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Objectives This study aimed to evaluate anxiety and depression in pregnant women during this global disease. Methods This was a cross-sectional study recruiting 120 pregnant women. The study was conducted at the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital. We recruited women attending for antenatal care. Anxiety was evaluated using an Arabic validated Kuwait University Anxiety Scale (KUAS). Depression was evaluated using a validated Arabic form of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Results The study included 48 (40%) nulliparous and 72 (60%) multiparous women. The mean KUAS scores for nulliparous and multiparous women were 45.27±10.78 and 47.28±10.62. Both nulliparous and multiparous women had a fairly high possibility of depression. Fifty-three (44.2%) of them reported scores ≥ of 14. Ninety-three (77.5%) women thought that COVID-19 pandemic would affect their pregnancies. There was a significant association between the number of women reporting fear related to the COVID-19 pandemic and their KUAS and EPDS scores (p-value <0.001 each). Conclusions COVID-19 affected the mental health of pregnant women to a great extent. Care should be directed to measures that would decrease the impact of this pandemic on vulnerable populations.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive role of the uterocervical angle and the cervical length in preterm birth. Methods:This was cross-sectional analytical study, recruiting 167 women at high-risk for preterm birth (delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy). They had transvaginal ultrasound for evaluation of the uterocervical angle and the cervical length between at 30 and 32, 32 +1 and 34, and 34 +1 and 36 +1 weeks of pregnancy. The primary outcome was to determine the predictive role of the uterocervical angle and the cervical length in preterm birth. Results:The mean uterocervical angle was significantly greater in those who delivered preterm (115.4° ± 9.1° versus 101.1° ± 8.3°, p < 0.001). The cervical length was insignificantly shorter in the same group (27.9 ± 4.0 and 29.1 ± 4.1 mm, respectively, p = 0.067). A uterocervical angle of 105° or more predicted preterm birth with sensitivity and specificity of 86.1% and 60.4%, respectively. A cervical length of 25 mm or less had sensitivity and specificity of 27.8% and 85.8%, respectively. Conclusion:A uterocervical angle greater than 105° poses a high risk for preterm deliveries. It provides a higher diagnostic performance in high-risk patients than cervical canal length measurement.

Objectives To investigate the role of sildenafil citrate in improving ovulation induction success rate in women with unexplained infertility. Methods A randomized clinical trial from January to December 2018 of 80 women with unexplained infertility randomized into two groups. Both groups received 100 mg clomiphene citrate once daily from days 3–7 of the menstrual cycle. The study group also received 25 mg oral sildenafil citrate twice daily from days 8–12 of the same cycle. Transvaginal ultrasound assessed ovulation, endometrial thickness, and number of follicles. Pregnancy was assessed 2 weeks after ovulation. Primary outcome measures were endometrial thickness, number of mature follicles, and pregnancy rates. Results Pregnancy rates (26 (65%) and 16 (40%), P=0.043) and endometrial thickness (10.4 ± 1.4 and 9.2 ± 1.9, P=0.007) were significantly higher in the study group. More women in the study group reported adverse effects compared with the control group (17 [42.5%] vs 9 [22.5%]; P=0.034), with headache the most common adverse effect in the study group, reported by 8 (20.0%) patients. Conclusion Adding sildenafil citrate improved ovulation success rate and increased pregnancy rate. Pan African Clinical Trial Registry: PACTR201907658492123

Background: Antenatal cervical length measurement has paramount importance in the prediction of labor. It was compared to the Bishop Score and incorporated in the modified Bishop score due to its relevance and convenience. It is a more accurate tool that imposes no harm or distress to the patients. The study aimed to evaluate the role of antenatal cervical length measurement in the prediction of a successful vaginal birth and its relation to the duration of labor. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study, conducted at the emergency ward of obstetrics and gynecology department. We recruited 162 women over 1 year from January 2018 to January 2019. Women eligible for the study had a transvaginal ultrasound for the examination of the cervical length before the onset of labor. The success of vaginal delivery was evaluated. Results: The mean cervical length (mm) was 43.3 ± 8.0. The majority of the patients labored spontaneously [102 (63.0%)] while the remaining ones required induction of labor due to different causes. One hundred and eight patients (66.7%) had a successful vaginal delivery. The cervical length was significantly shorter among patients who delivered vaginally than those delivered by CS (P-value < 0.001). Multiple factors had a significant role in the prediction of the mode of delivery (cervical length, BMI, the onset of labor, parity). Maternal body mass index and labor induction were associated with a prolonged duration of the active phase of labor. Conclusion: Antenatal cervical length measurement predicted the mode of delivery as well as the gestational age at which delivery ensued. It can be used in patients' counseling regarding the mode of delivery.