Contraception today: algorithm for individual choice Up-to-date methods of contraception and informed choice was the topic of our talk with the president of Russian Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, RAMS academician, professor Vladimir Nikolaevich SEROV.

10-20% of married couples of reproductive age worldwide cannot have children; in half of cases the cause of infertility is male pathology (WHO, 2000). Given the unfavourable demographic situation in Russia, the issue requires special attention from all local professionals specializing in reproduction: urologists, andrologists, gynecologists, embryologists, endocrinologists and psychotherapists. However, creation of algorithms and standards of care for infertile couples with presumably male factor is quite a difficult task. The article is devoted to major issues of etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of male reproductive function disorder on the basis of multidisciplinary approach, with consideration given to the organizational and methodological aspects.

The article tells about the introduction and use of monophasic combined oral contraceptive Zoely®; the peculiar features and unique ingredients of the medicine; efficiency of use and evidence of a reduction in severity of side effects.

With the environmental situation getting worse every year, unhealthy diet, adynamia and sleep-wake cycle imbalance, the health of Russian people is deteriorating. The incidence of diseases of civilization has been steadily increasing: today, they are the major reasons of female mortality.

Endometriosis is one of the most common women's diseases nowadays, commonly encountered by clinicians and researchers all over the world due to variability of assumed mechanisms of pathogenesis, a wide range of clinical manifestations (from asymptomatic forms to rather severe conditions), chronic progredient course, and particularly negative impact on physical condition, psychological status, social well-being and reproductive function of female patients [6, 11, 21, 23, 38]. Diversity of clinical signs and topography of the disease led to emergence of a wide range of treatment algorithms and necessitated the need for individual therapeutic approach [14, 22]. The majority of experts, while considering endometriosis to be a proliferative disease requiring surgical intervention to remove the spot, recognize combination treatment to be the method of choice. The method ideally provides for surgery (radical or organ-preserving) and long-term follow-up medication therapy taking into account the age and reproductive future of the patient [34, 42].

Constipation is one of the most compelling challenges of today. In the developed countries, every second adult person is reported to be suffering from constipation, which is almost 2 times more likely to happen in women than in men. One of the factors contributing to the development of constipation is pregnancy and post-natal period. Almost all practicing gynecologists encounter the problem of constipation which affects 50% of pregnant women. Large bowel dyskinesia is found in 115 of 200 pregnant women. The marked frequency of the pathology in pregnant women is conditioned by physiological changes in the digestive system and its regulation during gestation period. The primary role in preventing constipation during pregnancy belongs to healthy diet and adequate physical activity. It is also extremely important to raise awareness of rational approaches to constipation therapy.

Any type of pregnancy and breast-feeding, including in healthy women, are accompanied by notable changes in the calcium metabolism. While primary skeletal and calcium (Ca) metabolism disorders are rare in obstetric practice, many calcium pathologies are caused by alimentary calcium deficiency. Regardless of the cause of the deficit, its consequences affect various health aspects of the mother-to-be, fetus and child.

Acute respiratory disease (ARD) is one of the most common pathologies in pregnant women. During their pregnancy, about 2/3 of women suffer from one or several episodes of ARD of any severity. It is vital to study the issue because, in a certain percentage of cases, ARD pathogens may directly or indirectly cause damage to the fetus or break the normal gestation course. Optimal therapy of ARD which is often manifested in cough syndrome has not been thoroughly studied till now. The paper talks about the specifics of acute respiratory diseases (except for pneumonia) in pregnant women. The authors share their experience of including Ambroxol in the complex therapy of cough syndrome.

The effectiveness of mifepristone in the preparation of cervix uteri to delivery was evaluated. Data on pregnancy, delivery and perinatal outcomes in 120 women with full-term births was analyzed. Mifepristone was most efficient in patients with Bishop's score above 3 which evaluates the cervical preparedness. The study found that intake of mifepristone helped to increase efficiency of spontaneous labor (56.7%), and in 18 (15.0 %) patients it conditioned programmed labor (amniotomy).

Given the unfavourable demographic situation in the Russian Federation today, giving birth to a healthy child is becoming a topical issue. This is so because the generation with poor health indicators is entering their childbearing period. The portrait of contemporary young woman can be described as follows: she has 2 or more chronic extragenital diseases (arterial hypertension, chronic pyelonephritis, cystitis, anemia), early initiation of sexual activity, frequently changing sexual partners (STD), failure to use contraceptives (abortions), weight deficit, and bad habits.

Pelvic inflammatory diseases are represented by a spectrum of inflammatory diseases of upper female genital tract, including any combination of endometritis, salpingitis, tubo-ovarian abscess or pelvic peritonitis. No doubt, sexually transmitted diseases, especially N. gоnоrrhоeа and С. trachomatis, play a significant role in the development of pelvic inflammatory diseases. In many cases micro-organisms constituting vaginal biotop cause pelvic inflammatory diseases (anaerobes, G. vaginalis, Haemophilus influenzae, enteric gram-negative bacilli, Streptococcus agalactiae, M. hominis, U. urealyticum, etc). There is a proved connection between pelvic inflammatory disease and citomegalovirus or M. genitаlium.

The article highlights the introduction of bacteriophages in the complex etiotropic therapy of pregnant women with pyelonephritis for the purpose of treatment and prevention. Use of bacteriophages in combination with the original scheme of antibiotics helped to reduce medication burden on pregnant woman and frequency of recurrence. As a result, the rate of infectious complications in women at childbirth and in the post-natal period was lower, newborns had better somatic state at birth and better health condition at discharge, and were less prone to infection.

Pelvic inflammatory diseases are represented by a spectrum of inflammatory diseases of upper female genital tract, including any combination of endometritis, salpingitis, tubo-ovarian abscess or pelvic peritonitis. No doubt, sexually transmitted diseases, especially N. gоnоrrhоeа and С. trachomatis, play a significant role in the development of pelvic inflammatory diseases. In many cases micro-organisms constituting vaginal biotop cause pelvic inflammatory diseases (anaerobes, G. vaginalis, Haemophilus influenzae, enteric gram-negative bacilli, Streptococcus agalactiae, M. hominis, U. urealyticum, etc). There is a proved connection between pelvic inflammatory disease and citomegalovirus or M. genitаlium.

The spread of chlamydial infection (CI) today is evidenced promarily by the statistical data on the prevalence of this infection. The World Health Organization assessed worldwide annual incidence of C. trachomatis infection by 2005 approximately in 100 million of cases [1].

According to the accepted Russian definition, natural, or breast feeding, is the feeding of an infant or young child with mother's breast milk. Natural breastfeeding is the natural model clearly and directly illustrating the basic concept of adequate feeding. To ensure adequate feeding of infant, changes in a woman's organism start when pregnancy starts. These changes primarily affect milk glands. Preparation of milk gland to milk production is called lactogenesis, and the process of maintaining lactation of the nursing woman is called lactopesis [1, 3].

Chronic inflammatory processes are associated with changes in the immune system of the body, affecting both the process and outcome of the disease. That is why the regimen should include drugs which are targeted not only at the restoration of the total immune status of the individual or a certain element in the immune system, but also providing an effective therapeutic action.

Uterine artery embolization is an advanced nonsurgical treatment for uterine fibroids. This method can be used with any size and location of nodules. UAE can be used as a standalone treatment of fibroids or as one of its stages. In particular, UAE is an alternative to hysterectomy and/or resectoscopy in the case of submucous location of the nodules. UAE can be used on larger nodules as the first stage treatment to reduce the size, allowing nodules to migrate (shrinking to type 0) and soften. Subsequently it is possible to remove them during ordinary cervical dilation.

Cervical cancer (CC) is the second most common type of cancer among females. In 2008, the diagnosis was a death sentence to 247,883 women. In total, 529,409 new cases were registered, accounting for 13% of the total number of malignant diseases of women globally.

The article tells about the results of a study to evaluate effectiveness of progesterone receptor antagonist Ginestril (mifepristone) in the treatment of uterine fibroid.

Osteoporosis (OP) is a chronic progressive disease of the skeleton decreasing bone strength and leading to fractures as a result of minor injuries. Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) primarily occurs in peri-and postmenopausal women. Availability of efficient and affordable generic drugs in the market helps a greater number of patients to undergo treatment.

Balanced diet of children and adults is an essential condition for sustaining good health of the nation. However, given the current socio-economic conditions in Russia, very few people are believed to have a balanced diet. The results of population studies conducted by the Institute of Nutrition RAMS demonstrated very low consumption and increasing deficit of vitamins (A, B group, C and E) and minerals (iron, zinc, iodine) in a large proportion of the Russian population. Diet plays an important though not ultimate role in the prevention and treatment of vitamin deficiency. It is much more relevant that children take multivitamin complexes which contain minerals.

The aim of the study was to identify the relationship between night-time drop in blood pressure and other parameters measured by 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, results of clinical, instrumental and laboratory studies of children with hypertension.

Principles of newborn and infant care are well known. However, the main ideas need to be highlighted due to the abundance of various hygienic and cosmetic products in the market and the resulting problem of choice.

The article tells about functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (intestinal colic) in infants (first three months of life). A new approach to the treatment of colic as functional disorder is described. Pediatrician's algorithm of treatment and step-by-step scheme for pain syndrome therapy are presented. Предложена схема степовой терапии болевого синдрома.

Eating habits formed in early childhood have a significant impact on the future children's health, predispose to certain diseases in adult age, and possibly have a great impact on the quality of life. From this viewpoint, breastfeeding is the best choice. However, for different reasons, a large number of babies in their first weeks and months of life are given infant formula in addition to breast milk or exclusively artificially fed.