Stress urinary incontinence after hysterectomy: a 10-year national follow-up study.

PURPOSE: Hysterectomy has been associated with increased risk for developing stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and having a SUI operation. We examined the long-term rate of SUI operations after hysterectomy and associated risk factors. METHODS: We followed up 5000 women without prior urinary incontinence (UI) who had a hysterectomy in a prospective FINHYST 2006 cohort study until the end of 2016 through a national health register. The main outcome was SUI operations, and secondary outcomes were outpatient visits for UI, and their association of preoperative patient and operation factors. RESULTS: During the median follow-up time of 10.6 years (IQR 10.3-10.8), 111 (2.2%) women had a SUI operation and 241 (4.8%) had an outpatient visit for UI. The SUI operation rate was higher after vaginal hysterectomy and laparoscopic hysterectomy (n = 71 and 28, 3.3% and 1.8%, respectively) compared to abdominal hysterectomy (n = 11, 0.8%). In a multivariate risk analysis by Cox regression, the association with vaginal hysterectomy and SUI operation remained significant when adjusted for vaginal deliveries, preceding pelvic organ prolapse (POP), uterus size, age and BMI (HR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.3). Preceding POP, three or more deliveries and laparoscopic hysterectomy were significantly associated with UI visits but not with SUI operations. CONCLUSION: After hysterectomy, 2.2% of women underwent operative treatment for SUI. The number of SUI operations was more than double after vaginal hysterectomy compared to abdominal hysterectomy, but preceding POP explained this added risk partially. Preceding POP and three or more vaginal deliveries were independently associated with UI visits after hysterectomy.

Trends in the incidence, rate and treatment of miscarriage-nationwide register-study in Finland, 1998-2016.

STUDY QUESTION: What changes have occurred in the incidence of miscarriage, its treatment options, and the profile of the women having miscarriages in Finland between 1998 and 2016? SUMMARY ANSWER: The annual incidence of registry-identified miscarriage has declined significantly between 1998 and 2016, and non-surgical management has become the dominant treatment. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Miscarriage occurs in 8-15% of clinically recognized pregnancies and in ~30% of all pregnancies. Increasing maternal age is associated with an increasing risk of miscarriage. The treatment of miscarriage has evolved significantly in recent years: previously, surgical evacuation of the uterus was the standard of care, but nowadays medical and expectant management are increasingly used. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study of 128 381 women that had experienced a miscarriage that was managed in public healthcare between 1998 and 2016 in Finland. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: We used the National Hospital Discharge Registry for the data. Women aged 15-49 years that had experienced their first miscarriage during the follow-up period and had miscarriage-related diagnoses during their admission to public hospital were included in the study. Miscarriages were defined by the 10th Revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and related Medical Problems (ICD-10) diagnostic codes O02*, O03* and O08*. Women with ectopic, molar and continuing pregnancies and induced abortions were excluded. Treatment was divided into surgical and non-surgical treatment using the surgical procedure codes. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The annual incidence of registry-identified miscarriage has declined from 6.8/1000 15-49-year-old women in 1998 to 5.0/1000 in 2016 (P < 0.001). Also, the incidence rate of registry-identified miscarriage (i.e. the proportion of miscarriages of registry-identified pregnancies [i.e. deliveries, induced abortions, and miscarriages]) has declined from 112/1000 15-49-year-old pregnant women in 1998 to 83/1000 in 2016 (P < 0.001). The largest decrease in this proportion occurred among women over 40 years of age, among whom 26.5% of registry-identified pregnancies in 1998 ended in miscarriage compared to that of 16.4% in 2016. The proportion of missed abortion has increased (30.3 to 38.8%, P < 0.001) whereas that of blighted ovum has decreased (25.4 to 12.8%, P < 0.001). The proportion of registry-identified miscarriages seen among nulliparous women has increased from 43.7 to 49.6% (P < 0.001). Mean age at the time of miscarriage remained at 31 years throughout the study. Altogether, 29% of all miscarriages were treated surgically and 71% underwent medical or expectant management. The proportion of surgical management has decreased from 38.0 to 1.6% for spontaneous abortion, from 60.7 to 9.4% for blighted ovum and 70.9 to 11.2% for missed abortion between 1998 and 2016. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: This study includes only women with registry-identified pregnancies, i.e. women who were treated in public hospitals. However, the number of women treated elsewhere is presumed to be small. Neither can this study estimate the number of women having spontaneous miscarriage with no hospital contact. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Both the annual incidence and incidence rate of miscarriage of all registry-identified pregnancies has decreased, and non-surgical management has become the standard of care. These findings are of value when planning allocation of healthcare resources and at individual level considering fertility and miscarriage questions. We speculate that improving ultrasound diagnostics explains the increasing proportion of missed abortion relative to other types of miscarriage. More investigation is needed to examine potential risk factors, complications and morbidity associated with miscarriages. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was funded by the research funds of the Helsinki and Uusimaa hospital system, by a personal grant from Viipurin Tuberkuloosisäätiö to R.L. and by a personal grant from The Finnish Cultural Foundation to N.H. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Current treatments for female primary stress urinary incontinence.

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) affects millions of women worldwide. Pelvic floor muscle training is the first-line treatment for SUI, and if this fails, midurethral sling surgery has become the gold-standard treatment. More recently, complications from midurethral mesh slings, particularly chronic pain and dyspareunia, have become a major concern. Although traditional SUI treatments, such as colposuspension and fascia slings, are used, the future of SUI treatment likely will rely on less invasive alternatives. Modern bulking agents could have the potential to become a first-line treatment for SUI, but further long-term studies are needed. Patients should be involved in decision-making prior to any surgery to ensure that they are aware of the risks and also any reasonable treatment alternatives. Furthermore, the effectiveness of a procedure should be balanced with its invasiveness and possible risks to provide women individually with the best possible treatment option.

Intrauterine adhesions following an induced termination of pregnancy: a nationwide cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) are a problematic complication after termination of pregnancy, but their incidence is unknown. Our objective was to assess the incidence of IUAs following induced termination of pregnancy and the risk factors for IUAs. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A nationwide registry study. SAMPLE: All women undergoing induced termination of pregnancy (n = 80 015) in Finland between 2000 and 2008. METHODS: The data were retrieved from the Finnish Abortion Registry and the Hospital Discharge Registry. The diagnosis of IUAs or complications was based on the diagnostic codes (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision, ICD-10) and operative codes according to the Nordic Medico-Statistical Committee (NOMESCO) Classification of Surgical Procedures (NCSP). IUAs were defined as ICD-10 code N85.6 or operative code LCG02. A subanalysis of IUA cases and five matched controls was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The incidence of and risk factors for IUAs. RESULTS: A total of 12 (1.5 per 10 000) IUA diagnoses were identified from 79 960 eligible induced terminations of pregnancy. The rate of IUAs was 1.5 and 2.0 cases per 10 000 terminations of pregnancy following medically and surgically induced termination of pregnancy, respectively (P = 0.19). In a subgroup analysis of IUA cases and five matched controls, surgical treatment of the remaining products of conception following termination of pregnancy significantly increased the risk of IUAs (odds ratio, OR 5.50; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI 1.46-20.79; P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: IUAs that require further treatment are rare after an induced termination of pregnancy. Surgical evacuation following medical or surgical termination of pregnancy was a risk factor for the diagnosis of IUAs. These results suggest that trauma to a recently pregnant uterus is an important risk factor for IUAs. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: IUA is rare after induced termination of pregnancy (iTOP), but surgical evacuation is a risk factor for IUAs.

Expulsions and adverse events following immediate and later insertion of a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system after medical termination of late first- and second-trimester pregnancy: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To compare expulsions and adverse events (AEs) between immediate and delayed insertion of a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) following medical termination of pregnancy (MTOP). DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, January 2013-December 2014. POPULATION: Cohorts of 102 (gestational age 64-84 days, late first trimester) and 57 (gestational age 85-140 days, second trimester) women requesting MTOP and LNG-IUS contraception. METHODS: LNG-IUS insertion occurred immediately (same day) or 2-4 weeks following MTOP. Follow-up visits were at 2-4 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: LNG-IUS expulsion by 3 months and 1 year. AEs and bleeding profiles within 3 months. RESULTS: Following late first-trimester MTOP the LNG-IUS expulsion rates by 3 months were 14 (27.5%) in the immediate-insertion group and two (4.0%) in the delayed-insertion group (risk ratio, RR 6.86; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI 1.64-28.66). By 1 year the expulsion rates were 17 (33.3%) and six (12.0%) (RR 2.78, 95% CI 1.19-6.47). Following second-trimester MTOP LNG-IUS expulsion rates by 3 months and 1 year were five (18.5%) in the immediate-insertion group and one (3.6%) in the delayed-insertion group (RR 5.19, 95% CI 0.65-41.54). No differences in AEs and bleeding profiles emerged between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Immediate LNG-IUS insertion after late first- or second-trimester MTOP is feasible, does not increase the complication rate, or alter the uterine bleeding patterns; however, immediate insertion increased the expulsion rate, which may limit the cost-effectiveness. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Immediate insertion of LNG-IUS following MTOP at 9-20 weeks of gestation is feasible and safe.

Immediate versus delayed initiation of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system following medical termination of pregnancy - 1 year continuation rates: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the 1-year continuation rates and new pregnancies following immediate versus delayed insertion of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) after medical termination of pregnancy (MTOP) up to 20 weeks of gestation. DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, January 2013 to December 2014. POPULATION: A total of 267 women requesting MTOP and planning LNG-IUS for post-MTOP contraception. METHODS: Insertion of LNG-IUS occurred immediately (0-3 days) or after a delay (2-4 weeks) following MTOP. Follow-up visits were at 3 months and 1 year after MTOP. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: LNG-IUS use at 1 year after MTOP. RESULTS: Women were randomised to immediate (n = 134) or delayed (n = 133) insertion of the LNG-IUS, and 133 and 131 were analysed; 127 (95.5%) women received immediate insertion and 111 (84.7%) women had delayed insertion of the LNG-IUS (risk ratio [RR] 1.13, 95% CI 1.04-1.22). The verified numbers of women continuing the LNG-IUS use at 1 year were 83 (62.4%) and 52 (39.7%) (RR 1.57, 95% CI 1.23-2.02). The numbers of new pregnancies were 6 (4.5%) and 16 (12.2%) (RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.15-0.91), and numbers of subsequent TOPs were 4 (3.0%) and 5 (3.8%) (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.22-2.87). CONCLUSIONS: Immediate insertion of the LNG-IUS following MTOP resulted in higher 1-year continuation rates compared with delayed insertion. In addition, those receiving immediate insertion demonstrated a decreased new pregnancy rate, but no difference in the numbers of another TOP. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Immediate LNG-IUS insertion after MTOP results in a higher 1-year continuation compared with delayed insertion.

Same-day and delayed reports of pain intensity in second-trimester medical termination of pregnancy: a brief report.

OBJECTIVE: To assess same-day and delayed reports of pain intensity during and after second-trimester medical termination of pregnancy (MTOP). STUDY DESIGN: A prospective randomized trial (217 women) comparing 1- and 2-day mifepristone-misoprostol intervals. RESULTS: Women reported intense pain [median visual analogue scale (interquartile range)] related to expulsion of the fetus [6 (0-10)]. Delayed reports of maximal pain described the pain as more intense than same-day reports [8 (3-10) vs. 7 (1-10), p<.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Most women reported and readily remembered intense pain associated with fetal expulsion during second-trimester MTOP. IMPLICATIONS: Adequate, properly timed pain management during second-trimester MTOP is crucial.

Medical versus surgical termination of pregnancy in primigravid women--is the next delivery differently at risk? A population-based register study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of medical versus surgical termination of pregnancy (TOP), performed in primigravid women, on subsequent delivery. DESIGN: Population-based register study. SETTING: Finland 2000-2009. POPULATION: All primigravid women (n = 8294) who underwent TOP during first trimester of pregnancy by medical (n = 3441) or surgical (n = 4853) method, and whose subsequent pregnancy resulted in singleton delivery. METHODS: The women were identified in the Finnish Register of Induced Abortions, and the data were linked to the Medical Birth and the Hospital Discharge Registries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Risk of preterm birth, low birthweight, small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant and placental complications (placenta praevia, placental abruption, retained placenta, placenta accreta). RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in the incidences of preterm birth (4.0% in the medical group versus 4.9% in the surgical group), low birthweight (3.4% versus 4.0%), SGA infants (2.6% versus 2.9%) or placental complications (2.6% versus 2.8%) emerged between the two groups. After adjusting for various background factors, medical TOP was not associated with significantly altered risks of preterm birth (odds ratio [OR] 0.87, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.68-1.13), low birthweight (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.68-1.19), SGA infant (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.64-1.20) or placental complications (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.72-1.34) versus surgical TOP. In a sub-analysis excluding women who underwent surgical evacuation following the index TOP, medical TOP was associated with a reduced risk of preterm birth (P < 0.01), but the difference became insignificant after adjusting for gestational age at the time of TOP, inter-pregnancy interval, maternal age, cohabitation status, socio-economic status, residence and smoking during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: A history of one medical versus surgical TOP, performed in primigravid women, is associated with similar obstetric risks in the subsequent delivery.

Trends in teenage termination of pregnancy and its risk factors: a population-based study in Finland, 1987-2009.

STUDY QUESTION: What are the current trends in teenage termination of pregnancy (TOP) and its risk factors? SUMMARY ANSWER: The incidence of teenage TOP fluctuated substantially during the study period and the incidence of repeat TOP among adolescents increased markedly in the 2000s. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Teenage pregnancy is associated with difficulties in psychological, sexual and overall health. The proportion of teenage pregnancies resulting in termination varies by country and time, but only few countries have reliable statistics on TOPs. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This nationwide retrospective register study included all the TOPs (n= 52 968) and deliveries (n= 58 882) in Finland between 1987 and 2009 among girls <20 years of age at the beginning of pregnancy. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The cohorts were divided into three subgroups; 13-15- (n= 6087), 16-17- (n= 18 826) and 18-19- (n= 28 055) year-olds. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: After an initial steady decline, the incidence of teenage TOP increased by 44% between 1993 (8.0/1000) and 2003 (11.5/1000), and thereafter declined by 16% until 2009 (9.7/1000). The incidence was higher in older adolescents, but the trends were alike in all age groups. Early TOPs (performed at <56 days of gestation) more than tripled from 11 to 36% during the study period. However, the proportion of second-trimester TOPs remained steady at ≈ 7%. Young age [13-15 years: odds ratio (OR) 1.75 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.57-1.94), 16-17 years: OR 1.13 (1.05-1.23), 18-19 years: OR 1 (reference category)] and non-use of contraception [(OR 11.16 (10.15-12.27)] were related to a higher risk of second-trimester TOP. The incidence of repeat TOP increased by 95% from 1.9/1000 to 3.7/1000 in 18-19-year-olds and by 120% from 0.5/1000 to 1.1/1000 in 16-17-year-olds between 1993 and 2009. Increasing age [13-15 years: OR 0.16 (95% CI 0.14-0.19), 16-17 years: OR 0.49 (0.45-0.52), 18-19 years 1 (Ref)], living in an urban area [rural: OR 0.62 (0.56-0.67), urban: OR 1 (Ref)] and having undergone a second-trimester TOP [OR 1.46 (1.31-1.63)] were risk factors for repeat TOP. The planned use of intrauterine contraception for post-abortal contraception increased from 2.6 to 6.2% and among girls with repeat TOP from 10 to 19%. LIMITATIONS: The retrospective nature of the study remains a limitation and the quality of the data is reliant on the accuracy of reporting. We were not able to link repeat TOPs of the same woman in our data set. However, the share of repeat abortions was moderate. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The rate of teenage TOP seems to rapidly reflect changes in national sexual and reproductive health services and policy. The rising rate of repeat TOP is alarming and may represent a sign of marginalization among these girls. All efforts to maintain a low rate of teenage pregnancy are welcomed.