BACKGROUND: National level Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) is normal in Bangladesh despite its patriarchal social structures, strong son preference, and low fertility level, widely recognized as preconditions for Gender-Biased Sex Selection (GBSS). To better understand this anomaly, we examine the trend in SRB in a sub-district in Bangladesh and assess the impact of the introduction of fetal sex-detection technology and the history of induced abortion on child sex using longitudinal data.
METHODS: We have used secondary data collected routinely by icddr, b\'s Matlab Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) between 1982 and 2018. All births occurring during this period (N = 206,390) were included in the analyses. We calculated the SRB and used multivariate logistic regression analyses to assess the likelihood of birth of a male child before and after the introduction of ultrasonogram in Matlab.
RESULTS: Overall, SRB was within the natural limit (106) during 1982-2018 in Matlab. SRB among women with a history of induced abortion was 109.3 before the introduction of ultrasonography in 2001 and 113.5 - after 2001. Women\'s history of induced abortion prior to introduction of ultrasonogram (1982-2000) increased the likelihood of birth of a male child 1.06 times (AOR 1.06; 95% CI- 1.01-1.11). In the period after, however, this likelihood was 1.08 (AOR 1.08; 95% CI- 1.02-1.15).
CONCLUSIONS: In a context with normal SRB, it was found to be skewed among women who had induced abortion. SRB was relatively more skewed among such women after the advent of ultrasonogram compared to a period without ultrasonogram. Moreover, induced abortion after introduction of fetal sex determination technology increased the likelihood of birth of a male child. These findings suggest the plausibility of GBSS in a sub-group. Further research is needed, particularly in regions with skewed SRB to examine whether GBSS is indeed a threat to Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVE: Analyzing the variations in induced abortion (IA) rates across different subpopulations in Spain based on country of origin, while considering educational and age composition.
METHODS: Using 2021 Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy register and 2021 Spanish Census microdata, we calculated crude IA rates and age-specific abortion rates. We used age-standardized IA rates (ASIAR) to account for the confounding effect of age composition. We compared seven subpopulations residing in Spain, taking into account simple ages and educational levels aggregated into four categories.
RESULTS: Immigrant women, especially those from Sub-Saharan and Latin American countries, consistently had higher IA rates compared to native Spanish women. According to age-specific IA rates, university-educated women had considerably fewer abortions than women with other education levels at any age. Age-standardized rates stratified by migratory origin revealed that native Spanish women with primary education or less had higher IA rates than their immigrant counterparts. There was a clear non-linear, association between educational level and IA rates among immigrants. The highest propensity for IA was found among secondary school graduates, while university graduates had the lowest IA rate.
CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that variability in sociodemographic characteristics had an impact on IA rates. Young women with middle educational attainment and immigrant background had a higher likelihood of undergoing IA in Spain. The relationship between educational level and IA rates was complex, with variations observed among different groups and changes over time.

This article is a systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis (MA) whose objective was to identify the association between induced abortion and the development of depression, based on the Cochrane guidelines for SRs. A systematic search was carried out in the WoS, PubMed and Scopus databases. Retrospective and prospective cohort studies, carried out until November 2020, that evaluated a population of women in childbearing age (12 to 46 years) with at least 1 induced and/or provoked abortion, including pharma-cological and surgical abortion. Only studies with healthy women at the beginning of the research were included, i.e., with absence of psychiatric pathology prior to induced abor-tion. The quality of the included studies was measured with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), and for the MA random-effects models were specified using the DerSimonian & Laird method, grouping them into follow-up after abortion before and after one year. The results of the SR were measured with relative risk (RR), hazard ratio (HR), odds ratio (OR), and the chi-square test, which assessed the intensity of the statistical relationship between population and exposure. Systematic review demonstrated an OR of 1.38 (95% CI 1.14-1.68) of depression after induced abortion. Meta-analysis demonstrated a statis-tically significant association between depression and induced abortion when the as-sessment after one year was performed OR: 1.37 (95% CI 1.09-1.71). The risks, harms and mental health consequences of induced abortion, such as depression, should be in-vestigated and warned.
El presente artículo es una revisión sistemática (RS) y metaanálisis (MA) cuyo objetivo fue identificar la asociación entre el aborto inducido y el desarrollo de depresión, con base en los lineamientos Cochrane para RS. Se hizo la búsqueda sistemática en las bases de datos WoS, PubMed y Scopus. Se incluyeron estudios de cohorte retrospectivos y prospectivos, hasta noviembre de 2020, que evaluaron una población de mujeres en edad fértil (12 a 46 años) con al menos un aborto inducido o provocado, incluido el aborto farmacológico y el quirúrgico. Solo se incluyeron estudios con mujeres sanas al inicio de la investigación, es decir, con ausencia de patología psiquiátrica previa al aborto inducido. La calidad de los estudios incluidos se midió con la Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) y para el MA se especificaron modelos de efectos aleatorios con el método de DerSimonian & Laird y se agruparon en seguimiento posterior al aborto antes y después de un año. Los resultados de la RS fueron medidos con riesgo relativo (RR), hazard ratio (HR), odds ratio (OR) y la prueba de chi cuadrado, que valoraron la intensidad de la relación estadística entre la población y la exposición. La RS demostró un OR 1.38 (IC 95% 1.14-1.68) de depresión tras el aborto inducido. El MA demostró una asociación estadísticamente significativa entre la depresión y el aborto inducido cuando se hizo la evaluación posterior a un año OR: 1.37 (IC 95% 1.09-1.71). Se deberían investigar y advertir los riesgos, daños y consecuencias en la salud mental, como la depresión, tras el aborto inducido.

OBJECTIVE: To document the outcomes of second-trimester induction of labor with laminaria cervical dilation followed by gemeprost vaginal tablets, with a particular emphasis on its complications.
METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of women who experienced medical abortions between 12 and 21 weeks of gestation from January 2016 to July 2021. Procedures were performed with three laminaria cervical dilation for 2 days followed by the administration of gemeprost (1 mg, vaginal tablet) every 3 h with a maximum of five tablets per day. Epidural anesthesia was provided upon request. The primary outcome was successful labor induction, which was defined as fetal expulsion without assisted surgical procedures. Other maternal outcomes, complications and related interventions during and after the procedure were assessed.
RESULTS: Among 319 women, 313 (98.1%) experienced successful labor induction with a median of one gemeprost tablet. The median blood loss during the abortion was 145 mL, and three women (0.9%) required blood transfusion. Fever was observed in 19 women (6.0%) during hospitalization, although most cases were drug fever. Thirteen women (4.1%) had abnormal uterine bleeding ~24 days after the abortion. Eleven cases (3.4%) were associated with retained products of conception, of which three cases required uterine artery embolization and three needed surgical curettage.
CONCLUSIONS: Second-trimester induction of labor with laminaria cervical dilation and subsequent gemeprost vaginal tablets is a reliable method for completing medical abortions. Abnormal uterine bleeding several weeks after abortion is suspected to be a retained product of conception that could require invasive treatment.

BACKGROUND: Female sex workers (FSW) are particularly vulnerable to unintended pregnancy. Research examining the experience of unintended pregnancy due to commercial sex among Chinese FSW, however, is limited. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and correlates of unintended pregnancy due to commercial sex among FSW in China.
METHODS: In 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 1257 FSW in five cities from Guangdong provinces in South China. Data were collected on social-demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, experience of unintended pregnancy due to commercial sex and its pregnancy outcome, as well as experience of abortion in lifetime. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with unintended pregnancy.
RESULTS: Among the 1257 FSW, 19.3% reported having at least one unintended pregnancy due to commercial sex. Of those, 96.7% chose to terminate the pregnancy through induced abortion, and 40.5% reported undergoing multiple induced abortions in their lifetime. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that FSW working in current location over one year (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR): 2.82, 95% CI 1.71-4.64) and having more than seven clients in the past week (aOR: 4.53, 95% CI 2.74-7.51) were more likely to have had unintended pregnancy due to commercial sex. Working in high tier (aOR: 0.21, 95% CI 0.14-0.30) and consistent condom use with clients in the past month (aOR: 0.16, 95% CI 0.10-0.23) were associated with a lower proportion of FSW having ever had unintended pregnancy.
CONCLUSIONS: Unintended pregnancy are prevalent among FSW in South China. Interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence of unintended pregnancy and enhancing post-abortion care could be necessary among Chinese FSW.
Female sex workers (FSW) are particularly vulnerable to unintended pregnancies. Research on the experience of unintended pregnancy resulting from commercial sex among Chinese FSW is, however, limited.To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the prevalence and correlates of unintended pregnancies due to commercial sex among FSW in China. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 1257 FSW in five cities across Guangdong Province in South China in 2021. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with unintended pregnancy.Among 1257 FSW, 19.3% reported having experienced at least one unintended pregnancy due to commercial sex. The factors significantly associated with unintended pregnancy in the multivariate analysis included participants working in high tier, working in current location over one year, using condom with clients inconsistently in the past month, and having more clients in the past week.The findings from this study could provide valuable insights for the development of policies aimed at reducing unintended pregnancies, improving abortion care, and enhancing family planning programs targeted at FSW.

UNASSIGNED: Uterine perforation and bowel injury are rare but potentially life-threatening complications of surgical abortion. Early diagnosis results in easier management and better prognosis. We report here a case of a 39-year-old presented with peritonitis secondary to traumatic bowel perforation after second-trimester surgical abortion.
METHODS: A 39-year-old Gravida 3 Para 2 presented with acute abdominal pain two days after second trimester induced abortion. On physical examination, the patient was febrile and hypotensive with diffuse abdominal tenderness. Emergency abdomino-pelvic-CT showed generalized peritonitis with pneumoperitoneum. The patient underwent an emergency laparotomy. Per operative exploration revealed a perforation of the fundus of the uterus and the sigmoid portion of the large intestine, resulting in stercoral peritonitis. We proceeded with thorough cleansing of the abdominal cavity with physiological serum, followed by partial colectomy including the perforated sigmoid and a Hartmann\'s procedure. The patient was admitted to the post-operative intensive care unit for 18 days and discharged on day 27 after the surgery. Intestinal continuity restoration was performed six months after the surgery.
UNASSIGNED: Given the severity of second trimester pregnancy termination complications, efforts should be made to promote contraception and medical first-trimester pregnancy termination. Any unusual symptom after surgical induced abortion should lead to suspect uterine perforation.
CONCLUSIONS: Uterine perforation during induced abortion is usually asymptomatic and can generally be managed conservatively. However, bowel injury may result in peritonitis, requiring immediate laparotomy and resection of perforated bowel. CT-scans can help diagnose this rare complication.

OBJECTIVE: Given Iran\'s recent shift towards pronatalist population policies, concerns have arisen regarding the potential increase in abortion rates. This review study examines the trends of (medical), intentional (illegal), and spontaneous abortions in Iran over the past two decades, as well as the factors that have contributed to these trends.
METHODS: This paper reviewed research articles published between 2005 and 2022 on abortion in Iran. The study employed the PRISMA checklist for systematic reviews. Articles were searched from international (Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science) and national databases (Magiran, Medlib, SID). Once the eligibility criteria were applied, 42 records were included from the initial 349 records.
RESULTS: Abortion is influenced by a variety of socioeconomic and cultural factors and the availability of family planning services. Factors that contribute to unintended pregnancy include attitudes toward abortion, knowledge about reproductive health, access to reproductive health services, and fertility desires, among others. In addition to health and medical factors, consanguineous marriage plays an important role in spontaneous and therapeutic abortion. A higher number of illegal abortions were reported by women from more privileged socioeconomic classes. In comparison, a higher number of medical and spontaneous abortions were reported by women from less privileged socioeconomic classes.
CONCLUSIONS: Iranian policymakers are concerned about the declining fertility rate and have turned to pronatalist policies. From a demographic standpoint, this seems to be a reasonable approach. However, the new population policies, particularly, the Family Protection and Young Population Law, along with creating limitations in access to reproductive health services and prenatal screening tests as well as stricter abortion law could potentially lead to an increase in various types of abortions and their associated consequences.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about whether induced abortions are associated with the final lifetime number of live births (life births). The objective of this study was to examine the association of number of life births with number of abortions a female has had in her lifetime.
METHODS: In a national cohort design, we followed all Danish females from ages 15 to 44 years through the period 1977-2017 for induced abortions and live births. For each lifetime number of induced abortions, the average number of life births were assessed, and rates with 95% confidence limits calculated.
RESULTS: The study included 409 497 females who completed 222 482 induced abortions and 831 742 live births. In 265 573 (64.9%) females who did not have any induced abortion, the average number of life births was 2.09 (95% CI 2.08-2.10). For females with 1 (23.4%), 2 (7.4%), 3 (2.6%), 4 (1.0%), and ≥5 (0.7%) induced abortions during their reproductive lifespan, the average number of life births was 1.88 (1.87-1.89), 1.99 (1.98-2.00), 2.09 (2.06-2.11), 2.13 (2.09-2.15), and 2.25 (2.21-2.29), respectively. The increase in number of life births in females with 1 to females with 5+ induced abortions was 4.7% for each additional induced abortion.
CONCLUSIONS: We found number of induced abortions during a woman\'s reproductive lifespan to be positively correlated to the number of live births. This association is likely explained by a high fecundity in females with multiple pregnancies including induced abortions, and suggests that even several induced abortions do not compromise a woman\'s general reproductive end points.

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine adhesions (IUA) are a challenging clinical problem in reproductive infertility. The most common causes are intrauterine surgery and abortions. We aimed to investigate whether early second-look office hysteroscopy can prevent IUA.
METHODS: A single-center, prospective, two-armed, randomized controlled trial was designed to explore the efficacy of early office hysteroscopy after first-trimester induced abortion (suction dilatation and curettage [D&C]) and to further analyze fertility outcomes. Women aged 20-45 years undergoing suction D&C and desiring to conceive were recruited. Between October 2019 and September 2022, 66 women were enrolled, of whom 33 were allocated to group A (early hysteroscopy intervention). The women in intervention group A were planned to receive 2 times of hysteroscopies (early and late). In group B, women only underwent late (6 months post suction D&C) hysteroscopy.
RESULTS: The primary outcome was the IUA rate assessed using office hysteroscopy 6 months after artificial abortion. Secondary outcomes included menstrual amount/durations and fertility outcomes. In intervention group A, 31 women underwent the first hysteroscopy examination, and 15 completed the second. In group B (late hysteroscopy intervention, 33 patients), 16 completed the hysteroscopic exam 6 months after an artificial abortion. Twenty-one women did not receive late hysteroscopy due to pregnancy. The IUA rate was 16.1% (5/31) at the first hysteroscopy in group A, and no IUA was detected during late hysteroscopy. Neither group showed statistically significant differences in the follow-up pregnancy and live birth rates.
CONCLUSIONS: Early hysteroscopy following suction D&C can detect intrauterine lesions. IUA detected early by hysteroscopy can disappear on late examination and become insignificant for future pregnancies. Notably, the pregnancy outcomes showed a favorable trend in the early hysteroscopy group, but there were no statistically significant differences.
BACKGROUND: ClinicalTrials.gov , ID: NCT04166500. Registered on 2019-11-10. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04166500 .

The availability of medications to induce abortion, especially in contexts of restricted access, has transformed practices and allowed women and/or their community organizations to assist other women in obtaining abortions, whether or not they interact with the healthcare system. This study recovers the experience of a feminist community organization that, from the province of Neuquén, extends throughout the country, creating a network of community care. An exploratory descriptive study with a qualitative approach was conducted to analyze the experiences of women who facilitate access to permitted abortion in Argentina. Through in-depth interviews with three leaders of the feminist collective La Revuelta and semi-structured interviews with 33 members of the socorrista groups, conducted between November 2019 and December 2020, we describe their history and processes of work and growth; we explore their motivations and feelings and characterize the interactions of these organizations with public and private health systems. The results of this work align with the international conversation and bibliographic production about these organizations and their particularities, and with the need to incorporate these forms of care into institutional health systems.
La disponibilidad de medicamentos para producir un aborto, sobre todo en contextos de acceso restringido, transformó las prácticas y permitió que las propias mujeres y/o sus organizaciones comunitarias ayuden a otras mujeres a abortar, interactuando o no con el sistema de salud. Este estudio recupera la experiencia de una organización feminista de la comunidad que, desde la provincia de Neuquén, se extiende a todo el país, generando una red de cuidados comunitarios. Se realizó un estudio exploratorio descriptivo, con enfoque cualitativo con el propósito de analizar las experiencias de las mujeres que facilitan el acceso al aborto permitido en Argentina. A través de entrevistas en profundidad a tres líderes de la colectiva feminista La Revuelta y de entrevistas semiestructuradas a 33 integrantes de las grupas socorristas, realizadas entre noviembre de 2019 y diciembre de 2020, describimos su historia y los procesos de trabajo y crecimiento; exploramos sus motivaciones y sentimientos y caracterizamos las interacciones de dichas organizaciones con los sistemas de salud público y privado. Los resultados de este trabajo coinciden con la conversación y la producción bibliográfica internacional acerca de estas organizaciones y sus particularidades y con la necesidad de incorporar estos cuidados a los sistemas de salud institucionales.