Macdermott,+Jason

Jason MacDermott

(12/16/09)
 * Ultra Sound** - An ultrasound is generally performed for all pregnant women at 20 weeks gestation. It can be done at the doctor’s office, a hospital, or tech lab. The ultrasound can be used during pregnancy to show images of the baby, amniotic sac, placenta, and ovaries. Major anatomical abnormalities or birth defects can show up on an ultrasound.


 * Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) ** – It is usually performed between 10 and 12 weeks after your last menstrual period. The test takes place in a hospital. CVS is used to get an early diagnosis of genetic and/or chromosomal abnormalities.
 * Glucose Screening and Tolerance Test ** – It is taken between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. It checks for gestational diabetes, a high blood sugar condition that some women get during pregnancy. It is taken at medical centers and tech labs.


 * Group B Strep Test **– The test is taken 35 to 37 weeks into pregnancy. It checks for Group B Streptococcus which is a bacterium that can infect newborns. It is taken at a doctor’s office.
 * Amniocentesis **– It is done between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is a prenatal test that allows your healthcare practitioner to gather information about your baby's health and development from a sample of your amniotic fluid. The test is taken in a hospital.

**Mirena (Levonorgestrel Intrauterine Device) ** Mirena’s development started in the 1970s. It was first commercially marketed in Finland in the 1990s, and was not approved for distribution in the United States until 2000. Two companies distribute Mirena; Berlex distributes it within the United States, and Schering Health exports it to places outside the United States.

Mirena can be classified as a hormonal contraceptive because it releases the hormone levonorgestrel. It is a prescription because a doctor has to insert the IUD.

It gradually releases the hormone levonorgestrel in small amounts directly into the uterus. The cervical mucus thickens preventing sperm from entering the uterus which inhibits sperm from reaching and fertilizing the egg. It makes the lining of the uterus thin making the lining an unsuitable place for the egg to grow.

Mirena is obtained from and inserted by a healthcare professional. It costs approximately $175 to $500 including an examination. Users should visit their physician in the first four to twelve weeks to make sure it is in the correct position.

Mirena is 99.2% to 99.8% effective and prevents pregnancy up to five years.

Mirena is a contraceptive for women who have been pregnant before, have a risk for bacterial endocarditis (infection of a heart valve), diabetes, irregular menstrual bleeding or pain, are breast feeding, or have a history of endometriosis. Women who have never been pregnant usually do not use an IUD because they are more likely to experience pain and cramping; women with an STI, pelvic inflammatory disease, blood disorders, or an abnormal uterus should not use an IUD.

Advantages of Mirena include a lower and steadier hormone level; a woman can become pregnant immediately after its removal, no interruption during sexual intercourse, reduced menstrual bleeding and cramps, does not cause weight gain, may prevent endometrial cancer, relieve endometriosis, may prevent endometrial hyperplasia (abnormal thickening of the uterine lining), and can reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy.

Disadvantages of Mirena include uterine perforation (puncturing of the uterus), dizziness, ovarian cysts to grow, mood swings, breast tenderness, acne, and headaches.

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(11/23/09) 1. For males; the gonads have gotten larger, the external genitalia has grown, the voice becomes deeper, more armpit and pubic hair grows and ejaculation capacity has developed. For females; the external genitalia has gotten larger, menstruation begins, the breasts develop, and there is an increase in armpit hair and pubic hair. Citation: Encyclopedia Britannica 2. The reproductive systems are like dominos because if one function of the system malfunctions the entire system falls apart.