#teratogenic risks

[geezerwench]

Mortellus said they live in North Carolina near the state line, where abortion is still legal. Her doctor is in South Carolina, where abortion is now illegal. Healthcare providers there can deny service because they *feel* like it. She said she will be looking for a new doctor.

If you are female and have an immunodeficiency disease, you can be denied drugs that help you live a more normal life and help you function because you MiGhT get pregnant.

One of my children has an immunodeficiency disease and takes some powerful medicines. I thank all the deities she had a hysterectomy.

My husband has Rheumatoid, and takes some wicked shit, too, but he doesn't have to worry about it. But he's an old man.

Those drugs help him, and help thousands of other people, men and women, of all ages, live a better quality of life than they would have without them. Before he saw the Rheumatologist, he barely even moved because of the pain he was in. He couldn't lie down in bed because it hurt so bad. Since he's been on all these drugs, methotrexate being one of them, things are not back to the way they used to be before RA, but they are better. He can sleep in bed. He can function. He can drive the car. He can do some puttering around the house.

I cannot imagine what's gong to happen to the women with RA who have their medicine taken away from them because they are women.

And that's just Rheumatoid Arthritis. How many other immunodeficiency diseases / auto immune disorders are there? How many people have them?

It is my sincere wish and hope that ALL the women RA patients who applauded the striking down of Roe v Wade are also denied the drugs that help them function and lead any sort of "normal" life. May they feel the pain these drugs used to control for them. May they suffer.

#immunodeficiency diseases #auto immune #auto immune disorder #methotrexate #rheumatoid arthritis #teratogenic #teratogenic risks #healthcare #autoimmune disease #autoimmune

[wethecelestial]

getting kicked out of obgyn residency for answering every board certification question with "ABORT THAT THANG"

#cw pregnancy #SORRY i'm doing teratogen readings rn and literally. ripping my hair out lol #the implicit expectation in so much of obgyn that the first priority is fetal health and wellbeing lol. almost always over a pregnant #person's comfort and often over their actual wellbeing and safety #one of my readings saying that anti-seizure meds (which can cause birth abnormalities) are okay to give during pregnancy because seizures #pose a health risk to the fetus. and not mentioning anything about the pregnant person. and the health risks that seizures #pose to them. #what if i killed lol. ANYWAYS

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

"A June 24 tweet from a methotrexate user whose profile lists Michigan as his location: 'Just got off a video visit with [child’s] rheumatologist. Because of today’s ruling, his department is taking all their female patients off any meds with teratogenic risks, because such medicines might result in the miscarriage of any unplanned pregnancies they might incur.'"

Anyone who is antiabortion at this point is a sadist. To maintain this view means at the very least that

You think children should be forced to give birth.

You think rape victims should be forced to give birth.

You think people whose fetus will not survive should be forced to give birth.

You think people denied medical care are just casualties.

Even if you say "I'm prolife, and I don't believe those things," you support people who do and who make the laws that make these things happen. You are not prolife.

#rheumatoid arthritis #Methotrexate #Signal boost #Boost the signal #Abortion #Roe v. Wade

[lesvegas]

hey I would like to ask u abt the pregnant men thing if tht is ok and if not pls feel free to delete. but I would like to ask abt the taking T while pregnant causing birth defects thing, wouldn’t it be possible to receive a different kind of gender affirming care tht wouldn’t harm the fetus/baby? again pls feel free to delete and if u would happen to have some links instead that would totally work bc I tried google but truly just cannot find any good information

Good question... I've never been pregnant nor do I ever intend to become pregnant, so I haven't done any extensive research, but just googling around seems to answer... some of the question. Here's what I came across while doing the briefest of searches:

FamilyEquality.org, which sites a study on FTM fertility and pregnancy, says that FTM pregnancies are more or less the same as cis womens' but that the pregnant party needs to stop taking hormones during the duration of the pregnancy because they "could cause serious harm to the developing fetus".

nhs.uk says that it's recommended for pregnant transmen to stop taking testosterone once they become pregnant because it "may effect the baby's development".

This ncbi.nlm.nih.gov article, which focuses heavily on the fact that not enough research has been done for trans reproductive health, briefly mentions that "Testosterone does have teratogenic effects in pregnancy, posing a risk of abnormal urogenital development in female fetuses".

The above article also mentions a decent portion of transmen prefer to deliver by cesarean over vaginal birth, regardless of testosterone use.

It also mentions that "the emphasis placed on individualized and holistic care under the midwifery model may be particularly appealing to TGE (Transgender and Gender Expansive people)", which is the closest I've come to finding anything on alternative gender affirming care.

Again, it also says that "there are insufficient data to assess the potential impact of testosterone use on pregnancy, delivery, and birth outcomes". The whole article emphasizes individuality and case-by-case, because overall not nearly enough research has been conducted, and a lot of what we do know on testosterone and pregnancy has been acquired from studying cis women.

This article on thebump.com talks about dealing with body dysmorphia during pregnancy, mostly for cis women but is trans-inclusive and brings up dysphoria. It's the only trans-inclusive source I've found on the subject but looking into dealing with body dysmorphia during pregnancy may help?

TL;DR there's a lot we still don't know because research is insufficient, but it's generally recommended to stop taking testosterone during pregnancy, and that there doesn't seem to be a fitting substitution for this in terms of gender-affirming treatment.

But more importantly, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR about all of this because it is completely case-by-case.

The closest I've found to alternative gender-affirming care is midwifery as opposed to physician-led birth, but that doesn't exactly tap into dysphoria caused by bodily changes through pregnancy/stopping T intake. Testosterone treatment can resume after the pregnancy, though.

I'm neither a doctor nor a particularly great researcher, though. This is just what came up when phrasing the same searches a bit differently. Your doctor may have suggestions I'd never have thought of, especially if they've had other transmasculine patients who pursued pregnancy.

I know this isn't much, but I hope it helps at least a little bit.

[fzzr]

Go read the Vorkosigan Saga. Don't worry, I'll wait.

What if I told you there's a science fiction series of well over a megaword written by a woman with a mix of male and female viewpoint characters? What about how it uses just a single bit of technology to interrogate gender roles, reproductive politics, bioethics, and more? I give you the Vorkosigan Saga, and its number one trick: the uterine replicator. It's dead simple to explain - a fully functional exowomb. What Lois McMaster Bujold does with it is the real draw.

First you have the table stakes, the things you get for totally free:

Eliminating any chance of teratogenic damage during gestation

Perfect cloning

Making any prevention of "natural" conception irrelevant to one's future reproductive options

Then the ideas from the first few books:

Engineering a new kind of human for zero-G by giving them four hands

Creating a monastery planet with only men, but a reproducing population through replicators

Pre-natal hostage taking

Later we have:

Engineering a class of übermenschen to rule over a galactic empire

Allowing a couple to have their honeymoon while leaving their kids to gestate at home

Creating children with two genetic fathers

Another technology that asks some questions is cryorevival - as long as you get the brain on ice fast enough, you can bring back the otherwise biologically dead (think "chest turned into a crater") with few if any side effects. What if a society decided that everyone who dies should be put in cryo just in case technology advances in the future to the point where they can be revived effectively? If you're in cryo and thus "potentially alive", what is your position in the line of succession?

That's far from all the series has to offer. Beta Colony, inventors of the uterine replicator, also offers perfect sex transitions. How exactly does the law work when a new male heir pops up in the middle a line of succession? There's a weapon called the nerve disruptor, which does exactly what it sounds like. What do you do with someone lobotomized in combat, but otherwise perfectly healthy?

Also, this is a space opera. Most of the viewpoint characters are aligned to some degree with a patriarchal galactic empire. If you capture a planet mid-terraforming, do you keep working on the terraforming to increase the value of the planet to your empire, or stop it so the population remains trapped in their domes and unable to mount effective resistance? How do you balance a desire to push for modernization from within against the risk of civil war if you go too fast?

Before I set you on your way, a few content advisories: Some of these books deal intimately (but not grotesquely) with sexual assault, and the physical and psychological consequences thereof. Mental health more generally is also explored, up to discussions of suicide. Infanticide comes up at least once. Terrorism and mass civilian casualties are discussed mostly but not entirely in the past. From above you should also have gathered that while the series doesn't revel in gore, it does partake in it.

So, your potential starting points:

Falling Free - A distant prequel to the rest of the series, it deals with the creation of the four-handed people mentioned above. As such, it mostly stands alone. Themes: Bioethics, technological disruption of labor.

Ethan of Athos - The book about what happens when a gay man from the monastery planet meets galactic society, and women, for the first time. It takes place in the middle of the timeline, but it largely stands alone with only one shared character due to being one of the first books published. Picking this just means you're starting with a stronger emphasis on gender politics instead of bioethics, you have to pick one of the other options listed here after you read this one to actually get into the series. Themes: Gender politics (emphasis on sexuality), bioethics, intrigue.

Cordelia's Honor - A collection of the two early books. The protagonist of these books is the mother of Miles, who will be the protagonist of many of the books going forward. Themes: War (inter-state and civil), bioethics, gender politics (emphasis on gender roles), terrorism.

Young Miles - A collection of the two books which follow Cordelia's Honor, about the early life of principal protagonist Miles Vorkosigan. Themes: Physical disability, politics, irregular war, intrigue.

Personally I would recommend chronological order, starting with Falling Free. This is implicitly the order endorsed by the publishing history, as the collections are organized chronologically. For example, Cetaganda (1995) is in the same volume as Ethan of Athos (1986) because they take place at roughly the same time. The only exception is that Falling Free was stand-alone for a long time until it was republished in Miles, Mutants, and Microbes alongside Diplomatic Immunity, despite the long distance between them in the timeline. This is for good reason - Diplomatic Immunity is the book in the main part of the timeline that most directly interacts with Falling Free. If you choose to start with Cordelia's Honor, this is not a problem and you can read Falling Free when it comes up later.

Final notes: Lois McMaster Bujold is retired and has no current plans for more books in this series, but it's not impossible that could change. For now you can at least treat the series as provisionally complete. Remember to get your books from a library or buy from a local bookstore, used if possible. Don't buy from Amazon if you can at all avoid it. Audible is Amazon.

#literature #scifi books #science fiction #vorkosigan saga #bioethics #gender politics #female protagonist #original post

[thescrumblingmidwife]

So what are the ways to stop a period (and fertility) as an adult? I need to figure out my plans for when that time comes. I mean permanently, btw.

Hi Anon,

I'm getting a lot of asks like this. Here's another one:

Anonymous asked: whats the safest way to stop getting a period as quickly as possible? i was told by my gynecologist that id be given birth control that'd stop them but i keep getting them and it's been months

So let's do a menstrual suppression post.

MENSTRUAL SUPPRESSION (AKA, Secondary amenorrhea)

What can be done depends a lot on your age, where you are, what kind of healthcare access you have, as well as your reason for seeking menstrual suppression.

If you experience medical complications like endometriosis, serious menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) or heavy menstrual bleeding that causes anemia, etc., you may find you have an easier time accessing treatments beyond BC than if you just "don't want a period." (FWIW - I think that's a completely valid reason for menstrual suppression!). Trans and GNC people will fall somewhere in the middle - depending on where you are, it may be considered a legitimate medical indication all on its own, and in other areas may result in a roadblock and discrimination.

Disclaimer - my scope as a midwife will be limited to the use of hormonal birth control until I complete separate training on offering gender-affirming care. So please take what I say here only as a rough guide to your own research. If I've missed anything or get anything wrong, please let me know!

PREPUBERTAL (have not yet gotten a period)

Leuprolide (lupron) is an antiandrogen medication that basically stops sex hormones from working. When used in prepubertal/early puberty kids, it's called a "puberty blocker." It's meant to be a temporary solution until the kid can be sure what they want to do next, as its effects are completely reversible. Pediatricians will usually refer you to an endocrinologist or a gender clinic rather than provide themselves.

Otherwise, I'm afraid that you must first go through the initial period of menarche until normal periods are established before you can then go on menstrual suppression.

ADOLESCENT (teen, not yet an adult)

Progestin-only birth control is the first-line treatment. The good news is that pretty much everyone can take it, and it's relatively easy to get. This works by keeping the uterine lining thin, and keeping a level of progestin high enough that you don't experience the withdrawal that triggers menses. Methods include: IUD (intrauterine device), Nexplanon (implant), Depo shot, and pills. In all methods, it takes several months to work, and spotting/breakthrough bleeding is a possibility.

---->If you take the pills, you have to take them at the exact same time every day, so the hormone levels stay even, or you risk breakthrough bleeding. Different brands have different progestins in them, so if one doesn't work for you after several months of taking it properly, you could ask your provider about switching to a different pill.

---->The IUD has the best record with total menstrual suppression after a few months, but it is the most invasive of the LARC methods to insert.

----> Nexplanon can take some time to achieve menstrual suppression, and some people still get breakthrough bleeding, but it is also the single most efficacious BC besides hysterectomy. Yes, even more than tubal ligation.

----> Depo shot is pretty good at achieving amenorrhea, but has more side effects (low libido, dry vagina, risk of bone loss) that can take a while to resolve after you come off it

Testosterone - If you are trans and go on T, it may stop your menstrual cycles/ovulation, but it is not a guarantee. People on T are counseled to also be on BC, because it is does not eliminate the possibility of pregnancy and is teratogenic (can cause birth defects). You should not go on T purely to stop menses, as it has other permanent effects - go on T for those effects and be pleased if it happens to stop your period.

ADULT (18/21+ up)

All of the above methods, plus:

Estrogen-containing birth control may offer more suppression but also increases certain health risks (like clots), and it has a number of contraindications (reasons why someone can't use it safely). Generally don't advise teens to use it.

Tubal ligation for FERTILITY CONTROL ONLY. This will not stop periods!

For transmen: Hysterectomy (uterus removed) and/or salpingectomy/oophorectomy (tubes/ovaries removed). This is a component of gender-affirming care - but you will likely need to find a specialized provider for it. The average gynecologist is not going to do an elective (no medical indication) hysterectomy ----> https://transcare.ucsf.edu/guidelines/hysterectomy

I have seen some evidence that Lupron can be used for menstrual suppression as well, but I haven't heard much about it being used outside of certain medical indications (like if someone has cancer).

GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE

If you identify as trans or gender non-conforming and there is a gender clinic in your area, I recommend trying to get in with them, as they deal with this sort of question regularly. They have interdisciplinary teams (mental health providers, gynecologists, endocrinologists, surgeons, etc) that can meet all your needs. Someone trained in gender-affirming care will be best equipped to help you.

Here is a list of gender clinics in the USA:

Ok, all you Anons out there - I hope this is a good jumping-off point for you to find what you need. The TLDR is please try to find a provider who is willing to work with you and help you find what's available to you in your area!

#menstrual suppression #gender affirming care #trans health care #menstrual health #reproductive health #birth control #menstruation #midwifery #endrocrinology #contraception

[academicelephant]

On disgust in human females

Humans have an immune defense system, but it requires energy. Not only that, but immune activation itself can be harmful to the individual. It is therefore better to use preventive measures to avoid pathogens entering the body in the first place. Disgust has probably evolved for this very purpose. It is a behavioral defense system with the goal of keeping us away from pathogen sources. Studies have consistently shown that human females have greater sensitivity to disgust than human males. These sex differences in disgust sensitivity do not seem to manifest until puberty or young adulthood, and there is no significant sex differences in disgust sensitivity among children. It is therefore reasonable to assume that sex differences in disgust are related to reproduction.

Human females have significantly higher costs related to sexual intercourse than males which explains the greater degree of sexual disgust. First off, because females have larger areas of mucous membranes and are more vulnerable to tissue damage during the intercourse, they are at higher risk of sexually transmitted infections. STIs can also be passed from mother to offspring, for example at childbirth or through breastfeeding, which in turn can seriously harm the offspring. Secondly, mating with a genetically poor quality individual is significantly more disadvantageous for females than for males because females can reproduce at much slower rate and they have greater obligate parental investment, thus it is more costly for the female to have a poor quality offspring that may not survive to maturity and manage to reproduce.

During the first trimester of pregnancy, females experience significant immunomodulation so that the body wouldn't accidentally destroy the embryo. While the female's immune functioning is compromised, the embryo is undergoing organogenesis and is highly vulnerable to negative environmental factors. Meat, a main source of foodborne illness, is also a source of potential teratogens, namely agents that cause abnormal infant development. This is why meat, as well as some other foods, can cause disgust and nausea during pregnancy. The reason for that is to protect the embryo from agents that are harmful to it. There also is some evidence that increased disgust sensitivity persists throughout pregnancy.

During the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle, the immune responses of human females are downregulated supposedly to make it possible to get pregnant. At this stage, females show heightened disgust reactivity as they are at higher risk of infection. It has also been found that OCD symptoms, particularly those related to cleaning (which can be considered as an overexpression of adaptive disease avoidance behavior), are more common in females. The disorder is more likely to develop at menarche or during pregnancy and the symptoms worsen during the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle. Females with no OCD also show more cleaning behavior during the fertile phase. The mediating factor here is progesterone which explains why cyclical variation does not occur in females using hormonal contraceptives; they do not have ovulation and therefore do not experience a rise of progesterone levels.

Interesting thing with disgust is that it follows the smoke alarm principle, meaning that it is better to react unnecessarily than not to react when there is a real danger. This is why things like birthmarks or other harmless abnormalities in the skin, old age, or being overweight, which all superficially mimic cues of disease, can activate disease avoidance and cause disgust. Pathogen avoidance also explains xenophobia; it has been beneficial to avoid unfamiliar individuals because they may carry pathogens to which one has no resistance. Individuals who are (or have recently been) under pathogen stress show higher disgust reactivity in such situations.

To read more, check out Chapter 15: Women’s Disgust Adaptations by Diana Santos Fleischman in Evolutionary Perspectives on Human Sexual Psychology and Behavior (2014), edited by Weekes-Shackelford and Shackelford

#disgust #immune system #pathogens #sexually transmitted infections #reproduction #ocd #evolution #evolutionary psychology #psychology #science

[bellarad]

So with all the abortion talk going on and a lot of people promoting mail-order pharmaceutical abortion, I wanted to go over some of what that entails. I'm going to try not to use too much jargon to make this accessible for folks, but please don't hesitate to PM me with questions. I'm writing this from my experiences as a nursing student and as someone who has taken abortion doula training, but as with anything there may be errors in my post. Please feel free to point them out, and always make sure to do your own research and contact knowledgeable, trustworthy people.

MEDICATIONS

A lot of people see it as an "abortion pill" but actually it is a pair of medications that you're given.

The first is mifepristone or methotrexate and the second is misoprostol. Sometimes all three are used.

Mifepristone is a hormone blocker which blocks progesterone. When a pregnancy is implanted, the fertilized egg tells your body to lower your estrogen and raise your progesterone to maintain the pregnancy. When you take mifepristone, it blocks progesterone so that your pregnancy doesnt continue to develop. It's given in concert with misoprostol to both stop a pregnancy and expel it altogether.

Methotrexate is a bit different. It is also used in concert with misoprostol, but it is actually a cancer drug that is an immuno-suppressant. Its purpose in pharmaceutical abortion is to inhibit rapidly developing cells (as would be present with cancer or with a newly formed embryo) . It can also cause DNA mutations and be teratogenic (cause mutations in an embryo/fetus) which may prevent the pregnancy from being viable. It's less commonly used than mifepristone and may also be given with both misoprostol and mifepristone.

Misoprostol is a synthetic prostaglandin. Prostaglandins are substances produced at the site of inflammation in the body and also help to protect your stomach lining. This is why misoprostol is often given for ulcers caused by NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) because NSAIDs block prostaglandin production which leads to less protective mucous and thus, ulcers.

But! Prostaglandins can also begin uterine contractions, which are necessary to expel uterine contents, whether that be during your menstrual cycle, a birth or an abortion. So misoprostol is used to begin uterine contractions to help expel a pregnancy. It can also help "ripen" the cervix to make it easier for tissues to be expelled, and these medications can also be topical prostaglandin. (topical meaning, applied directly to the cervix either as a cream or a pill that is placed up against it)

SAFETY & CIRCUMSTANCES

Pharmaceutical abortion is safe in most cases, but generally the cut off is 10-12 weeks of pregnancy. The embryo must still be small enough to pass through your cervix which, while prostaglandins may help relax it slightly, is still a supremely small space. The biggest risks are hemorrhage (excessive bleeding) or failure to expel tissues.

In the latter case, if any embryonic tissue or clots are retained in the uterus, it could cause an infection that may lead to sepsis. Make sure to monitor for symptoms of infection including fever, malaise, excessive pain, confusion, shaking/chills, heavy bleeding past the first 12hrs after you took the pills or as defined below, and low blood pressure/feeling light-headed or fainting upon standing.

Bleeding is expected with an abortion - it's basically a heavy period and will likely last a few days. However, bleeding should be heaviest in the first 12 hours and be minimal following that. You should seek immediate assistance if you are passing clots larger than an inch (2.5cm) in diameter, if you are soaking a menstrual pad with blood in less than 2 hours, or are bleeding heavily past the first 12hrs.

There are many people out there selling snake oil and saying that they have ways to stop a pharmaceutical abortion once you have already ingested the pills. These claims are false, you cannot stop a pharmaceutical abortion that has already begun. Many of these concoctions or remedies or what have you can be dangerous or cause complications. If you feel on the fence about having an abortion, I strongly suggest you seek options counseling from Planned Parenthood or another choice-based organization to help you clarify your needs so you can be sure this is the best option for you. You cannot stop it once it starts.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Pharmaceutical abortions can be painful. Like I said, they're like a heavy period - there will be cramping, bleeding, maybe bloating and general discomfort in addition to potential emotional reactions to having an abortion. In general, you can take mild pain medications like ibuprofen (advil/Motrin) or acetaminophen/paracetamol (tylenol), but with anything always check with a trusted medical professional about any medications you take, even over-the-counter ones.

I strongly suggest having someone with you or checking in with you when you are going through this process just to make sure you're safe and supported. Planned Parenthood may offer support. You could also look for abortion doulas in your area - many doulas I know offer free abortion support and there may be some around you doing this work covertly. I suggest looking up Birthing Advocacy Doula Training to find resources, workers or organizations in your area.

Abortion can mean different things to different people, and everyone's experiences or reasons will vary. I had my abortion because I was 19, broke, and in a terrible relationship - but I still mourned the loss of what I felt could have been my child. I felt guilty for having gotten pregnant and not being more careful with birth control. That being said, I'm incredibly grateful that I had abortion services in my area and people around me who were supportive.

On the flip side, my mother has had 3 abortions and thinks nothing of it. She never felt guilt, never looked back, only felt relief.

Everyone is different and I strongly suggest seeking emotional support before and after because you never know what kinds of things might come up. It may be difficult, or it may be easy - only you can determine your needs, values and responses.

I hope this was helpful. Again, please don't hesitate to reach out to me for questions or support, or if you see some info that isn't correct in this post. Stay safe, keep yourself informed, and know that your choice is the only one that matters.

#abortion #misoprostol #pro choice #mifepristone #methotrexate #abortion support #roe v wade #pharmaceutical abortion

[icemankazansky]

A lot of people are aware of cases of women being denied teratogenic medications if they are still "fertile" after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Today, for this reason, one of my dearest friends, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, was denied a refill of the medication she has been using to manage her symptoms.

She is sterile. Because of a separate health problem, she underwent a ligation and ablation a couple years ago, which has left her physically unable to bear children, something that hurt her deeply, because motherhood is something she always wanted. This was a medical procedure and it is documented in her patient files. She cannot get pregnant, full stop. But because of the way the laws are written in her state, since she still has a uterus inside her body, she cannot be prescribed the medications that are helping her manage her chronic autoimmune disease. Her doctor is furious, but he has no recourse. He can no longer legally prescribe her this medication. He would be risking his medical license and potentially his freedom if he did.

This is America. This is what's happening in 2022.

#Politics #us politics #Roe v wade #scotus

[poisonerspath]

Herbalists can quickly shift from healer to warrior to protect their communities and their knowledge. The world is going to need us more than ever. No matter what happens there will always be an herbalist willing to help. Simple, safe remedies for pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, and newborns. Now in its 24th printing. A confirmed favorite with pregnant women, midwives, childbirth educators, and new parents. Packed with clear, comforting, and superbly helpful information. Beginning with the two months before pregnancy, herbs are enlisted to provide safe, effective birth control, or to help ensure pregnancy, even in the most difficult of situations. A special list of teratogens, including herbs to avoid before pregnancy, is included, as is a section on herbs to improve the father's fertility and reduce the risk of birth defects. Once pregnancy has occurred, herbs are safe and beneficial allies in reducing the distress of pregnancy, including hemorrhoids, high blood pressure, morning sickness, emotional changes, anemia, muscle cramps, bladder infections, and preclampsia. Tasty recipes and clear directions make use easy and fun. Herbs take a starring role in labor and delivery -- whether initiating labor, increasing energy, diminishing pain, or staunching postpartum bleeding -- and in postpartum care of the mother's perineum, breasts, and emotions, and the infants umbilicus, skin, scalp, digestive system, and immune system. Humorous, tender, and detailed, this classic text is supported by illustrations, references, resource lists, glossary, and index. Includes herbs for fertility and birth control. Foreword by Jeannine Parvati Baker. @susun_weed thank you for all that you do 💚💚💚 #womensrights #womensmedicine #womensherbs #herbody #herbodyherchoice https://www.instagram.com/p/CdIwGqmrfN6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#womensrights #womensmedicine #womensherbs #herbody #herbodyherchoice

[randomappeal]

Antiepileptics & Muscle Relaxants

Muscle relaxation is responsible for decreasing muscle contractions. The point is to calm everything down, so think about what it takes for a muscle to contract and just reverse it - that's how these work:

Reduce sodium and calcium entry into cells (muscle and neuron)

Increase potassium entry into cells (stops depolarization)

Increase GABA's effects

Decrease glutamate's effects

Antiepileptics

Phenytoin (Dilantin)

Oxcarbazepine (Oxtellar XR)

Both drugs cause a decrease of sodium into the cell, which prevents the cell from contracting. The side effects are the thing to know.

Phenytoin (Dilantin)

This is a vesicant, so it can cause tissue injury

Purple hand syndrome is the absolute worst of this, so when you think Phenytoin, think P for purple

Teratogenic (not good for pregnancy)

VERY narrow therapeutic range (10-20 mcg/mL), and over 20 it's considered toxic (take labs every 5-7 days to check that you're not in toxic range)

Take with food

Taper this one off, don't just stop

Oxcarbazepine (Oxtellar XR)

Hyponatremia

Hypersensitivity - SJS

Hypothyroidism

Take this one without food and take it whole (see the XR in the name?)

Get more birth control options because this one will reduce contraception's effectiveness

Muscle Relaxants

These will treat spasticity and muscle spasms, so they will act in a couple of ways to do this.

These generalized side effects tend to be:

Drowsiness

Dizziness

Fatigue

Weakness

Baclofen (Lioresal)

Centrally acting drug that mimics GABA to treat spasticity

Centrally acting means systemic issues, so think about the generalizes side effects listed above

Withdrawal will result in CNS issues - hallucinations, seizure, paranoid ideations, so taper off slowly

Treats MI and SCI

Dantrolene (Dantrium)

This is a direct-acting drug that prevents Ca release to decrease muscle contractions at the muscle site

The big point with this one is that it treats Malignant Hyperthermia brought on by Succinylcholine (so just think Dan's Hot or Dan Sucks)

Hepatotoxicity, so monitor liver values

This one treats MS, SCI and cerebral palsy

Cyclobensaprine (Flexeril/Amrix)

This one treats localized muscle spasms, which are different from spasticity

Like Baclofen, this one is also a centrally acting drug, however, it works more like a tricyclic antidepressant so you'll see those generalized side effects listed above

Recall that tricyclic antidepressants have anticholinergic effects and so does this!

This one has a special do not operate heavy machinery warning because of the drowsiness/dizziness risk

#antiepileptics #muscle relaxants #pharmacology #nursing school

[paintandscribbles]

"Drowning in Misery" (2011)

Alcohol remains our No. 1 drug of choice in Northern Ireland.

Substance use among young people increases the risk of unplanned pregnancies, which then increases the risk of fetal exposure to addictive, teratogenic substances, current data points to a link between fetal exposure and habit forming behaviours later in life. alcochol may be the most powerful gateway drug.

[antonyad3]

Case study / Food safety and natural preservatives

Consumers are concerned about food-borne infections, which encourages researchers to explore alternatives to synthetic preservatives. Natural preservatives, derived from plants and animals, have emerged as a promising solution. These preservatives can be integrated into food production processes, applied as coatings on packaging, or directly layered onto food items. Essential oils, in particular, have shown great potential as effective natural preservatives.

Notes:

The introduction of food preservatives is closely linked to the global trade of food products, where products go through long shipping times and various environmental conditions

Fresh-cut salads are prone to bacterial and fungal growth

consumers are aware of the potential health risks associated with synthetic antibacterial and antioxidant compounds, including carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, and various other health issues.

natural alternatives, such as essential oils offer effective protection against pathogens such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli, as demonstrated by mint essential oil's ability to prevent their growth.

Other essential oils, such as anise, cinnamon, clove, and citrus peel oil, also exhibit antimicrobial properties and can inhibit the growth of yeast, mold, and other harmful microorganisms.

natural sources like olive leaves have been found to possess antibacterial and antifungal properties

Reflection

Considering the challenges posed by long-distance shipping and storage, there is an opportunity for my brand to differentiate by prioritising local production and quick distribution methods. By focusing on freshness and minimising the need for synthetic preservatives, I can push my brand to the forefront with a consumer preference for healthier and more sustainable food options.

#viscom #viscomyear3 #majorproject #mp #majorprojectresearch #mpresearch

[nainadigital]

Mission Smile | Free Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Surgery

Cleft lip and cleft palate are congenital conditions that occur when there is incomplete closure of the upper lip and/or the roof of the mouth (palate) during fetal development. These conditions result in openings or gaps in the lip and/or palate, which can vary in severity.

Cleft Lip: Description: Cleft lip is characterized by a gap or opening in the upper lip. This gap can range from a small notch to a large opening that extends into the nose. Causes: The exact cause of cleft lip is not always clear, but it is believed to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Exposure to certain substances or medications during pregnancy, maternal smoking, and certain genetic factors may contribute to the development of cleft lip.

Cleft Palate: Description: Cleft palate involves an opening or gap in the roof of the mouth, which can extend from the front of the mouth (hard palate) to the back (soft palate). It can occur with or without cleft lip. Causes: Similar to cleft lip, the exact causes of cleft palate are not fully understood. Genetic factors play a role, and there may be a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Folate deficiency during pregnancy has been suggested as a potential risk factor.

Risk Factors:

Genetics: There is often a genetic component, and individuals with a family history of cleft lip or palate may be at a higher risk.

Environmental Factors: Exposure to certain teratogenic factors during pregnancy, such as certain medications, tobacco smoke, and alcohol, may increase the risk.

Nutritional Factors: Poor maternal nutrition, including a deficiency in folic acid, has been associated with an increased risk.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

Prenatal ultrasound can sometimes detect cleft lip and palate before birth.

Treatment usually involves surgical repair to close the gap, with the timing depending on the severity of the cleft and the child's overall health.

Speech therapy and other supportive interventions may be needed to address speech and feeding difficulties that can result from cleft lip and palate.

It's important for individuals with cleft lip and palate to receive comprehensive care from a multidisciplinary team, including surgeons, speech therapists, and other specialists, to address both the physical and psychosocial aspects of the condition.

#Cleft Palate Surgery #Free Cleft Care and Surgeries

[womenstruation]

It’s so unimaginably sexist how doctors and other hcps handle the prescription of teratogenic medications. Before starting med school, I honestly used to believe that teratogenic medications only affected the woman and that men who were on them could conceive with no adverse effects.

I mean, women have to be on birth control (with all its side effects) just to be prescribed them. They have to sign waivers and jump through so many hoops, but men do not, even though the risk is equal. So it’s so clear to see that the goal isn’t protecting the potential foetus but rather controlling women. Or even if said goal of protecting the foetus is true then it’s clear that medicine and society at large acknowledges that they cannot control men and make no attempt to do so.

#radfem #feminism #medical misogyny

[kkmedicalcentre]

What causes congenital anomalies?

Congenital anomalies, also known as birth defects, can be caused by a variety of factors, and often the cause is a combination of genetic and environmental influences. Here's a more detailed breakdown:

1.Genetic Factors: Inherited Mutations: Some congenital anomalies are caused by genetic mutations that are passed down from parents to their children. These mutations may affect the functioning of specific genes crucial for normal development.

Chromosomal Abnormalities: Anomalies can result from errors in the number or structure of chromosomes. Examples include Down syndrome (resulting from an extra copy of chromosome 21) and Turner syndrome (resulting from a missing or partially missing X chromosome).

2.Environmental Factors: Exposure to Teratogens: Teratogens are substances that, when encountered during pregnancy, can lead to abnormal development. These may include certain medications, illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and environmental toxins.

Infections during Pregnancy: Some infections, such as rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Zika virus, can increase the risk of congenital anomalies if contracted during pregnancy.

3.Maternal Health and Lifestyle: Maternal Nutrition: Inadequate nutrition during pregnancy, including deficiencies in folic acid, can contribute to the development of anomalies.

Maternal Illness: Chronic conditions in the mother, such as diabetes or epilepsy, may increase the risk of certain congenital anomalies.

Maternal Age: Advanced maternal age, especially for women over 35, is associated with a higher risk of certain chromosomal abnormalities.

4.Multifactorial Causes: Many congenital anomalies have a multifactorial origin, involving a combination of genetic susceptibility and exposure to environmental factors. These factors interact in complex ways and can contribute to the development of anomalies.

5.Unknown Causes: In some cases, the precise cause of congenital anomalies remains unknown. Research is ongoing to identify additional genetic and environmental factors that may contribute to abnormal development.

It's important to recognize that the cause of congenital anomalies can vary widely based on the specific type of anomaly. Additionally, advances in genetic research continue to improve our understanding of these factors. Prenatal care, genetic counseling, and avoiding known risk factors are essential for minimizing the risk of congenital anomalies and ensuring the best possible outcomes for pregnancy.

With a commitment to child-centric healthcare, Dr. Bhavesh Doshi brings extensive experience as a Pediatric Urologist in Mumbai. His expertise ensures comprehensive care for pediatric urological conditions, ensuring the health and well-being of your little ones.

#Dr. Bhavesh Doshi #Pediatric Urologist in Mumbai