Cássia Raquel Teatin Juliato

Subclinical hypothyroidism in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome: an analysis of clinical, hormonal, and metabolic parameters

OBJECTIVE To analyze the relationship between selected clinical and metabolic parameters in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and normal thyroid function or subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). DESIGN A cross-sectional cohort study. SETTING Tertiary care clinic. PATIENT(S) Women diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria (n = 168). INTERVENTION(S) Clinical, hormonal, and metabolic parameters were evaluated. SCH was defined as TSH levels of 4.5-10 mIU/L. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Separately, PCOS and SCH exert adverse effects on metabolic parameters; however, in conjunction their effect is unclear. This study evaluated whether SCH in women with PCOS affects clinical, hormonal, and metabolic parameters. RESULT(S) The mean age of the 168 women was 24 ± 5.8 years. Mean body mass index was 33.4 ± 8.2 kg/m(2). Thyroid function was normal in 149 women, and 19 had SCH. Only serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and PRL levels were significantly higher in the women with SCH (122.6 ± 25.6 mg/dL and 17.7 ± 7.7 ng/mL, respectively) compared with those with normal thyroid function (105.6 ± 33 mg/dL and 14 ± 10.3 ng/mL, respectively). CONCLUSION(S) In young women with PCOS, SCH is associated with higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, albeit with no changes in other lipid profile parameters, insulin resistance, or phenotypic manifestations. This study adds to current evidence supporting an association between PCOS and SCH.

Evaluation of Sexual Function in Brazilian Women with Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis and Localized Provoked Vulvodynia

INTRODUCTION Recurrent vulvovaginitis is an important trigger for inflammatory processes that in many cases may result in vulvovaginal pain. Vulvodynia, a vulvar disorder, can also cause a lot of pain in the female genitals. The sexual function in women with vulvodynia or recurrent vulvovaginitis will possibly be negatively affected and therefore should be evaluated. AIM To assess sexual function in women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) and localized provoked vulvodynia (LPV) in comparison with women without lower genital tract dysfunction. METHODS A 1-year cross-sectional study evaluated sexual function in 58 women (11 with RVVC, 18 with LPV, and 29 controls) seen at a university outpatient clinic. Sexual function was assessed by taking into account the results obtained from the application of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, chi-square, and Fishers tests were used for statistical analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE FSFI, a validated questionnaire in Portuguese. RESULTS There were no significant differences in the three groups with respect to age, marital status, schooling, race, body mass index, contraceptive method, and parity. The FSFI questionnaire total score found was 25.51 (±5.12), 21.17 (±5.15), and 29.56 (±3.87) for the RVVC, LPV, and control groups, respectively. The scores were significantly statistically lower in the study groups compared with the control group (P<0.05). Women with RVVC and LPV also had lower total scores compared with 26.55 values, considered a cutoff score for sexual dysfunction in literature. The LPV group showed a significant difference and scored worse in the domains of arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain but not in the domain of sexual desire. The same occurred with the RVVC group but only for the domains of orgasm and satisfaction. CONCLUSION Women with RVVC and LPV had significantly more symptoms of sexual dysfunction than women without lower genital tract diseases.

Forearm bone mineral density in postmenopausal former users of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to compare the bone mineral density (BMD) of postmenopausal women who had used depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) or a copper intrauterine device (IUD) as a comparison group until menopause. STUDY DESIGN BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the nondominant forearm for up to 3 years following menopause in 135 women aged 43-58 years: 36 former DMPA users and 99 former IUD users. RESULTS Mean duration of use was (mean+/-SEM) 9.4+/-3.8 and 14.7+/-6.2 years for the DMPA and IUD groups, respectively. One year after menopause, mean distal radius BMD was 0.435 and 0.449 in DMPA and IUD users, respectively, and 0.426 and 0.447 at 2-3 years following menopause. Ultra-distal BMD was 0.369 and 0.384 in DMPA and IUD users, respectively, at 1 year, and 0.340 and 0.383 at 2-3 years. CONCLUSIONS At 1 and 2-3 years following menopause, no significant differences were observed in the BMD of postmenopausal women aged 43-58 years, who had used DMPA or an IUD until menopause.

Carbohydrate complexity and proportion of serum FSH isoforms reflect pituitary-ovarian activity in perimenopausal women and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate users

Background  FSH is synthesized and secreted in multiple glycosylation variants with different oligosaccharide structures; the endocrine milieu regulates the composition of FSH carbohydrate moiety.

The effect of "breathable" panty liners on the female lower genital tract.

To evaluate whether the use of “breathable” panty liners (BPLs) alters the normal vaginal flora, increases the incidence of bacterial vaginosis and/or vaginal candidiasis, or causes vulvar irritation.

Correlação entre o Diagnóstico Histológico da Biópsia e o da Conização por Cirurgia de Alta Freqüência por Alça (CAF) no Tratamento da Neoplasia Intra-epitelial Cervical

Purpose: to evaluate conization by the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasms (CIN), the importance of the margins and follow-up of these women. Methods: 95 women who underwent conization by LEEP for CIN and microinvasive carcinoma from January 1996 to December 1997 were evaluated. For statistical analysis, we used the kappa agreement coefficient and the tendency test of Cochran Armitage. Results: among 63 cases who underwent colposcopically directed biopsy before the conization, the cone presented the same grade of lesion in 20 and no residual disease in 8. The cone lesion presented a higher grade in 24 cases and one of them was a microinvasive carcinoma. Among the 25 women who underwent the cone biopsy with a previous biopsy suggestive of cervicitis or CIN 1, 56% had CIN 2 or 3 in the cone. Among the 32 women without previous biopsy, 15 had CIN 2 or 3, and four had microinvasive carcinoma in the cone. Regarding the margins of the cone, 25 cases presented some grade of CIN in the endocervical margins and 2/10 who underwent a second procedure presented residual disease on histological analysis. Among the 70 women with free cone margins, 2/4 who underwent a second procedure had residual disease on histological analysis. Conclusion: conization by LEEP without previous directed biopsy depends on the experience of the colposcopist. The second resection after LEEP for the diagnosis and treatment of CIN depends not only on the presence of disease in the cone margins but also on the follow-up. A second histological analysis is recommended in cases with microinvasive carcinoma and glandular lesion and affected margins.

Female pelvic organ prolapse using pessaries: systematic review

Introduction and hypothesisThe purpose of this systematic review is to assess the impact of pessary use on the quality of life of women with pelvic organ prolapse, and to determine the satisfaction rate and rationale for discontinuation.MethodsThis review is recorded in the PROSPERO database under number CRD42015023384. The criteria for inclusion were observational study; cross section; cohort study; randomized controlled trial; study published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish; and study whose participants are women with female pelvic organ prolapse treated using a pessary. We did not include limitations on the year of publication. The criteria for exclusion included studies that did not include the topic, bibliographic or systematic reviews and articles that did not use validated questionnaires. The MeSH terms were “Pelvic Organ Prolapse AND Pessaries AND Quality of Life” OR “Pessary AND Quality of Life” OR “Pessaries”.ResultsWe found 89 articles. After the final analyses, seven articles were included. All articles associated pessary use with improved quality of life, and all used only validated questionnaires. Over half of the women continued using the pessary during the follow-up with acceptable levels of satisfaction. The main rationales for discontinuation were discomfort, pain in the area, and expulsion of the device.ConclusionThis systematic review demonstrates that the pessary can produce a positive effect on women’s quality of life and can significantly improve sexual function and body perception.

Severe depression and anxiety in women with overactive bladder

Depression and anxiety are prevalent psychiatric conditions and are associated with overactive bladder. The objective of this study was to determine prevalence and severity of anxiety and depression associated with overactive bladder (OAB) in women.

Impact of Sacrospinous Colpopexy Associated with Anterior Colporrhaphy for the Treatment of Dome Prolapse on all Three Vaginal Compartments

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the results of sacrospinous colpopexy surgery associated with anterior colporrhaphy for the treatment of women with post-hysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse. METHODS This prospective study included 20 women with vault prolapse, Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System (POP-Q) stage ≥ 2, treated between January 2003 and February 2006, and evaluated in a follow-up review (more than one year later). Genital prolapse was evaluated qualitatively in stages and quantitatively in centimeters. Prolapse stage < 2 was considered to be the cure criterion. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon test (paired samples) to compare the points and stages of prolapse before and after surgery. RESULTS Evaluation of the vaginal vault after one year revealed that 95% of subjects were in stage zero and that 5% were in stage 1. For cystocele, 50% were in stage 1, 10% were in stage 0 (cured) and 40% were in stage 2. For rectocele, three women were in stage 1 (15%), one was in stage 2 (5%) and 16 had no further prolapse. The most frequent complication was pain in the right buttock, with remission of symptoms in all three cases three months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS In this retrospective study, the surgical correction of vault prolapse using a sacrospinous ligament fixation technique associated with anterior colporrhaphy proved effective in resolving genital prolapse. Despite the low complication rates, there was a high rate of cystocele, which may be caused by posterior vaginal shifting due to either the technique or an overvaluation by the POP-Q system.

Subjective urinary urgency in middle age women: A population-based study

AIMS There are few population-based studies evaluating the epidemiology of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) in women, especially in the climacteric stage where there is a decrease in estrogen production. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of OAB and associated factors in climacteric Brazilian women. METHODS A descriptive, exploratory, cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2012 and June 2013 with 749 women (a population-based household survey). The dependent variable was OAB, defined as the presence of urinary urgency, with or without urinary incontinence, and when there was no concomitant stress urinary incontinence. The independent variables were sociodemographic data, health related habits and problems, self-perception of health, and gynecological background. Statistical analysis was carried out by Chi-square test and Poisson regression using the backward selection criteria. RESULTS Mean age was 52.5 (± 4.4) years. With regard to menopausal status, 16% were premenopausal, 16% perimenopausal and 68% postmenopausal. The prevalence of OAB was 7.8%. The vast majority of women had only urinary urgency. Only two women who responded to the interview reported urge incontinence. In the final statistical model, vaginal dryness (PR 1.75; 95% CI 1.13-2.69; p=0.012) and bilateral oophorectomy (PR 2.21; 95% CI 1.11-4.40; p=0.025) were associated with a greater prevalence of OAB. CONCLUSIONS Health professionals should adopt a proactive behavior in surgically menopausal women and those with a history of genital atrophy to identify and treat OAB, thus contributing to an improved quality of life and healthier aging.