionados a este desfecho. A amostra compreendeu 565 mulheres, residentes nas áreas consideradas exposta (E) e não exposta(NE), de acordo com a distância do parque industrial e a análise do mapa dos ventos do município. Foram entrevistadas 285 mulheres da área E e 280 da área NE. Para avaliação dos fatores de risco, foi aplicado um questionário, o qual contemplava as condições socioeconômicas, os fatores ambientais e as condições de moradia, a história reprodutiva prévia e morbidades. Para análise dos dados foram utilizados o teste qui-quadrado e regressão logística não-condicionada. Das mulheres entrevistadas que já gestaram (n=412) 17,7% referiram ocorrência de aborto espontâneo. Na análise bivariada verificou-se que o desfecho estudado mostrou associação significativa com idade da menarca, apresentando-se como fator de proteção(OR=0,26 (IC=0,11-0,55); p=0,0008) a idade da menarca entre 11 e 13 anos. O número de filhos também mostrou associação com a ocorrência de aborto espontâneo, apresentando um aumento do risco para três ou mais filhos (OR=4,00 (IC=1,86-8,58); p=0,001). A história de doença sexualmente transmissível(DST) também apresentou tendência à significação (OR=2,01 (IC=0,97-4,15); p=0,06). Após ajuste com as variáveis do modelo teórico hierarquizado, a presença de três ou mais filhos (OR=2,94(IC=1,28-6,77); p=0,009) e a história de DST(OR=2,55 (IC=1,13-5,77); p=0,02) permaneceram significativamente associados ao desfecho estudado. Nesta análise, o fato da mulher não possuir água encanada dentro de casa mostrou uma tendência de associação com a ocorrência de aborto espontâneo (OR=4,01 (IC=0,85-18,87); p=0,08). Não foi observada associação significativa entre o local de moradia nas proximidades do parque industrial e o desfecho investigado. Além desta análise, este estudo também mostrou dados importantes sobre a saúde reprodutiva dessas mulheres: 51,2% (E) e 40,6% (NE) das mulheres tiveram a primeira gestação entre 12 e 19 anos (n=412); 30,5% possuíam três ou mais filhos (n=393); 13,6% (E) e 8,3% (NE) das mulheres que não menstruavam era devido à menopausa precoce (n=80); 72,7% utilizavam algum método contraceptivo (n=513), sendo 52,3% de pílula e 23,6% de laqueadura (n=373); 56,0% das esterilizações ocorreram entre 19 e 30 anos (n=75); 39,5% nunca realizaram preventivo de câncer uterino (n=565). Quanto à influência da exposição ambiental sobre o desfecho estudado, sugerimos a realização de outros estudos com o uso de biomarcadores, para identificar uma possível influência do ambiente sobre a saúde reprodutiva nessa população ou para afastar definitivamente essa suspeita. Os resultados desse estudo poderão subsidiar novas políticas de saúde, relacionadas com a saúde da mulher neste município. Contribuirão também para uma nova prática assistencial dos profissionais de enfermagem/saúde, onde a questão ambiental seja levada em consideração e priorizada a educação em saúde, sobretudo com relação às questões que se referem aos resultados encontrados. / With the intention of contributing for the knowledge of risks of environmental exposure and the influence of other factors on health, this cross-section study hás been done, with women in fertile age (15-49 years)living in communities close to the industrial district in the city of Rio Grande/RS, being identified the prevalence of spontaneous abortion and the factors related to this result. The sample involved 565 women, all living in the areas considered as exposed(E) and non exposed (NE), according to the distance of the industrial district and the analysis of the map of winds in the city. 285 women of the E area were interviewed as well as 280 from the NE area. For the evaluation of risk factors, a questionnaire was applied, which involved the socioeconomic conditions, environmental factors and housing conditions, the previous reproductive history and sicknesses. In order to analyse the data collected the qui-squared test and thenon-conditioned logistic regression were used. Among the interviewed women who have already given birth (n=412) 17,7% referred occurrence of spontaneous abortion. In the bivaried analysis it was noticed that the result studied showed significative association with the age of the first menstruation, presenting itself as a protection factor (OR=0,26 (IC=0,11- 0,55); p=0,0008) the age of the first menstruation between 11 and 13 years of age. The number of children also presented association with the occurrence of spontaneous abortion, presnting an increase of risk for three or more children (OR=4,00 (IC=1,86-8,58); p=0,001). The history of sexually transmissible disease (STD) also presented a tendency to signification (OR=2,01 (IC=0,97-4,15); p=0,06). After adjusting with the variables of the hierarchized theoretical model, the presence of three or more children (OR=2,94 (IC=1,28-6,77); p=0,009) and the history of STD (OR=2,55 (IC=1,13-5,77); p=0,02) remained significantly associated to the result studied. In this analysis, the fact that the woman does not have canalized water at home showed a tendency of association with the occurrence of spontaneous abortion (OR=4,01 (IC=0,85-18,87); p=0,08). It was not observed a significative association between the place of residence close to the industrial district and the result investigated. Besides this analysis, this study hás also shown important data about the the reproductive health of these women: 51,2% (E) and 40,6% (NE) of the women had their first pregnancy between 12 and 19 years of age (n=412); 30,5% had three or more children (n=393); 13,6% (E) and 8,3% (NE) of the women who did not menstruate was due to the precocious menopause (n=80); 72,7% used some kind of contraceptive method (n=513), being 52,3% the pill and 23,6% the ligature (n=373); 56,0% of the sterilizations took place when they were between 19 and 30 years of age (n=75); 39,5% have never done any preventive exam of uterine cancer(n=565). In terms of the influence of the environmental exposure on the result studied, we suggest that other studeis are done with the usage of biomarkers, in order to identify a possible influence of the environment on the reproductive health of this population or to definitely put away this suspicion. The results of this study may give a subsidy to new policies on health, related to the health of the women in this city. This will also contribute for a new assistance practice of the professionals of nursing / health, where the environmental matter will be taken into consideration and made a priority for the education in health, specially in which it relates to questions referring to the results found. / Con la intención de contribuir al conocimiento de los riesgos de la exposición ambiental y la influencia de otros factores sobre la salud, se realizó este estudio transversal, con mujeres en edad fértil (15-49 años) residentes en las comunidades cercanas al parque industrial de la ciudad de Rio Grande/RS, siendo identificado la prevalencia de abortos espontáneos y los factores relacionados a este desenlace. La muestra comprendió 565 mujeres, residentes en las áreas consideradas expuestas (E) y no expuesta (NE), de acuerdo con la distancia del parque industrial y el análisis del mapa de los vientos de la ciudad. Fueron entrevistadas 285 mujeres del área E y 280 del área NE. Para evaluación de los factores de riesgo, fue aplicado un cuestionario, lo cual contemplaba las condiciones socioeconómicas, factores ambientales y condiciones de vivienda, la historia reproductiva previa y morbilidades. Para análisis de los datos fueron utilizados el test Qui-cuadrado y regresión logística no condicionada. De las mujeres entrevistadas que ya gestaron (n=412) 17,7% refirieron ocurrencia de aborto espontáneo. En el análisis bivariado se verificó que el desenlace estudiado mostró asociación significativa con edad de la menarquia, presentándose como factor de protección (OR=0,26 (IC=0,11-0,55); p=0,0008) la edad de la menarquia entre 11 y 13 años. El número de hijos también mostró asociación con la ocurrencia de aborto espontáneo, presentando un aumento del riesgo para tres o más hijos (OR=4,00 (IC=1,86-8,58); p=0,001). La historia de enfermedad transmisible sexualmente (ETS) también presentó tendencia a la significación (OR=2,01 (IC=0,97-4,15); p=0,06). Después de ajuste con las variables del modelo teórico jerarquizado, la presencia de tres o más hijos (OR=2,94 (IC=1,28-6,77); p=0,009) y la historia de ETS (OR=2,55 (IC1,13-5,77); p=0,02 permanecieron significativamente asociados al desenlace estudiado. En este análisis, el factor de la mujer no poseer agua potable dentro de casa mostró una tendencia de asociación con la ocurrencia de aborto espontáneo (OR=4,01(IC=0,85-18,87); p=0,08). No fue observada asociación significativa entre el lugar de vivienda en las proximidades del parque industrial y el desenlace investigado. Además del análisis, este estudio también mostró datos importantes sobre la salud reproductiva de esas mujeres: 51,2% (E) y 40,6% (NE) de las mujeres tuvieron la primera gestación entre 12 y 19 años (n=412); 30,5% poseían tres o más hijos (n=393); 13,6% (E) y 8,3% (NE) de las mujeres que no menstruaban era debido a la menopausia precoz (n=80); 72,7% utilizaban algún método contraceptivo (n=513), siendo 52,3% de píldora y 23,6% de ligadura (n=373); 56,0% de las esterilizaciones ocurrieron entre 19 y 30 años (n=75);39,5% nunca realizaron preventivo de cáncer uterino (n=565). Con relación a la influencia de la exposición ambiental sobre el desenlace estudiado, sugerimos la realización de otros estudios con uso de biomarcadores, para identificar una posible influencia del ambiente sobre la salud reproductiva en esa población o para alejar definitivamente esa sospecha. Los resultados de ese estudio podrán subsidiar nuevas políticas de salud, relacionadas con la salud de la mujer en esta ciudad. Contribuirán también para una nueva práctica asistencial de los profesionales de enfermería/salud, en la que la cuestión ambiental sea considerada y priorizada la educación en salud, sobretodo con relación a las cuestiones que se refieren a los resultados encontrados.

Abstract Fertility declines with advancing age and the number of couples seeking infertility treatment at an older age is constantly increasing. A top quality embryo is believed to have the highest potential for implantation and development into a child. A better understanding of the relative importance of patient and treatment characteristics and of embryo quality could help to optimise the existing therapeutic schemes and the safety of in vitro fertilisation/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). In this work, databases of five Finnish infertility clinics were studied retrospectively. Data on treatments performed in the years 1994–2005 were collected. A total of 19,000 treatment cycles were analysed. Special attention was paid to the relative significance of the transfer of top quality embryos with regards to pregnancy, miscarriage, live birth and cost of treatment in the general IVF/ICSI patient population and in groups with expected poor outcome. The results showed that the transfer of a top quality embryo is associated with a better chance of pregnancy and live birth. However, it does not diminish the probability of miscarriage. Both low and high BMI increase the miscarriage rate. Advancing age and a positive history of previous miscarriages are also associated with a higher probability of miscarriage. In addition, the need for hormonal substitution in cases of frozen-embryo transfer is a risk factor of miscarriage, probably because of suboptimal endometrial function. Since the transfer of several embryos leads to multiple pregnancies, which are associated with a high risk of maternal and fetal complications, elective single embryo transfer (eSET) of a top quality embryo allows all additional good quality embryos to be frozen and transferred later in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles. The present work demonstrates that eSET is a safe treatment strategy at least until the age of 40. However, it might not be performed in women with fewer than four collected oocytes, since the prognosis might remain poor even if the response is improved in a following cycle. When eSET is applied routinely and on a large scale, it diminishes treatment costs while increasing the number of deliveries occurring at term, making IVF/ICSI at the same time safer and more affordable even to patients without access to reimbursed IVF treatment.

An abortion, be it induced or spontaneous, can be a traumatic experience in the life of a woman and her family. Women can use abortion as a method of family planning or to end an unwanted pregnancy. On the contrary there are women who wish to have children of their own, but experience spontaneous abortion or recurrent abortion. When women go through an abortion they may experience different dimensions of side effects and symptoms. The women may experience physical symptoms such as blood loss, pain and sepsis as well as psychological symptoms such as despair, depression and grief. Studies indicate that women who have abortions do not receive the care that they require and are in need of high quality care. There is a need for a systematic synthesis of the best available evidence regarding interventions for nursing practitioners. This can be used to inform practice. This research study aim to critically review and synthesise best available evidence regarding the best nursing practices for women who have an abortion. This was done by conducting a thorough step-by-step systematic review with the following objectives: to critically review available research evidence on abortion care and to synthesise best practices for abortion care provided by nurses. This study can provide nursing practitioners with the necessary information about the best available evidence regarding abortion care provided by nurses. The information can be used to increase and improve the nursing practitioner’s knowledge and to promote and enhance future questions and research. Through the step-by-step use of the systematic review after a thorough search and screening of potentially relevant studies on nurses providing abortion care according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the critical appraisal and data extraction of nine final relevant studies could be used for data analysis and synthesis. Conclusion statements were drawn and later combined and synthesised, graded and evaluated to provide the current best available evidence. The research was evaluated, limitations identified and recommendations made for nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research. The overall conclusion that can be drawn is there is not enough sufficient evidence to demonstrate that abortion care such as contraceptive counselling and/or psychological follow-up care provided by nurses and/or midwives before and after an induced or spontaneous abortion is sufficient and effective in reducing recurrent abortions, reducing despair, depression and grief and improving psychological consequences and increasing contraceptive usage. More research must be done on abortion nursing care. / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

An abortion, be it induced or spontaneous, can be a traumatic experience in the life of a woman and her family. Women can use abortion as a method of family planning or to end an unwanted pregnancy. On the contrary there are women who wish to have children of their own, but experience spontaneous abortion or recurrent abortion. When women go through an abortion they may experience different dimensions of side effects and symptoms. The women may experience physical symptoms such as blood loss, pain and sepsis as well as psychological symptoms such as despair, depression and grief. Studies indicate that women who have abortions do not receive the care that they require and are in need of high quality care. There is a need for a systematic synthesis of the best available evidence regarding interventions for nursing practitioners. This can be used to inform practice. This research study aim to critically review and synthesise best available evidence regarding the best nursing practices for women who have an abortion. This was done by conducting a thorough step-by-step systematic review with the following objectives: to critically review available research evidence on abortion care and to synthesise best practices for abortion care provided by nurses. This study can provide nursing practitioners with the necessary information about the best available evidence regarding abortion care provided by nurses. The information can be used to increase and improve the nursing practitioner’s knowledge and to promote and enhance future questions and research. Through the step-by-step use of the systematic review after a thorough search and screening of potentially relevant studies on nurses providing abortion care according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the critical appraisal and data extraction of nine final relevant studies could be used for data analysis and synthesis. Conclusion statements were drawn and later combined and synthesised, graded and evaluated to provide the current best available evidence. The research was evaluated, limitations identified and recommendations made for nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research. The overall conclusion that can be drawn is there is not enough sufficient evidence to demonstrate that abortion care such as contraceptive counselling and/or psychological follow-up care provided by nurses and/or midwives before and after an induced or spontaneous abortion is sufficient and effective in reducing recurrent abortions, reducing despair, depression and grief and improving psychological consequences and increasing contraceptive usage. More research must be done on abortion nursing care. / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014