The impact of mental health and psychological stressors on menstrual cycle modulation: exploring the influence of age and hormonal contraceptives.

Stress, infections, and psychological and social well-being can affect the reproductive system. Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis can disrupt ovarian cyclicity. Estrogens can modulate stress responsiveness and mood. Thus, understanding this interaction and how it modulates the menstrual cycle is crucial for women's reproductive health. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of a stressor, a period of the Covid-19 pandemic when there were no vaccines available yet, on the psychological state of women aged 18 to 45 years; as well as the influence of mental health on the menstrual cycle, considering the influence of age and hormonal contraceptives. METHOD: Online questionnaire using the Google Forms platform was used. RESULTS: There is a high prevalence of the onset of new psychosocial symptoms. Moreover, most women reported some type of change in their menstrual cycles. The women who were using hormonal contraceptives demonstrated a higher frequency of spotting and menstrual color alterations, while women without hormonal contraceptives demonstrated a higher frequency of cycle duration and menstrual odor alterations. Women without hormonal contraceptives were more susceptible to the development of psychosocial symptoms. Younger adult women were more affected by menstrual changes and psychosocial symptoms. Close to 90% of women who reported several psychosocial symptoms had changes in their menstrual cycles. CONCLUSION: These data suggest the impact of stressors, such as a period of the pandemic, on mental health and menstrual cycles, and younger adult women can be more susceptible. This reflects the relationship between mental and reproductive health.

Contraceptive Method Usage Pattern and Percentage of New Pregnancies Among Adolescent and Young Adult Family Planning Patients: A Mixed-Methods Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: Despite increased access to contraceptive methods (CM), the United States still has the highest rate of adolescent pregnancy among industrialized nations, and adolescents from historically marginalized groups are disproportionately affected. In this study, we sought to (1) understand if differences in CM usage were associated with differential percentages of new pregnancies among adolescents and young adult patients attending a family planning (FP) clinic at an urban community practice and (2) identify areas of improvement in our FP counseling. METHODS: Mixed-methods study design consisting of (1) a 12-month retrospective chart review and (2) a self-answered cross-sectional survey of FP patients. Chi-square, Fisher's exact tests, and risk ratio were performed to analyze the percentage of new pregnancies according to CM usage. RESULTS: The percentage of new pregnancies was 11 among our FP patients (N = 555) during this study period. As anticipated, pregnancy was associated with no CM use, CM discontinuation, and, interestingly, multiple CM changes (P < .001). The probability of no-pregnancy significantly decreased among patients on no method, who discontinued their CM or made multiple CM changes compared to those with continuous CM use. There was no association between the percentage of new pregnancies and any particular CM type. CONCLUSION: Despite adequate access to FP patient services and high patient satisfaction levels, our findings indicate a need to adopt a more patient-centered approach in our FP counseling that addresses patient's reproductive life plans, preferences, and method side effects to increase CM uptake and satisfaction and decrease frequency of CM changes which is associated with increased risk of mistimed pregnancy during method switching.

Neonatal mortality rate and determinants among births of mothers at extreme ages of reproductive life in low and middle income countries.

Neonatal mortality, which refers to the death of neonates during the first 28 completed days of life, is a critical global public health concern. The neonatal period is widely recognized as one of the most precarious phases in human life. Research has indicated that maternal extreme ages during reproductive years significantly impact neonatal survival, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Consequently, this study aims to evaluate the neonatal mortality rate and determinants among neonates born to mothers at extreme reproductive ages within these countries. A secondary analysis of demographic and health surveys conducted between 2015 and 2022 in 43 low- and middle-income countries was performed. The study included a total sample of 151,685 live births. Researchers utilized a multilevel mixed-effects model to identify determinants of neonatal mortality. The measures of association were evaluated using the adjusted odds ratio within a 95% confidence interval. The neonatal mortality rate among neonates born to mothers at extreme ages of reproductive life in low- and middle-income countries was 28.96 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births (95% CI 28.13-29.82). Factors associated with higher rates of neonatal mortality include male gender, low and high birth weight, maternal education (no or low), home deliveries, multiple births, short preceding birth intervals, lack of postnatal checkups, and countries with high fertility and low literacy rates. This study sheds light on the neonatal mortality rates among neonates born to mothers at extreme ages of reproductive life in low- and middle-income countries. Notably, we found that neonatal mortality was significantly higher in this group compared to neonatal mortality rates reported regardless of maternal ages. Male babies, low and high birth-weighted babies, those born to mothers with no or low education, delivered at home, singletons, babies born with a small preceding birth interval, and those without postnatal checkups faced elevated risks of neonatal mortality. Additionally, neonates born in countries with high fertility and low literacy rates were also vulnerable. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions tailored to mothers at extreme ages. Policymakers and healthcare providers should prioritize strategies that address specific risk factors prevalent in these vulnerable populations. By doing so, we can improve neonatal outcomes and ensure the survival of these newborns during the critical neonatal period.

Fertility Knowledge and Educational Experiences of Graduating Medical Students: A Multi-Institution Survey.

Objective: Our goal was to assess the fertility knowledge and educational experiences of graduating U.S. medical students to evaluate areas of improvement for future educational interventions. Design: Web-based cross-sectional survey. Subjects: Medical students graduating in 2023 from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (SOM), New York University (NYU) Grossman SOM, Wayne State University SOM, Perelman SOM at the University of Pennsylvania, and Mayo Clinic Alix SOM. Main Outcome Measures: Fertility-related knowledge and educational experiences of U.S. medical students in their final year of school. Results: In total, 117 students (14.4%) completed the survey. The average knowledge score was 78%. Twenty-three (22%) overestimated the age of most precipitous fertility decline, and 50 (52%) overestimated the chance of getting pregnant for a 40-year-old person with ovaries. One-third of students (30, 32%) incorrectly believe that physicians have equivalent infertility rates to the general population. Students were less cognizant of male fertility issues, incorrectly believing there was no negative impact on male fertility by age (43, 42%) among other factors. Seventy-five (81%) reported less than 5 hours of fertility-related education in medical school. Only one-third (32%) were satisfied or very satisfied with the fertility education they received. In an open-response question, students expressed interest in additional education on transgender and cancer patient care, fertility preservation, assisted reproductive technologies, and reproductive life planning in medicine. Conclusions: There is a need and an opportunity for medical education programs to enhance fertility education. Giving students and trainees the knowledge required to make informed decisions for their family-building purposes and improving their ability to counsel patients adequately should be a goal of future educational endeavors. The data collected in this study will serve as a guide for the development of fertility-related learning modules for medical students and trainees.

Aging-Related Ovarian Failure and Infertility: Melatonin to the Rescue.

Aging has a major detrimental effect on the optimal function of the ovary with changes in this organ preceding the age-related deterioration in other tissues, with the middle-aged shutdown leading to infertility. Reduced fertility and consequent inability to conceive by women in present-day societies who choose to have children later in life leads to increased frustration. Melatonin is known to have anti-aging properties related to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. Its higher follicular fluid levels relative to blood concentrations and its likely synthesis in the oocyte, granulosa, and luteal cells suggest that it is optimally positioned to interfere with age-associated deterioration of the ovary. Additionally, the end of the female reproductive span coincides with a significant reduction in endogenous melatonin levels. Thus, the aims are to review the literature indicating melatonin production in mitochondria of oocytes, granulosa cells, and luteal cells, identify the multiple processes underlying changes in the ovary, especially late in the cessation of the reproductive life span, summarize the physiological and molecular actions of melatonin in the maintenance of normal ovaries and in the aging ovaries, and integrate the acquired information into an explanation for considering melatonin in the treatment of age-related infertility. Use of supplemental melatonin may help preserve fertility later in life and alleviate frustration in women delaying childbearing age, reduce the necessity of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) procedures, and help solve the progressively increasing problem of non-aging-related infertility in women throughout their reproductive life span. While additional research is needed to fully understand the effects of melatonin supplementation on potentially enhancing fertility, studies published to date suggest it may be a promising option for those struggling with infertility.

Marshallese Mothers' and Marshallese Maternal Healthcare Providers' Perspectives on Contraceptive Use and Reproductive Life Planning Practices and Influences.

Pacific Islander communities experience significant maternal and infant health disparities including high maternal and infant mortality. Contraception and reproductive life planning prevent approximately one-third of pregnancy-related deaths and neonatal deaths. We report the results of formative research devoted to understanding Marshallese mothers' as well as their maternal healthcare providers' practices and influences related to contraceptive use and reproductive life planning. This study used an exploratory, descriptive qualitative design to explore Marshallese mothers' and maternal healthcare providers' practices and influences of contraception use and reproductive life planning. Twenty participants were enrolled in the study, 15 Marshallese mothers and five Marshallese maternal healthcare providers. For the Marshallese mothers, two themes emerged: (1) Reproductive Life Planning Practices and Information; and (2) Reproductive Life Planning Influences. For the Marshallese maternal healthcare providers, two themes emerged: (1) Reproductive Life Planning Practices; and (2) Reproductive Life Planning Influences. This is the first study to document Marshallese mothers' and maternal healthcare providers' practices and influences with contraceptive use and reproductive life planning. Study results will inform the development of a culturally-adapted contraception and reproductive life planning tool with an educational program for Marshallese family units and maternal healthcare providers serving Marshallese women.

Acceptability of reproductive goals assessment in public mental health care.

OBJECTIVE: To assess patient and provider perspectives on the acceptability of reproductive goals assessment in public mental health clinics and inform potential tailoring for these settings. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING: Primary qualitative data from patients and providers at four clinics in an urban public mental health system serving individuals with chronic mental illness (collected November 2020-October 2021). STUDY DESIGN: This was an exploratory qualitative study with patients (English-speaking women of reproductive age, primarily Black or Latina) and mental health providers (psychiatrists, psychotherapists, case managers, nurses). We examined the acceptability of reproductive goals assessment within mental health care and obtained feedback on two reproductive goals assessment conversation guides: PATH (Pregnancy Attitudes, Timing, and How Important is Pregnancy Prevention) and OKQ (One Key Question). DATA COLLECTION: We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with 22 patients and 36 providers. We used rapid qualitative analysis to summarize interview transcripts and identified themes using matrix analysis. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Perceptions of reproductive goals assessment were generally positive. Providers said the conversation guides would "open the door" to important discussions, support a better understanding of patients' goals, and facilitate medication counseling and planning. A minority of patients expressed discomfort or ambivalence; several suggested providers ask permission or allow patients to raise the topic. Additional themes included the need for framing to provide context for these personal questions, the need to build rapport before asking them, and the challenge of balancing competing priorities. Many participants found both PATH and OKQ prompts acceptable; some preferred the "conversational" and "open-ended" PATH phrasing. CONCLUSIONS: Participants perceived reproductive goals assessment as a promising practice in mental health care with unique functions in this setting. Areas of discomfort highlight the sensitivity of these topics for some women with chronic mental illness and suggest opportunities to tailor language, framing, and provider training to support effective and appropriate implementation.

Preconception, Interconception, and reproductive health screening tools: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and describe the standardized interconception and preconception screening tools for reproductive health needs that are applicable in general outpatient clinical practice. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING: This systematic review identifies research on pregnancy intention screening and counseling tools, and standardized approaches to preconception and interconception care. We focus on tools designed for clinical settings, but also include research tools with potential for clinical implementation. These tools may include a component of contraceptive counseling, but those focusing solely on contraceptive counseling were excluded. Data were collected from studies done in the United States between January 2000 and March 2022. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a systematic literature search to generate a list of unique tools, assessed the quality of evidence supporting each tool, and described the peer-reviewed clinical applications of each. We used the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool to appraise the quality of individual studies. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases for standardized preconception and interconception health screening tools published in English from January 2000 through March 2022. We used keywords "preconception care," "interconception care," "family planning," "contraception," "reproductive health services," and "counseling." Utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews guidelines, we screened titles and abstracts to identify studies for full text review. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The search resulted in 15,399 studies. After removing 4172 duplicates, we screened 11,227 titles/abstracts and advanced 207 for full-text review. From these, we identified 53 eligible studies representing 22 tools/standardized approaches, of which 10 had evidence from randomized clinical trials. These ranged widely in design, setting, and population of study. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians have a choice of tools when implementing standard reproductive screening services. A growing body of research can inform the selection of an appropriate tool, and more study is needed to establish effects on long-term patient outcomes.

Does a short luteal phase correlate with an increased risk of miscarriage? A cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Miscarriage is defined as spontaneous loss of pregnancy prior to 20 weeks gestation. With an estimated risk of 15% of clinically confirmed pregnancies ending in miscarriage, it is the most common adverse event in pregnancy. Woman's age is the primary risk factor for miscarriage, while medical conditions, including hormonal abnormalities, are also associated. Progesterone is essential for maintaining pregnancy. A short luteal phase may reflect inadequate levels of progesterone production, but it is unclear whether a short luteal phase correlates with an increase in the risk of miscarriage. METHODS: Using a cohort study design, we conducted a secondary data analysis from four cohorts of couples who used a standardized protocol to track biomarkers of the female cycles. A short luteal phase was defined as less than 10 days, with < 11, < 9, and < 8 days as alternate definitions in sensitivity analyses. We included women who experienced a pregnancy with a known outcome, identified the length of the luteal phase in up to 3 cycles prior to conception and assessed the relationship with miscarriage using a modified Poisson regression analysis, adjusting for demographic characteristics, smoking, alcohol use and previous pregnancy history. RESULTS: In our sample of 252 women; the overall miscarriage rate was 18.7%. The adjusted incident risk ratio of miscarriage in women who had at least one short luteal phase < 10 days, compared to those who had none, was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.57, 1.80) Similar null risk was found when assessing alternative lengths of short luteal phase. Women who had short luteal phases < 10 days in all 3 cycles prior to the conception cycle had an incident risk ratio of 2.14 (95% CI: 0.7, 6.55). CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that a short luteal phase in the three cycles prior to conception was not associated with higher rates of miscarriage in an international cohort of women tracking their cycles, but our sample size was limited. Further research to determine if short luteal phases or luteal phase deficiency is associated with early pregnancy losses among preconception cohorts with daily tracking of cycle parameters, in addition to progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin levels, is warranted. Additionally, future studies should include women with recurrent short luteal phases as a more likely risk factor than isolated short luteal phases.

This study looks at whether women have a higher risk of miscarriage if the second half of their menstrual or reproductive cycle is shorter than normal. The second half of the cycle, referred to as the luteal phase, is normally 11 to 16 days long. If the luteal phase is too short this may suggest a woman does not have enough progesterone, the hormone essential for maintaining pregnancy.This study included 252 pregnant women for whom we had data on the length of at least one luteal phase prior to pregnancy and for whom we knew the outcome of the pregnancy. Almost one-fifth of the women in our study had a miscarriage. However, we found there was no difference in the risk for miscarriage if women had a short or a normal luteal phase.

Menstrual Abnormalities and Reproductive Lifespan in Females with CKD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Menstrual abnormalities and shortened reproductive lifespan are associated with shorter life expectancy and higher cardiovascular and osteoporosis risk in the general population, although the magnitude of these reproductive factor irregularities in females with CKD is unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the current knowledge regarding menstrual abnormalities and reproductive lifespan among females with CKD. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: A comprehensive bibliographic search (MEDLINE, Embase, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature [CINAHL]) was completed from database inception to February 2022 to identify all original articles reporting on females of reproductive age with nondialysis-dependent/nonkidney transplant CKD, dialysis-dependent CKD, or kidney transplantation and menstruation patterns, age of menarche, and/or menopause. Data extraction and study quality assessment were completed in duplicate. Random effects meta-analyses were used to derive pooled proportions estimates. RESULTS: Forty-six studies were identified, and 35 were meta-analyzed, stratified by KRT modality and reported outcome. Menstrual abnormalities were present in 19%-47% of patients on hemodialysis and 75% of patients on peritoneal dialysis. Kidney transplantation was associated with a 7%-30% decrease in menstrual abnormalities. Reproductive lifespan was 32 years (95% confidence interval, 30 to 34 years). Although significant heterogeneity was present, study quality ranged from fair to good, and no evidence of publication bias was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Menstrual abnormalities and shorter reproductive lifespan are common in females with CKD, although kidney transplantation may improve menstrual health.

Shorter reproductive life span is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and total mortality in Swedish women from an observational, population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: Reproductive history of women is of importance to estimate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. One aspect of that history is the reproductive life span (RLS), the period between onset of menarche and menopause. Previous studies have indicated an increased risk associated with shorter RLS, but this has never previously been tested in Scandinavian women. Our aim was to investigate such associations in Swedish women. STUDY DESIGN: We used observational data from the Malmö Diet Cancer Study (MDCS), which included 12,101 middle-aged women (mean age 60 years at baseline) born between 1923 and 1945 from Malmö, Sweden. Data on reproductive history was obtained from a questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cox regression was used to estimate the association between quintiles (Q1-Q5) of RLS and incident fatal or non-fatal CVD events and total mortality during follow-up, adjusted for co-variates. RESULTS: During a maximum of 28 years of follow-up, there were 2678 non-fatal CVD events and 5697 deaths. A shorter RLS was associated with an increased CVD risk (hazard ratio (HR) 1.19, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.34, p = 0.004) when comparing Q1 (RLS ≤ 32 years) with Q5 (RLS ≥ 40 years). The association remained significant when specifically controlling for history of hysterectomy and/or oophorectomy (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.07-1.35, p = 0.002, for Q1 vs. Q5). A shorter RLS was also associated with a higher mortality risk (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.11-1.31, p = 0.001, for Q1 vs. Q5, and HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02-1.20, p = 0.02, for Q2 vs. Q5). CONCLUSION: A shorter RLS was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events and total mortality in Swedish women.

Perception and intention to use reproductive life plan among female final year undergraduates of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess perception (of) and intention to use reproductive life plan among 500 female final year undergraduates of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Only 22% of the respondents were aware of RLP and 63% had good perception of RLP. Most (85.1%) had the intention to plan their pregnancy and 64.5% intended to use RLP as a tool for planning pregnancy. More respondents (85.8%) who were aware of family planning methods had intention to plan their pregnancy compared to those that were not (61.5%; p = .015). Similarly, 65.8% of respondents who were aware of family planning methods had intention to use RLP compared to 23.1% of those who were not (p = .002). Respondents' awareness of the concept of RLP was poor and majority agreed to use RLP as a tool for planning pregnancy. Awareness of family planning methods was associated with intention to use RLP.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? Reproductive life plan (RLP) is a tool for setting goals in terms of childbearing. It outlines personal goals about pregnancy which includes having the desired number of children, avoiding unintended pregnancies and avoiding ill health that may threaten reproduction. RLP is a useful tool in preconception and the tool can adequately prepare young unmarried girls for motherhood, thus reducing the high rate of unintended pregnancy which remains a public health and social challenge especially in low income settings including Nigeria.What do the results of this study add? This study has been able to bridge an existing gap in knowledge because no study has been conducted to assess the perception of RLP and intention to use it as a preconception tool in Nigeria. The results provided new information on the perception and intention to use reproductive life plan among female final year undergraduate students of University of Ibadan, Nigeria.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The use of RLP serves as health promotion strategy to improve the health of each woman prior to conception by planning their pregnancies, identifying risk factors, providing education and stabilising medical conditions so as to optimise maternal and foetal outcomes.

The Effect of Cumulative Lifetime Estrogen Exposure on Cognition in Depressed Versus Non-Depressed Older Women.

OBJECTIVES: Two-thirds of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease are women. Declining estrogen levels influence mood and cognition. Cumulative lifetime estrogen exposure (CLEE) correlates with cognition later in life. We examined the relationship of CLEE to depression and cognition in older women with major depression compared to non-depressed women. DESIGN: Older women (age ≥60 years) with depression were compared to non-depressed women using a lifetime estrogen exposure questionnaire. CLEE was defined as combined durations of reproductive span (age of menopause minus age of menarche) and any post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy use. Higher vs lower CLEE groups were based on a median of 474 months of estrogen exposure. SETTING: University hospital outpatient research program. PARTICIPANTS: 135 women ≥60 years; 64 depressed and 71 non-depressed. MEASURMENTS: Participants completed a comprehensive cognitive test battery. General linear models were used to examine the association between cognitive domain scores and CLEE in depressed and non-depressed women, controlling for age, education, and ethnicity. RESULTS: Depressed and non-depressed groups had significantly different levels of CLEE, measured in months: mean 495.7 (SD 108.6) vs 456.4 (SD 66.0) months, F(1,130) = 5.01, p = .03. Within the non-depressed participants, higher CLEE was associated with improved delayed recall (F(1,59) = 5.94, p = .02, effect size = .61), while no such relationship was observed in the depressed group. CONCLUSION: Higher CLEE was associated with improvement in delayed recall among non-depressed, but not among depressed participants. This suggests a protective role of estrogen on memory in non-depressed older postmenopausal women. Further research should examine the role of the CLEE in antidepressant response and cognitive decline.

Family planning practices and women's impression of the reproductive life plan in Eswatini.

OBJECTIVE: Family planning is limited and unplanned pregnancies are common in Eswatini. The Reproductive Life Plan (RLP) is a counselling tool to improve pregnancy planning. Mentor mothers, i.e. community health workers, were trained in using an adapted RLP and introduced it into family planning discussions with their clients. This study evaluates the clients' impression of the RLP and investigates their family planning practices. METHOD: Data were collected in 2018 from anonymous questionnaires filled out by the clients: mothers or pregnant women aged 15-44 years. The questionnaire comprised 20 questions on demographic background, fertility desires, pregnancy planning as well as quality and perceived need for family planning support. Chi-square tests or Fisher's exact test were used for group comparisons. RESULTS: 199 women were included. Most women (74%) chose the option that family planning discussions using the RLP had helped them 'very much'. A majority also had a perceived need for these discussions as 70% wanted to have more support from their mentor mother and 92% wanted more information about family planning. Women with lower educational level and younger women wanted more support compared to women with higher educational level and older women (p < 0.001 and p = 0.028). The unmet need for family planning was 22%. CONCLUSION: The introduction of the RLP used by mentor mothers was well received among women but most of them requested more family planning support. Using the RLP may help women in this context achieve their reproductive goals.

Mapping intentions to adopt fertility protective behaviours: the role of couple congruence and the importance of relationship and fertility awareness.

Several studies worldwide have shown that reproductive-aged people often have inadequate fertility awareness (FA). Since attitudes and health behaviours are influenced by the partner, there is a need for studies exploring the role of these influences on the individuals' adoption of fertility protective behaviours (FPB). This study explores the role of FA and relationship quality on couples' intention to adopt FPB. One hundred and twelve childless couples answered an online questionnaire about reproductive life plan, FA and intentions to adopt FPB. The results showed that couples were moderately congruent on their reproductive life plan. The female partners who reported higher female relationship quality and higher female willingness to undergo fertility treatments were more willing to adopt FPB. The male partners who had heightened FA also reported higher intention to adopt FPB. The influences of male and female FA, relationship quality and congruence on reproductive life plan were neither associated with couples' congruence on the intention to adopt FPB. Although the cross-sectional design restricts our ability to draw causal conclusions, these findings emphasize that future interventions should be targeted at couples and designed according to their expectations and reproductive desires.

Women who breastfeed exhibit cognitive benefits after age 50.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Women who breastfeed may experience long-term benefits for their health in addition to the more widely appreciated effects on the breastfed child. Breastfeeding may induce long-term effects on biopsychosocial systems implicated in brain health. Also, due to diminished breastfeeding in the postindustrial era, it is important to understand the lifespan implications of breastfeeding for surmising maternal phenotypes in our species' collective past. Here, we assess how women's breastfeeding history relates to postmenopausal cognitive performance. METHODOLOGY: A convenience sample of Southern California women age 50+ was recruited via two clinical trials, completed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery and answered a questionnaire about reproductive life history. General linear models examined whether cognitive domain scores were associated with breastfeeding in depressed and non-depressed women, controlling for age, education and ethnicity. RESULTS: Women who breastfed exhibited superior performance in the domains of Learning, Delayed Recall, Executive Functioning and Processing Speed compared to women who did not breastfeed (P-values 0.0003-0.015). These four domains remained significant in analyses limited to non-depressed and parous subsets of the cohort. Among those depressed, only Executive Functioning and Processing Speed were positively associated with breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: We add to the growing list of lifespan health correlates of breastfeeding for women's health, such as the lower risk of type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. We surmise that women's postmenopausal cognitive competence may have been greater in past environments in which breastfeeding was more prevalent, bolstering the possibility that postmenopausal longevity may have been adaptive across human evolutionary history. LAY SUMMARY: Breastfeeding may affect women's cognitive performance. Breastfeeding's biological effects and psychosocial effects, such as improved stress regulation, could exert long-term benefits for the mother's brain. We found that women who breastfed performed better on a series of cognitive tests in later life compared to women who did not breastfeed.

Perceived Threat of Infertility and Women's Intention to Anticipate Childbearing: The Mediating Role of Personally Perceived Barriers and Facilitators.

To study the role of perceived threat of infertility, barriers, and facilitators in intention to anticipate childbearing, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 240 women desiring to have children and committed in a heterosexual relationship. Participants answered an online survey between July 2016 and February 2018. Results showed that perceiving infertility as a strong barrier and being willing to use fertility treatment as a facilitator fully mediated the effect of perceived threat on intention to anticipate childbearing. In conclusion, women who perceive themselves at risk of being infertile will consider, to a higher degree, infertility as a strong barrier to achieve their reproductive life plan or will report higher willingness to use fertility treatments, which in turn would increase intentions to anticipate childbearing. Since evidence showed lack of fertility awareness, intervention initiatives should target these mediators.

Reproductive Life Goals: A Systematic Review of Pregnancy Planning Intentions, Needs, and Interventions Among Women Involved in U.S. Criminal Justice Systems.

Background: Women involved in criminal justice systems (WICJ) are affected by multilevel biological and sociocultural factors that result in adverse health outcomes and health disparities. Criminal justice systems (CJS) must be appropriately resourced to address these issues. Materials and Methods: We developed a systematic review to understand the intentions and needs for pregnancy prevention and planning among WICJ to inform future reproductive health services. We conducted a systematic literature review of epidemiologic and interventional studies that addressed the pregnancy prevention and planning needs of U.S. WICJ (2000-2019). An initial screen identified 7061 articles and 3 independent reviewers determined that 28 articles (16 descriptive studies in adults, 7 descriptive studies in adolescents, and 5 interventional studies) met inclusion criteria. Results: The literature review identified high rates of contraception underutilization and negative attitudes toward pregnancy among WICJ in a wide variety of settings. WICJ described minimal access to reproductive health services, including evidence-based contraception, and experienced high rates of unplanned and undesired pregnancies. Results were interpreted in the context of the reproductive justice (RJ) framework. Conclusions: The CJS, although not designed to provide health care, should dedicate resources to address the multilevel barriers to care experienced by women. WICJ require targeted, gender-responsive, trauma-informed pregnancy prevention and planning interventions that acknowledge the history of reproductive coercion in this population and address key aspects of RJ, including the right to and to not have a child.

Effects of clinic-level implementation of One Key Question® on reproductive health counseling and patient satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effect of clinic level implementation of the One Key Question (OKQ) intervention, including physician and staff training and workflow adjustments, on reproductive counseling and patient satisfaction in primary care and ob/gyn. STUDY DESIGN: We implemented the OKQ intervention in one primary care and one ob/gyn practice, while observing another primary care and ob/gyn practice that each provided usual care (control practices). We surveyed separate patient cohorts at two time points: 26 before and 33 after the primary care practice implemented OKQ, 38 before and 36 after the ob/gyn practice implemented OKQ, 26 and 37 at the primary care control practice, and 31 and 37 at the ob/gyn control practice. We used chi square tests to assess OKQ's effects on counseling rates and patient satisfaction, comparing intervention to control practices across time points. RESULTS: In primary care, from before to after implementation, the intervention practice did not significantly increase reproductive counseling (69-76%, p = 0.58), but increased patient satisfaction (81-97%, p = 0.04) while the control practice demonstrated a decrease in patient satisfaction over the same time periods. In the ob/gyn clinics, no significant change in reproductive counseling or patient satisfaction was seen in the intervention practice, while the control practice demonstrated a decrease in patient satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing OKQ appears to increase patient satisfaction. Larger studies are needed to assess whether this clinic-level intervention may increase reproductive counseling. IMPLICATIONS: Further studies of the impact of clinic-level implementation of OKQ are needed.

Crosstalk Between Female Gonadal Hormones and Vaginal Microbiota Across Various Phases of Women's Gynecological Lifecycle.

Functional equilibrium between vaginal microbiota and the host is important for maintaining gynecological and reproductive health. Apart from host genetics, infections, changes in diet, life-style and hygiene status are known to affect this delicate state of equilibrium. More importantly, the gonadal hormones strongly influence the overall structure and function of vaginal microbiota. Several studies have attempted to understand (a) the composition of vaginal microbiota in specific stages of women's reproductive cycle as well as in menopause (b) their association with gonadal hormones, and their potential role in manifestation of specific health conditions (from the perspective of cause/consequence). However, a single study that places, in context, the structural variations of the vaginal microbiome across the entire life-span of women's reproductive cycle and during various stages of menopause is currently lacking. With the objective to obtain a holistic overview of the community dynamics of vaginal micro-environment 'across' various stages of women's reproductive and post-reproductive life-cycle, we have performed a meta-analysis of approximately 1,000 vaginal microbiome samples representing various stages of the reproductive cycle and menopausal states. Objectives of this analysis included (a) understanding temporal changes in vaginal community taxonomic structure and composition as women pass through various reproductive and menopausal stages (b) exploring correlations between the levels of female sex hormones with vaginal microbiome diversity (c) analyzing changes in the pattern of community diversity in cases of dysbiotic conditions such as bacterial vaginosis, and viewing the analyzed changes in the context of a healthy state. Results reveal interesting temporal trends with respect to vaginal microbial community diversity and its pattern of correlation with host physiology. Results indicate significant differences in alpha-diversity and overall vaginal microbial community members in various reproductive and post-reproductive phases. In addition to reinforcing the known influence/role of gonadal hormones in maintaining gynecological health, results indicate how hormonal level perturbations cause/contribute to imbalances in vaginal microbiota. The nature of resulting dysbiotic state and its influence on vaginal health is also analyzed and discussed. Results also suggest that elevated vaginal microbial diversity in pregnancy does not necessarily indicate a state of bacterial infection. The study puts forward a hormone-level driven microbiome diversity hypothesis for explaining temporal patterns in vaginal microbial diversity during various stages of women's reproductive cycle and at menopause.