Checking pregnancy status in adolescent girls before procedures under general anaesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: Surgery, ionising radiation and anaesthesia in the presence of an undetected pregnancy could be harmful. British guidelines state that female patients of 'childbearing age' should have their pregnancy status established before surgery. Approaching this topic with an adolescent girl can be challenging. DESIGN: The authors conducted an observational study and a survey in their institution and a national survey of Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists (APA) linkmen. SETTING: Local: Southampton. National: UK. RESULTS: Both surveys demonstrate widespread concerns about inconsistent and informal practices. Only 45% of respondents in the authors' institution stated they ask adolescent girls if they could be pregnant. 40% of APA linkmen were unaware of national guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: This work illustrates the need for consistent national guidance. We propose that all girls who have reached menarche should be routinely offered a urine pregnancy test before any procedure under general anaesthesia.

Use of home pregnancy tests among adolescent women.

Many adolescents use home pregnancy tests when they suspect pregnancy. However, because of developmental issues and greater variation in menstrual cycles, teens are at risk for obtaining false-negative test results. Moreover, with teens, the need for a pregnancy test often accompanies the need for comprehensive reproductive care including evaluation for sexually transmitted infections and contraception. This article reviews the mechanisms of home pregnancy testing including sensitivity, accuracy, and home testing procedures. Clinical strategies for improving the accuracy of home pregnancy tests for teen users are discussed. Lastly, policy implications to improve teens' access to more accurate pregnancy testing and to reproductive health services are suggested.

Prevalência de chlamydia trachomatis e neisseria gonorrhoeae pela reaçäo em cadeia por polimerase - PCR em urina de gestantes adolescentes e mulheres atendidas em ambulatórios de ginecologia em Hospital Público em Porto Alegre, Brasil / Prevalence of chlamydia trachomatis e neisseria gonorrhoeae by PCR in urine samples of pregnant adolescents and women sen at outpatient unities in Porto Alegre, Brazil

Objetiva avaliar a ocorrência de C. Trachomatis e N. gonorrhoeae entre gestantes adolescentes e mulheres atendidas por outras causas em ambulatórios e ginecologia de um hospital público em Porto Alegre