Background Although there have been some recent clinical trials on the effects of augmentation of labor with oxytocin, or augmentation of labor, there are no clinical guidelines to explain the variations in obstetric practice between countries and within countries. This retrospective case-control study from a single center in Warsaw, Poland aimed to evaluate the use and effects of augmentation of labor with oxytocin in 4350 women between 2015 and 2020. Material/Methods This was a single-center, retrospective, case-control study in which 29 455 cases were qualified for analysis. The study included the analysis of 2 groups: the study group consisted of 4382 patients who underwent stimulation of childbirth, and the control group consisted of 25 073 patients who did not undergo this obstetric procedure. Results Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the factors increasing the frequency of augmentation of labor were higher BMI ( P <0.05), preinduction ( P <0.05), epidural anesthesia ( P <0.05), and family present at birth ( P <0.05). Factors influencing reduction in the frequency of augmentation of labor were higher number of deliveries ( P <0.05), vaginal birth after cesarean ( P <0.05), and pre-pregnancy hypertension ( P <0.05). Conclusions This study from a single center in Poland showed that BMI, preinduction, epidural anesthesia, and family present at birth significantly increased the frequency of labor stimulation with oxytocin. However, a history of previous pregnancies, previous cesarean sections, and pre-pregnancy hypertension significantly reduced the frequency of augmentation of labor with oxytocin.

Childbirth-related perineal trauma (CRPT) is defined as damage to the skin, muscles of the perineum, as well as to the anal sphincter complex and anal epithelium. The aim of the study was to analyze the risk factors for spontaneous injuries to the soft tissues of the birth canal during non-operative delivery. This was a single-center retrospective case-control study. The study included the analysis of two groups, the study group featured 7238 patients with spontaneous perineal laceration (any degree of perineal laceration) and the control group featured patients without perineal laceration with 7879 cases. The analysis of single-factor logistic regression showed that the factors related to perineal laceration during childbirth are the age of the patients giving birth (p = 0.000), the BMI before delivery (p = 0.000), the number of pregnancies (p = 0.000) and deliveries (p = 0.000), diagnosed gestational diabetes (p = 0.046), home birth (p = 0.000), vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) (p = 0.001), the use of oxytocin in the second stage of childbirth (p = 0.041), the duration of the second stage of childbirth (p = 0.000), body weight (p = 0.000), and the circumference of the newborn head (p = 0.000). Independent factors that increase the risk of perineal laceration during childbirth are an older age of the woman giving birth, a history of cesarean section, a higher birth weight of the newborn, and factors that reduce the risk of spontaneous perineal trauma are a higher number of deliveries and home birth.

The WHO (World Health Organization) recommends that the percentage of perineal incisions should not exceed 10%, indicating that this is a good goal to achieve, despite the fact that it is still a frequently used medical intervention in Poland. The risk factors for perineal incision that have been analyzed so far in the literature allow, among others, to limit the frequency of performing this procedure. Are they still valid? Have there been new risk factors that we should take into account? We have conducted this study to find the risk factors for performing perineal incision that would reduce the frequency of this procedure. The aim of the study was to check whether the risk factors that were analyzed in the literature are still valid, to find new risk factors for perineal incisions and to compare them among Polish women. This was a single-center retrospective case-control study. The electronic patient records of Saint Sophia’s Hospital in Warsaw, Poland, a tertiary hospital was used to create an anonymous retrospective database of all deliveries from 2015 to 2020. The study included the analysis of two groups, the study group of patients who had had an episiotomy, and the control group-patients without an episiotomy in cases where an episiotomy was indicated. A logistic regression model was developed to assess the risk factors for perineal laceration. Independent risk factors for episiotomy in labor include oxytocin use in the second stage of labor (OR (Odds Ratio) = 6.00; 95% CI (Confidence Interval): 4.76–7.58), the supply of oxytocin in the first and the second stage of labor (OR = 3.18; 95% CI: 2.90–3.49), oxytocin use in the first stage of labor (OR = 2.72; 95% CI: 2.52–3.51), state after cesarean section (OR = 2.97; 95% CI: 2.52–3.51), epidural anesthesia use (OR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.62–1.93), male gender (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.02–1.19), and prolonged second stage of labor (OR = 1.01; 95% CI: 1.01–1.01). A protective factor against the use of an episiotomy was delivery in the Birth Centre (OR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.37–0.51) and mulitpara (OR = 0.31; 95% CI: 0.27–0.35). To reduce the frequency of an episiotomy, it is necessary consider the risk factors of performing this procedure in everyday practice, e.g., limiting the use of oxytocin or promoting alternative places of delivery.

This article has been peer reviewed and published immediately upon acceptance.It is an open access article, which means that it can be downloaded, printed, and distributed freely, provided the work is properly cited. Articles in "Ginekologia Polska" are listed in PubMed.

Background Women’s health and undertaking health behaviors during the reproductive period by women, especially during pregnancy, are an important indicator that is reflected both in their own health and in health of their children. This study aimed to use a questionnaire to evaluate the health-related behaviors in women of reproductive age in Poland. Material/Methods The studies were conducted among 602 women of reproductive age by diagnostic poll method with the use of questionnaire technique. The applied tool was an original on-line questionnaire. A link to the questionnaire was sent to women aged 18–49 years using the snowball sampling technique and was posted on thematic pro-health website forums. Results The majority of women participating in the study exhibited health behaviors on the average level (65.3%; M=7.6). Pro-health behaviors were exhibited mainly by women with higher education (M=7.7; SD=2.6), married women (M=8.0; SD=2.6), and women who were pregnant at the time (M=8.8; SD=2.6). However, single women participating in the study consumed alcohol more often (80.6%). The observed relationships were statistically significant ( P <0.05). Conclusions This survey showed that younger women with no children were significantly less likely to be aware of positive health-associated behaviors and lifestyle when compared with older women with children. This small study supports the importance of health education in young women before they have children .