| 1. |
- Aneblom, Gunilla
(författare)
-
The Emergency Contraceptive Pill – a Second Chance : Knowledge, Attitudes and Experiences Among Users and Providers
- 2003
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this thesis was to study knowledge, attitudes and experience of emergency contraceptive pills among women and providers. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Focus-group interviews were conducted with teenage-girls (I) and with women who had purchased ECP without prescription (IV). Self-administered waiting-room questionnaires were administered to women presenting for induced abortion in three large hospitals (II, III), and after the deregulation of ECP, a postal questionnaire was sent to pharmacy staff and nurse-midwives in three counties in mid-Sweden (V). Overall, women showed high basic awareness of ECP although specific knowledge such as the level of effectiveness, time-frames and how the method works was lacking. Approval of the method was high and most women were positive to use the method if they needed. Contradictory views as to whether ECP undermines contraceptive behavior were expressed. As many as 43% of women requesting induced abortion had a history of one or more previous abortions. Among the abortion applicants, one out of five, 22%, had previously used ECP and 3% had used it to prevent the current pregnancy. Media and friends were the two most common sources of information on ECP. Half of the women, 52%, were positive to having ECP prescription-free. Those women who had purchased ECP in a pharmacy without prescription, appreciated this possibility, and the major benefits expressed were time saving aspects. No severe side-effects were reported. The women's experiences of interaction with pharmacy staff were both positive and negative. The importance of up-to-date information about ECP and the OTC-availability from the health care providers was emphasized. Both pharmacy staff and nurse-midwives had positive attitudes towards ECP and the OTC availability. Of pharmacy staff, 38% reported that they referred women to nurse-midwives/gynecologists for further counseling and follow-ups. The need for increased communication and collaboration between pharmacies and local family planning clinics was reported by both study groups with suggestions of regular meetings for information and discussions. The results suggest that ECP is still underused and that more factual information is needed before the method is becoming a known, accepted and integrated back-up method to the existing family planning repertoire. Longitudinal research to assess the long-term effects of ECP is needed.
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
- Lundin, Cecilia
(författare)
-
Hormonal contraception, mood and sexual function
- 2020
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Hormonal contraceptives (HCs) are used by millions of women worldwide. Apart from their contraceptive effect, they also offer additional health benefits such as decreased menstrual bleedings and amelioration of menstrual-related pain. Adverse mood and sexual side-effects during HC-use are commonly reported, and women who discontinue treatment with HCs often claim these side effects as reason for cessation.Although several studies have investigated associations of HCs and adverse mood and sexual side-effects, little is known about causally drug-related outcomes. Few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted, and observational studies in the field are subject to several methodological caveats which limit what conclusions that can be drawn from them.The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the effect of HCs on various aspects of mood and sexual function.Study one was a randomised controlled trial where participant women received a combined oral contraceptive (COC) or placebo. Mood and sexual function were assessesed through daily ratings and questionnaires and measured at baseline and after three months treatment. Study two was a cross-sectional study that assessed which demographic, reproductive, and psychiatric factors are associated with self-reported HC-induced adverse mood symptoms.Study three was a register-based cohort study including all Nordic-born women aged 15-24 residing in Sweden between 2010 and 2017. Risk of depression – captured as redeemed prescription of antidepressant treatment or a depression diagnosis – among HC-users compared to non-users were estimated. Women who were randomised to a COC reported increased anxiety, mood swings and irritability compared to women randomised to placebo. In contrast, women who received a COC improved in depressive symptoms (paper I). Compared to women randomised to placebo, women who received a COC deteriorated regarding sexual interest and vaginal lubrication. Only deterioration in sexual interest remained after adjustments for depressive symptoms (paper II). Compared to women with no self-reported HC-induced adverse mood symptoms, women with such experience more often suffered from an ongoing minor depressive disorder, had more often experienced any previous mental health problem, and had more often undergone induced abortion (paper III). No uniform associations between use of HCs and subsequent risk of depression were found. In general, oral contraceptives conferred lower or no risk, while non-oral contraceptives were associated with small increased risks. Higher risks were found among HC-users aged 15-19 years compared to older HC-users (paper IV).
|
|
| 6. |
- Möller, Björn, 1970-
(författare)
-
Human Endometrial Angiogenesis : An Immunohistochemical Study of the Endometrial Expression of Angiogenic Growth Factors and Their Corresponding Receptors
- 2004
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The human endometrium undergoes dramatic changes in morphology and function during the menstrual cycle. Recurrent angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) is of utmost importance for oxygen supply and nourishment of the rapidly growing endometrial tissue. The importance of some growth factors known to stimulate new blood vessel formation both in vivo and in vitro in non-uterine tissues, for endometrial angiogenesis, was studied. Further, the possible relationship between the patterns of expression of some angiogenic growth factors and bleeding disturbances during the use of a progestin-only intrauterine contraceptive device was analyzed. Different ways of determining changes in the endometrial vascular density during the menstrual cycle were also evaluated. The expression of the angiogenic growth factors vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) A, B, C, and D, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) and their receptors was analyzed using immunohistochemistry.VEGF-A, -B and -C, FGF-2 and EGF and their receptors were all found to be expressed in normal human endometrium, especially in and/or around blood vessels, supporting the hypothesis that these peptides most probably contribute to the regulation of angiogenesis and blood vessel function in normal human endometrium.There were differences in expression of some of the studied ligands and receptors in endometrium from users of an LNG-IUS with and without bleeding disturbances. We conclude that changes in the expression of these growth factors and receptors might be involved in the formation of fragile and dysfunctional blood vessels that subsequently give rise to bleeding disturbances.The three different methods that were applied for calculating endometrial blood vessel density showed similar results and none of them indicated any significant changes during the menstrual cycle. Angiogenesis thus seems to occur mainly by blood vessel elongation and the angiogenic activity is probably related to changes in endometrial thickness and coiling of the spiral arteries.
|
|
| 7. |
- Paul, Mandira, 1985-
(författare)
-
Simplifying Reproductive Health in Low-Resource Settings : Access to medical abortion and contraceptive choice, the importance of gendered structures in Rajasthan
- 2015
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- India introduced family planning in the ‘50s, legalized abortion in the ‘70s, and accomplished a remarkable drop in maternal mortality and fertility since 1990. Nevertheless, abortions account for a large proportion of maternal deaths, and sterilization is the most frequently used contraception. This thesis aims to identify the means to simplify and increase access to reproductive health in low-resource settings, focusing on abortion and contraception in Rajasthan.A randomized controlled trial compared simplified follow-up, where women assess their abortion outcome at home after early medical abortion, with in-clinic follow-up. Additionally, contraceptive use was compared between study groups post-abortion. In order to explore young women’s opportunities to access reproductive health services in the area, we conducted in-depth interviews with recently-married women.Women in the home-assessment group preferred home-assessment in the future to a greater extent than the women in the clinic follow-up group, who preferred in-clinic follow-up. Complete abortions were reported in 95% of women in the ‘home-assessment group’ and 93% in the ‘in-clinic group’, suggesting that efficacy of simplified follow-up is non-inferior to in-clinic follow-up. A majority (81%) of women carried out the pregnancy test and found it easy to use. Women (96%) were satisfied with their abortion. There were no differences in contraceptive use between study groups at three months; however, women in the ‘in-clinic group’ were most likely to initiate contraception at two weeks. A majority of women preferred the three-month injection, while only 4% preferred sterilization. The recently-married women considered reversible contraception to be unfeasible due to misconceptions and taboos, yet women wanted effective contraception because their current use of traditional methods resulted in unintended pregnancies. Abortions were common, and were procured from private or informal providers.Allowing women to take an active role in reproductive health services can enable simplification of, and access to, reproductive services in low-resource settings as well as in other settings. Simplifying medical abortion, providing contraception ‘intra-abortion’, and offering a context-appropriate and effective means of contraception, creates a great potential to increase access to reproductive health services and can result in a more equal society where women, and men, can attain their sexual and reproductive rights.
|
|
| 8. |
- Segebladh, Birgitta, 1956-
(författare)
-
Is it Just the Hormones? : Sex Steroids, Chronic Stress and Violence in Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- 2011
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Premenstrual depressive symptoms and mood swings affect 3-8% of women in fertile age. The female hormones are believed to be the cause. Progesterone is well studied, but estrogen is not, and either are other causes such as intimate partner violence and chronic stress. The aim in this thesis was to investigate the influence of hormones as well as psychological aspects on the most common problems among women seeking care for premenstrual symptoms. In a cross-sectional study, four groups of women were included: ongoing users of oral contraceptives, with or without adverse mood symptoms and previous users, with or without experience of adverse mood. Depression and anxiety were significantly more common in both groups with reported adverse mood, in comparison with their control groups with no adverse mood. Self-reported PMS was significantly more common in those women who reported adverse mood, however, there was no difference in prospectively defined PMS or PMDD between the two groups of previous users. In a RCT with 25 women completing the study, GnRH treatment were tested in combination with two different HRT add-back doses of estradiol, in combination with progesterone and placebo. The higher dose of estrogen 1.5 mg in combination with progesterone induced significantly more pronounced symptoms than in combination with placebo. The lower dose, 0.5 mg gave less symptom recurrence in combination with progesterone. Exposure to violence was investigated among PMDD patients, healthy controls and gynecological patients. Among the participating women, gynecological patients, reported physical and/or emotional abuse significantly more often than did PMDD patients, as well as healthy controls. Chronic stress was investigated with diurnal cortisol, and low-dose dexamethasone test. There was no difference in diurnal secretion of cortisol between PMDD patients and controls. No difference in the degree of dexamethasone suppression was found between PMDD patients and controls. According to the results from these studies, the main symptom provoking factor in women with PMDD appears to be the estradiol and progesterone fluctuations across the menstrual cycle, whereas chronic stress and intimate partner violence appears to be less relevant.
|
|
| 9. |
- Stern, Jenny, 1987-
(författare)
-
Preconception Health and Care : A Window of Opportunity
- 2015
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Women’s health and lifestyle before pregnancy can influence both the fertility and the health of mother and child. The overall aim of this thesis was to explore current preconception health and care and evaluate a new tool for preconception care.Study I was a qualitative descriptive analysis of preconception recommendations in six European countries. All six countries had guidelines for high-risk women, but guidelines for healthy women were fragmented and inconsistent. Guidelines regarding nutrition and lifestyle differed between countries. Preconception care was offered to high-risk women but otherwise on an opportunistic basis.Study II was a cross sectional study measuring pregnancy planning among 3390 pregnant women at antenatal clinics. Three out of four pregnancies were very or fairly planned and 12 % fairly or very unplanned. Women with planned pregnancies were more likely to have a higher socioeconomic status and to have longer relationships than women with unplanned pregnancies. The level of pregnancy planning was associated with planning behavior, such as information seeking and intake of folic acid, but without a reduction in alcohol consumption.Study III was a randomized controlled trial evaluating the Reproductive Life Plan (RLP) as a health promoting tool in contraceptive counselling. Women (n=299) at a student health center were randomized to standard care or standard care plus RLP. RLP-based counselling increased women’s knowledge of both reproduction and folic acid intake prior to pregnancy, affected the women’s RLP and was appreciated by the women.Study IV explored the adaption of RLP among midwives using mixed methods with focus group interviews and a questionnaire. Midwives generally adopted the RLP in contraceptive counselling, had predominantly positive experiences of the RLP and considered it a feasible tool for promoting reproductive health.In conclusion, preconception care is a public health issue. Pregnancy planning is associated with socioeconomic background, and preventive measures could have great health benefits both for women of reproductive age and their future children. There is a need for both national and European cohesive evidence-based preconception care guidelines. The RLP is a feasible tool for promoting preconception health and can potentially form the missing link between contraceptive counselling and antenatal care.
|
|
| 10. |
- Tikkanen, Ronny, 1968, et al.
(författare)
-
Sexuell hälsa i Stockholms län
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Hälso- och sjukvårdsförvaltningen Folkhälsorapport.
-
Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
|
|
