Background: Doppler ultrasound of umbilical vessels is a technique for evaluating fetoplacental blood flow which is very important in high risk pregnancies like hypertensive pregnancies and can predict both fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. Since the traditional methods are not good enough to assess uteroplacental and fetoplacental circulation, blood flow studies are used to assess fetal well-being in normal and hypertensive pregnancies. Aim: To measure the blood flow indices of umbilical artery using Doppler ultrasound in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and healthy pregnant women. Methods: This is a case control study at which 60 participants, 40 with PIH and 20 with normal pregnancy at the third trimester were studied in Al Najaf Governorate. Doppler ultrasound of umbilical artery was performed for both, the patient and the control groups in which Resistive Index (RI), Pulsatility Index (PI) and Systolic to Diastolic ratio (S/D ratio) were calculated. Results: The mean ±SD of RI, PI and S/D of the umbilical artery were 0.63±0.11, 0.97± 0.33 and 2.9±1.38 respectively in the PIH group, they were higher than those of the control group (0.62±0.06, 0.91± 0.17 and 2.72 ± 0.41 respectively) at 33-36 weeks. However, differences were found to be insignificant as well as they were higher at 37-40 weeks. Conclusion: There are insignificant elevations of indices of the umbilical artery in PIH women with respect to those of normal pregnancy.

Background:Unexplained sub-fertility is commonly identified if couples fail to conceive after 1 yr of everyday unprotected sexual intercourse even though investigations for ovulation, tubal patency and semen evaluation are ordinary. For as many as (30-40%) of couples experiencing sub-fertility, their subfertility stays unexplained. The objective of current study was to estimate and calculate the reactive oxygen species and to determine the relationship between free radicals, antioxidant enzyme activities and unexplained subfertility. Methods: The study was an observational prospective study involved two groups of women who attended Babylon maternity Hospital and private clinic. The study groups included 30 apparently healthy fertile women as a control group and 60 women with subfertility. Blood withdrawn from both groups for biochemical evaluation of MDA, GSH, vitamin E and vitamin C. Cervical secretions were also collected from both groups for same enzymatic and non-enzymatic free radicals evaluations. Results: The results showed that MAD levels were increased significantly (P<0.01) in serum and cervical mucus secretions in patient group compared with control group. In addition, GSH levels decreased significantly (P<0.05). Also, vitamin C levels decreased significantly (P>0.05) in serum and cervical mucus secretion in patient group comparing with control group. Finally, vitamin E levels decreased significantly (P<0.05) in serum and cervical mucus secretion in patient groups comparing with control groups. Conclusion: Oxidative stress plays an important role in human fertility.

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