International Journal of Women's Health最新文献

{"title":"Performance Metrics of Mammography Screening Programmes in Primary Health Care Centres in Bahrain.","authors":"Ghufran Ahmed Jassim, Muna Ahmed AlMohri, Hala Yusuf AlAsoomi, Ameera AlNooh, Shahla Fahad AlDoseri","doi":"10.2147/IJWH.S535787","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJWH.S535787","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mammography is the cornerstone of breast cancer screening. Its diagnostic performance, however, is influenced by population demographics such as age and breast density.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The aim of this study was to establish contemporary performance benchmarks for mammography screening in Bahrain's primary health-care centres (PHCs) and to identify areas for quality improvement.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional retrospective analysis was performed on mammograms from asymptomatic women aged ≥40 years who were screened in 2020 at primary health care centres. Screening outcomes were cross-referenced with subsequent breast cancer diagnoses recorded in the Bahrain Cancer Registry (2021-2022). Mammographic findings were categorised using the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS), and performance metrics including the cancer detection rate (CDR), sensitivity, and specificity were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 2196 screening mammograms were included, with a mean patient age of 56.1 years. The cancer detection rate was 12.3 per 1000 screens, and the recall rate was 30.6%. Sensitivity and specificity were 69.2% and 71.2%, respectively, and the interval cancer rate was 5.4 per 1000. The most common breast density category was \"scattered fibroglandular\" (61.8%). Recall rates were significantly associated with breast density (p < 0.001). Among the 39 patients diagnosed with breast cancer, invasive ductal carcinoma was the most prevalent subtype (71.8%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings highlight the moderate utility of mammography screening in Bahrain, characterised by a relatively high recall rate and a need to optimise reporting standards and recall criteria. Tailored strategies such as supplemental imaging for women with dense or high-risk breasts, strict adherence to BI-RADS guidelines, and implementing double reading or single reading with computer-aided detection could improve screening outcomes. These results establish important regional performance benchmarks and can inform policies to enhance breast cancer detection and management in the Arabian Gulf region.</p>","PeriodicalId":14356,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Women's Health","volume":"17 ","pages":"2583-2593"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12372806/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144953994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Causal Relationship Between Matrix Metalloproteinase and Cervical Lesions: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Analysis.","authors":"Mingxing Pan, Wei Tian, Meiling Su, Shaohua Zhang, Yanjie Hai","doi":"10.2147/IJWH.S533897","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJWH.S533897","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the causal relationship between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cervical lesions, as their correlation remains unclear despite reports of their involvement in the pathogenesis of these lesions.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary data to assess the causal associations of MMPs (MMP-1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 17) with cervical lesions. The primary analysis utilized the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, supplemented by weighted median, mode, and MR-Egger regression. Heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochran's Q test and Leave-one-out analysis, while MR-Egger regression and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) methods addressed horizontal pleiotropy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>IVW analysis revealed causal effects of MMP-3 on cervical precancerous lesions (OR = 0.9993, P=0.0248), MMP-7 on cervical cancer (OR=0.6131, P = 0.0303), MMP-9 on cervical inflammation (OR = 1.1081, P = 0.0446), and MMP-12 on cervical erosion (OR = 0.8354, P = 0.0444), and cervical cancer (OR = 0.6836, P = 0.006). Sensitivity analyses confirmed these findings.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study highlights causal associations between MMPs and cervical lesions, suggesting their potential as therapeutic targets and biomarkers for early detection. Future research should further explore the mechanisms involved.</p>","PeriodicalId":14356,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Women's Health","volume":"17 ","pages":"2569-2582"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12372815/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144954288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of Serum sFlt-1/PlGF Ratio Combined with Uterine Artery Blood Flow Ultrasound in Predicting Early-Onset Preeclampsia.","authors":"Han Zhang, Cui Xu","doi":"10.2147/IJWH.S539946","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJWH.S539946","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the predictive efficacy of combining serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor (sFlt-1/PlGF) ratio with uterine artery Doppler ultrasound for early-onset preeclampsia (PE) before 34 weeks' gestation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on 148 singleton pregnancies (control group: n = 76; early-onset PE group: n = 72) who delivered at our institution between July 2023 and June 2024. At 24-28 weeks, serum sFlt-1 and PlGF levels were quantified via electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (Roche Elecsys^®), and uterine artery pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D) were measured by Doppler ultrasound (M22 system, standardized settings). Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves assessed predictive performance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared to controls, PE patients exhibited significantly elevated sFlt-1 (24.02 ± 6.68 vs 16.38 ± 7.47 μg/L; P < 0.001), reduced PlGF (1.22 ± 0.14 vs 1.54 ± 0.30 μg/L; P < 0.001), and higher sFlt-1/PlGF ratio (20.76 ± 7.71 vs 10.11 ± 4.10; P < 0.001). Doppler indices were markedly increased in PE: PI (1.34 ± 0.26 vs 0.82 ± 0.11; P < 0.001), RI (0.78 ± 0.12 vs 0.51 ± 0.07; P < 0.001), and S/D (3.89 ± 0.97 vs 2.11 ± 0.41; P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed all parameters as independent predictors (P < 0.05), with sFlt-1/PlGF ratio having the highest odds ratio (OR = 1.332, 95% CI: 1.128-1.573). The combined model achieved superior predictive performance: area under curve (AUC)=0.954 (95% CI: 0.92-0.99) vs sFlt-1/PlGF alone (AUC = 0.887; P = 0.003) or PI alone (AUC = 0.821; P < 0.001), with sensitivity 82.2%, specificity 96.7%, and accuracy 94.7%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Integration of sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and uterine artery Doppler parameters (particularly uterine artery PI and RI) significantly enhances early-onset PE prediction, providing a robust tool for clinical risk stratification.</p>","PeriodicalId":14356,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Women's Health","volume":"17 ","pages":"2561-2567"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12363554/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144954322","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study on the Effects of Cadmium Exposure on Zinc Metabolism and FOXO3a Expression in the Preeclampsia Maternal-Fetal System.","authors":"Ailing Ding, Yahong Cao, Fei Li, Qimei Yang, Dandan Zhou, Xudong Dong","doi":"10.2147/IJWH.S534633","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJWH.S534633","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To detect the levels of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) in maternal blood, umbilical blood, and placenta of preeclampsia (PE) patients, elucidating their relationship with FOXO3a transcription factors and oxidative stress.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>A total of 100 pregnant women admitted for childbirth at the obstetrics department of the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province from September 2023 to September 2024 were included (normal group: 40 cases, PE group: 60 cases). Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure Cd and Zn levels in maternal blood, umbilical cord blood, and placental tissues. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to detect Forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a) levels. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 27.0 software and RStudio to compare differences and correlations among groups. Perform post hoc statistical efficacy analysis on sample size using G*Power software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with the normal group, placental Cd levels were significantly higher in the PE group (P<0.05) and the maternal blood and placental Zn levels were significantly lower in the PE group (P<0.05). In the PE group, the levels of Zn and Cd in maternal blood and placenta were positively correlated (r=0.50, P<0.001; r=0.567, P<0.001). Placental FOXO3a levels were significantly elevated in the PE group (P<0.001), while maternal and umbilical cord blood FOXO3a levels were reduced (P<0.001). The levels of FOXO3a in the placenta were negatively correlated with the levels of Zn (r=-0.277, P<0.05), and the levels of FOXO3a in umbilical cord blood were negatively correlated with the levels of Cd (r=-0.326, P<0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The exposure and accumulation of Cd in the maternal-fetal system can affect the transport and metabolism of Zn in placenta, leading to increased expression of FOXO3a under oxidative stress, causing the occurrence and development of PE.</p>","PeriodicalId":14356,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Women's Health","volume":"17 ","pages":"2551-2559"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12377857/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144954016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Practical Models for Predicting Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia in High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions Patients within Two years After Conization.","authors":"Lu Liu, Jing Li, Xu Qiao, Wei Chen, Youzhong Zhang, Ping Zhang","doi":"10.2147/IJWH.S534125","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJWH.S534125","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to identify reliable risk factors for the development of Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN) within two years after the conization for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). We developed a prediction model to predict the risk of VaIN based on preoperative and follow-up data.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We collected 5358 patients who underwent conization for HSIL, of whom 99 developed VaIN within two years after conization. We selected 495 patients as the control group by randomly pairing them 1:5, and were randomly divided into development and validation cohorts at a ratio 7:3. Random Forest (RF), Lasso, and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) were employed to identify the most influential variables in the model development dataset. The optimal variables selected through this process were then used for model construction. Subsequently, four machine learning models were developed, and their performance was evaluated using metrics including sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, area under the curve (AUC), and the F1 score. To enhance interpretability, the prediction process was visualized using Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP). Finally, the model was deployed as a web-based clinical decision support system for practical clinical applications.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five key clinical predictive variables were identified: age, transformation zone (TZ) type, presence of VaIN before conization, follow-up cytology after conization, and follow-up HPV after conization. The optimal model demonstrated strong predictive performance, achieving AUC of 0.910 (95% CI: 0.854-0.966) in the internal validation cohort and 0.905 (95% CI: 0.859-0.951) in the external validation cohort.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We established a practical and accurate prediction model deployed in the network application to predict the occurrence of VaIN within two years after conization in patients with HSIL. This tool can facilitate targeted clinical decision-making for clinicians.</p>","PeriodicalId":14356,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Women's Health","volume":"17 ","pages":"2537-2549"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12358155/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144873144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prognostic Factors and Role of Pelvic Lymphadenectomy in Patients with Uterine Sarcoma: A Multi-Center Population-Based Cohort Study.","authors":"Yunmei Zhuo, Wanwan Ji, Xianzhong Cheng","doi":"10.2147/IJWH.S536899","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJWH.S536899","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The prognostic factors and impact of pelvic lymphadenectomy in uterine sarcomas remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic factors and role of pelvic lymphadenectomy in uterine sarcoma.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed the data of uterine sarcoma patients obtained from 17 centers through the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 2010 to 2021. After propensity score matching analysis, the characteristics of the patients who underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy and those who did not were compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on patient data before and after propensity score matching. Additionally, survival analyses were performed for different subgroups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Multivariate COX regression analysis revealed that age, histology, tumor grade, and AJCC stage were correlated with prognosis (p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that there was no significant difference in survival between the pelvic lymphadenectomy and non-pelvic lymphadenectomy groups (p=0.431). No statistically significant differences were observed in any of the subgroups analyzed, including age, histology, tumor size, tumor grade, stage, and marital status (p > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Patient age, histological type, grade, and stage were significantly associated with the prognosis of uterine sarcoma. Additionally, pelvic lymphadenectomy did not confer a survival benefit to patients with this disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":14356,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Women's Health","volume":"17 ","pages":"2499-2509"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12357536/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144873145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Milking Interventions at Different Stages on Breastfeeding Rate and Quality in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.","authors":"Qi Wu, Xiaoyun Wang, Fenghong Zhu","doi":"10.2147/IJWH.S527848","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJWH.S527848","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the effect of Milking interventions at different stages on postpartum breastfeeding rate and quality in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this retrospective study, a total of 400 GDM patients who delivered vaginally at the Department of Obstetrics, Anhui Women and Children's Medical Center between May 2024 and February 2025 were enrolled. According to the type of intervention, the patients were divided into an observation group (Milking interventions at different stages, n=200) and a control group (conventional prenatal intervention, n=200). Both groups were assessed for exclusive breastfeeding rate, breastfeeding quality, and related indicators postpartum.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were no significant differences in age, BMI, or other basic clinical characteristics between the two groups (P>0.05), indicating that the groups were comparable. The observation group showed significantly lower levels of HbA1c, postprandial blood glucose (PBG), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) compared to the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, the exclusive breastfeeding rates at discharge and on the third day of follow-up were significantly higher in the observation group (P<0.05). Additionally, the observation group demonstrated a shorter time to lactogenesis and a higher average milk volume (P<0.05); both the prenatal and postpartum Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES) scores were significantly greater than those in the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the newborns in the observation group exhibited more favorable weight gain, and maternal satisfaction with breastfeeding at discharge was significantly higher compared to the control group (P<0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Milking interventions at different stages not only significantly enhances the breastfeeding rate and quality in women with GDM but also effectively promotes postpartum recovery of glucose metabolism. This intervention is safe, easy to implement, and holds promising clinical value, offering strong evidence for improving the health outcomes of GDM patients and their newborns.</p>","PeriodicalId":14356,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Women's Health","volume":"17 ","pages":"2523-2535"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12356207/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144873143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cardiovascular Health Optimization Through Life's Essential 8 Scores Reduces Gestational Diabetes Risk: Mediation by Platelet Activity and Inflammatory Pathways in a Nationwide Cohort.","authors":"Xuemei Li, Qimei Yang, Xia Zhang, Lidan He, Chen Chen, Jianbo Wu","doi":"10.2147/IJWH.S536082","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJWH.S536082","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study explores the relationship between Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), subsequent diabetes, and mortality, and analyzes the mediating effects of platelet-related indicators and inflammatory markers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study utilized cohort, data from the Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), applying logistic regression models and mediation effect analysis to assess the associations between LE8 score and GDM. Potential confounding factors such as age, race, education, PIR, health insurance, and access to healthcare were adjusted to ensure the reliability of the results. Linear mediation analysis, conducted using the \"mediation\" package with 1000 bootstrap replications, quantified the mediating roles of mean platelet volume (MPV), white blood cell (WBC), and lymphocyte (LYM) counts.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We analyzed data from the NHANES from 2007 to 2018, involving 59,842 participants. Among them, 858 had a history of GDM. Each unit increase in LE8 score reduced GDM odds by 3%. High Cardiovascular health (CVH) individuals exhibited 70% lower GDM risk versus low CVH. WBC (5.8%), LYM (4.8%), and MPV (0.6%) partially mediated LE8-GDM associations, highlighting inflammation's mechanistic role. High LE8 scores predicted 94% lower diabetes risk post-GDM. Mortality analysis revealed a U-shaped association between LE8 scores and mortality risk, with borderline evidence of nonlinearity (P = 0.069).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>As the first study to integrate CVH metrics with platelet/inflammatory biomarkers in GDM pathogenesis, our findings demonstrate that optimizing LE8 scores, particularly through BMI, blood pressure, and lipid control, significantly mitigates GDM risk and complications. Integrating LE8 assessment at first prenatal visit may enable early risk stratification and personalized interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":14356,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Women's Health","volume":"17 ","pages":"2511-2522"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12357361/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144873142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Rare Case of Actinomycetoma In Pregnancy: Effective Treatment with the Combination of Amoxicillin-Clavulanic Acid.","authors":"Risa Miliawati Nurul Hidayah, Hendra Gunawan, Reiva Farah Dwiyana, Rafithia Anandita, Nisa Fauziah, Hermin Aminah Usman, Sarah Annadya","doi":"10.2147/IJWH.S527336","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJWH.S527336","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Actinomycetoma is a chronic granulomatous of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by filamentous bacterial infection. In pregnancy, this disease is associated with poor clinical outcomes and often unresponsive to standard therapy. Although actinomycetoma is primarily treated with antibiotics, nevertheless, many recommended antibiotics cannot be used during pregnancy due to the potential for fetal harm. Report of actinomycetoma in pregnancy are infrequent. The management of mycetoma in pregnancy requires special attention in various aspects, particularly regarding the safety of the mother and fetus.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A 21-year-old pregnant woman, gestational age of 31-32 weeks, presented with tumefaction, multiple nodules, and sinuses that secreting serosanguinolenta exudate on the right knee. The patient was diagnosed as actinomycetoma according to clinical manifestations of tumefaction, sinuses, and the appearance of grain from direct microscopic and histologic examination. Bacterial culture revealed the growth of <i>Actinomycetes</i> colony. The patient received amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 625 mg thrice daily. Clinical improvements were observed after the fourth week of therapy. There was no adverse event reported during the treatment period nor the follow up period.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Actinomycetoma in pregnancy has limitation in the choice of therapy. The combination of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid can be considered as an effective and relatively safe therapy for pregnancy with actinomycetoma.</p>","PeriodicalId":14356,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Women's Health","volume":"17 ","pages":"2493-2498"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12341821/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144835082","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Meta-Ethnography of Women's Intimate and Sexual Experiences Across the Menopause Continuum.","authors":"Samar Alotaibi, Sharron Hinchliff, Parveen Ali","doi":"10.2147/IJWH.S517807","DOIUrl":"10.2147/IJWH.S517807","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Women's intimate and sexual experiences during midlife are shaped by complex biopsychosocial factors, warranting focused attention in research and clinical practice. A hormonal shift in the menopause transition period may cause symptoms such as vaginal dryness, thinned mucosa, and painful intercourse. Other symptoms include decreased libido, and difficulty achieving orgasm during sexual activity. With more women reaching midlife, there is more need to understand how physiology and psychology impact their intimate relationships and overall health. The purpose of this review was to explore published qualitative studies on women's sexual experiences including function, satisfaction, and challenges during midlife and the menopause continuum. A meta-ethnographic approach was conducted to synthesize all relevant qualitative studies. We searched on the Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL for studies published between 2010 and September 2024. Of 1,361 studies identified, 53 studies encompassing diverse cultural contexts met the inclusion criteria and were synthesized. Three main themes were identified: physical symptoms and cultural influences on sexuality during menopause and midlife; emotional, psychological, and relational responses to sexual and bodily changes, including shifts in self-perception, body image, emotional well-being, and relationship dynamics; and adapting to sexual changes during the midlife and menopause transition. The review highlights that biological changes alone are insufficient to fully understand midlife and menopausal women's sexual experiences, emphasizing the need for a biopsychosocial approach to provide holistic care. Greater attention should be given to midlife women's sexual health and well-being by raising awareness and encouraging open discussions about menopause and sexual changes. Healthcare professionals play a critical role in recognizing the psychological impacts of these changes and facilitating conversations to help women feel comfortable discussing sensitive topics. The review highlights the need for future research to explore women's experiences of menopause and sexual health and well-being across diverse cultural contexts, with particular attention to non-Western countries where such perspectives remain underrepresented.</p>","PeriodicalId":14356,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Women's Health","volume":"17 ","pages":"2465-2491"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12341554/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144835081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}