Assessment of two emergency contraceptive regimens in Iran: Levonorgestrel versus the Yuzpe

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of two emergency contraception (EC)methods, levonorgestrel versus theYuzpe. In a prospective, randomized, comparative study, we included 122 healthy volunteers who in the observed cycle had had only one act of unprotected intercourse within 72h of treatment. They were randomlyallocated in levonorgestrol group (n=62) andYuzpe (n=60).The levonorgestrel regimen consisted of two pills: 0.75 mg levonorgestrel, taken twice in the 12-h interval within 72h after unprotected intercourse. The Yuzpe method included twoHDcontraceptive pills taken as another regimen.Datawere collected by questionnaire at first and 3weeks later.The differenceswere comparedwithX &Fisher exact tests. There were no significant differences between two groups in any of the observed parameters. The levonorgestrel regimen was found superior to Yuzpe because it's more effectiveness (respectively 100% vs 91%, p=0.026) and fewer side effects. The study showed more effectiveness and safety of the levonorgestrel regimen as emergency contraception. Thus we recommend levonorgestrel as an alternative EC method instead of theYuzpe regimen in Iran or other developing countries in order to decrease unwanted pregnancy.Keywords: Yuzpe, Levonorgestrel, emergency contraceptio

Iranian infertile couples' strategies to manage social interactions after unsuccessful treatments with assisted reproductive technologies

Many infertile couples feel vulnerable after failed treatment cycles and find insensitive remarks or inappropriate support distressing. They fear that the stress of failed treatment cycles may affect their marriage and lead to marriage breakdown. This study explored the strategies a sample of infertile couples used to manage social interactions after unsuccessful treatment with assisted reproductive technologies. A descriptive qualitative study was conducted with 34 participants including nine infertile couples, nine infertile women and two infertile men with primary infertility, two relatives, and three fertility clinic staff. The participants were selected through purposive sampling at an infertility centre in Iran, between 2016 and 2017. Data were collected using semi-structured face-to-face interviews and analysed by qualitative content analysis approach. Participants found some social interactions after failed assisted reproductive treatment cycles to be distressing and painful. They described tolerating painful emotions which cause them sadness and sorrow as well as feeling embarrassed. As a result, they found they needed to maintain their adopting concealment strategies with their families through not permitting speculation, selective disclosure, not giving details and hiding the truth. This study showed that social interactions following failed assisted reproductive cycles can be upsetting for infertile couples. Couples use different strategies to manage potentially distressing social interactions. Healthcare providers and psychologists may provide a space for safe social interactions in order to help couples to use appropriate strategies in these circumstances

Evaluation of Tetanus Vacination Status of Pregnant Mothers Referring to Delivery Wards, Yazd

Introduction: Tetanus is a serious infectious disease and the most common cause of neonatal mortality in developing countries. Although neonatal tetanus (NT) can be prevented by immunization of expectant mothers, good hygiene and asepsis during delivery, total eradication of organism is not possible. Methods: The cross-sectional study was done on 480 pregnant women after delivery. Data was collected by a questionnaire and analysed using SPSS windows software program. Results: Prenatal immunization rate (complete and partial) was 65/2% and 34/8%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the vaccination status and age, education of mother, parity and length of time between pregnancy and previous pregnancy. The reasons reported by non immunized mothers (not receiving the two dose vaccine) included complete tetanus vaccination coverage before pregnancy, lack of awareness about the needs for vaccination, improper counseling by persons responsible for antenatal care, e.t.c. Conclusion: Considering the results of the study, it is proposed that a complete history of the pregnant woman recorded at the first antenatal visit should be the basis of counseling and education of the woman and prenatal care staff should be also be fully educated

Effect of Ice Massage on Hoku Point for Reduction of Labor Pain

Introduction: One the most anxious moments for mothers and families is labor pain and various methods for its relief have an effect on labor management, patient satisfaction and labor outcome. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods are used to relieve labor pain, but in recently years, researchers have focused their attention to non-pharmacological methods for reduction of labor pain. Acupressure is one of the pain relieving methods that can be used for labor pain, but there have been few studies to date. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of Hoku point ice massage on labor pain. Methods: Participants of this clinical trial study were 60 pregnant women having the inclusive criteria. Participants were randomly divided to two groups of thirty, each. (Control Group=only touch of Hoku point, Case group= ice massage of Huko point). This procedure was done for thirty minutes. Labor pain of subjects was measured by visual analog scale before and after the procedure. Results: There was no statistical difference between the gestational age, parity and age of the two groups. Results showed that reduction of labor pain by ice massage of Huko point was statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusion: Acupressure is a noninvasive, simple and cheap method of relieving pain and our study confirms its effect on reduction of labor pain. This method is therefore applicable in delivery rooms

The propagation of the rippled laser beam and the excitation of electron plasma wave for different densities of plasma based on nonlinear effects

In this paper the propagation characteristics of the gaussian laser beam and the rippled laser beam in collisionless plasma were investigated, and their effects on and the excitation of the electron plasma wave were addressed by considering the ponderomotive and relativistic nonlinearity. Analytical expressions for the growth rate of the laser spike in plasma, the beam width of the rippled laser beam and excited electron plasma wave were obtained using paraxial ray approximation. These second-order differential equations of dimensionless beam width parameter were solved numerically. The results showed that increasing the density of plasma improved the self –focusing of the laser beam, the ripple laser beam and the electron wave plasma. Moreover, increasing the self-focusing of ripple beam laser enhanced the electrostatic potential of the electron plasma wav