Background: Over-the-counter (OTC) sale of medical abortion (MA) inducing drugs is a common practice. Exploring its impact on women’s health and the barriers to avail free MA services at hospital by these women is essential to improve upon policy decision. Methods: A prospective observational study included 112 women following ingestion of MA drugs from nonformal providers. Demography, clinical details, and reasons for not availing free abortion services at hospital were recorded. Results: Among 112 women, mean age was 28.63 (SD 4.7) years. Seventy one (63.39%) women were from rural region; 70.54% were educated below high school; 44 (39.28%) had prior induced abortion; 62.5% had never used any contraception. Majority (101; 90%) took two drugs (Mifepristone and Misoprostol), 28 (25%) used correct dosage. Drugs were consumed beyond 9 weeks of gestation by 25 (22.4%) women. Abnormal vaginal bleeding was commonest 105 (93.75%) presentation. Haemorrhagic shock was noted in 21 (18.75%) women, while 21 (18.7%) women required blood transfusion. “Easy and quick availability of these drugs OTC” was the commonest statement for not attending hospital. Conclusion: Easy and quick availability of OTC drugs, distance to hospital were major barriers. Incorrect dosage and lack of gestational age calculation were two most common errors in the risk assessment protocol. Expanding provider base, by training midlevel providers, can overcome these and unmask the full potential of MA to make abortion safer.

Background: Thalassemia syndromes are autosomal recessive disorders and the most commonly inherited hemoglobinopathies in the world. Among these, β-thalassemia is the most common type of thalassemia in Eastern India and in West Bengal. Thalassemic mothers are more predisposed to maternal complications such as hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and adverse neonatal outcome in terms of low birth weight, prematurity, etc. This study was to assess the effect of thalassemia gene disorder and hemoglobinopathies (thal-hbpathy) on fetomaternal health. Aims and Objectives: This study was done to evaluate the effect of thal-hbpathy on fetomaternal health and to compare their antenatal, intranatal outcome with control unaffected mothers, and with anaemic non-thalassemic mothers. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective and observational study of 150 women who attended tertiary care hospital during 18 months, fulfilling pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. All women were evaluated during antenatal and intranatal period. Observations were recorded and interpreted. Results: Among 150 participants, 80(53.3%) were having normal hemoglobin (Hb) level and normal hemoglobin high performance liquid chromatography(Hb-HPLC), 54(36.7%) had anemia (Hb <10.9g/dl) with normal Hb pattern on HPLC, and 16(10.66%) had thal-hbpathy. Hb-HPLC revealed β-thalassemia trait in 7.3%, E β-thalassemia trait in 0.7%, whereas HbE heterozygous 2.7% in our study population. Majority (15/16) of thal-hbpathy patients were anemic. Oligo-hydramnios was detected in 18.7% of thalassemic women as compared to anemic (3.7%) and normal group (3.7%), which were significant. Obstetric cholestasis (OC) 12.5%(2/16) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) were observed in thal-hbpathy group antenatal patients which were statistically significant P<0.05. Conclusion: Overall prevalence of thalassemia was 10.7%. The important fetomaternal complications observed were prematurity, IUGR, OC, oligohydramnios, OC(PIH), and GDM.

Background: The WHO estimates that 60–80 million couples worldwide suffer from infertility and the overall prevalence of the primary infertility in India is 3.9–16.8%. As usual tests and examinations are unable to appreciate majority of pelvic pathology in infertile women, diagnostic laparoscopy has become an essential part of infertility evaluation. Diagnostic laparohysteroscopy (DHL) gives the opportunity to directly visualize and manipulate pelvic organs which allow accurate diagnosis and give an option to treat at the samesitting. Aims and Objectives: The aims of this study were to detect pelvic organ abnormalities by diagnostic hysteroscopy and laparoscopy in the evaluation of female infertility in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study recruited 50 patients who attended the infertility clinic during 1 year period as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. Those with male factor and endocrine abnormality were excluded from the study. The patients having abnormal hystero-salpingography (HSG) findings and those who in spite of having normal HSG finding, did not conceive even after three cycles of ovulation induction, underwent DHL. Results: Out of the 50 patients, 35 (70%) suffering from the primary and 15 (30%) suffering from the secondary infertility. The mean age of the study population was 29.5±5.3 years. Most of the cases presented with 3–6 years of infertility. The most common reported laparoscopic abnormality was ovarian in 58% cases, followed by 56% of pelvic and peritoneal abnormalities, 44% tubal factor abnormality, 36% having endometriosis at different stages, and 30% having uterine abnormality. Conclusions: Hystero -laparoscopy has good diagnostic accuracy in evaluating pelvic pathologies. The combination of hysteroscopy with laparoscopy done in a single setting improves the detection rate of abnormalities of uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and pelvic peritoneum.