Southern Morocco, particularly the Guelmim-Oued Noun region, is rich in a wide diversity of plant species. Pregnant women in this region use medicinal plants during pregnancy and childbirth for various purposes; however, the use of these plants has never been documented. The objectives of this study are threefold: to estimate the prevalence of medicinal plant uses by pregnant women in the province of Guelmim, Morocco, to describe the traditional practices of self-medication and to determine the associated factors. This is a multicenter cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical approaches. Data were collected using an interview questionnaire, which was administered to pregnant women at health care centers and hospitals in the province of Guelmim. A total of 560 women participated in this study. The prevalence of medicinal plant use was 66.96%. Artemisia herba-alba Asso, Thymus maroccanus Ball., Trigonella foenum-graecum L., Aloysia citriodora Palau, Lepidium sativum L. and Cuminum cyminum L. were the plants with the highest UV. Pain, the induction and facilitation of childbirth, flu syndrome and anemia were the most listed reasons for use. The use of medicinal plants was significantly associated with the level of education (chi-square = 15.651; p = 0.004), and pregnancy monitoring (chi-square = 5.283; p = 0.028). In the province of Guelmim, the prevalence of the use of medicinal plants by women during pregnancy and childbirth is high. Further research is necessary in order to explore potential associated risks and complications.

Ovary is the main source of the hyperandrogenism in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Adrenal glands may also be involved in the pathogenesis of the development of PCOS. To investigate this possibility and to find out if buserelin test is able to distinguish PCOS patients from the patients with idiopathic hirsutism (IH), ACTH and buserelin tests were performed in 29 women with PCOS, 21 women with IH, and 20 control subjects (CS). We also aimed to determine the role of dysregulation of 17 hydroxylase in the development of PCOS. Basal and stimulated dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and stimulated cortisol (F) levels after ACTH administration were significantly higher in PCOS group than in IH and CS groups (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.05, respectively). PCOS patients also possessed significantly higher basal and stimulated 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH P) levels, including the peak levels (p < 0.02), during buserelin testing when compared with IH patients and CS. There was no significant correlation between the ACTH-stimulated and the buserelin-stimulated peak 17-OH P values. In conclusion, significantly higher basal and ACTH-stimulated levels of F and DHEA-S in PCOS compared with controls and patients with IH, reflect that adrenal hyperactivity also plays a role in hyperandrogenemia seen in PCOS. Because of the lack of the correlation between ACTH-stimulated and buserelin-stimulated 17-OH P levels, it is hard to say that adrenal hyperactivity seen in PCOS is the result of the dysregulation of cytochrome P450c17-α enzyme. Our results suggest that buserelin test which is an GnRH analogue could distinguish at least some of the patients with PCOS from the other patients presenting with the common symptoms of hyperandrogenemia.

Background: Studies showed that many women probably don't engage in enough physical activity during pregnancy. Physical activity can greatly contribute to the well-being of both the mother and her baby. Objective: To estimate pregnant women’s level of physical activity and its determinants. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant females during the last trimester in Mansoura University Hospital, Gynecology, and Obstetric Department during the year 2022. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire assessing physical activity in different situations including tasks related to managing a household and providing care, transportation activities and inactivity, sports activities and activities during work. Results: Total 386 pregnant females were included with average age 27.9±6.5 years. Approximately 38.6% were housewives, 42.0% employees, and 19.4% manual workers, 50.8% rural residents, and 31.6% university education or higher. Approximately 7.5% had gestational hypertension, 13% gestational diabetes, 35.8% anemia, 16.3% other comorbidity, and 3.4% smokers. Prevalence of insufficient physical activity assessed during out-of-work, going places, fun or exercise, at work, and overall was 87%, 87.6%, 89.6%, 92% & 95.6%, respectively. Approximately 58% self-rated physical activity before pregnancy as insufficient. Multivariate analysis showed that cesarean delivery, insufficient self-rated pre-pregnancy level of physical activity, absence of hypertension during pregnancy, increased body mass index are significant predictors of low to moderate overall physical activity. Conclusions: The study findings underscore the extremely high level of physical inactivity among pregnant females attending University Hospital in Egypt. There is urgent need for preventive and educational programs targeting pregnant women in their last trimester.

In Morocco, pregnant women commonly use phytotherapy to facilitate childbirth. However, data on the safety and effects of medicinal plants during labor remain scarce and limited from a toxicological point of view. This retrospective descriptive study investigates the epidemiological, clinical and obstetric profiles of women who used medicinal plants during labor and delivery at the regional hospital of Guelmim. Data were collected from the records of women who gave birth between 2015 and 2021. A total of 22 523 files were examined, including 216 cases of women who had used medicinal plants during labor and delivery. Among these women, 57.8% were young primigravidas and primiparous women, the majority (83.79%) having received prenatal care and 78.24% of women having been admitted in the latency phase. In 65% of cases, delivery took place vaginally, with a significant reduction in the duration of labor. Nevertheless, 34.72% of women underwent a caesarean section. Complications were noted in 58.79% of cases: foetal and neonatal distress, post-partum haemorrhage, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, uterine hyperkinesis, premature rupture of membranes, neonatal death and perineal tears. These complications occurred in women who had used medicinal plants such as Lepidium sativum L., Crocus sativus L., Cinnamomum verum J. Presl. and Peganum harmala L, raising about a possible link. Further research is needed to better understand the effects of these plants and their consequences for maternal-foetal health. The frequent association of these plants with adverse effects suggests that they may contribute to the complications observed during labor and delivery. Further research is needed to assess the risks in the obstetric context and establish clear recommendations on its use.