Exposure to radiofrequency radiation emitted from mobile phone jammers adversely affects the quality of human sperm

Background: The health effect of rapidly increasing everyday exposure of humans to radiofrequency radiation is a major global concern. Mobile phone jammers prevent the mobile phones from receiving signals from base stations by interfering with authorized mobile carriers' services. In spite of the fact that mobile jammer use is illegal, they are occasionally used in offices, shrines, conference rooms and cinemas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological effects of short term exposure of human sperm to radiofrequency radiation emitted from a commercial mobile phone jammer

Materials and Methods: Fresh semen samples were obtained by masturbation from 50 healthy donors who had referred with their wives to Infertility Treatment Center at the Mother and Child Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Female problem was diagnosed as the reason for infertility in these couples. The semen sample of each participant was divided into 4 aliquots. The first aliquot was subjected to swim-up and exposed to jammer radiation. The second aliquot was not subjected to swim-up but was exposed to jammer radiation. The third and fourth aliquots were not exposed to jammer radiation but only the 3rd aliquot was subjected to swim-up

Results: Semen samples exposed to radiofrequency radiation showed a significant decrease in sperm motility and increase in DNA fragmentation

Conclusion: Electromagnetic radiation in radiofrequency range emitted from mobile phone jammers may lead to decreased motility and increased DNA fragmentation in human semen. It can be concluded that mobile phone jamming might exert adverse reproductive health effects

[Insulin resistance in first degree relatives of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome]

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is one of the most common hyper androgenic disorders with hyperandrogenemia and insulin resistance affecting women. Approximately 40% of sisters of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome have hyperandrogenemia phenotype. The current study was conducted to survey the abnormal glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and incidence of diabetes type2 in first degree relatives of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome. This was a case-control study which was conducted at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2008. One hundered and seven individuals as case group and 107 individuals as control group were evaluated. After registering their height and weight, a blood sample was obtained from all participants in order to assay both their serum insulin and blood sugar. Then participants were asked to drink 75 gr glucose solutions, and after lapsing for 2 hours, a blood sample was taken from all participants again. After doing biochemical tests, data were gathered and analyzed by means of independent t-test and Fisher's exact test as well as chi-square. Analysis was done by using SPSS software, version 11.5. Insulin resistance with fasting insulin, glucose intolerance and obesity of control group were much different from case group and these differences were statistically significant [p<0.05]. The first degree relatives of women suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome are exposed to impaired tolerance glucose, Insulin resistance and diabetic mellitus

effects of regular exercise on pregnancy outcome

Most women who report increased levels of physical activity are not at an increased risk of preterm delivery or reduced intrauterine growth. This study was conducted to look into the safety and effects of regularly timed aerobic exercises during pregnancy on both the mother and the neonate. A prospective, case-control study was done on 120 healthy pregnant women in their first trimester. The data were collected in the prenatal outpatient care, labor and delivery rooms of a university-based Obstetrics Department. After completing basic information forms, the pregnant women were educated on the specific exercises in 8 stages throughout the pregnancy. Sixty-three patients presenting for delivery without any history of physical exercise were selected as the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding their occupation. The exercising group experienced significantly decreased durations of labor. There was no significant difference in neonatal birth weight or apgar scores. There were a significant decreased number of assisted deliveries in the exercising group. Exercise during pregnancy shortens the duration of the second stage of labor and reduces the risk of assisted delivery while is safe for the neonate too

Prepregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain and their association with some pregnancy outcomes

Weight gain during pregnancy for women with normal Body Mass Index [BMI] before pregnancy has been reported to be 11.5-16.0 Kg/m2 by IOM and supported by several authors. This study was carried out to determine the relationship between pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain and pregnancy outcome. In 476 pregnant women, BMI was categorized and weight gain was divided into less than normal and higher than normal groups based on Institute of Medicine [IOM] recommendations. Women with normal weight gain had better pregnancy outcomes. The incidence of low birth weight was higher among underweight women and those with low gestational weight gain. Overweight women and those with high gestational weight gain had a higher rate of cesarean delivery and postpartum hemorrhage. There was also a significant difference between the BMI early postpartum hemorrhage, method of delivery, neonatal weight, nausea, vomiting and weight gain during pregnancy. Women gained weight according to recommendations had good pregnancy outcome in relation to weight, lengths and head chest circumferences of the neonate and methods of delivery and post partum hemorrhage. The findings presented here indicate that prenatal care providers should consider women with abnormal prepregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain at an increased risk unconditionally and that they need special care to avoid the pregnancy-associated complications forthwith

Menstrual abnormalities and pain after five tubal sterilization methods: a randomized controlled trial

Background and Tubal sterilization is the most popular method of permanent female contraception, yet there is considerable debate concerning the influence of this procedure on the women's health and menstrual pattern. We randomized 1358 women to one of the five methods of tubal sterilization; unipolar electrocauterization, bipolar electrocauterization, minilaparatomy, Pomeroy method, Falope ring, and Hulka clips to evaluate the effect of each method on menstrual pattern. Each woman was interviewed before sterilization and followed for 3 years. 850 women who did not undergo sterilization served as control group and were interviewed and followed. 248 women of study group and 503 cases of the control group did not fulfill the study criteria and were excluded. Menstrual indices were significantly different between the control group and those women who were sterilized by unipolar, ring, and Pomery methods. The amount of bleeding, was increased by 28.3% in unipolar group [p=0.001], 19.9% in ring group [p=0.001], and by 23.9% in Pomeroy group [p=0.0001]. Significant menstrual pain lasted for a maximum of 18 months was noted in unipolar coagulation group [p=0.0001]. Sterilization methods which destroy the vascular communications along and immediately subjacent to the tube and that also disturb the countercurrent exchange of biologically active factors between the uterus and ovaries, are more likely to cause menstrual abnormalities

comparative, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of intraperitoneal administration of bupivacaine and lidocaine for pain control after diagnostic laparoscopy

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of intraperitoneal bupivacaine and lidocaine administration on pain reduction after diagnostic laparoscopy. In this randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study, diagnostic laparoscopy was done for one-hundred and ninety-six infertile women with unexplained infertility. Patients were randomized to 4 groups [A, B,C, and D]. At the end of the procedure, 30 mL of 0.125% bupivacaine, 30 mL of 5% lidocaine and 30 mL of normal saline was instilled in the pelvic cavity and 15 mL of the same solution over the diaphragmatic vault in group A, B and C, respectively. Group D received no intraperitoneal substance. The verbal pain scale questionnaire was used for assessment of postoperative pain. In conclusion, when instilled intraperitoneally after diagnostic laparoscopy, bupivacaine significantly decreases postoperative pain for a long period. It also reduces the rate of analgesic needed, increases the rate at which patients were discharged 2 hours after surgery, and decreases hospital stay. It is highly effective compared to lidocaine and placebo

prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of dexamethasone during the follicular phase in clomiphene resistant patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and normal DHEAS

In order to evaluate the effects of short course administration of dexamethasone [DEX] combined with clomiphene citrate [CC] in CC-resistant patients with polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] and normal DHEAS, a prospective, double blind, placebo controlled, randomized study was undertaken at referral university hospitals. Two-hundred and thirty women with PCOS and normal DHEAS who failed to ovulate with a routine protocol of CC received 200 mg of CC from day 5 to 9 and 2 mg of DEX from day 5 to 14 of the menstrual cycle. The control group received the same protocol of CC combined with placebo. Follicular development, hormonal status, ovulation rate, and pregnancy rate were evaluated. Mean follicular diameters were 18.4124 +/- 2.4314 mm and 13.8585 +/- 2.0722 mm [p<0.001] for treatment and placebo group respectively. Eighty-eight% of treatment and 20% of the control group had evidence of ovulation. The difference of cumulative pregnancy rate in treatment and control groups was statistically significant [p<0.0001]. Hormonal levels, follicular development and cumulative pregnancy rate improved with the addition of DEX to CC in CC-resistant patients with PCOS and normal DHEAS. This regimen is recommended before any gonadotropin therapy or surgical intervention

[ effect of Bromocriptine in the polycystic ovarian syndrome with clomiphene resistant]

Incidence of infertility is approximately 10-15% [11.2% in Shiraz]. Anovulation is about 40% of female infertility [46% in Shiraz]. PCOD, is the most common cause of anovulation [81.5% in Shiraz]. Clomiphen citrate [CC] is the first line of treatment, but approximately 20% of patients with PCO fail to ovulate with the highest dose of CC. These patients have good response to bromocriptine. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of bromocriptine in CC - resistant patient with PCOD. Between March 1997 to July 1999, 43 women, who were considered to have PCOD with normal serum prolactin and also CC failure, were studied in infertility division of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. They were treated with CC 200mg daily from 5th to 9th day of the cycle and Bromocriptine 2.5mg twice daily for at least 3 months. Hormonal assay [FSH, LH, PRL, DHEA-So[4] Testosterone, progesterone] and also clinical changes were monitored pre and post treatment. After treatment 40% of the patient had regular menses and 30% conceived. There was significant decrease in PRL from 269.9 mIU/ml to 174 mIU/ml [p<0.001], LH from 17.9 to 11.5 [p<0.001] and LH/FSH ratio from 2.4 to 1.5 [p<0.001]. The result suggests that the therapeutic effects of this treatment may be primarily due to the restoration and improvement of the impaired hypothalamus - pituitary axis