Mary Anne Kenny looks at the causes of nocturia and examines the associated sleep-related risks that accompany the condition Nocturia causes a person to wake during the night one or more times in order to urinate. It is acknowledged to be clinically relevant and have significant impact upon patients when two or more voids are [...]

Patients with high levels of proteinuria in addition to another marker of reduced kidney function had an associated increased risk of all-cause death, heart attack or progression to kidney failure, according to a new study. Doctors investigated the association between reduced glomerular filtration (eGFR), proteinuria and adverse clinical outcomes, including all-cause death, heart attack and [...]

Clinical Update – Contraception: Many of the earlier contraceptive pills had much higher dosages than the more recently introduced pills on the market. The newer pills have very low doses of oestrogen and different types of progesterone. The aim is to produce progesterones which are effective contraceptives with minimal side effects. In selecting a method [...]

Clinical Update – Contraception: Previous progesterone-only pills did not regularly prevent ovulation, and there was a higher failure rate with them, according to Dr Caitriona Henchion, Medical Director of the Irish Family Planning Association. The previous pills acted on local mechanisms. Cervical mucus was thickened. This made it difficult for sperm to penetrate. The lining [...]

Clinical Update – Contraception: Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) include copper coils, Mirena coils, Implanon implants and Depo provera injections (which are given every 12 weeks). All of the long-acting reversible contraceptives are progesterone only. There are three types. The progesterone in Implanon is potent and effective, and this reversible device can be rapidly taken [...]