Glucose tolerance of premenopausal women after menopause due to surgical removal of ovaries.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of the abrupt withdrawal of ovarian function on glucose tolerance by studying premenopausal women before and after oophorectomy. METHODS: Thirty premenopausal women who needed hysterectomy for benign reasons volunteered for the study in our hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed before surgery and 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Fasting glucose, fasting insulin levels and insulin/glucose indexes, HOMA indexes, insulin and glucose levels were measured during OGTT. RESULTS: The mean fasting and 2-h glucose levels of the women did not change significantly during the 12 months of follow-up. However, the glucose levels during the glucose tolerance tests changed significantly after surgery (p<0.05). Insulin responses to the glucose tolerance test also increased significantly (p<0.005). Insulin/glucose indexes were significantly higher after surgery (p<0.005). Type 2 diabetes mellitus was detected in five women and impaired glucose tolerance was detected in 12 of the 30 patients after surgery in the 12-month period. CONCLUSION: The impairment of carbohydrate metabolism due to an abrupt decrease in natural estrogen levels should be considered before removing the ovaries during hysterectomy in premenopausal patients.

Caesarean delivery or vaginal birth: preference of Turkish pregnant women and influencing factors.

The aim of this study was to assess the preference of pregnant women for mode of delivery in an uncomplicated pregnancy and reasons of their choice, also to determine if maternal characteristics were predictors of maternal preference. Pregnant women applying to the antenatal clinic for a routine control visit were recruited. After verbal consents, a questionnaire was administered to 1,588 pregnant women. Of the women questioned, 84.1% opted for vaginal delivery whereas only 15.9% opted for an elective caesarean delivery. The main reasons for vaginal delivery preference were; earlier healing and earlier hospital discharge, being a more physiological way of delivery and previous vaginal delivery history. The most common reasons for choosing caesarean delivery were; fear of vaginal delivery, tubal ligation demand and to avoid labour pain. Educational status, occupation and gestational age were not found to be influencing factors but age, parity and monthly income were found to be influencing factors for maternal preference.

Ultrasonographic appearance of cervical pregnancy following successful treatment with methotrexate.

We report a case of cervical ectopic pregnancy successfully treated with systemic methotrexate. Conservative management with single-dose methotrexate was undertaken, but owing to the failure of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels to fall by 15% by day 7 and the persistence of fetal cardiac activity, two further doses of methotrexate were required. The patient's hCG levels were monitored, and repeat transvaginal ultrasonography was performed until complete resolution of the pregnancy by spontaneous miscarriage. We describe the ultrasonographic findings, which showed that the sac size increased despite treatment.

Chorea gravidarum: a case report.

Chorea gravidarum is a rare syndrome in pregnancy. The clinical picture is of extrapyramidal symptoms such as involuntary movements, lack of coordination and slurred speech. Neuroleptics or benzodiazepines can be used for treatment. When antiphospholipid antibodies are shown to be present, corticosteroids, and sometimes aspirin, are added to the treatment. Movement disorders can also be associated with an increased central dopamine level. In this report, we present the case of a patient with chorea gravidarum in whom an etiologic factor has not been observed. We treated the symptoms with dopamine-blocking agents such as haloperidol. We believe that, if chorea gravidarum is not accompanied by other etiologic factors (such as antiphospholipid antibodies), there is no elevated risk for the mother and the fetus.