Since the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, nearly thirty million legal abortions have been performed in the United States. Every year hundreds of thousands of women choose to have abortions. Yet a veil of secrecy is drawn across abortion sites, disturbed only by protest demonstrations and violence outside clinics. For years the antichoice movement has loudly condemned the abortion procedure. Opponents use such words as "baby-killing", "murder", and "blood-dripping abortionists" to describe what goes on in an abortion clinic - highly charged words that are intended to frighten women who are facing one of the most important decisions of their lives. What does - and does not - go on inside an abortion clinic? Why do women seek this procedure? Why would a physician specialize in this service? Why I Am An Abortion Doctor provides a unique, firsthand look at the life and work of a leading abortion provider. With compassion and courage Dr. Suzanne T. Poppema shares the intimate details of her private and professional struggle - including a view from the abortion clinic operating room as well as a recollection of her own fifth-month abortion - to promote better understanding of the reality of abortion and the violent forces that threaten a woman's right to choose. Dr. Poppema's journey has led her from a Catholic upbringing in rural New Hampshire to professional training at Harvard Medical School, where she made a critical career decision to forgo the fame and fortune awaiting those who enter lucrative medical specialties in favor of becoming a family physician. She has traveled to some of the poorest places on earth, where she observed the expendability of human life and thesubjugation of women. Dr. Poppema's work has brought her a world-wide reputation as an authority on abortion. She served as a member of an international panel in Paris to discuss the French abortion pill, RU 486. Her own clinic was chosen as one of the few U.S. test sites for this controversial drug. Why I Am An Abortion Doctor is a compelling, informative book for readers on both sides of the controversy. It is a groud-breaking work that puts a human face on abortion and tells precisely what the procedure involves, who it helps, and why women seek to terminate their pregnancies.

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal malignancy of the female reproductive system and is also the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women. Sharing common characteristics of cancer, ovarian malignancy possess several clinical and biological particularities In "Ovarian Cancer: Methods and Protocols," expert researchers in the field provide methods that have been created or adapted to study various aspects of ovarian cancer. These methods and techniques are applicable to study genetic alterations present in ovarian cancer, structural and metabolic features of ovarian cancer cells, include in vitro and in vivo models that recapitulate ovarian cancer development and progression, and describe ovarian cancer-oriented drug delivery approaches. Methodological chapters are grouped into seven thematic parts, any of them is introduced by short subject review. Written in the highly successful "Methods in Molecular Biology" series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and practical, " Ovarian Cancer: Methods and Protocols" seeks to aid scientist to optimize study designs, to correctly select the most applicable methods, and to produce interesting and novel results."

Part of the recognised Infertility Management Series, this handbook is a complete guide to ovarian stimulation. Beginning with an overview of the physiology of gonadotropins, the following chapters discuss ways in which clinicians may better predict ovarian response to stimulation and how to select and tailor appropriate protocols. The book covers both oral and injectable agents for stimulation, and protocols for IVF and IUI, egg donors, oncofertility patients, and for low ovarian response. The final chapter details complications in ovarian stimulation, and their prevention and management. Other titles in the series include: Investigating Infertility, Intrauterine Insemination, Practical Management of Male Infertility, and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Key points Part of Infertility Management Series providing complete guide to ovarian stimulation Helps clinicians better predict ovarian response and select appropriate treatment protocols Covers oral and injectable agents for different patient groups Edited by recognised team of experts in reproductive medicine

Progestogens are a class of steroid hormones that bind to and activate the progesterone receptor. This book is a guide to the use of progestogens for clinicians. Beginning with an overview of structure, biochemistry and classification, the following chapters discuss methods of administration, pharmacokinetics, metabolism and the physiological actions of progesterone. The remaining sections of the book cover clinical usage guidelines for progestogens, their role in contraception, side effects and contraindications. The book concludes with a chapter offering guidance on prescription writing and detailed references. Key points Guide to progestogens for obstetricians and gynaecologists Provides step by step detail on structure, classification, and pharmacokinetics Includes clinical usage guidelines, side effects and contraindications Features chapter on prescription writing

A mother's narcotics abuse can have profound effects on her pregnancy and the health of her child, both inside and outside the womb. Spontaneous abortion, premature birth, labor difficulties, increased perinatal and neonatal mortality, respiratory distress, low birth weight, and passed on addiction are just some of the possibilities. Ernest Abel's Narcotics and Reproduction: A Bibliography is the first comprehensive listing of the scholarly research literature produced on this subject. Arranged alphabetically by author, the book lists materials dealing with the effects of the use of heroin, morphine, methadone, and related drugs on sexual function, reproduction, and the fetus.

Practicing specialists in pathology, laboratory medicine, and obstetrics comprehensively summarize the latest scientific findings and their experiences in the use and interpretation of laboratory testing in patients who are pregnant or experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss. Topics of interest include the effects of normal physiological changes on test results, test selection for diagnosis, changes in reference ranges, monitoring the pregnant patient, new technologies, and the limitations of laboratory testing. The authors not only clearly explain currently used test methods and technologies for the nontechnical reader, but also provide comprehensive details for laboratory professionals. The comprehensive appendix that compiles published normal reference ranges by first, second, and third trimester consttitutes an excellent resource for professionals caring for pregnant women.

The prevalence of hypertension is almost three times as high as that of diabetes mellitus type 2, with both conditions being major risk factors for stroke, ischemic heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and heart failure. The exact prevalence of hypertension related to hormonal derangements (endocrine hypertension) is not known but estimated to affect less than 15% of hypertensive patients. Recent scientific discoveries have increased the understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of hypertension. In Endocrine Hypertension, a renowned panel of experts provides a comprehensive, state-of-the-art overview of this disorder, discussing when to assign an endocrine cause in one of many conditions that may present with hypertension. The first part of Endocrine Hypertension is dedicated to adrenal causes. The second part of the volume concerns potential nonadrenal causes of hypertension, such as growth hormone excess or deficiency, primary hyperparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, testosterone deficiency, insulin resistance, obesity-associated hypertension, and the role of central mineralocorticoid receptors and cardiovascular disease. An important contribution to the literature, Endocrine Hypertension is an indispensable reference not only for endocrinologists, diabetologists, and adrenal investigators, but also for translational scientists and clinicians from cardiology, internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, geriatrics, urology, and reproductive medicine / gynecology.

The Part 3 MRCOG is a clinical assessment of knowledge, skills, attitudes and competencies. Passing the Part 3 exam leads to the award of the Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG) and remains the essential waypoint for UK trainees to pass from core training to higher training. Trainees must have passed MRCOG Parts 1 and 2 before they can sit the Part 3 exam (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists). This book is a complete revision guide for students preparing for the MRCOG Part 3 examination. Beginning with an overview of training in obstetrics and gynaecology in the UK and basics of the exam, the following chapters provide step by step tips and advice on aspects of the exam, patient safety, communication with patients and colleagues, information gathering, application of knowledge, and clinical governance. The book features nearly 50 OSCE scenarios with variations that may be encountered in the exam, as well as clinical problems and their solutions. Related specialties such as anatomy, genetics, immunology, endocrinology, and psychology, are also discussed. Key points Complete revision guide for students preparing for the MRCOG Part 3 examination Features nearly 50 OSCE scenarios that may be encountered in the exam Includes clinical problems and their solutions Discusses structure of the UK National Health Service and the role of midwives in the care of pregnant women

Anyone working to improve the childbearing experience and help women avoid unnecessary intervention has encountered numerous obstetric myths or old doctors' tales. And while the evidence in the medical literature may be solidly, often unequivocably, against whatever the doctor said, without access to that evidence, the pregnant woman is quite reasonably going to follow her doctor. This book is an attempt to make the medical literature on a variety of key obstetric issues accessible to people who lack the time, expertise, access, or proximity to a medical library to research concerns on their own. This compact, accurate, yet understandable reference is designed for people without medical training and organized for easy access.

After an introductory chapter giving basic information about the different types of medical studies, how to evaluate them, and some basic statistical concepts, Goer provides chapters on cesarean issues, pregnancy and labor management, and a review of alternative approaches. Each chapter begins with a stated myth, followed by an examination of the reality. Goer then analyzes the mainstream belief, pointing out its fallacies. Then comes a list of significant points gleaned from the studies and keyed to her abstracts. Next is the outline by which the abstracts are grouped. Finally come the numbered abstracts of relevant articles published, in most cases, after 1980. The book concludes with a glossary of medical terms and an index. This compact, accurate, and understandable reference tool is designed for people without medical training as well as care givers.

Medical imaging has been transformed over the past 30 years by the advent of computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and various advances in x-ray and ultrasonic techniques. An enabling force behind this progress has been the (so far) exponentially increasing power of computers, which has made it practical to explore fundamentally new approaches. In particular, what our group terms "model-based" modalities-which produce tissue property images from data using nonlinear, iterative numerical modeling techniques-have become increasingly feasible.

Alternative Breast Imaging: Four Model-Based Approaches explores our research on four such modalities, particularly with regard to imaging of the breast: (1) MR elastography (MRE), (2) electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), (3) microwave imaging spectroscopy (MIS), and (4) near infrared spectroscopic imaging (NIS). Chapter 1 introduces the present state of breast imaging and discusses how our alternative modalities can contribute to the field. Chapter 2 looks at the computational common ground shared by all four modalities. Chapters 2 through 10 are devoted to the four modalities, with each modality being discussed first in a theory chapter and then in an implementation-and-results chapter. The eleventh and final chapter discusses statistical methods for image analysis in the context of these four alternative imaging modalities.

Imaging for the detection of breast cancer is a particularly interesting and relevant application of the four imaging modalities discussed in this book. Breast cancer is an extremely common health problem for women; the National Cancer Institute estimates that one in eight US women will develop breast cancer at least once in her lifetime. Yet the efficacy of the standard (and notoriously uncomfortable) early-detection test, the x-ray mammogram, has been disputed of late, especially for younger women. Conditions are thus ripe for the development of affordable techniques that replace or complement mammography. The breast is both anatomically accessible and small enough that the computing power required to model it, is affordable.

The Interfaces of Perinatal Addiction Ira J ChasnofT In the last few years, problems associated with drug use in pregnancy have become endemic. As cocaine has become the drug of choice for millions of Americans, including pregnant women, as AIDS has become more commonly recognized in women and infants, and as legal cases have begun to raise the question of fetal abuse, no professional group has come forward to serve as advocate for this special population of substance abusers. Meanwhile, however, physicians, nurses, social service agencies and public health officials have all been faced with increasing numbers of infants showing the detrimental effects of their mothers' drug use. Although problems of substance abuse in pregnancy have received increasing attention in the medical literature since the early 1970s, there has recently been a very rapid increase in the number of articles published related to this field. The reasons for this new interest are easily understood when current statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse are reviewed 1. Although patterns of abuse of alcohol, marijuana, heroin and other substances by women of childbearing age have changed very little over the last ten years, the incidence of cocaine use in this special population has been rising rapidly, a reflection of cocaine's increasing popularity among the general population of the United States.

In June 1998 the Fourth International Workshop on Digital Mammography was held in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, where it was hosted by the department of Radiology of the University Hospital Nijmegen. This series of meetings was initiated at the 1993 SPIE Biomedical Image Processing Conference in San Jose, USA, where a number of sessions were entirely devoted to mammographic image analysis. At very successful subsequent workshops held in York, UK (1994) and Chicago, USA (1996), the scope of the conference was broadened, establishing a platform for presentation and discussion of new developments in digital mammog raphy. Topics that are addressed at these meetings are computer-aided diagnosis, image processing, detector development, system design, observer performance and clinical evaluation. The goal is to bring researchers from universities, breast cancer experts, and engineers together, to exchange information and present new scientific developments in this rapidly evolving field. This book contains all the scientific papers and posters presented at the work shop in Nijmegen. Contributions came from as many as 20 different countries and 190 participants attended the meeting. At a technical exhibit companies demon strated new products and work in progress. Abstracts of all papers were reviewed by members of the scientific committee. Many of the accepted papers had excellent quality, but due to limited space not all of them could be included as full papers in these proceedings. Papers that were rated high by the reviewers are included as long or short papers, others appear as extended abstracts in the last chapter."

This book presenting the latest thinking on Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility is truly international as the authors hail from no less than four different continents (North America, Europe, Australia and Asia). The idea for this book was conceived during the XII World Congress On Fertility and Sterility where the unique confluence of our distinguished authors occurred in Singapore in October 1986. The authors were involved in the Pre And Post Congress Scientific Programmes which we organised. The overwhelming success of the Congress and the Pre And Post Congress Scientific Programmes prompted this book so that those unable to attend the meeting will still be able to benefit from the vast range of topics covered. This book will be a valuable addition to the knowledge in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and will be useful reading for those wishing to pursue this subspecialty. The authors are indebted to Lee Foundation (Singapore) for help in the publication of this book. We would also like to thank Miss Jam Siew Fong and Miss Tang May Mey for their excellent secretarial assistance. Singapore, January 1988 Charles SANg F H Maurine Tsakok S LTan K H Chan ix 1 Hypothalamic and Pituitary Disorders in Reproduction ROGER J PEPPERELL 1 HYPOTHALAMIC AND PrruITARY DISORDERS Disorders of ovulation are present in 15 to 25% of couples with infertility.

This book is a practical guide to latest procedures and diagnostic guidelines for use of sonography in gynaecology. Beginning with an introduction to the role of ultrasound and patient preparation, the following chapters cover common pathologies, uterocervical abnormalities, colour flow mapping, and duplex Doppler. All the latest advances have been included to ensure clinicians are fully up to date in their field. The book features nearly 500 2D, 3D and 4D ultrasound images, with a corresponding image for most of the pathologies described in the text. Key Points Practical guide to latest procedures and diagnostic guidelines for gynaecologic sonography Provides overview of role of ultrasound and patient preparation Covers common pathologies, abnormalities, and different types of ultrasound Includes nearly 500 2D, 3D and 4D ultrasound images

Recent years have seen important advances in the technology and techniques available to surgeons performing gynecologic surgery as well as reconstructive of clinical pelvic procedures. These developments took place in a wide variety settings from regional teaching centers to private clinical facilities. In 1996, the leading investigators from around the world gathered to discuss the present status of pelvic surgery and adhesion prevention with a look toward the future of patient care. This volume contains the proceedings of that meeting: the Third Interna tional Congress on Pelvic Surgery and Adhesion Prevention. Each chapter in cludes the material presented at the congress as well as a timely update of the authors' latest research and clinical thinking. Presentation integrating basic and clinical science provide the basis for con sidering peritoneal repair after surgery including the interaction of growth factors and other biochemical messengers. Research has increased the understanding of mesothelial reepithelialization and has led to new surgical technologies to reduce adhesion fonnation. A state-of-the-art review of emerging surgical adjuvants for adhesion prevention is provided, including discussion of barriers, gels, and poly mers as well as "designer" drugs effective at modifying the peritoneal response to injury. Assessment of clinical outcome in a wide variety of gynecologic surgical procedures brings into focus the benefits available as a result of these new tech nologies."

Vulval diseases are managed by dermatologists and by ObGyns and while expert referral centres do exist, the majority of patients are treated by non-specialists. These conditions are relatively common (approximately 15% of a gynaecologist's caseload) and can be difficult to diagnose. Gynecologic Dermatology is a practical, highly illustrated guide written with the needs of the general dermatologist or gynaecologist in mind. The book begins with chapters on normal anatomy; history taking and examination of the vulva; biopsy taking and general management options. Next, symptom-based chapters describe presenting problems such as pruritus, broken skin and scarring, using flowcharts to help the physician work through to a diagnosis. Finally, chapters devoted to key conditions (lichen sclerosus, lichen planus, etc) describe the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis and management of the disease in question. Abundantly illustrated and written in a practical, clinically oriented style, Gynecologic Dermatology is an indispensable reference for non-specialists that bridges the gap between dermatology and gynaecology. Symptom-based section reflects how patients present in real life and provides algorithms/flowcharts to help with diagnosis Includes second-line treatment options to help physician when standard treatment is unsuccessful Lavishly illustrated with over 500 photos, diagrams, tables and boxes

Oncofertility integrates the two previously distinct fields of cancer treatment and fertility research and aims to explore and expand the reproductive future of cancer survivors. In order to achieve the goal of fertility preservation, the Oncofertility community must focus on communication and the way data is provided and received. Concomitant with the rapidly changing technology of Oncofertility, there have been radical shifts and advances in the way health educators and clinicians can produce and share information.As success rates of reproductive techniques such as egg freezing and banking continue to rise, providing increasing opportunities for young cancer patients to preserve their fertility prior to the onset of cancer treatments, communication among professionals in oncology, reproductive medicine, and psychosocial work, among others, becomes crucial, and clinical demand for Oncofertility information is expected to rise considerably.

"Oncofertility Communication" describes and addresses the myriad channels through which the multiple audiences involved in Oncofertility can be served with appropriate and accurate information about cancer-related fertility issues. The text answers frequently asked questions and provides invaluable insights to scientific and health care professionals about communication among the diverse Oncofertility audiences. It incorporates timely discussions about traditional and emerging electronic communication tools and discusses the impact of health care policy changes on the Oncofertility field. "

Challenge your knowledge of ultrasound to address sexual health abnormalities and early pregnancy issues, alongside identifying, classifying and managing a wide range of gynaecological conditions, with this essential manual. Authored by experts in reproductive health, this bespoke guide delivers practitioners of all levels with a broad scope of sexual and reproductive disorders, as captured by ultrasound. Presenting operational issues and suggested training, this textbook ensures high-quality care in gynaecology, sexual and reproductive health and pregnancy advisory services. For use in a traditional hospital setting through to more remote locations, this guide provides an invaluable toolkit for trainees, sonographers, nurses and clinicians worldwide. Offering clear clinical ultrasound images and extensive case studies with a focus on pregnancy advisory services, this adaptable textbook provides reliable support for those who are in contact with common, rare and understudied reproductive conditions, wishing to achieve successful diagnosis and optimal imaging first time.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a classic female infertility condition affecting an estimated 6-10% of all women, many of whom are unaware of the problem. A disease that affects women from adolescence to menopause, PCOS is the single most common endrocrinologic abnormality affecting women. This book is an edited collection of writings that comprehensively covers the disease, from diagnosis and epidemiology of PCOS to clinical evaluation.