Efficacy of screening in preventing cervical cancer among older women.

Background: Although the effectiveness of cervical cancer screening has been firmly established in reproductive-age women, its usefulness in older women is unclear. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of cervical cancer screening in older women.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study within two integrated health care systems in the northwestern United States.

Intrauterine lidocaine infusion for pain management in first-trimester abortions.

Objective: To study the effects of an intrauterine lidocaine infusion on perceived patient pain in first-trimester abortions and to measure serum lidocaine levels.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo control trial of 80 women receiving either a 10-mL 1% lidocaine (n = 40) or saline (n = 40) intrauterine infusion and a standard paracervical block before first-trimester abortion was undertaken. Women completed a series of 100-mm visual analogue scales to measure their perceived pain (anticipated pain, after speculum insertion, after intrauterine infusion, after cervical dilation, after suction aspiration, and 30 minutes after procedure).

Maternal birth weight in relation to plasma lipid concentrations in early pregnancy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which, if at all, maternal weight at birth is related to dyslipidemia during early pregnancy, which is a risk factor for preeclampsia.

Study Design: This hospital-based prospective cohort study included 1000 women who initiated prenatal care before 16 weeks of gestation. Participants provided information about their birth weight and other sociodemographic and reproductive covariates.

Weight at birth and subsequent risk of preeclampsia as an adult.

Objective: We examined the influence of maternal birth weight on the risk of the development of preeclampsia, a likely precursor to adult chronic disease.

Study Design: This hospital-based case-control study included 181 preeclampsia cases and 349 control subjects. Participants provided information about their birth weight and other covariates that included medical and reproductive history, prepregnancy weight, and adult height.

Maternal birth weight and cesarean delivery in four race-ethnic groups.

Objective: We hypothesized that maternal birth weight was associated with the risk of cesarean delivery for nulliparous women.

Study Design: In a population-based cohort study, maternal birth data were linked to a Washington State database, including the birth certificates of 18,905 first-born singleton infants (1987-1995).

Results: Among non-Hispanic white subjects, maternal birth weight of 2500 to 3999 g was associated with a 20.