The association of sexual intercourse during pregnancy with labor onset

Background: Pregnancy is one of the most critical periods in women's lives. Sexual relationships change in this period. Monitoring of uterine contractions has been shown increase in uterine activity after sexual intercourse in pregnant women. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the association of sexual intercourse during pregnancy with labor onset. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 120 pregnant women with signs of labor onset at referral hospitals of Kashan University of Medical Sciences between November and March 2012. Signs of labor onset included labor pain, bloody show, or rupture of membrane. Subjects were investigated in two groups regarding history of coitus in the last week of pregnancy. A questionnaire containing demographic questions, obstetrical history, and sexual activity was completed by trained midwife through face-to-face interview. Chisquare test, Fisher's exact test, and t-test were used to check the homogeneity of the two groups for basic and confounding variables. Independent-samples t-test was used to compare differences between groups in terms of mean gestational age. Results: There was no significant difference between groups in age (P = 0.434), body mass index (P = 0.705), neonatal weight (P = 0.421), maternal education (P = 0.963), occupation (P = 0.381), and parity (P = 0.925). Gestational age at the time of delivery was significantly lower in intercourse group in comparison with control group based on last menstrual period (P = 0.012) and ultrasonography (P = 0.002). There was no correlation between intercourse and cause of admission (P = 0.720). Type of delivery (cesarean section or vaginal delivery) was not affected by intercourse (P = 0.820) or contact with semen (P = 0.841). Results showed no significant difference in neonatal weightbased on presence of sexual intercourse (P = 0.422) or contact with semen (P = 0.583) at the last week of pregnancy. Conclusions: Sexual activity in last week of pregnancy might be associated with the onset of labor. Therefore, in the absence of complications in term pregnancy, sexual activity can be considered as a natural way to prevent post term pregnancy. © 2015 Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Investigatingthe effect of pressure on third liver point on primary dysmenorrhea: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a term used to describe uterine muscle spasms which occurs during the days of menstruation. Objectives: To determine the effect of acupressure on third liver point on primary dysmenorrhea. Patients and Methods: Female students living in dormitories of Kashan University of Medical Sciences in Iran who had PD were studied for three menstrual cycles between March till June 2012. Individuals with depression score higher than 19 according to the Beck-21 Depression scale were excluded. In the first cycle, pain intensity was assessed without intervention, and 67 samples with a pain score greater than 4 according to the visual analogue scale (VAS) were selected. Then they were randomized into third liver point (liv3) and control (placebo) groups using randomized block design with 1:1 allocation ratio based on pain intensity. In the second and third cycles, pressure was applied by the research unit intermittently for 16 minutes (2 minutes pressure, 2 minutes resting) with the starting of blood flow. Primary outcome of this study was the pain intensity which was compared between first and third cycles. Someone who divided groups, samples and data analyzer was blinded. Results: In the treatment group 27 samples and in the control group 32 samples were analyzed. Friedman test showed significant differences in pain intensity before and after the intervention within both groups (P 0.05). Conclusions: The pressure on the LIV3 applied in this investigation was effective in reducing primary dysmenorrheal pain. So using this method is recommended to reduce PD. © 2013, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Views of patients undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation on their basic needs

Background: Today, hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT) has been accepted as a therapeutic approach and is widely applied in many patients with disorders of hematopoietic systems or patients with malignancies. Concomitant use of this therapeutic approach with long term chemotherapeutic procedures and hospitalization requires special care. This study was conducted to examine basic needs of patients after HSCT. Methods: In this study, 171 hospitalized patients were selected after transplantation, using convenience sampling method. They completed a questionnaire formulated on the basis of Yura and Walsh Theory of Basic Needs. Results: Most of the needs reported in the areas of vital functions, functional health status, and reaction to functional health status were chills (76.8), insomnia (68.5), and dissatisfaction with changes of lifestyle/habits (53.6), respectively. Furthermore, 94.1 of the patients were aware of their disease. Conclusion: This study identified a broad spectrum of the needs in HSCT patients. Given the importance of determining needs to reach a thorough nursing care, paying attention to the provided list can facilitate the achievement of the goals of the care program for these patients