Premature and early menopause: risk factors is Jordanian women

To identify risk factors associated with the onset of premature [<40 years] and early [40-45 years] menopause in a sample of Jordanian women. This prospective study was undertaken at Princess Aisha Medical Complex, Amman between August 2007 and February 2008. A total of 1,000 postmenopausal women were included. Factors taken into consideration were age at menarche, age at first delivery, parity, number of miscarriages, history of gynaecological or obstetric surgeries [ovarian, tubal and /or uterine], smoking status and history of premature menopause in first-degree relatives. Out of the 1,000 women, 129 [12.9%] had had menopause before the age of 46 years: 27 [2.7%] before the age of 40 and 102 [10.2%] before the age of 46 years. In these groups, the only statistically significant factor was history of premature menopause in fist-degree relatives. Interestingly, in women who had had menopause after the age of >/= 46 years, the rate of hysterectomies was statistically higher. Early and premature menopause is strongly associated with history of premature menopause first-degree relatives. No other factors studied proved to have any statistical significance

Missed abortion: Termination using single-dose versus two doses of vaginal misoprostol tablets

To determine the effectiveness of 400 micro g misoprostol, administered vaginally as single-dose, compared to repeating the same drug, six hours later, for termination of missed abortion. One hundred ninety eight women with missed abortion were enrolled in this study. They had presented to Prince Zeid, Prince Rashed and Queen Alia Military Hospitals from June 1, 2005 to September 30, 2006 for termination of pregnancy. The gestational ages ranged between 9-22 weeks. Ninety three women were assigned to the single-dose group [Group-I] while the rest were given two doses of 400 micro g misoprostol, six hours apart [Group-II]. The success rate for Group-I was approximately 88% compared to around 94% in Group-II. In Group-I, of all the women who aborted, about 50% had complete abortion compared to 66% in Group-II. The average time interval from the start of termination to expulsion of conception was around 13 hours in Group-I and 9 hours in Group-II [p <0.05]. Only minimal adverse effects were noted. Two doses of 400 micro g misoprostol administered vaginally did not prove to be superior to a single dose for termination of missed abortion, however, more women who had a successful procedure in Group-I needed evacuation and curettage. The mean abortion time was shorter in Group-II