妊娠合并肺炎23例临床分析

目的:探讨妊娠合并肺炎的临床特征。方法:回顾性分析2005年1月1日—2013年12月30日我院收治的符合肺炎诊断标准,资料较完整的妊娠合并肺炎病例23例,按照孕周分为早期妊娠、中期妊娠、晚期妊娠3组,对各项临床特征进行统计学分析。结果:此期间妊娠合并呼吸系统疾病发生率3.652%(2 384/65 283),肺炎占妊娠合并呼吸系统疾病的0.965%(23/2 384),其中社区获得性肺炎占78.3%(18/23),医院获得性肺炎占21.7%(5/23)。23例患者中,早期妊娠合并肺炎2例(占8.7%),中期妊娠合并肺炎10例(占43.5%),晚期妊娠合并肺炎11例(47.8%),提示随着孕周的增加,罹患肺炎的人数增加。临床出现咳嗽82.6%(19/23),发热65.2%(15/23),呼吸急促60.9%(14/23),咳痰43.5%(10/23),气促在晚期妊娠合并肺炎患者中发生率较高,各组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05);咳嗽、咳痰、畏寒、发热等症状在不同妊娠期发生率差异无统计学意义(均P0.05);不同孕周血常规、血生化指标差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。23例中合并贫血者占43.5%(10/23),说明贫血可能是孕妇罹患肺炎的高危因素之一。23例患者自然流产和早产的发生率均为8.7%(2/23),足月产82.6%(19/23),无新生儿死亡。结论:妊娠合并肺炎对母胎影响较大,伴发流产和早产发生率均较高。以社区获得性肺炎为主,妊娠晚期的肺炎病例数较妊娠早期、中期多,而临床表现与非妊娠妇女相似,但气促在妊娠晚期发生率较高。贫血是妊娠合并肺炎的高危因素之一。     

双胎妊娠期缺铁性贫血诊治及保健指南（2023年版）

<正>1背景与目的缺铁性贫血(iron deficiency anemia,IDA)是双胎妊娠期常见的合并症之一，约30%～45%的双胎孕妇在孕晚期发生贫血^[1-2]。2016年一项对中国16个省进行的横断面研究发现，妊娠妇女孕早期、中期、晚期的贫血患病率分别为4.9%、16.6%、23.2%，其中多胎妊娠的贫血及IDA的患病率高达28.7%及20.6%，均高于单胎妊娠^[3]。     

妊娠合并缺铁性贫血

女性由于月经、妊娠和分娩等生理上的特点,铁的需求量增加,故女性缺铁性贫血多于男性.患缺铁性贫血者,男性成人约为10%,非孕妇女为20%,孕妇为40%以上.1985年上海在纺织女工中随机抽样检查发现,非孕期女工缺铁患病率为43.3%,妊娠期妇女为66.3%,说明妊娠妇女对铁的需要量增加.育龄妇女每日需吸收铁量为1.5～2.0mg。孕妇为4mg 左右,而绝经妇女仅为0.5～1.0mg.     

子痫前期-子痫患者血清胱抑素C变化及意义

目的:研究正常非妊娠妇女,正常妊娠晚期妇女,子痫前期-子痫妇女血清中胱抑素C(CC)的浓度变化规律。方法:选择正常未孕妇女、正常晚期妊娠妇女、子痫前期患者(分轻、中、重度)各30例,用Behringnephelometer100型特种蛋白检测仪采用乳胶颗粒增强的免疫散射浊度法测定血清中CC浓度。结果:孕妇各组血清CC值均较正常未孕者高(P<0·001),重度子痫前期较轻、中度子痫前期及正常晚期妊娠者明显增高(P<0·001),而轻、中度子痫前期及正常晚期妊娠血清CC值无明显区别(P<0·05)。结论:CC是反映子痫前期肾功能损害的良好指标,为CC在产科领域的临床广泛应用提供了理论依据。     

贫血孕妇的细胞免疫和体液免疫状况

根据世界卫生组织资料,21～80%的孕妇患有缺铁性贫血.该病为多病因性疾病.多数学者认为,主要是造血因子——铁和维生素不足所致.但近年有人报告,免疫调节也参与孕妇贫血的发病机制.因此,对缺铁性贫血妇女的免疫系统进行综合检查极为重要.作者观察了150例18～42岁患不同程度缺铁性贫血的妊娠妇女.其中有妊娠史的107例,初次妊娠者43例.另选30例未孕健康妇女和50例正常妊娠妇女作对照.检查结果发现,正常妊娠妇女的细胞免疫功能比健康未孕妇女低,表现为T细胞的绝对值和相对     

中国部分地区双胎妊娠孕期贫血6063例临床分析

目的 探讨不同孕周、不同地区、不同程度的双胎妊娠贫血及缺铁性贫血(iron deficiency anemia,IDA)发生率。方法 回顾性分析2020年1月1日至2020年12月31日于中国18个省市32家医院(中国妇幼保健协会双胎妊娠专委会双胎贫血学组成员单位)产前检查并分娩的6063例双胎妊娠孕妇的临床资料,统计孕妇年龄,孕期血清铁蛋白(serum ferritin,SF)和血红蛋白(hemoglobin,Hb)数值,分娩孕周,新生儿体重等数据,计算双胎妊娠不同孕周、不同地区、不同程度的贫血及缺铁性贫血的发生率,分析其存在的差异及可能原因。结果 孕早、中、晚期贫血发生率分别为8.5%(162/1898)、21.5%(608/2821)、29.3%(1142/3904),差异有统计学意义(χ²=318.560,P<0.005)。孕早、中、晚期缺铁性贫血的发生率分别为1.8%(34/1898)、6.6%(186/2821)、8.7%(339/3904),差异有统计学意义(χ²=100.149,P<0.005)。地区发生率：东北地...     

乌鲁木齐市妊娠期特异性甲状腺激素水平参考范围的建立及应用

目的:建立和评估乌鲁木齐市妊娠妇女妊娠各期特异性血清FT3、FT4,血清TSH的正常参考范围。方法:筛选于本院门诊产检的妊娠妇女663例作为标准人群,电化学发光法测定FT3、FT4,血清TSH、抗甲状腺球蛋白抗体(Tg Ab)、抗甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体(TPOAb),制定妊娠各期甲状腺激素水平各项指标参考范围。收集妊娠各期孕妇2252例,验证参考范围对诊断妊娠期甲状腺疾病的符合性。结果:血清FT3在妊娠早期、妊娠中期、妊娠晚期的参考值范围分别为:3.43~9.94pmol/L,3.53~5.74pmol/L,2.39~5.19pmol/L;血清FT4在妊娠早期、妊娠中期、妊娠!期的参考值范围分别为:9.94~20.21pmol/L,9.69~17.77pmol/L,7.28~15.99pmol/L;血清TSH在妊娠早期、妊娠中期、妊娠晚期的参考值范围分别为:0.06~4.80ml U/L,0.29~5.84ml U/L,0.48~4.56ml U/L。按ATA标准妊娠期总的甲减、亚临床甲减、低T4综合征、甲亢的患病率分别4.9%、32.6%、4.8%和0.7%,按本研究制定的特异性参考范围患病率为0.2%、4.7%、2.3%和1.4%。结论:乌鲁木齐市妊娠妇女的血清甲状腺激素水平具备地域上的特异性,与非妊娠时期差异较大;本研究制定的参考值范围对于诊断妊娠期甲状腺疾病的患病率与国内其他报道基本一致,但与ATA指南的参考值范围诊断的患病率差别较大。     

妊娠晚期HPV潜伏感染对妊娠结局的影响

目的:探讨妊娠晚期HPV潜伏感染是否改变了阴道内酸性环境及阴道菌群,进而对妊娠结局产生不良影响;了解妊娠晚期HPV潜伏感染的高危因素。方法:选取我院产检的孕妇312例,孕28～30周。进行问卷调查,取阴道分泌物及宫颈分泌物检测滴虫、念珠菌性阴道炎、细菌性阴道病及HPV;检测阴道pH值,按照HPV DNA是否阳性分研究组与对照组,追踪孕妇不良妊娠结局的发生情况。结果:妊娠晚期HPV DNA阳性发生率45.51%(142/312),感染高危型23.08%(72/312),低危型16.67%(52/312),高危型与低危型混合感染18例,发生率5.77%(18/312);妊娠合并念珠菌性阴道炎患病率15.06%(47/312);妊娠合并滴虫性阴道炎患病率1.28%(4/312);妊娠合并细菌性阴道病患病率29.81%(93/312)。研究组孕妇阴道pH值明显高于对照组,差异有显著性(P<0.05);研究组与对照组细菌性阴道病发生率有显著差异(P<0.05);而两组间念珠菌性阴道炎、滴虫性阴道炎的发生率无显著差异(P>0.05);妊娠晚期HPV潜伏感染与低文化水平、吸烟因素及首次性生活年龄小有关(P<0.05);研究组与对照组间分娩方式相似。结论:妊娠晚期HPV潜伏感染与阴道内酸性环境改变相关,增加了妊娠合并细菌性阴道病的发生率且可增加胎膜早破发生。对围生期妇女行生殖道感染筛查,尤其是HPV、BV检测很有必要。     

羊水中饱和卵磷脂测定的意义

应用改良Ｔｓａｉ法测定５０例正常妊娠晚期及２１例临产妇女羊水中饱和卵磷脂（ＳＰＣ）的含量。结果：羊水中ＳＰＣ随孕周增加而增加，临产后增加更明显。提示：羊水ＳＰＣ测定是一种特异性、敏感性、准确性较高的方法，能在妊娠晚期预测新生儿呼吸窘迫综合征。     

妊娠晚期妇女甲状腺疾病特点及甲状腺自身抗体变化的研究

目的 探讨妊娠晚期妇女甲状腺疾病的患病率、患病特点和甲状腺自身抗体的变化.方法 选择664例妊娠晚期妇女为妊娠组,276例非妊娠育龄妇女作为对照组.应用固相化学发光酶免疫法测定两组妇女的血清促甲状腺激素（TSH）和抗甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体（TPOAb）水平;TSH水平检测异常者加测游离甲状腺素（FT4）和游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸（FT3）,同时测定尿碘水平.按如下标准确定诊断：TSH＜0.3 mU/L,FT4和（或）FT3水平升高者诊断为临床甲状腺功能亢进症（甲亢）;TSH＜0.3 mU/L,而FT4和FT3水平正常者诊断为亚临床甲亢;TSH＞4.8 mU/L,FT4水平降低者诊断为临床甲状腺功能减退症（甲减）;TSH＞4.8 mU/L,而FT4和FT3水平正常者诊断为亚临床甲减.TPOAb＞5 kU/L为阳性.结果 （1）妊娠组妇女尿碘平均水平为201.5μg/L,对照组妇女尿碘平均水平为196.0μg/L,均为碘充足水平.两组比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.（2）妊娠组妇女甲状腺疾病总患病率为7.8%（52/664）,对照组妇女甲状腺疾病总患病率为6.9%（19/276）.两组比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.（3）两组妇女的甲状腺患病类型有明显不同,妊娠组妇女甲亢患病率为1.1%（7/664）,甲减患病率为6.8%（45/664）,妊娠组妇女甲亢患病率明显低于甲减,两者比较,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.01）;对照组甲亢患病率为4.7%（13/276）,甲减患病率为2.2%（6/276）,两者比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.妊娠组与对照组妇女的甲亢或甲减患病率分别比较,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.01）.（4）妊娠组非患病妇女的TSH水平显著高于对照组,分别为2.50 mU/L及1.54 mU/L,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.01）;妊娠组妇女TPOAb阳性率显著低于对照组,分别为3.3%（22/664）及9.4%（26/276）,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.01）.结论 妊娠晚期妇女甲状腺疾病的特点是甲减的患病率高,同时甲状腺自身免疫功能受到抑制.     

Hemoglobin and erythrocyte indices during normal pregnancy and postpartum in 206 women with and without iron supplementation

BACKGROUND: The aim was to define reference values for hemoglobin, hematocrit and erythrocyte indices, i.e. erythrocyte count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), in normal pregnancy and after a normal delivery in non-iron-supplemented and iron supplemented women. METHODS: Two hundred and six healthy Danish women included at 9-18 weeks of gestation were allocated to treatment with placebo tablets (n=107) or tablets containing 66 mg iron (n=99). Blood samples were obtained at inclusion, every fourth week during gestation, and 8 weeks postpartum. RESULTS: All hematologic indices were significantly lower in placebo-treated than in iron-treated women. In placebo-treated women, the 5th percentile for hemoglobin was 110 g/L in the 1st trimester; in the 2nd trimester it was 105 g/L in the first and the second, and 103 g/L in the last third; in the 3rd trimester, it was 102 g/L in the first, 100 g/L in the second, and 101 g/L in the last third; postpartum it was 113 g/L. In iron-treated women, the 5th percentile for hemoglobin was 111 g/L in the 1st trimester; in the 2nd trimester it was 109 g/L in the first, 106 g/L in the second, and 103 g/L in the last third; in the 3rd trimester, it was 105 g/L in the first and second, and 110 g/L in the last third; postpartum it was 123 g/L. CONCLUSIONS: Hematologic reference values should be derived from iron replete women.We suggest that the lowest critical hemoglobin value in iron-treated pregnant women should be 110 g/l (6.8 mmol/L) in the 1st trimester, and 105 g/L (6.5 mmol/L) in the 2nd and 3rd trimester.     

Prevalence and relevant factors of anxiety and depression among pregnant women in a cohort study from south-east China

ABSTRACT

Objective: To describe the prevalence rate of prenatal anxiety and depression among pregnant women in a prospective cohort study and to explore the relevant factors of anxiety and depression during each trimester.

Methods: Pregnant women were recruited into the Zhoushan Pregnant Women Cohort at Zhoushan Maternal and Child Care Hospital from September 2011 to March 2015. A self-made questionnaire was used to collect information about social demography, reproductive history, physical activity, and life behaviour at the first, second and third trimester, respectively. The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to assess anxiety and depression status at each trimester, respectively. Prevalence rates of prenatal anxiety and depression at each trimester were described.

Results: The prevalence of anxiety status was 22.7%, 17.4% and 20.8% in the first, second and third trimester, respectively. The corresponding prevalence rate of depression status was 35.7%, 24.0% and 26.1%, respectively. Furthermore, women with a lower education level (junior high school or below) and a more physical occupation had higher prevalence of anxiety and depression status.

Conclusions: The prevalence of prenatal anxiety and depression status was very common during pregnancy among pregnant women. Lower educational level and more physical occupations were associated with higher prevalence of anxiety and depression status.     

Prevalence of anemia and its risk factors among pregnant women in Khorramabad (Iran) 2010–2014

Purpose: Anemia’s adverse effects on physical and behavioral development and on the reduction of efficiency have been proven. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women referred to the health care centers of Khorramabad from 2010 to 2014.

Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 2821 prenatal care cases of pregnant women referred to health care centers of Khorramabad were studied. Studied variables included the following: hemoglobin, hematocrit, age, parity, trimester of pregnancy status, number of deliveries, number of abortions, number of children, weight, height, time gap from previous delivery, negative RH, history of eclampsia/preeclampsia, coagulation disorder and blood pressure.

Results: The mean age of the studied women was 26.7?±?5.5. The mean levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit from the population was 12?±?1.1 and 36.1?±?9.2, respectively. The prevalence of anemia was 16.8%. Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women referred to health care centers of Khorramabad was found to be high.

Conclusions: Staff working at different parts of health care centers were advised to pay more attention to this problem. They should also try to control and treat anemia by regular distribution of iron supplements among women referred to health care centers.     

High prevalence of postpartum anemia among low-income women in the United States

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of anemia from 4 to 26 weeks post partum and to examine prenatal predictors of postpartum anemia. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis of 59,428 participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in 12 US states. RESULTS: The prevalence of postpartum anemia was 27%. Anemia rates were higher among minority women, reaching 48% among non-Hispanic black women. Of 9129 women who had normal hemoglobin in the third trimester, 21% had postpartum anemia. Prenatal anemia was the strongest predictor of postpartum anemia (adjusted odds ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 2.5-2.8). Maternal obesity, multiple birth, and not breast-feeding also predicted postpartum anemia. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of post partum anemia among low-income women highlights the importance of anemia screening at 4 to 6 weeks post partum. These data suggest that screening should not be limited, as it is at present, to women considered at high risk.     

Serum ferritin levels and their significance in normal full-term pregnant women

Serum ferritin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) method and then analysed in 240 normal full-term pregnant women. Their hemoglobin concentrations were found to be normal in the first trimester. None of them had received any hematonic during their whole pregnancy period. Their mean age was 27.7 years and the mean pregnancy duration was 39.5 weeks. Mean hemoglobin concentration in these normal pregnant women was 12.6 g%. Mean serum ferritin was 23.1 ng/ml. It was significantly lower than the mean value of the normal non-pregnant women of the same age. In this study, we found that even normal pregnant women, 15.42% (37 out of the 240) had subclinical iron deficiency and 12.92% (31 out of the 240) of the previously normal pregnant women had clinical anemia during their term of pregnancy. Multiparity was found to be a factor in the prevalence of iron deficiency but age and gravida number played no role in the occurrence of iron deficiency anemia.     

Oxidative stress in diabetic pregnancy: SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activity and lipid peroxidation products.

Diabetic pregnancy is often complicated by a number of pathological conditions among which is increased oxidative stress. This study was conducted to investigate the parameters of oxidative stress in 90 patients divided into the three groups: pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes mellitus, healthy pregnant women and non-pregnant women. In pregnancy groups all parameters were followed in 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester. Diabetic control was monitored by fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) and these values, as well as measured biochemical parameters (urea, creatinine, total cholesterol and uric acid), were appropriate throughout the study. The concentration of TBARS, as a measure of lipid peroxidation, and activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) were investigated in hemolysate of erythrocytes. TBARS concentration increased significantly in pregnant women when compared with control group (non-pregnant women), as well as in pregnant diabetics compared with healthy pregnant women. The SOD activity was gradually increased in the group of normal pregnant women vs. non-pregnant group, but decreased significantly in the group of diabetic pregnant women. Catalase activity was significantly increased only in 3rd trimester diabetic pregnant women. Increased lipid peroxidation and reduced antioxidant status, despite good diabetic control, show that pregnant women are exposed to oxidative stress to a greater degree than controls.     

妊娠中期二联唐氏综合征筛查法在浙南地区32188例孕妇中的筛查效率

目的 采用二联法(母血清甲胎蛋白和β-人绒毛膜促性腺激素)对浙南地区妊娠中期孕妇进行唐氏综合征筛查,评估其筛查效率. 方法 对本地区孕妇根据知情同意原则在妊娠中期取羊水进行常规二联唐氏综合征筛查,筛查出的高风险(≥1∶270)孕妇采用羊膜腔穿刺、羊水细胞培养和染色体核型分析进行产前诊断.通过本地区的三级妇幼保健网对本地区行产前唐氏综合征筛查或未行筛查的孕母分娩的新生儿进行临床随访,对可疑唐氏综合征的新生儿行外周血染色体核型分析进行诊断.正态分布计量资料采用均数±标准差(x-±s)表示,组间差异比较采用两独立样本t检验；计数资料用率表示,组间差异比较采用x2检验.唐氏综合征的危险概率用随机筛查软件进行统计分析. 结果 2007年10月至2010年5月,本地区共32 188例单胎妊娠孕妇接受筛查,唐氏综合征高风险者为1130例,低风险31 058例.高风险者中90.79％(1026/1130)接受产前诊断,确诊7例唐氏综合征胎儿均引产终止妊娠；另外104例未接受产前诊断的孕妇分娩1例唐氏综合征患儿.31 058例低风险者中新生儿出生后确诊唐氏综合征6例,发生率0.19‰.接受产前筛查者中唐氏综合征患病率为0.43‰(14/32 188).妊娠中期二联唐氏综合征筛查检出率为57.14％(8/14),假阳性率为3.48％(1122/32 188),阳性预测值为7.08‰(8/1130).同期,由于各种原因未接受唐氏综合征产前筛查的孕妇达到23 813例,分娩唐氏综合征患儿15例,患病率0.63‰.与接受筛查者中的患病率(0.43‰)差异无统计学意义(x2=1.004,P＞0.05).本地区唐氏综合征总体患病率为0.52‰(29/56 001). 结论 产前筛查和诊断可以减少唐氏综合征患儿出生.但本研究中妊娠中期二联唐氏综合征筛查法的检出率、假阳性率和阳性预测值均较低,可能与本研究所采用的正常值范围并不适用于中国人群有关.     

Effect of dietary habits on prevalence of anemia in pregnant women of Delhi

AIM: To see the effect of various dietary habits, such as a vegetarian diet or various types of meat, on the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women. METHODS: A study was carried out in Delhi to determine the effect of different dietary habits on prevalence of anemia during pregnancy by questioning the women during pregnancy regarding their dietary habits (vegetarian diet, jhatka or halal meat) and assessing their hemoglobin levels. The data was compiled and chi2 test was employed for understanding the associations between the effect of food habits on prevalence of anemia. RESULTS: Mean age was 26.5 years. Most women were in the second (26%) or third trimester (63.2%) of pregnancy. Prevalence of anemia was found to be very high. Of 1150 women, 96% were anemic (89.8% mildly anemic, 5.3% severely anemic). Anemia was seen in 96.18% cases in vegetarian women, 95.3% in halal meat eaters, and 96.2% in jhatka meat eaters (not significant). Although the percentage of women with < 11 g/dL Hb was less in the jhatka group eating meat more than 5 times per month, than in halal meat eaters and vegetarians, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: There is very high prevalence of anemia during pregnancy in Delhi, probably due to very low frequency of meat eating in India. Different types of dietary habits had no effect on the prevalence of anemia in pregnant Indian women.     

Prevalence and complications of gallstone disease among pregnant women in a Nigerian hospital

Objective

To determine the prevalence of gallstone disease and its complications among pregnant women in a semi-urban Nigerian setting.

Methods

Consecutive consenting pregnant women presenting at the prenatal clinic of a Nigerian tertiary hospital were recruited over an 18-month period. During routine obstetric ultrasound, the presence of gallstones and/or associated sequelae was investigated. Patients’ sociodemographic data and hemoglobin genotype were documented.

Results

Overall, 1283 pregnant women (14–43 years of age) were included in the study. Thirty-seven (2.9%) had sonographic evidence of gallstones, 26 (2%) had biliary sludge, and 2 (0.2%) had gallbladder polyps. Twenty-one (56.8%) of the 37 women with gallstones were 30 years of age or younger. Only 1 (1.2%) of 85 selected women in the first trimester of pregnancy with no gallstones who were followed throughout pregnancy developed gallstones in the third trimester. Overall, 3 (0.2%) women had clinical and radiologic evidence of acute calculous cholecystitis, 2 of whom underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy after delivery.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated a low prevalence of gallstone disease and its acute complications among pregnant Nigerian women in a semi-urban setting.     

Electrical impedance spectroscopy of the cervix in non-pregnant and pregnant women

OBJECTIVES: We sought to validate and measure the electrical impedance of the uterine cervix in non-pregnant and pregnant women by spectroscopy. STUDY DESIGN: Cervical stromal impedance (CSI) was measured in 50 non-pregnant, 20 1st, 20 2nd and 50 3rd trimester pregnant women. The technique was also validated by comparing in vivo data to a finite element (FE) model of cervical tissue. RESULTS: CSI agreed well with the FE model and was highly reproducible in all study groups. Mean (S.E.) CSI at 4-819 kHz was higher in pregnant (2.78 +/- 0.09 Omega m) compared to non-pregnant (2.38 +/- 0.07, p < 0.01) women, and in the 3rd trimester (3.08 +/- 0.13) compared to non-pregnant (p < 0.01), 1st trimester (2.42 +/- 0.12, p < 0.001) and 2nd trimester (2.20 +/- 0.05, p < 0.001) pregnant women. CONCLUSION: Measurement of CSI provides a non-invasive method of assessing cervical tissue characteristics. Cervical extracellular matrix synthesis and leukocyte infiltration may account for the increased tissue impedance noted in the 3rd trimester.