Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID−19), announced as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, recently has dominated people’s lifestyle. The impact of COVID−19 seems to be relevant to the sexual health as well. Methods: This prospective study was conducted on two occasions involving 764 female patients between March and April 2020—before and during the time of social quarantine. The sexual function was assessed using the Polish version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Every patient filled out the survey concerning socio-demographic characteristics as well as the influence of SARS-CoV−2 pandemic on their lives. Results: The overall FSFI score before the pandemic was 30.1 ± 4.4 and changed to 25.8 ± 9.7 during it. Scores of every domain: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain decreased as well (p < 0.001). There was statistically significant association between the workplace and the change of FSFI scores before and during COVID−19 pandemic (p < 0.01). We noticed the biggest decrease in FSFI score in the group of women who did not work at all (5.2 ± 9.9). Religion had a statistically important impact on level of anxiety (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The main finding of our study was the influence of COVID−19 pandemic on the quality of sexual lifestyle and frequency of intercourse among Polish women.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 affected the entire healthcare system in Poland, causing medical personnel to be relocated to other duties and limiting patients’ contacts with healthcare professionals. A large part of the planned diagnostics and treatment was delayed due to lack of equipment and personnel. Against this background, we analysed the implementation of the publicly funded prenatal screening programme (PSP) in Poland compared to the previous year. This is a cross-sectional study. We used nationwide datasets on the implementation of the prenatal testing programme over the period 2019–2020, datasets from the Statistics Poland on birth and the data on the development of the COVID-19 epidemic in Poland. In the year 2020, we observed a 12.41% decrease in woman enrolled to the programme compared to 2019. However, the decrease concerned only women under 35 years of age. With respect to the number of deliveries in the calendar year, the number of patients enrolled in the programme decreased by 3% (31% vs. 34%, p < 0.001). We also observed an increase in estriol measurements per the number of patients included in the programme, and a reduction in the number of PAPP-A tests in the first trimester, which proves an increased share of the triple test in the prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal aberrations. With respect to the number of deliveries, the number of amniocentesis procedures performed under PSP decreased by 0.19% (1.8% vs. 1.99%, p < 0.0001). In 2020, compared to the previous year, the number of patients included in the prenatal testing programme in Poland decreased. In terms of the number of births in Poland, the number of integrated screening tests also decreased, at the expense of increasing the percentage of triple tests. There were also significant reductions in the number of invasive diagnostic tests.

Objectives and methods. The first aim of our study was to assess the detectability of women at risk of developing eo-PE depending on the algorithm used. All 801 patients had an estimated risk of eo-PE based on the Fetal Medicine Foundation algorithm. The patients were divided into four groups based on a risk calculation algorithm: 1) screening based on UtPI, MAP, and PlGF; 2) screening based on UtPI, MAP, PAPP-A, and PlGF; 3) screening based on UtPI, MAP, and PAPP-A; and 4) screening based on UtPI and MAP. The second aim was to explore how these groups changed depending on the cut-off points for the increased risk of eo-PE. We selected patients within groups where the risk of eo-PE was 1 : 150. Among them, the UtPI, MAP, PAPP-A, and PLGF values were compared taking into account the sizes of the groups. Results. For the cut-off point 1 : 150, 86 women at an increased risk of eo-PE using algorithm 1 were identified. Of these 86 patients, 83 (96) were identified using algorithm 2, 62 (72) using algorithm 3, and 60 (69) using algorithm 4. In addition, it was demonstrated that between 21 and 29 of women at a low risk of eo-PE could be given acetylsalicylic acid if a screening test was used that did not account for PlGF. Conclusions. In order to provide the highest level of health care to pregnant women, it is extremely important that full screening for eo-PE should be ensured. The cheapest algorithm based only on MAP and UtPI resulted in our patients being unnecessarily exposed to complications.

This study aims to determine if second trimester amniocentesis in twin pregnancies provides a significant independent contribution in the prediction of miscarriage or fetal loss at any stage of pregnancy. This was a retrospective cohort study of women with twin gestations booked for routine prenatal care in four fetal medicine units in Poland in the years 2010–2020. The study population included: (1) twin pregnancies that underwent amniocentesis at 16–20 weeks’ gestation; (2) twin pregnancies that did not require any further testing and were followed-up routinely. Univariable and multivariable regression analysis was used to define which maternal and pregnancy characteristics provided a significant independent contribution in the prediction of miscarriage and fetal loss at any stage of pregnancy. In the study period, 2645 twin pregnancies were eligible for analysis. There were 144 cases of miscarriage defined as fetal loss of one or both twins before 24 weeks and 40 cases of intrauterine death of one or both twins after 24 weeks. A total number of 162 twin pregnancies underwent amniocentesis at 16–20 weeks’ gestation. The rate of miscarriage before 24 weeks and the rate of fetal loss at any stage of pregnancy in the group that underwent amniocentesis was 10.49% and 13.58%, respectively, compared to 5.11% and 6.52% that did not undergo amniocentesis. Multivariable regression analysis showed that factors providing a significant independent contribution in the prediction of miscarriage and fetal loss at any stage of pregnancy were monochorionicity (MC), large intertwin discordance in crown-rump length (CRL), low Pregnancy Related Plasma Protein (PAPP-A) MoM and nuchal translucency (NT) above 95th centile. Amniocentesis in twin pregnancies does not provide a significant contribution in the prediction of miscarriage or fetal loss at any stage of pregnancy.

Objective: To assess whether there are differences in first-trimester fetal hepatic artery flows depending on pregnancy outcomes. Methods: The prospective study conducted in 2012–2020 included 1841 fetuses from singleton pregnancies assessed during the routine first-trimester ultrasound examination (between 11- and 14-weeks’ gestation). Also, each fetus was examined to determine their hepatic artery flows by measuring the artery’s pulsatility index (HA-PI) and peak systolic velocity (HA-PSV). Results: The fetuses that were classified as belonging to the adverse pregnancy outcome group (those with karyotype abnormalities and congenital heart defects) were characterized by a significantly lower HA-PI and higher HA-PSV compared to normal outcome fetuses. Conclusion: Hepatic artery flow assessment proved to be a very useful tool in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes, in particular karyotype abnormalities and congenital heart defects.

(1) Aim: Ultrasound is the gold standard for assessing fetal growth disorders. The relationship between high sFlt-1/PlGF scores and LBW (low birth weight) was described. In this study, we attempted to assess whether uric acid could be used as a secondary marker in estimating the pregnancy risk associated with LBW. (2) Material and methods: 665 pregnant women with a suspected or confirmed form of placental insufficiency were enrolled. In each of the patients, sFlt-1 and PlGF and uric acid levels were determined. Patients were divided into two groups according to birth weight below and above the third percentile for the given gestational age with the criteria of the neonatal definition of FGR (fetal growth restriction). (3) Results: A significant negative correlation between neonatal birth weight and the uric acid level across the entire study group was observed. We found a significant negative correlation between neonatal birth weight and the uric acid level with birth weights < 3rd percentile. (4) Conclusions: There is a significant link between the uric acid concentration and LBW in the group with placental insufficiency. Uric acid can improve the prediction of LBW. An algorithm for LBW prognosis that makes use of biophysical (ultrasound) and biochemical (uric acid level, angiogenesis markers) parameters yields better results than using these parameters separately from each other.