Contraception and induced abortion in Armenia: a critical need for family planning programs in eastern Europe.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the number of induced abortions per woman and the reasons for selecting induced abortion among parous Armenian women.

Methods: A consecutive series of 200 women attending an abortion clinic in Yerevan, Armenia, were queried by a physician about their reproductive histories.

Results: Women younger than 20 years of age reported a median of 1 and women older than 40 years reported a median of 8 induced abortions in their lifetimes (overall median = 3).

[Cytogenetic activity of testosterone propionate and methyltestosterone in a culture of lymphocytes of healthy women and women suffering from hyperandrogenism].

To discover the effects of various concentrations of androgenic preparations on lymphocyte cultures from healthy women (group 1) and of women with hyperandrogenism (group 2), a total of 6792 metaphases were examined after peripheral blood lymphocyte culturing after Hangerford. The data indicated a relatively high incidence of aberrant metaphases, total number of ruptures and paired ruptures in the second group, a higher cytogenetic activity of testosterone propionate in both groups, and a higher cytogenetic activity of androgenic hormones in the second group. Bearing in mind a similar, if not higher, activity of endogenic testosterone in a female organism, we must admit a high probability of genetic system involvement in women suffering from hyperandrogenism.

[Role of monoamines in the pathogenesis of various forms of endocrine sterility].

No doubt, the problems of pathogenesis of different types of endocrine sterility are of practical interest. Biogenic amines (dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin) play a decisive role in the hypothalamic regulation of the sexual cycle, in the regulation of secretion and production of hypothalamic neurohormones. Disorder of the monoaminergic regulation may lie at the basis of reproductive dysfunction.

[Diagnostic criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome].

Due to the comprehensive examination of 50 patients with ovarian polycystosis the authors suggested that ultrasound, laparoscopic, hormonal and endometrial parameters should be employed as diagnostic criteria.

Practical guidelines for the treatment of infertility in hirsute women.

On the basis of retrospective investigation of 315 infertile hirsute women aged between 19 and 35 years, it was attempted to find selection criteria for infertility treatment. Cases with adrenal, ovarian and pituitary tumors, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and genetic disorders should be excluded by means of preliminary investigations. It is possible to select the optimal treatment for each individual patient using a flow-chart.