مجله زنان مامائی و نازائی ایران
سال هفدهم شماره 115 (هفته اول مهر 1393)

For many women، childbirth is considered the most painful experience of their lives. Fear of natural delivery is the main cause of women’s inclination towards cesarean section. Effects of saffron and its active ingredients have been shown to alleviate a variety of neurological and inflammatory pains; however، the effect of saffron on labor pain has not been yet investigated. This study was performed to determine the effect of oral saffron capsules on pain during the active phase of labor.

This triple-blind clinical trial was conducted on 60 eligible women، who were candidates for normal vaginal delivery at 17 Shahrivar Hospital of Mashhad، Iran in 2013-2014. The subjects were randomly divided into intervention (using saffron capsules، 250 mg) and control (receiving placebo capsules) groups. At the beginning of the active phase of labor، one capsule (the saffron or placebo capsule) was used by the subject. Pain intensity was measured at the beginning of the study and then every hour until the end of the active phase of labor، using a visual analog scale. For data analysis، Chi-square، t-test، Mann-Whitney، and variance analysis were performed، using SPSS version 11. 5. P-value less than 0. 05 was considered statistically significant.

The mean overall pain intensity was 85. 9±8. 4 in the intervention group and 97. 4±2. 9 in the control group; the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 001). Before the intervention، the mean anxiety score in the intervention group was not significantly different from that observed in the placebo group (P=0. 824). Maternal/neonatal complications were observed in none of the subjects of the two groups.

Considering an 11. 8% reduction in the pain intensity of nulliparous women using saffron capsules and the absence of any associated complications، these capsules can be used as a mild analgesic for labor pain

Human is a decision maker and his/her every action is triggered by different motivations. Motivation is directly involved in one’s childbearing decision. Considering the lack of information about young couples’ childbearing motivations and preferences in our country، this study was conducted to determine the relationship between fertility motivations and preferences in couples referring to premarital counseling clinics at Mashhad healthcare centers in 2013. In this descriptive، analytical study، 450 couples، referring to healthcare centers providing premarital counseling، were selected via convenience sampling. Data were collected using Miller’s Fertility Preferences and Childbearing Questionnaire. The gathered data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and independent t-test. As the results indicated، positive childbearing motivation like the traditional view was significantly correlated with childbearing desires and ideal number of children (P<0. 001); however، it was inversely associated with the preferred time for childbearing (P<0. 001). Also، negative childbearing motivation like Fear of being parents was not significantly associated with fertility preferences (P>0. 001) The findings of this study indicated that positive childbearing motivations are significantly correlated with childbearing desires and the ideal number of children.

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign uterine tumors، which are also reported during pregnancy and labor. Myomectomy is the definitive treatment for this condition; however، this technique is prohibited during pregnancy and is less commonly applied during childbirth. Although several drug therapies are available for the treatment of this condition، none involve the complete removal of myoma. Therefore، in the current study، we present a specific treatment، which resulted in the vaginal expulsion of myoma. Case report: A 25-year-old woman with a previous history of intramural myoma was referred to our center with complaints of vaginal bleeding and reports of a 48×47 cm mass within the uterine cavity two months after cesarean section. The patient was diagnosed with fibroid degeneration and was treated with progesterone and antibiotics; after 17 days، the myoma was expelled from the vagina. Migration of myoma from the uterine wall to the uterine cavity، which leads to the vaginal expulsion of myoma، is possible after treatment with antibiotics and high-dose progesterone (by reducing or cutting off the blood flow to the myoma). Therefore، this treatment can be applied for correctly selected patients.