Fertility

About: Fertility is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 29988 publications have been published within this topic receiving 681106 citations.

Estimates of the number of motherless youth orphaned by AIDS in the United States.

Abstract: Objective. —To estimate the number of youth in the United States who have been or will be left motherless by the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic, in order to project the need for family supports, age-appropriate foster and congregate care, and mental health and social services. Design. —Orphans are defined as youth whose mothers (the usual caregiving parent) die of HIV/AIDS-related causes. A mathematical model was constructed to estimate the number of such motherless youth. Cumulative fertility rates were applied to the number of reported AIDS deaths (1981 through 1990) and projected deaths (1991 through 1995) of adult women less than 50 years old. The results were adjusted for underreporting of HIV/AIDS-related mortality, pediatric AIDS deaths, infant mortality, ethnic and racial variation in fertility, and decreased fertility associated with late-stage HIV disease. Estimates were made for the number who were children (less than 13 years of age), adolescents (13 to 17 years of age), or young adults (18 years of age or older) at the time of their mothers' death. Results. —By the end of 1995, maternal deaths caused by the HIV/AIDS epidemic will have orphaned an estimated 24 600 children and 21 000 adolescents in the United States; unless the course of the epidemic changes dramatically, by the year 2000, the overall number of motherless children and adolescents will exceed 80000. In 1991, an estimated 13% of US children and 9% of adolescents whose mothers died of all causes were children of women who died of HIV/AIDS-related diseases. These proportions will surpass 17% and 12%, respectively, by 1995. The vast majority of these motherless youth will come from poor communities of color. Conclusions. —A large and rapidly growing number of American youth are being orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Unless increased attention and resources are devoted to this vulnerable population, a social catastrophe is unavoidable. (JAMA. 1992;268:3456-3461)

A survey on the intentions and attitudes towards oocyte cryopreservation for non-medical reasons among women of reproductive age

Abstract: background: Although cryopreservation of semen is a routine procedure for preserving male gametes, an efficient method of preserving fertility through oocyte freezing has only recently become available for women. In view of the limited female reproductive lifespan, oocyte freezing can now offer women some protection against the decline in fertility with aging. methods: A survey was performed in Belgium among 1914 women of reproductive age (21 –40 years) to assess public attitudes towards the phenomenon called ‘social oocyte freezing’. Women were questioned on their awareness of the age-related fertility decline and their views and intentions towards considering undergoing oocyte cryopreservation. results: The electronic questionnaire was completed by 1049 women, giving a response rate of 55%, and 25 were excluded as they were incomplete/inconsistent. Our results demonstrate that 31.5% of respondents consider themselves as potential social oocyte freezers, of which 3.1% would definitely consider the procedure. Just over half of the women (51.8%) would not consider the procedure while 16.7% indicated they had no opinion. Potential oocyte freezers are characterized by a higher number of desired children and more openness to oocyte donation. The decision to actually embark on such treatment would primarily depend on conditions, such as the procedure not affecting their natural fertility and the health of future children. conclusions: We conclude that a significant proportion of young women would consider safeguarding their reproductive potential or are at least open to the idea of social oocyte freezing.

Age at menarche, at first intercourse, and at first pregnancy.

Abstract: Data from an urban sample of American women of reproductive ages demonstrate that age at menarche is correlated with age at first intercourse, that age at first intercourse is correlated with age at first pregnancy, and that age at menarche is therefore correlated with age at first pregnancy. This applies to both blacks and whites when examined for the early years of the reproductive cycle. Girls with early menarche, compared to those with late menarche, are more than twice as likely to have had intercourse by age 16, and almost twice as likely to have given birth or had a pregnancy terminated by age 18. It is therefore useful to think of the timing of meanarche as an indicator of the probability of early intercourse and early childbearing.

Are Maternal Fertility Problems Related to Childhood Leukaemia

Abstract: An explorative case-control study was conducted in The Netherlands. The cases were obtained from a complete nationwide register of childhood leukaemia (1973-1980). Controls were matched with the cases for year of birth, sex and place of residence. Information about exposures of the mother to potential risk factors in the year before pregnancy and during pregnancy was collected via mailed questionnaires. The analyses concerned data on 519 patients with acute lymphocytic leukaemia and 507 controls. An association between maternal subfertility and childhood leukaemia might be suggested by several findings. A history of two or more miscarriages (OR 1.6; 95% Cl 1.0-2.7) and fertility problems (OR 6.0; 95% Cl 0.9-38.2) were more frequently reported among mothers of cases. The use of oral contraceptives (OC) was significantly higher (OR 1.3; 95% Cl 1.0-1.8) and the duration between discontinuation of OC and the relevant pregnancy was significantly longer. The OR for threatened abortion during the relevant pregnancy was 1.6 (95% Cl 1.0-2.6) and the related use of 'drugs to maintain pregnancy' was 1.9; 95% Cl 1.0-3.5. Among known risk factors, an increased OR for diagnostic irradiation was confirmed (OR 2.2; 95% Cl 1.2-3.8). No association between childhood leukaemia and prenatal viral infections, smoking and alcohol was found.

The stall in the fertility transition in Kenya.

Abstract: For the past 25 years Kenya has been a prominent example of the fertility transition in sub-Saharan Africa. From one of the worlds highest fertility rates 8.1 births per woman in 1975-78 fertility dropped dramatically to 4.7 by 1995-98. At the same time contraceptive use increased rapidly as women began wanting fewer children. These trends came to an abrupt halt in the first few years of this century according to the findings of the 2003 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey. The following analytical study examines this recent development describing the details of the stall in the fertility transition and attempting to explain its dynamics. The 2003 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) data used throughout this analysis exclude the Northeast province and several other districts not represented in the earlier surveys. The analysis begins with a description of the changes that have occurred in fertility in Kenya followed by trends in contraceptive prevalence and concludes with a discussion of the changes in reproductive preferences. (excerpt)