Search

BackgroundPandemics are linked with declining birth rates, but little is known about how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced childbearing decisions. We aimed to investigate the associations between the COVID-19 pandemic and reproductive decisions, specifically to identify potential changes in the frequency of deliveries and induced abortions in Skåne, Sweden.MethodsUsing the Skåne Healthcare Register, we identified women aged 15–45 years who had at least one pregnancy-related care visit registered between 1 January 2013 and 11 November 11 2021. Deliveries and induced abortions were identified, and changes in weekly delivery and abortion counts were assessed using an interrupted time series design. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated from a Poisson regression model.ResultsDuring the study period we identified 129 131 deliveries and 38 591 abortions. Compared with the counterfactual (exposed interval assuming COVID-19 had not occurred), pandemic exposure was associated with fewer deliveries (RR 0.93; 95% CI 0.89 to 0.98). For abortions, pandemic exposure appeared to be associated with fewer abortions (RR 0.95; 95% CI 0.90 to 1.00); however, age-related differences were found. Among women aged 25 years and over, pandemic exposure was more strongly associated with fewer abortions. Contrastingly, among women aged under 25 years, abortions appeared to increase.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic seemed to have contributed to a decline in births in Southern Sweden. During the same period, abortions declined in women in the older age range, but contrastingly increased among younger women.

One in four pregnancies end in a pregnancy loss. Although the effect on couples is well documented, evidence-based treatments and prediction models are absent. Fetal aneuploidy is associated with a higher chance of a next successful pregnancy compared with euploid pregnancy loss in which underlying maternal conditions might be causal. Ploidy diagnostics are therefore advantageous but challenging as they require collection of the pregnancy tissue. Cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) from maternal blood has the potential for evaluation of fetal ploidy status, but no large-scale validation of the method has been done.

Abstract: Objectives: Although the number of palliative home-care teams is increasing, knowledge of what patients and principal informal carers expect from a home-care team is sparse. We aimed to elucidate this as well as evaluate a home-care team.Patients and methods: Individual semi-structured interviews with nine patients and six carers before receiving home care and 2–4 weeks after. In total, 26 interviews were conducted. Interviews were analysed with Template Analysis. Peer debriefing was performed.Main results: Patients and carers expected the team members to have specialised knowledge in palliative care and to improve their sense of security being at home. They also expected respite for carers and activities for patients. They evaluated the team positively but missed respite for carers and 24-h on-call service.Conclusions: Patients and carers found the home-care team essential to their sense of security being at home. Primary health care professionals must receive any necessary training outside patients’ homes. Offering respite for carers and 24-h on-call service would be an improvement.

Our aim was to study attitudes towards twins and single embryo transfer (SET) among IVF/ICSI-twin mothers with 3 to 4-year old children.

Background. Possible relationships between menarche and fertility and fecundity later in life have not been fully clarified.Methods. A cross-sectional study was made in a random sample of 3743 women, aged 15-44 years, in the county of Copenhagen; 78% responded. Telephone interviews were made with a sample of the non-respondents.Results. Associations were observed between early menarche and increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (odds ratio 2.4 (1.4-4.1)) and spontaneous abortion (OR 3.1 (1.6-5.7)) later in life. On the other hand, no association was found with irregular bleedings or amenor-rhoea; nor was a significant relationship established with fertility or fecundity. Late menarche was associated with underweight (OR 3.1 (1.4-6.9)), and early menarche with excess weight (OR 5.0 (2.4-10.6)). A significant positive correlation (R=0.17) was found between menarcheal age and final body height.Conclusions. Menarche was not associated with fatuity or fecundity. Early menarche was associated with pelvic inflammatory disease and spontaneous abortion. Menarche showed relationships with weight and height.

Background.The purpose of this study was to describe infertile patients’ experiences and assessment of infertility treatment. Methods.Sixteen couples undergoing infertility treatment at the Fertility Clinic, Herlev Hospital in Copenhagen County, Denmark, were interviewed using a semi-structured qualitative interview. The participants were selected by purposeful sampling with maximum variation. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed in full. Data were analyzed by the Grounded theory method.Results.Infertility patients preferred treatment that was organized in a separate clinic where there were only a few staff-members, proceeded without waiting time, and followed a plan known to both the doctor and the couple. Satisfaction or dissatisfaction with treatment was not related to length of infertility, sex, or social class. Surprisingly, assessment of treatment was not related to either outcome or type of treatment. The participants experienced infertility treatment as a psychological strain and they felt that their emotional needs were not met in the health care system. The desire for services from the health care system was related to how the participants managed their infertility problem in relation to other people. The more open-minded the participant was, the more was expected from the professionals. These participants wanted detailed information about technical aspects of infertility and treatment as well as psychosocial and sexual advice and support.Conclusion.The public health care system does not meet the needs of infertile couples for information, psychological and sexual counselling, and discussions of alternative ways of becoming parents. High-quality treatment has to consider the patients’ different needs and ensure successful pregnancies as well.