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ObjectivesTo explore attitudes to and experiences using a smartphone-based self-test for prediction of pre-eclampsia among pregnant women.DesignA qualitative, descriptive study.SettingAn obstetrical care unit at a university hospital in Denmark.ParticipantsTwenty women who had participated in the Salurate trial, a clinical trial testing the efficacy of a smartphone-based self-test for prediction of pre-eclampsia, were purposefully chosen for the study, using maximum variation sampling.Data collection and analysisData were collected by semistructured, individual, face-to-face interviews conducted from 4 October 2018 to 8 November 2018. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed by means of thematic analysis.ResultsQualitative thematic analysis resulted in the identification of three main themes: Raising awareness, self-testing has the potential to be an integrated part of pregnancy and trusting in technology. Two subthemes were identified under each main theme.ConclusionsThe smartphone-based self-test for prediction of pre-eclampsia has potential to be integrated into antenatal care, and women found it feasible to use. However, testing affected the participating women psychologically, leading to feelings of worry as well as safety. Therefore, if self-testing is implemented, it is important to take actions to handle adverse psychological side effects, including increasing knowledge on pre-eclampsia and having healthcare professionals ongoingly address the psychological state of women throughout pregnancy. In addition, it is essential to emphasise the importance of subjective bodily sensations during pregnancy, including fetal movements. Further studies on the experience of being labelled low risk versus high risk for pre-eclampsia are warranted since this was not investigated in this trial.

Introduction: There remains a need for a non-invasive, low-cost and easily accessible way of identifying women at risk of developing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. This study evaluated the predictive value of longitudinal salivary uric acid measurement. Material and methods: Pregnant women (n = 137) from 20 weeks of gestation were recruited at St Richards Hospital, Chichester, UK, for this prospective cohort study. Weekly samples of salivary uric acid were analyzed until delivery. Information regarding pregnancy and labor were obtained from the patient’s record after delivery. Independent t tests were used to compare mean levels of salivary uric acid in women with hypertensive complications and adverse fetal outcomes with women with normal pregnancies. Main outcome measures were preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, spontaneous preterm delivery and small-for-gestational-age babies. Results: From 21 weeks of gestation until delivery, levels of salivary uric acid increased significantly in women who subsequently developed preeclampsia and pregnancy-induced hypertension compared with women with normal pregnancies (preeclampsia—mean at gestational age 21-24, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] [mean GA21-24): 108 [63-185] vs 47 (39-55) µmol/L; P =.005; pregnancy-induced hypertension—mean GA21-24: 118 [54–258] vs 47 [39-55] µmol/L; P =.004). In women who had spontaneous preterm delivery, salivary uric acid levels increased significantly from 29 to 32 weeks of gestation compared with women with normal pregnancies (mean GA29-32: 112 (57-221) vs 59 (50-71) µmol/L; P =.04). In women who had babies small-for-gestational-age

Objective Hysterectomy is suspected of increasing risk of subsequent pelvic organ prolapse (POP). In attempt to prevent this, several suspension methods during hysterectomy on benign indication are used as a prophylactic procedure. However, possible complications to the use of prophylactic vaginal vault suspension to prevent POP are not fully investigated. We aimed to elucidate prophylactic vaginal vault suspension as a possible cause for pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction. Study design We included all women registered with a total hysterectomy on benign indication and registered with a suspension method or specifically no suspension in the nationwide Danish Hysterectomy and Hysteroscopy Database (DHHD) between 10 May 2012 and 4 September 2013 (N = 3999). A postal questionnaire on pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction was sent to women 25.8 (range 23.8–28.4) months after hysterectomy. Questions were selected from a previous study as well as from the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12). We used independent samples t-tests and χ2-tests for univariate analyses. In multivariable analyses, we used log-binomial – and linear regression models adjusted for risk factors of pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction, respectively. Results The response rate was 60.3% (N = 2412). Of the respondents, 88.8% (N = 2143) were registered with a suspension method and 11.2% (N = 269) were registered with specifically no suspension. Overall, pelvic pain of any kind was reported in 24.3% (N = 576) of the respondents. In adjusted log-binomial regression, suspension did not increase risk of pelvic pain compared to no suspension (RR 0.92; 95% CI 0.75 to 1.14; p-value 0.45). In adjusted linear regression, suspension was significantly associated with less degree of sexual dysfunction (regression coefficient −0.92; 95% CI −1.70 to −0.14; p-value 0.02). Conclusions In women undergoing prophylactic vaginal vault suspension during hysterectomy, we found less sexual dysfunction and no evidence of increased risk of pelvic pain compared to women with no vaginal vault suspension.