Impact of Oxidative Stress on Sperm Quality in Oligozoospermia and Normozoospermia Males Without Obvious Causes of Infertility.

: Male factors contribute to approximately 50% of infertile couples. However, obvious causes remain unknown in many cases. This observational study aimed to investigate the associations of clinical and lifestyle parameters with sperm parameters.

Declining Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus Co-Infections Among Young Japanese Women With Cervical Cancer and Its Precursors.

Co-infections with human papillomavirus (HPV) of multiple genotypes mainly occur due to increased sexual activity. To address the prevalence and trend of HPV co-infections in Japan, HPV-type-specific data from Japanese women (n = 8128) aged < 40 years and newly diagnosed with cervical abnormalities at 24 hospitals between 2012 and 2023 were analyzed. These included cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1/2 (CIN1/2, n = 2745), CIN3/adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) (n = 3953), and invasive cervical cancer (ICC, n = 1430).

Antenatal Detection of a True Umbilical Cord Knot: Facilitating Optimal Delivery Management.

Prenatal diagnosis of a true umbilical cord knot is challenging. However, prenatal diagnosis is clinically valuable because it allows preparation for fetal distress during labor. Here, we report a case of prenatal diagnosis of true umbilical cord knot, with a favorable delivery management.

Current Status of Cooperation Between Obstetric Care Institutes and Psychiatrists in Japan.

In May 2024, we requested all obstetric institutes (n = 1970) that are members of the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (JAOG) to provide information concerning the collaboration between obstetric institutes and psychiatrists in Japan, such as (1) pregnancy and delivery management of all pregnant women with psychiatric complications, and (2) availability of smooth collaboration with associated psychiatry (or psychiatrists) regarding pregnant women with psychiatric complications. Of the 1970 obstetric institutes, 1483 (75.2%) responded with valid information (completion of data submitted).

Induced lactation in a transgender woman: case report.

Background: Breastfeeding offers significant health benefits, but its practice and success can vary. While research on induced lactation in cisgender women has been documented, there is limited research on lactation induction in transgender women.

Case Presentation: A 50-year-old transgender woman undergoing hormone therapy and living with a pregnant partner sought to co-feed using induced lactation.

Challenges for early diagnosis of neonatal herpes infection in Japan.

Background: This study aimed to analyze the recent prevalence of neonatal herpes simplex virus infection, maternal symptoms in the presence of neonate who has herpes simplex virus infection, and mode of delivery in Japan.

Methods: We requested 2.078 obstetrical facilities that are members of the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (JAOG) to provide information on neonatal herpes simplex virus infection involving deliveries at or after 22 weeks of gestation between 2020 and 2022.

Impact of the new government-involved noninvasive prenatal testing certification system on the awareness of pregnant women about noninvasive prenatal testing in Japan.

Aim: In Japan, noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) has been performed by facilities accredited by the Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology since 2013. However, since 2016, with the implementation of NIPT, which can only be performed by blood sampling, non-obstetricians have been involved in prenatal testing. Therefore, in July 2022, a new government-involved NIPT certification system based on Health Sciences Council guidelines was introduced to ensure access to prenatal testing information for pregnant women.

Assessment of Uterine Contraction and Atonic Bleeding during the Third Stage of Labor Using Shear Wave Elastography.

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between fluctuations in uterine stiffness during the third stage of labor and blood loss upon placenta delivery using shear wave elastography.

Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled consecutive singleton pregnant women above 37 weeks of gestation who delivered infants transvaginally at a single perinatal center. Shear wave velocities (SWV) were continuously measured during the third stage of transvaginal labor using transabdominal ultrasound and these values were compared between groups with large (≥500 g) and small amounts of bleeding during this stage.

Prenatal diagnosis of the umbilical cord torsion at the placental cord insertion site: A case report and literature review.

A 35-year-old woman (gravida 1, para 0) was admitted to our hospital at 28 weeks' gestation with vaginal bleeding from placenta previa. Severe fetal bradycardia was observed during fetal heart rate monitoring. Ultrasonography showed widely dilated veins on the fetal surface of the placenta and an extraordinarily low umbilical artery peak systolic velocity in the Doppler study.

Infection route associated with invasive group A streptococcal toxic shock syndrome in maternal deaths: Nationwide analysis of maternal mortalities in Japan.

Objectives: To clarify the infection route in maternal death due to invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) infection and toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on maternal deaths due to GAS-TSS in Japan between January 2010 and March 2024. The final causal diagnosis of maternal death and the infection routes of GAS were analysed using medical records, laboratory data and autopsy findings.

Validation of the first-trimester machine learning model for predicting pre-eclampsia in an Asian population.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of an artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) model for first-trimester screening for pre-eclampsia in a large Asian population.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort study in 10 935 participants with singleton pregnancies attending for routine pregnancy care at 11-13 weeks of gestation in seven regions in Asia between December 2016 and June 2018. We applied the AI+ML model for the first-trimester prediction of preterm pre-eclampsia (<37 weeks), term pre-eclampsia (≥37 weeks), and any pre-eclampsia, which was derived and tested in a cohort of pregnant participants in the UK (Model 1).

Successful laparoscopic resection of retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy between the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava: A case report.

Retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancies are extremely rare; only a few cases having been reported. Here, we report laparoscopic removal of an asymptomatic retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy from a 29-year-old woman who was referred to our hospital for a suspected ectopic pregnancy. Transvaginal ultrasound did not reveal a gestational sac in the uterus or pelvic cavity.

Laparoscopic Sacrohysteropexy for Pelvic Organ Prolapse and the Technique Used for Uterine Preservation: A Case Report.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is prevalent among middle-aged and older women, and its prevalence is expected to increase in Japan in the future. Laparoscopic surgery for POP is covered by insurance and is currently a minimally invasive procedure. There are multiple treatment approaches for the uterus, especially sacrohysteropexy, for patients who wish to preserve their uterus.

Trends in Syphilis in Pregnant Women in Japan in 2016 and 2022.

Since 2012, the rate of syphilis infection has increased dramatically in high-income countries including Japan. In this study, we examined the rate of syphilis infection among pregnant women and perinatal outcomes in the syphilis-infected pregnancy in 2022 in Japan, and compared the results with those in 2016. We requested 2,005 obstetric institutes to provide information on syphilis infection in pregnant women who delivered in 2022.

Expansion of Mental Health Care in Japanese Obstetric Institutes.

Background: The Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (JAOG) has raised awareness of the usefulness of identifying pregnant women with mental health problems and supporting them through multi-professional collaboration. We evaluated the results of questionnaire surveys on mental health care conducted in all obstetric institutes that are members of the JAOG annually.

Methods: Between 2017 and 2023, we requested all obstetric institutes (n = 2,073-2,427) that are members of the JAOG to provide information concerning mental health care for pregnant and postpartum women about the situation in December every year from 2017.

Does the timing of neuraxial analgesia initiation in elective induction of multiparous women prolong the duration of delivery?

Aim: To investigate whether the early initiation of neuraxial analgesia prolongs the duration of electively induced labor in Japanese multiparous women.

Methods: This retrospective study included multiparous term women who underwent elective induction of labor using combined spinal-epidural analgesia at the Showa University Hospital between October 2018 and March 2021. The participants were divided into two groups: early and late.

Retrospective study of the efficacy and safety of docetaxel/carboplatin combination therapy as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for nonsquamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

Objective: Optimal adjuvant chemotherapy for nonsquamous cervical carcinoma has not yet been established. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of docetaxel/carboplatin (DC) for early-stage nonsquamous cell cervical carcinoma after radical hysterectomy (RH).

Methods: We evaluated 157 patients with stage IB-IIB nonsquamous cervical carcinoma with intermediate risk and high risk treated at our institution with DC after type II or III RH from 2007 to 2021.