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Biomedical subjects

E Ketting

Publications and source records attributed to E Ketting.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Assessment of a telephone helpline on infertility provided by a patient association.

An assessment was made of 161 telephone calls to volunteers of the Dutch association of infertility patients 'Freya'. The unpaid volunteers all had personal experience with infertility. The majority of callers were childless women. On average the callers had been experiencing infertility for 4 years and had already a considerate history of medical examinations. Calls were made throughout the day until late at evening. Most calls were focused at information gathering, especially about the real experience of treatment and the behaviour and quality of medical staff. Also, emotions regarding infertility were an important topic of the conversation. Sometimes informative questions were an introduction for bringing up emotional problems. The telephone helpline appears to be an easily accessible and empathic source of information and help for infertile persons.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[The effect of oral contraception on society].

Oral contraception was introduced 40 years ago. In the Netherlands 'the pill' was more widely accepted than in most other countries. Oral contraception turned family planning into a medical responsibility, which made it respectable. It also separated sexuality from reproduction, which had rather far-reaching consequences for sexual behaviour and experience, as well as for sexual morality. The most important immediate impact of the pill was a sudden acceleration of the downward trend of the birth rate, and a substantial reduction in the number of unwanted pregnancies and so-called forced marriages. Its impact on world population growth has been less marked, mainly because of its costs, as on a global level sterilization and intrauterine devices are more important methods of contraception. The number of abortions in the Netherlands (5-6.5/1000 fertile women/year) has not decreased, but the current possibilities for family planning have led to a change in motivation from 'utterly unwanted pregnancy' to 'unintended pregnancy'.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1998

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis as an alternative to amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling: psychosocial and ethical aspects.

Social and ethical considerations play an increasing role in decisions about the use of diagnostic technologies. In this article expert opinions of a medical-biological and a social-ethical panel on psychosocial, ethical and social aspects of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) are discussed. PGD is a new diagnostic technology for identifying chromosomal or single gene defects, which is now available as a medical treatment in several western countries. In contrast to traditional technologies like amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling PGD offers the possibility for diagnosis before pregnancy. The panels expected PGD to be chosen only in serious situations. IVF was considered to be a barrier for PGD but less so in more serious situations. Destruction of pre-embryos was thought more acceptable than selective abortion, but only marginally. Finally a substantial decrease was expected in the acceptance of handicapped people in society as a consequence of the possibilities of technologies like PGD. Although PGD offers new possibilities for couples at risk of having a child with a genetic defect, it is important that couples are counseled in a way that emphasizes both the advantages and disadvantages of the technology. The general public should be informed about possibilities and impossibilities of preventive diagnosis and the right of future parents not to use genetic diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Choices and motivations of infertile couples.

When couples are confronted with infertility they may choose among several options: medical help, adoption, fostering, alternative medicine and focusing on other life goals. The frequency of choices and motivations for these options were investigated among 131 infertile couples. Husbands and wives answered a structured questionnaire. The medical option was chosen in more than 80% of the cases. Also, this choice is made very quickly. Other options were considered at a later time, and chosen much later than the medical option. The most frequently mentioned motive for seeking help is the desire to have a child. This motive is reported in all forms of help seeking Motives for medical consultation are often seeking information, understanding the cause of infertility and physical complaints. Altruistic motives are rather important when considering adoption, and very important when considering foster-care.

Adoption↗
PubMed1997

Age, the desire to have a child and cumulative pregnancy rate.

The relation between women's age and fertility, and the factors that influence the age at which couples desire to have their first child, were analysed in a national sample of women aged 25-49 years. A random sample of 8050 households in the Netherlands was approached. In these households, 3295 women between the ages of 25 and 49 years answered a short questionnaire about planning their first pregnancy and about fertility. Furthermore, sociodemographic data were gathered. There appeared to be almost no variation in cumulative pregnancy rate between age 20 and 28: between 65 and 70% at 6 months, just below 90% at 12 months and approximately 93% at 24 months. After the age of 33 years, the cumulative pregnancy rate at 6 months decreased. From the age of 28 years the cumulative pregnancy rate at 12 months and at 24 months decreased gradually, reaching 75 and 80% respectively, by the age of 35 years. The year of birth of the woman (the 'time' factor) was the most important factor influencing the age at which couples desired to have their first child. In addition, demographic factors, particularly a high level of education, a high professional level and a high level of family income, were associated with the desire to have the first child at a relatively late age.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Beyond superman.

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Attitude↗
PubMed1995

[Age, desire for children and probability of pregnancy in The Netherlands].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between the age of women and their probability of conceiving, and to analyse the factors that influence the age at which couples desire to have their first child. METHOD: A national survey among women between the ages of 25 and 49. A random sample of 8050 households were approached. In these households 3295 women between the ages of 25 and 49 answered a short questionnaire about planning of the first pregnancy and fertility. Also sociodemographic data were gathered. RESULTS: There was little variation in probability of conceiving between the ages of 20 and 28; around 65% to 70% after 6 months, just below 90% after 12 months and about 93% after 2 years. The pregnancy rate after 6 months started to decrease after the age of 33, while pregnancy rate after 1 and 2 years decreased gradually from the age of 28 to 75% and about 80% respectively at the age of 35. The year of birth of the woman (the factor 'time') was the most important factor influencing the age at which couples desire their first child. In addition demographic factors particularly a high level of education, and furthermore a high professional level and a high level of family income were associated with the desire to have the first child at a relatively late age.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Editorial.

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Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Contraception in The Netherlands: the low abortion rate explained.

This article gives a review of the main factors that are related to the low abortion rate in the Netherlands. Attention is payed to figures on abortion and the use of contraceptive methods since the beginning of the 1960s up to the end of the 1980s. The strong acceptance of family planning was influenced by changing values regarding sexuality and the family, the transition from an agricultural to a modern industrial society, rapid economic growth, declining influence of the churches on daily life, introduction of modern mass media and the increased general educational level. The introduction of modern contraceptives (mainly the pill and contraceptive sterilization) was stimulated by a strong voluntary family planning movement, fear for overpopulation, a positive role of GPs, and the public health insurance system. A reduction of unwanted pregnancies has been accomplished through successful strategies for the prevention of teenage pregnancy (including sex education, open discussions on sexuality in mass media, educational campaigns and low barrier services) as well as through wide acceptance of sterilization. The Dutch experience with family planning shows the following characteristics: a strong wish to reduce reliance on abortion, ongoing sexual and contraceptive education related to the actual experiences of the target groups, and low barrier family planning services.

Abortion, Induced↗