BACKGROUND: It was our intention to determine whether hysteroscopic polypectomy before intrauterine insemination (IUI) achieved better pregnancy outcomes than no intervention. METHODS: A total of 215 infertile women from the infertility unit of a university tertiary hospital with ultrasonographically diagnosed endometrial polyps (EP) undergoing IUI were randomly allocated to one of two pretreatment groups using an opaque envelope technique with assignment determined by a random number table. Hysteroscopic polypectomy was performed in the study group. Diagnostic hysteroscopy and polyp biopsy was performed in the control group. RESULTS: Total pregnancy rates and time for success in both groups after four IUI cycles were compared by means of contingency tables and life-table analysis. A total of 93 pregnancies occurred, 64 in the study group and 29 in the control group. Women in the study group had a better possibility of becoming pregnant after polypectomy, with a relative risk of 2.1 (95% confidence interval 1.5–2.9). Pregnancies in the study group were obtained before the first IUI in 65% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that hysteroscopic polypectomy before IUI is an effective measure.

Objective. To describe hemodynamic changes in normal pregnancy and postpartum by means of thoracic electrical bioimpedance (TEB). Methods. Eighteen healthy pregnant women were included in the study. Eight different hemodynamic variables were measured by thoracic electrical bioimpedance, from 12th week of gestation until 6th month of postpartum period. Data along pregnancy and postpartum were analyzed with SAS statistical software to compare the different values, so normality curves are reported. Results. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), and peripheral vascular resistances (PVRs) seem to significantly decrease until 24th week of gestation, and then they seem to increase until delivery, recovering normal values gradually during postpartum period. End-diastolic volume (EDV), systolic volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and ejection fraction (EF) seem to decrease until 48 h after delivery; statistical significance was found. Conclusions. Thoracic electrical bioimpedance may be the most appropriate and accurate technique to measure normal hemodynamic changes during pregnancy and postpartum.