Recurrence of gestational diabetes in primiparous women.

INTRODUCTION: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases the risk for diabetes in the next pregnancy and later in life. Thus, estimating the risk of GDM in further pregnancies provides a time frame for possible preventive measures. We aimed to calculate the recurrence rate of GDM in primiparous women and evaluate the factors involved such as age, body mass index, weight gain, time between pregnancy and postpartum OGTT results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We established a prospective cohort during a 5-year period at the Department of Obstetrics at Kolding Hospital. Women with diet-treated GDM in their first pregnancy and a subsequent pregnancy constituted our study population. Multiparity and insulin-treated GDM were exclusion criteria. RESULTS: Among 15 735 deliveries, 535 women were diagnosed with GDM (3.4%). Of these, 209 (39.1%) were nulliparous women, treated with diet only. Seventy-two of these women had a subsequent pregnancy and they all attended the recommended screening procedure, a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at 14-20 (early) or 27-30 (late) weeks' gestation. The recurrence rate of GDM was 47.2%. The risk of recurrence was less in women who lost weight between the first and the subsequent pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence of diet-treated GDM was 47.2% in primiparous women with previous GDM and the recurrence was associated with weight gain between pregnancies.

[The attitude of Arabic-speaking women to gynecological examinations]. / Arabisksprogede kvinders holdning til gynaekologisk undersøgelse.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to describe and analyse the attitude of Arabic-speaking women to gynaecological examinations, with particular focus on the importance of the sex of the examining doctor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Over a six-month period in 1998 all women of presumed Arabic origin were invited to participate in the investigation by referral to the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics at Odense University Hospital. An Arabic questionnaire was given to the participants and a Danish translation for second generation immigrants was also attached. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of one hundred questionnaires were collected. Of these about one third refused a gynaecological examination (GE) by a male doctor. Most gave their religion as the reason, whereas only a few refused the GE for personal reasons, and none claimed that their husband was the reason for their refusal. In half the cases, a female doctor was sent for. Many of the women who refused the GE by a male doctor were both educated and working, but their residence in Denmark was short. There was a connection between the refusal of the GE by a male doctor and the length of time the women had lived in Denmark. Most of those who were examined by a male doctor have lived in Denmark longer than those who refused the same GE.