Documents Rich-Edwards, Janet W. 3 results

"OBJECTIVE:
We investigated self-reported occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs, anesthetic gases, antiviral drugs, sterilizing agents (disinfectants), and X-rays and the risk of spontaneous abortion in US nurses.
STUDY DESIGN:
Pregnancy outcome and occupational exposures were collected retrospectively from 8461 participants of the Nurses' Health Study II. Of these, 7482 were eligible for analysis using logistic regression.
RESULTS:
Participants reported 6707 live births, and 775 (10%) spontaneous abortions (<20 weeks). After adjusting for age, parity, shift work, and hours worked, antineoplastic drug exposure was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of spontaneous abortion, particularly with early spontaneous abortion before the 12th week, and 3.5-fold increased risk among nulliparous women. Exposure to sterilizing agents was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of late spontaneous abortion (12-20 weeks), but not with early spontaneous abortion.
CONCLUSION:
This study suggests that certain occupational exposures common to nurses are related to risks of spontaneous abortion."

"Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate occupational exposures and menstrual cycle characteristics among nurses.Methods: Using cross-sectional data collected in 2010–2012 from 6309 nurses aged 21–45 years, we investigated nurses' menstrual function in the Nurses' Health Study 3. We used multivariable regression modeling to analyze the associations between occupational exposures and prevalence of irregular cycles and long and short cycle lengths.Results: The cohort reported cycle length as <21 (1.5%), 21–25 (15.6%), 26–31 (69.7%), and 32–50 (13.2%) days. In addition, 19% of participants reported irregular cycles. Working ?41 hours/week was associated with a 16% [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 4–29%] higher prevalence of irregular cycles and a higher prevalence of very short (<21-day) cycles [prevalence odds ratio (OR) 1.93, 95% CI 1.24–3.01] in adjusted models. Irregular menstrual cycles were more prevalent among women working nights only (32% higher; 95% CI 15–51%) or rotating nights (27% higher, 95% CI 10–47%), and was associated with the number of night shifts per month (P for trend <0.0001). Rotating night schedule was associated with long (32–50 day) cycles (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.03–1.61). Heavy lifting was associated with a higher prevalence of irregular cycles (34% higher), and the prevalence of cycles <21 days and 21–25 day cycles increased with increasing heavy lifting at work (P for trend <0.02 for each endpoint).Conclusion: Night work, long hours, and physically demanding work might relate to menstrual disturbances."