four.5 (2 votes)
Healthcare Prof:
2.5 (2 votes)
Two British women have died right after taking the controversial abortion pill RU-486, the Government has admitted.
Melanie Johnson, the public health minister (UK), disclosed last week that since 1991, when the drug became available in Britain, the Committee on Safety of Medicines had received two reports of ‘suspected fatal reactions in association with the use of Mifegyne [RU-486]‘.
She was replying to a parliamentary question by the Labour MP Jim Dobbin, the chairman of the Parliamentary all-party Pro-Life group.
Miss Johnson stated: ‘The reporting of a suspected adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean that the drug was responsible. Many factors, such as the medical condition that is being treated, other pre-existing illnesses or other medications might have contributed’.
1 (1 votes)
Healthcare Prof:
No link was found between terminations and breast cancer in a study of 4,000 women by doctors at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute.
There have been studies within the past which suggest that there is a link between abortions and breast cancer (although most experts regard the evidence in these studies as weak).
In the UK three Members of Parliament sent out their own survey to UK doctors (they wanted to find out if there was a link).
In this Swedish study, researchers identified 1,759 women who had given birth between 1973 and 1991 and then developed breast cancer (at a later date). They obtained this information from the Swedish Medical Birth Register and the Swedish Cancer Register.
vThey then looked in the same number of cases from the birth register who had not gone on to develop cancer.
All had been asked if they had previously had any abortions while receiving maternity care.
Researchers found 383 of those who went on to develop breast cancer and 473 of those who did not had had at least one abortion, suggesting terminating a pregnancy was not linked with an increased risk of breast cancer.
Amazingly, they found that women who had had at least 1 abortion seemed to have a reduced risk of developing breast cancer (compared to women who had never had an abortion).
Healthcare Prof:
No statistically significant difference found between women with a history of 1 medically-induced abortion and those with no abortion history.
A major study in China, published inside the March issue with the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, addresses the controversy over abortion along with the birth weight of subsequent pregnancies. Until now, few studies have investigated this.
To assess the effect of a medical abortion on a subsequent pregnancy’s birth weight, researchers analysed approximately 13,000 live term births over a 31-month period.
The researchers compared the rates of Low Birth Weights in the first subsequent pregnancy of women with a history of 1 medically-induced abortion and those with no abortion history.
No statistically significant difference was found between the 2 group’s birth weights
In fact, at 1.0%, rates of Low Birth Weight are actually lower amongst women who had undergone a medically induced abortion. Women with no abortion history had Low Birth Weight rates of 1.2%.
7 million abortions are performed annually in China in a medical setting. Medically induced abortions (MA) account for 40-50% of abortions, and approximately two-thirds with the women who receive an MA are unmarried and have no children.
Says Dr. Louis Keith, assistant editor of the journal: ‘This paper from China addresses an important and long-standing question regarding the effect of elective medical pregnancy termination on well being in a subsequent pregnancy. The authors state that this is an important public well being issue in China, but the conclusion should also be of interest to providers of family planning and medical abortion services in all countries.’
This study was conducted at three research centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu and will appear in the March issue with the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics (volume 84, issue 3). Authors were CHENG, Yimin and WANG, Xianmi from the National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, YUAN, Wei and WU, Junqing from the Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood, and CAI, Weidong and LUO, Lin from the Sichuan Family Planning Research Institute.
The full text of the article is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7292(03)00338-2
Contact individual:
Louis G. Keith, M.D.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Northwestern University Medical School
333 East Superior Street, Room 464 Chicago IL 60611
Tel: +1 312-926-7487
Fax: +1 312-908-8500
E-mail: lgk395@northwestern.edu
2004 International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
About the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics
The International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics (www.elsevier.com/locate/ijgo), published by Elsevier, is the official journal with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (www.figo.org)
International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics is a monthly peer-reviewed journal and publishes articles on all aspects of basic and clinical research in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology and related subjects, with emphasis on matters of worldwide interest.
The information contained within the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment, and also the Journal recommends consultation with your physician or healthcare professional.
About Elsevier
Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. Working in partnership with the global science and well being communities, the company publishes a lot more than 1,800 journals and 2,200 new books per year, in addition to offering a suite of innovative electronic products, such as ScienceDirect (www.sciencedirect.com) and MD Consult (http://www.mdconsult.com/) bibliographic databases, online reference works and subject specific portals.
Elsevier (www.elsevier.com) is a global company headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and has offices worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc (www.reedelsevier.com), a world-leading publisher and information provider. Operating within the science and medical, legal, education and business-to-business sectors, Reed Elsevier provides high-quality and flexible information solutions to users, with increasing emphasis on the Internet as a means of delivery. Reed Elsevier’s ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).
Contact: Louis G. Keith, M.D.
lgk395@northwestern.edu
312-926-7487
Elsevier
Healthcare Prof:
3 (1 votes)
If you have an abortion or a miscarriage your risk of getting breast cancer is not increased, says a new large-scale study. You can read about this study in the Lancet.
The report involved 83,000 women with breast cancer, it examined 53 different studies.
According towards the findings, all those 83,000 women showed now higher indications of having had an abortion or miscarriage that the rates 1 would see in the rest of the population.
According to Dr. Valerie Beral, Epidemiologist, University of Oxford, UK, one of the lead authors of this paper, the study looked at 90% with the world’s studies on breast cancer, abortion and miscarriage.
This topic has been controversial among experts. Some said there was a link while other people insisted there wasn’t.
The most reliable studies were of a ‘prospective’ design and accounted for 44,000 women. These studies looked at abortion records of women before they had breast cancer and followed them up. The rates were then compared to those of women within the general population.
They found no link at all between abortions, miscarriages and breast cancer when they were examined as a group.
The other studies they looked at are called ‘retrospective’ studies – 39,000 women. In these studies the women already had breast cancer. They were asked if they had ever had an abortion or miscarriage.
The problem with this second group is that a few of the women are seeking a cause for their cancer. They are a lot more likely to report an abortion or miscarriage. This could affect the reality with the figures.
Healthcare Prof:
In response to today’s coverage on babies who survive abortion Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA (British Medical Association) Head of Science and Ethics, made the following comment:
“The debate around this issue* will be heard in the BMA’s annual meeting in Llandudno next week. However it is important to clarify immediately the current BMA guidance on abortion.
As far as the BMA is aware it is extremely unlikely that a foetus would survive a termination of pregnancy procedure.
However within the very rare event that a foetus does survive, the BMA’s written guidance already states that from birth, all folks have the right to expect care and treatment appropriate to their needs. The clinical team would make a decision inside the best interests with the baby taking account of all relevant factors.
We are not sure if the proposers of this motion are aware with the current BMA guidance or perhaps they have identified another aspect. This will be debated next week in the BMA annual meeting and we will listen to see if further guidance is needed.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
* Motion by MEDICAL STUDENTS CONFERENCE: That this Meeting calls upon the MSC and BMA to work with the GMC, NHS and appropriate Royal Colleges to ensure that babies born alive as a result of termination of pregnancy procedures obtain the same full neonatal care as that available to other babies.
This motion will be debated on Thursday 1 July at 11.25 am.
Press release date: Tuesday, 22 Jun 2004 (BMA London)
4.5 (2 votes)
Healthcare Prof:
Total number of abortions in England and Wales
Key facts: 2003
In 2003, for women resident in England and Wales:
– the total number of abortions was 181,600, compared with 175,900 in 2002, a rise of 3.2%
– the age-standardised abortion rate was 17.5 per 1,000 resident women aged 15-44 (17.0 in 2002)
– the abortion rate was highest, at 31.3 per 1000, for women within the 20-24 age group
– the under-16 abortion rate was 3.9 compared with 3.7 in 2002
– 80% of abortions were funded by the NHS, of which just under half took place in the independent sector under NHS contract
– 87% of abortions were carried out at under 13 weeks gestation; 58% were at under 10 weeks
– 1,950 abortions (1%) were under ground E, risk that the child would be born handicapped
Non-residents
– in 2003 there were 9,100 abortions for non-residents carried out in hospitals and clinics in England and Wales
Statistical Bulletin
Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2002
Revised July 2004
KEY FACTS
In 2002, for women resident in England and Wales:
– the total number of abortions was 175,900, compared with 176,400 in 2001, a fall of 0.5%
– the age-standardised abortion rate was 17.0 per 1,000 resident women aged 15-44
– the abortion rate was highest, at 30.7 per 1000, for women within the 18-19 age group
– the under-16 abortion rate was 3.7, as in 2001
– 78% of abortions were funded by the NHS, of which just under half took place within the independent sector under NHS contract
– 87% of abortions were carried out at under 13 weeks gestation; 57% were at under 10 weeks
– medical abortions accounted for 14% of the total, compared with 12% in 2001
– 1,900 abortions (1%) were under ground E, risk that the child would be born handicapped
Non-residents
– in 2002 there were 9,450 abortions for non-residents carried out in hospitals and clinics in England and Wales
Download bulletin in Portable Document Format (495Kb 33pp)
Download tables in Excel format (482Kb)
Enquiries about the data or requests for further information should be addressed to:
Lesz Lancucki
Statistics Division 3G
Department of Health
Room 438B, Skipton House
80 London Road
London SE1 6LH
e-mail: abortion.statistics@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Extracts from this publication might be reproduced provided a reference to the source is given.
This is an Internet only edition for 2002 final data.
July 2004
Published October 2003 revised July 2004
ISBN 1 84182 782 7
Crown Copyright 2004
3.2 (5 votes)
Healthcare Prof:
3 (2 votes)
Article Opinions:1 posts
Almost a third of all pregnancies in Hong Kong are terminated, says a the South China Morning Post.
These figures could be higher if 1 were to take into account the huge number of illegal abortions that take place inside the country, say officials. Many illegal abortions are carried out in mainland China.
In 2001. 20,235 abortions were done, according towards the South China Morning Post – the newspaper was quoting from official statistics. Out of a total of 49,144 births, the total percentage of abortions was 29.2.
Number two in the world rankings is the USA at 24.4%, then Canada at 24.3% and Australia at 23.7%.
The stigma of abortion forces many women in Hong Kong to have it done illegally. Experts say the high rate is partly due to poor sex education in Hong Kong.
vIn Chinese culture to be an unmarried pregnant woman is shameful.
3.78 (120 votes)
Healthcare Prof:
3.52 (21 votes)
Article Opinions:35 posts
It is normal for a woman to experience a range of emotions following an abortion, such as relief, sadness, happiness and feelings of loss. Each woman is unique. Many women feel that they have made the right decision right after having an abortion. For some women, however, abortion can raise negative emotional responses which includes grief, guilt, anger, shame and regret. Understanding your emotions can help you begin to let go of any pain and start to heal. It is important to recognize your feelings and to take good care of yourself if you are experiencing difficulty. The following information could be helpful if you are experiencing emotional distress soon after an abortion.
What kinds of things might contribute to a woman feeling distress following an abortion?
– Hormones are changing back to their pre-pregnancy state right after an abortion. This chemical change can make a woman feel sad and emotional.
– A woman is a lot more likely to feel negative emotions if she felt pressured into having an abortion by someone else, instead of making her own decision.
– Some women don’t receive much support from their friends or family.
– Social stigmas about abortion can make it difficult for women to share their experience and make them feel isolated.
– Some women might feel judged.
– Some women fear that they might never again be able to get pregnant. However, abortion does not interfere with your future fertility.
– Sometimes the couple relationship is stressed or undermined by the crisis of an unplanned pregnancy. In these circumstances, women might feel abused and/or abandoned.
Any time you make a difficult life decision, it is natural to have second thoughts. Allowing yourself to express any negative feelings that you might be having will help to diminish their impact. Sometimes reading about other women’s experiences can be reassuring and could make your own feelings much more clear. You can find the stories of many women who have had abortions at: http://www.peaceafterabortion.com/stories.html
Is it normal to feel depressed soon after an abortion?
Approximately 5% to 30% of women report feelings of regret, anxiety, guilt, mild depression and other negative emotions. If your feelings are overwhelming or persistent, you should consult a professional therapist.
It is rare for a woman to become clinically depressed after having an abortion.There are some risk factors that can contribute to the risk of clinical depression soon after abortion, such as if the woman has a previous history of depression. Depression is a very serious illness. It is extremely important that you seek help from a professional such as a doctor, counsellor or therapist. CONTINUES..Canadian Health Network
Huge database of hospitals world wide
Healthcare Prof:
UK Wellness secretary John Reid has promised to investigate claims that the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) is helping women obtain abortions following the 24 week limit.
The allegations have emerged following an investigation by the Sunday Telegraph, which claims that 1 of its reporters was referred by the service to a clinic in Spain that is prepared to carry out abortions following the legal limit.
Although abortions in Spain can be carried out to full term if doctors believe there is a grave or serious threat towards the physical or psychological well-being of the mother, the newspaper claims that the clinic was prepared to carry out abortions even if the pregnancy was proceeding normally.
The paper claims that BPAS, which receives significant amounts of government funding, would refer healthy women towards the clinic if they enquired about late abortions.
It is not immediately clear whether this action would mean the BPAS is in breach of the 1967 Abortion Act.
The charity insists that it has not acted illegally and stressed that it does not run or recommend the Spanish clinic but only provides women with its contact details.
Dr Reid stated: “After long and anguished debate on this, the view of Parliament is absolutely clear, as is the British law.
“If there is evidence that the will of Parliament is being thwarted and that the law of a fellow European country is being broken by an organisation in receipt of public money, this would be a very serious situation indeed.”
He said he would look into the matter “immediately” if the paper provides him with the relevant evidence.
http://www.hda-online.org.uk
3 (2 votes)
Healthcare Prof:
4.5 (2 votes)
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has welcomed a Manchester mother’s court action to stop doctors from performing abortions on her schoolgirl daughters without having her knowledge.
John Smeaton, SPUC’s national director, stated: “We are in complete agreement with Ms Sue Axon in her seeking a judicial review of well being department guidance on parental involvement in teenage abortion.
“Not only does the present policy condemn such girls’ unborn children to death, but it also condemns the pupils to having to live with the consequences of an abortion which their parents may not even have known about. Abortion isn’t just fatal for babies but it can leave serious emotional scars on the girls and women who undergo it.
“This government is committed to allowing abortion for schoolgirls as young as 11, and without parental involvement. It is time that parental rights and responsibilities were again respected.
“Schools are otherwise so careful about pupils’ welfare, seeking consent for supervised trips and even basic medical care, yet it is possible for a young girl to be sent by her school to undergo an abortion without having family involvement.
“Our supporters include many parents, and they will be redoubling their efforts to get schools to adopt policies which do not allow for any referrals for abortion, with or with out parental knowledge or consent.”
http://www.spuc.org.uk