Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitting from the natural environment, as well as from the use of industrial and everyday appliances, constantly influence the human body. The effect of this type of energy on living tissues may exert various effects on their functioning, although the mechanisms conditioning this phenomenon have not been fully explained. It may be expected that the interactions between electromagnetic radiation and the living organism would depend on the amount and parameters of the transmitted energy and type of tissue exposed. Electromagnetic waves exert an influence on human reproduction by affecting the male and female reproductive systems, the developing embryo, and subsequently, the foetus. Knowledge concerning this problem is still being expanded; however, all the conditionings of human reproduction still remain unknown. The study presents the current state of knowledge concerning the problem, based on the latest scientific reports.

The phenomenon of deterioration of the quality of sperm in Poland and Ukraine has not been unequivocally evidenced by scientific research. Spermiogramms of males reporting for the first time to infertility treatment centres in both countries were examined, and trends in changes of selected sperm parameters analyzed during the period of study. Analyses covered the spermiograms of 6,278 men living in the examined regions for at least 3 years. It was found that mean sperm concentration of patients in the Lublin and the Lvov regions did not differ, but the total mean number of spermatozoa produced by Poles was higher than in Ukrainians. The quality of semen with respect to motility and sperm morphology was better in Ukrainian than Polish patients. Despite differences concerning concentration, the amount of sperm produced and percentage of spermatozoa showing progressive motility which occurred between individual years, no clear tendency was observed towards change of these parameters in a specified direction in both countries during the years examined. Among men examined in the Lublin Region, a tendency was noted towards decrease in the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa in the ejaculate, while among patients from the Lvov Region an opposite tendency was observed.

Objectives: Abnormalities in the timing and course of spermatozoa capacitation and hyperactivation underlie common pathologies related to male infertility. Recent data shows that low frequency electromagnetic waves may influence cell membrane potential and permeability. It is therefore possible that low frequency electromagnetic waves could affect the maturation and motility processes of spermatozoa. The 43-kHz wave generator was used for modeling the impact of environmental exposure to low frequency electromagnetic radiation on human sperm. Material and Methods: Sperm samples were gathered from 103 fertile, healthy men aged 25-30 years old and performed computer-assisted sperm analysis. After initial examination, each participant's semen sample was divided into 2 aliquots (control and experimental) and placed in separate automated incubators. The samples constituting the experimental group were placed into the exposure system that emitted 43-kHz electromagnetic waves. Sperm motility was assessed at 3 h, 12 h and 24 h. Results: Exposure to a 43-kHz radio frequency increased the percentage of sperm in progressive motility by up to 5.8% and the velocity of said sperm by up to 2 μm/s. Moreover, the total number of hyperactivated spermatozoa was significantly increased in the semen exposed to the electromagnetic signal. Conclusions: In vivo environmental exposure to 43-kHz waves may promote the development of infertility related to premature capacitation outside of the vaginal tract. Exposing semen to this particular frequency may also boost the capacitation and hyperactivation of spermatozoa in vitro, prior to conducting assisted reproductive therapies.

Pregnancy is a woman’s physiological state, covering the period from conception to birth. It is an important time in the life of every woman and the child’s father. Often, the parents-to-be find the new situation difficult. Childbirth classes may prove helpful during pregnancy and childbirth for mothers and fathers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of antenatal classes on parturition, according to the assessment of patients. The study was conducted at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski Provincial Specialist University Hospital in Lublin at the maternity ward on a group of 155 patients by means of diagnostic survey. The survey, by which the research material was collected, has been developed with the author’s own method. It has been shown that education and age of the participants influence the decision to use the services of childbirth education classes. Furthermore, the knowledge of breathing techniques, the use of birthing facilities, development of a plan for parturition and knowledge of methods of pain relief of childbirth have no impact on its duration. It was also shown that it is important to use relevant childbirth positions.

Wprowadzenie i cel pracy. Antykoncepcja hormonalna wywiera pośrednio lub bezpośrednio wpływ na cały organizm kobiety, m.in. na: układ krążenia, układ pokarmowy, gospodarkę węglowodanową czy też gospodarkę lipidową. Lista przeciwwskazań do stosowania antykoncepcji hormonalnej dwuskładnikowej jest długa, najważniejsze z nich to: ciąża, karmienie piersią, krwawienia z dróg rodnych o nieznanej etiologii, nowotwory, choroby układu krążenia, migreny, choroby wątroby, palenie tytoniu, choroby autoimmunologiczne, zaburzenia gospodarki lipidowej oraz cukrzyca. Celem naszej pracy była ocena znajomości przeciwwskazań do stosowania antykoncepcji hormonalnej wśród studentów Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Lublinie. Materiał i metoda. Grupa badawcza składała się ze 140 studentów Uniwersytetu Medycznego, w wieku od 19 do 31 lat, studiujących na kierunkach: lekarsko-dentystycznym, pielęgniarstwo, położnictwo, ratownictwo medyczne. Przeprowadzono sondaż diagnostyczny za pomocą autorskiej ankiety internetowej, Uzyskane wyniki poddano analizie statystycznej, przy użyciu oprogramowania komputerowego STATISTICA 12.0 (StatSoft, Polska). Wyniki i wnioski. Kierunek studiów wpływa na znajomość przeciwwskazań do stosowania antykoncepcji hormonalnej, takich jak: ciężkie choroby wątroby, wiek powyżej 40 lat i karmienie piersią. Kobiety mają większą świadomość niż mężczyźni, że choroba zakrzepowo-zatorowa jest przeciwwskazaniem do stosowania antykoncepcji hormonalnej.