Use of iron in perinatal anaemia:Indications for women’s health care policies and procedure

This paper reviews management of obstetric anaemia and the role of intravenous iron for the treatment of obstetric anaemia.Red blood cell transfusions are routinely used for haemoglobin restoration in anaemic women.The decision for red blood cell transfusion is made on a combination of haemoglobin level and clinical status,and it is suggested that transfusions are not necessary in those who are well compensated or when alternative therapy is available.To reduce the risk,intravenous iron infusion is proposed as a bloodless therapeutic approach.There are a variety of iron preparations.Intravenous iron infusion can reduce the requirement for blood transfusion in hemodynamically stable women with perinatal anaemia,especially in resource-scarce settings.It a cost-effective bloodless approach for the treatment of anaemia than can enhance patient outcomes.According to the literature,when haemoglobin is greater than 90 g/L,blood transfusion is not often required.In perinatal women with anaemia,the decision whether to administer blood or iron is based on patient preferences,haemoglobin levels,clinical symptoms,past and present medical conditions and the clinician’s judgement.Nevertheless,due to the lack of rigid criteria for blood transfusions in the majority of clinical settings,it is considered the default treatment for anaemia in perinatal women.

Endorphins, oxytocin, sexuality and romantic relationships: An understudied area

Endorphins are the body's natural opioids that are created and released by the central nervous system, hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Endorphins have a reputation for pain reduction, enhancing excitement or satisfaction, boosting confidence, enabling control of emotions and generating feelings of euphoria, and are involved in the natural reward cycle. There is also evidence in the literature suggesting the role of endorphins in sexuality(including sexual function and sexual behaviours), as they may regulate the release of sex hormones, prolactin and growth hormone, which are involved in sexual function and love. Endogenous oxytocin is another intrinsic hormone whose role in inducing labour contractions, the delivery of the baby and stimulating lactation has been well studied. However, the potential impact of endorphins and oxytocin on sexuality and romantic relationships is not well understood. This article reviews the research on endorphins and endogenous oxytocin and how they relate to human sexuality and romantic relationships. Some animal studies report the effect of endorphin and oxytocin on sex hormones and mating behaviours, but these findings have not been supported by research into human behaviour, indicating many gaps in knowledge relating to the association between these hormones and human sexuality.

Mental fitness during transition to fatherhood

Transition into fatherhood is often marked by a period of adjustment,uncertainty and psychological distress and challenges for many men,along with social isolation and relationship problems.Risk factors for paternal mental health issues are maternal depression,marital distress,parenting stress,gender role stress,mismatched expectations for pregnancy and after childbirth,poor physical health,inadequate self-care behaviours,avoiding seeking help for mental health issues,and having a child with sleeping,feeding and temperament problems.Paternal depression,anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder can have negative impacts on the social and emotional wellbeing of fathers,their partners and their children.Nevertheless,these issues are not widely acknowledged,recognised or treated.Men’s mental health illness is a silent crisis.They often fail to seek help due to their feeling of shame,stigma for a lack of emotional control,distress or anxiety related to utilising mental health support services,and underrating the severity of their symptoms.These necessitate the need for timely attention,psychological support and proper education to minimise their risk of mental health issues.Although research has indicated fathers’inclination toward being included in practices such as the mental health assessment,perinatal education and postnatal educational approaches need to be inclusive of fathers and encourage them to seek support for their paternal mental health issues and parenting difficulties.