Jay D. Iams, MD; Vincenzo Berghells, MD. Care for women with prior preterm birth. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. August 2010;203(3):89-100 This is an extremely informative article on preterm birth, an issue that complicates I in 8 pregnancies in the U.S.A. Because of associated morbidity and expense, preterm birth is of intense interest to the medical community. The major author is Jay D. Iams, MD, MFM, Professor and Vice Chair of OSU Dept of ObGyn. We certainly commend this article to your study. An Iam’s observation of particular interest to both doctors and their patients is the following:
“Contrary to common belief, population-based studies,[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][34-36] have found that elective pregnancy terminations in the first and second trimesters are associated with a very small but apparently real increase in the risk of subsequent spontaneous preterm birth (PTB).[37]”
We applaud his statement. Most high profile American writers won’t breathe such a thing. Allow us to mention 3 points in regard to his observations: 1. “contrary to common belief…..’ There are currently 114 studies in the literature all showing a statistically significant association between induced abortion and subsequent preterm birth. And just about none to the contrary. Why then would this association be “contrary to common belief??” Because the association is systematically ignored or severely downplayed by the established authorities in our country. It is not mentioned under complications of induced abortion in any ACOG literature we know of. It is not generally taught. It is denied by default. Maybe that is why it is “contrary to common belief……” Obviously 114 articles should carry some weight, even to the willfully blind. 2. “…terminations….are associated with a very small but apparently real increase in the risk of subsequent spontaneous preterm birth (PTB).” Here he references the 2009 BJOG Shaw article, which found a 1.36 RR (36% increase) for PTB with a previous induced abortion. He calls this a “very small” increase. Remember the WHI study of 2003 that showed a RR of 1.3 for breast cancer in HRT users. 1.3 RR was NOT considered “very small”—in fact, it turned the HRT world upside down, so significant was it deemed to be! But here 1.36 RR Is called “very small” — We find that strange. Additionally, 50% of women have more than one abortion, and the literature finds the PTB risk ratio for them goes to 1.6 to 1.9., that is a 60% to 90% increase in PTB is subsequent pregnancies for half the women involved. 3. Finally, in the abstract, Dr. Iams notes: . “African American women have rates of recurrent preterm birth that are nearly twice that of women of other backgrounds.” He hazards no guess as to why. African-American women have an induced abortion rate 3X that of other American women. Might THAT factor into their 2X increased rate of PTB?? Or into their 3X increased rate of “very” preterm birth (a fact established by the IOM Report)? And it is of note that the IOM Report noting 3X increased rate remained after adjustment for socio-economic status, and cigarette and alcholol use. Yet the medical establishment refuses to consider that abortion might be the “unknown” variable. Prematurity carries certain severe risks. Preemies under 32 weeks have a Cerebral Palsy rates 55 times higher that the rates for a term baby. Ignoring the vast literature evidence of the association of induced abortion and subsequent preterm birth is certainly not in the best interest of women considering having an induced abortion, or of their children yet to be born.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]