abortion
EXTRAOVULAR CATHETER INSERTION: 90 women in an Israeli study were admitted for terminations of pregnancy at 17-24 weeks’ gestation. Transcervical catheters were inserted and extraovular PGE2 prostaglandin administered. 67 women experienced induced abortion, 37 of whom needed uterine curettages either to complete the abortion or to curtail excessive uterine bleeding; 23 were unsuccessful. Researchers deem the procedure effective but add, “a reconsideration of this method’s safety is warranted.” The total complication rate was 20 percent.
(Reading: “Safety of Extraovular Catheter Insertion for Second-trimester Abortion,” Obstetrics and Gynecology, 10/00, paid subscription required to view on line)
PREGNANCY OPTION COUNSELING: The National Abortion Federation’s “Clinicians for Choice” newsletter expounds the value of “unbiased, non-judgmental, information” that is part of the pregnancy options counseling program they endorse. A booklet, “Unsure About Your Pregnancy? A Guide to Making the Right Decision” is promoted.
(Reading: “Options Counseling: An Important Skill for All Clinicians,” Clinicians for Choice, 8/00, p. 1)
birth control pill
BREAST CABCER RISK: Researchers identified a risk among those women with a family history of breast cancer and conclude, “oral contraceptives cannot be viewed as an established measure to reduce ovarian cancer risk, nor can they be considered contraindicated in women with a family history of breast cancer. Rather, the use of OCs needs to be considered on an individual basis, taking into account baseline risk” and “in the context of patients’ own preferences.”
(Reading: “Risk of Breast Cancer with Oral Contraceptive Use in Women with a Family History of Breast Cancer,” Journal of the American Medical Association, 10/11/00; for the clinical facts directly linking the pill to breast cancer, ALL recommends, “Studies Indicate the Pill Increases Breast Cancer Risk,” The Interim, and the One More Soulwebsite, where the new book by Chris Kahlenborn, M.D., “Breast Cancer: Its Link to Abortion and the Birth Control Pill” can be ordered.)
chemical abortion
RU-486: Misorpostol/Mifegyne + misoprostol/Cytotec: The evolving reports on the Hua Lian Pharmaceutical factory in Shanghai, China, the American sales corporation Danco Laboratories, and the August 23 warning letter from Searle regarding the off-label use of Cytotec demand daily updating on this topic. For complete, pertinent and current information and news visit the ALL Newsroom.
diethylstilbestrol (DES)
PREGNANCY OUTCOME FOLLOW UP: Researchers continue to examine women based on their mothers’ use of DES during pregnancy, even though the last presumed year of use was reportedly 1971. There are many such women who are still of reproductive age, and the findings continue to pinpoint premature births, spontaneous pregnancy loss, and ectopic pregnancy among those women who were exposed to the drug.
COMMENT: What will they find 30 years from now among those who ingest mifepristone + misoprostol?
(Reading: “Continued Follow-up of Pregnancy Outcomes in Diethylstilbestrol-exposed Offspring,” Obstetrics and Gynecology, 10/00, paid subscription required to view on line)
in vitro fertilization
EMBRYO STORAGE FEES: Researchers comment that implementation of a semiannual storage fee for cryopreserved (frozen) embryos results in more parents requesting disposal of their babies. The requests jumped from 0-5% per year to 18 percent.
(Reading: “Impact of Implementation of an Embryo Storage Fee on Embryo Disposal Activity,” Fertility and Sterility, 10/00, paid subscription required to review article on line)
EMBRYO TRANSFER: When “good-quality embryos” are transferred to the mother who is under the age of 35, the number required for a potentially “successful” implantation is two rather than three.
(Reading: “Impact of Reducing the Number of Embryos Transferred from Three to Two in Women Under the Age of 35 Who Produced Three or More High-quality Embryos,” Fertility and Sterility, 10/00, paid subscription required to review article on line)
RISKING MULTIPLE BIRTHS: A working group studying the risks to children and mothers caused by multiple births points out that steps are now being taken to improve the success of IVF while reducing the risk of multiple births, but more work is needed. The group analyzed the use of “multifetal reduction [which] is generally performed between 9 and 12 weeks of gestation and is accomplished by inserting a needle (guided by ultrasound) abdominally or vaginally to inject potassium chloride into the fetus, which stops the heart of the fetus.” This is done to avoid the so-called risk of multiple births, but the group finds that depression and other after effects are common. They also point out that access to this method provides little disincentive for the doctor to transfer fewer embryos to the mother.
(Reading: “Less is More: The Risks of Multiple Births,” Fertility and Sterility, 10/00, paid subscription required to review article on line)
pregnancy
DOWN SYNDROME OR MISCARRIAGE? Researchers studied the attitudes of pregnant women who experienced miscarriage after a prenatal test versus those who carried a child with Down syndrome to term, and learned “pregnant women tend to find the prospect of a Down syndrome-affected birth more burdensome than a procedure-related miscarriage, calling into question the equal risk threshold for prenatal diagnosis.” They also suggest: “prenatal testing guidelines should be reconsidered to better reflect individual values.”
COMMENT: Why? Because there are no absolute moral truths to contend with in the year 2000!
(Reading: “Procedure-related Miscarriages and Down Syndrome-affected Births: Implications for Prenatal Testing Based on Women’s Preferences,” Obstetrics and Gynecology, 10/00, paid subscription required to view on line)
sex education
GUTTMACHER REPORTS: The latest in studies encouraging teens to teach teens, degrading abstinence only education, and other anti-family attitudes can be found in the current Family Planning Perspectives, 9-10/00.
MOTHERS’ WATCH REPORTS: Get the most recent analysis of “Catholic” birth control — and many “Catholic” sex education programs — from Mothers’ Watch newsletter. The Summer 2000 issue is available now by writing Mothers’ Watch, P.O. Box 2780, Montgomery Village, MD 20886-2780. Subscription fee: $20.00 per year. Sorry, no web site.
web news
DOCTORS FOR LIFE: Dr. Albu van Eeden, CEO of South Africa’s Doctors for Life announces a new web site chock full of information on AIDS, prostitution, drug abuse and more.
LIFE DYNAMICS BROCHURE: New material being sent to thousands of university students makes it debut this week. For details, or to request a copy of the “choice” brochure, contact Life Dynamics.
PRO-LIFE WISCONSIN: To join this state organization’s action e-mail list, write to “>Pro-Life Wisconsin.
reflection for prayer
Yahweh speaks, “When you call to me, and come to plead with me, I will listen to you. When you seek me you shall find me, when you seek me with all your heart; I will let you find me.”
-Jeremiah 29:12-13