Content of selected nutrients and potential contaminants in prenatal multivitamins and minerals: an observational study.

Background: Increasing consumer reliance on prenatal multivitamins and minerals (PMVMs) underscores the importance of ensuring their quality and safety. Adequate choline and iodine intakes during pregnancy are crucial for fetal development, yet discrepancies between labeled and actual content in PMVM products pose significant health risks. Additionally, the potential presence of toxic heavy metals, such as arsenic, lead, and cadmium, raises concerns about potential adverse health effects.

Emergency contraception in a historic southern city: Mystery caller study in Birmingham, Alabama.

Background: Alabama's Human Life Protection Act (the Act) signed in 2019 became law in 2022, making provision of abortion a felony offense.

Objective: In 2020, we assessed the accessibility of emergency contraception (EC) pills in Birmingham, Alabama prior to the Act's enactment given the probable increased need for EC access due to abortion criminalization.

Study Design: Pharmacy staff were asked about availability, price, location, and identification requirements to obtain EC.

Evaluation of reported contents in prescription and over-the-counter prenatal multivitamins.

Objectives: To evaluate the reported amount of 14 vitamins and 10 minerals in over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription (Rx) prenatal multivitamins and minerals (PMVMs) and compare them with the Health and Medicine Division (HMD) of the National Academies recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) and tolerable upper intake levels for intake.

Design: Observational convenience sample of supplemental facts labels on OTC and Rx PMVMs identified and evaluated from online retailers, grocery stores, and pharmacies.

Setting And Participants: Not applicable.

Barriers to Single-Dose Levonorgestrel-Only Emergency Contraception Access in Retail Pharmacies.

Objectives: In February 2014, the Food and Drug Administration updated its regulations to make all single-dose levonorgestrel-only emergency contraception (LNG-EC) available over the counter. This study examines the availability and access to LNG-EC shortly after this policy change, and any additional barriers to obtaining LNG-EC in Colorado retail pharmacies.

Study Design: From June to July 2014, three female interviewers posing as women seeking LNG-EC conducted a telephone survey of all 633 Colorado retail pharmacies listed in The Little Blue Book (2014) phone directory.

Variability of bacterial vaginosis over 6- to 12-month intervals.

Objectives: To examine variability in bacterial vaginosis (BV) over 6- to 12-month intervals.

Study Design: One thousand one hundred ninety-three women were followed for a median of 3 years with serial vaginal swab Gram stains for BV. Discrete time hazard models were fit to identify independent risk factors for BV.

A cluster analysis of bacterial vaginosis-associated microflora and pelvic inflammatory disease.

Controversy surrounds the association between bacterial vaginosis (BV) and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Women (N = 1,140) were ascertained at five US centers, enrolled (1999-2001), and followed up for a median of 3 years. Serial vaginal swabs were obtained for Gram's stain and cultures.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and the risk of incident gonococcal or chlamydial genital infection in a predominantly black population.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess in prospective data whether bacterial vaginosis (BV) is associated with gonococcal/chlamydial cervicitis.

Study: A total of 1179 women at high risk for sexually transmitted infections was followed for a median of 3 years. Every 6 to 12 months, vaginal swabs were obtained for Gram stain, culture of microflora, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis.

Douching, pelvic inflammatory disease, and incident gonococcal and chlamydial genital infection in a cohort of high-risk women.

Douching has been linked to gonococcal or chlamydial cervicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in retrospective studies. The authors conducted a 1999-2004 prospective observational study of 1,199 US women who were at high risk of acquiring chlamydia and were followed for up to 4 years. Cervical Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis were detected from vaginal swabs by nucleic acid amplification.

Bacterial vaginosis and risk of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Background: Bacterial vaginosis commonly is found in women with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), but it is unclear whether bacterial vaginosis leads to incident PID.

Methods: Women (n = 1,179) from 5 U.S.