BMC Women's Health最新文献

{"title":"\"Barriers beneath the surface\": healthcare access and cultural beliefs affecting cervical cancer screening among egyptian women: a qualitative study.","authors":"Marwa Mamdouh Shaban, Nermen Abdelfatah Mohamed, Mostafa Shaban","doi":"10.1186/s12905-026-04911-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-026-04911-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cervical cancer remains the fourth most common cancer among women globally, with disproportionate burden concentrated in low- and middle-income countries. In Egypt, participation in cervical cancer screening remains critically low, shaped by intersecting layers of socio-cultural belief, limited health literacy, and structural barriers in healthcare access. Despite growing quantitative evidence, the lived experiences of Egyptian women navigating these barriers remain poorly understood. This study explored the healthcare access factors and cultural beliefs affecting cervical cancer screening among Egyptian women attending a gynaecology outpatient clinic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative study using reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) was conducted at the gynaecology outpatient clinic of Kafrelsheikh University Hospital, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt, between October 2025 and February 2026. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 22 adult Egyptian women. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted in Arabic, audio-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Analysis followed Braun and Clarke's six-phase reflexive thematic analysis framework.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four overarching themes were identified: (1) \"Silenced by Stigma and Shame\" - the role of taboo, modesty norms, and social censure in suppressing women's willingness to seek screening; (2) \"The Body as a Site of Cultural Negotiation\" - how religious beliefs, fatalistic attitudes, and patriarchal permission structures governed bodily access and health-seeking; (3) \"When the System Stands in the Way\" - structural healthcare barriers including cost, unavailability of female providers, and limited facility infrastructure; and (4) \"Navigating Between Fear and Faith\" - the psychological tension between fear of cancer diagnosis and religious reliance on divine will.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Cervical cancer screening avoidance among Egyptian women is rooted in a complex convergence of cultural norms, patriarchal structures, religious fatalism, and systemic healthcare inadequacies. Culturally sensitive interventions, nurse-led outreach, and expanded access to female healthcare providers are urgently needed. Community health nurses are positioned as a critical bridge between women's health needs and culturally acceptable care.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13675963/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149215046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gamma-irradiated amniotic membrane graft as an adjuvant to posterior colporrhaphy: an exploratory prospective single-arm clinical trial.","authors":"Rania Hassan Mostafa Ahmed, Mohab Ahmed Fouad ElRabat, Nourhan Ashraf ElSherbiny, Ihab Fouad Serag Eldin Allam, Ahmed Hesham Abdel Hakim, Ahmed Mohamed Abbas Sadek","doi":"10.1186/s12905-026-04919-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-026-04919-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Posterior compartment prolapse is a frequent pelvic floor disorder. While conventional posterior colporrhaphy is widely used, the recurrence rates and limitations in terms of tissue support remain concerns. Human amniotic membrane represents a promising biological scaffold with potent regenerative properties. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of using amniotic membrane as a graft in posterior colporrhaphy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This pilot one-arm clinical trial was conducted on women with posterior compartment prolapse at Ain Shams University Hospital during the period (November 2023- August 2025). Twenty-five patients underwent posterior colporrhaphy using gamma-irradiated amniotic membrane as a graft on the rectovaginal septum. We assessed symptoms score via the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 6 (POPDI-6), sexual function via the Female Sexual Function Index Questionnaire, and pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) preoperatively, and at 3 and 6 months post-operatively, and assessed complication rates.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The AM graft was successfully implanted in all patients. The overall procedure was associated with reduction in POPDI-6 scores from 68.00 ± 14.52 at baseline to 20.67 ± 7.93 at 6 months (p < 0.001), with a mean percentage reduction of 68.22% ± 14.54%. The sexual function score improved from 11.75 ± 3.55 to 30.80 ± 2.75. Anatomical assessment revealed that 80% of patients achieved POP-Q stage 0, whereas 20% reached stage I by 6 months. No serious complications (wound dehiscence, visceral injury) were reported; however, vaginitis was common, affecting 76% of patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Posterior colporrhaphy with adjuvant gamma-irradiated amniotic membrane graft was associated with some improvement in symptoms, clinical examination, as well as sexual function of the patients. However, this is a one-arm pilot study; further studies are needed to compare this technique with conventional colporrhaphy.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Clinicaltrials.gov NCT06117670, on 31/10/2023.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13675953/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149215027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Women's experiences of a medically supervised fasting intervention for infertility: a qualitative study.","authors":"Jocelyn N Behling, Katharina T May, Katharina Batschari, Katharina Sochiera-Plegniere, Sarah B Blakeslee, Wiebke Stritter, Michael Jeitler, Farid I Kandil, Barbara Kunz, Alexandra Prüß, Andreas Michalsen, Daniela A Koppold","doi":"10.1186/s12905-026-04978-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-026-04978-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Infertility affects couples in Germany and worldwide, with impacts on quality of life. Although fertility treatments are available, success rates often remain limited, and treatments are associated with physical and psychological burdens. Consequently, many seek alternative or complementary approaches to support fertility. To investigate one such approach, an RCT was conducted to examine the effects of a medically supervised prolonged, fluid-only fasting intervention (< 500 kcal/day) on fertility-related outcomes. Nested within this trial, this qualitative study explores women's experiences with the intervention, focusing on its acceptability and its perceived physical and psychological effects.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study accompanied a randomized controlled trial in which fasting served as an intervention to assess its potential effects on fertility. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted after the intervention and analysed using inductive thematic analysis, with regular research group discussions ensuring consistency and rigor. All participants available and willing to participate in the qualitative study were interviewed. In total, eight women were interviewed between February 2022 and January 2023.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fasting was generally well-received. Challenges included fatigue, taste dissatisfaction, and cravings, low mood and social withdrawal. Participants' motivation, coping strategies, and dietitian support helped manage these difficulties. Reported benefits included physical well-being, improved mood, and a sense of inner balance. Fasting was valued for offering an active role in fertility treatment. Post-fast, some expressed a renewed hope for fertility treatment, while others described a shift away from their formerly intense focus on conception.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Medically supervised prolonged fluid-only fasting was perceived as acceptable by women experiencing infertility, with both benefits and challenges reported throughout the fasting experience.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov, TRN: NCT04942457, Registration date: 10 May 2021.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13653389/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149147685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physical activity for psychological and physical well-being in menstruating individuals: an integrative review.","authors":"Mareike Hechinger, Barbara Silva Salla, Milena Mühlbauer","doi":"10.1186/s12905-026-04975-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-026-04975-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Physical and psychological symptoms vary across the menstrual cycle and may influence well-being and engagement in physical activity. While physical activity may alleviate menstrual pain, fatigue, and mood disturbances, evidence regarding beneficial types, intensities, and timing remains fragmented. This integrative review aimed to synthesise evidence on how physical activity contributes to psychological and physical well-being in menstruating individuals and to identify practically relevant recommendations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An integrative review was conducted using a PIO-based search strategy. CINAHL, PubMed/MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library were searched for peer-reviewed studies published in English or German between 2010 and 2025, supplemented by backward and forward citation tracking. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies examining physical activity in relation to psychological and/or physical well-being across the menstrual cycle were eligible. Three reviewers independently screened records using predefined criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifty-five studies comprising 13,856 participants were included, with randomised controlled trials being most common (n = 31; 56.4%). Three domains emerged: menstrual pain and somatic symptoms; premenstrual and emotional symptoms; and quality of life, sleep, and daily functioning. Physical activity was predominantly associated with reductions in symptom burden and improvements in well-being. Evidence was most consistent for reductions in menstrual pain and somatic symptoms, particularly following mind-body approaches. Aerobic and other exercise modalities also showed beneficial but more heterogeneous findings. Improvements in premenstrual and emotional symptoms were frequently reported, whereas evidence for quality of life, sleep, and daily functioning was more limited. Heterogeneity in exercise modalities, intervention characteristics, and outcome assessment limited direct comparisons.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Physical activity may improve psychological and physical well-being in menstruating individuals, with the most consistent evidence for menstrual pain and somatic symptoms; findings for premenstrual, emotional, and quality-of-life outcomes were less consistent. Mind-body approaches such as yoga and Pilates showed particularly promising results. Rather than supporting a uniform cycle-based prescription, the findings point towards an individualised and symptom-responsive approach that also takes underlying conditions into account. More standardised and methodologically robust research is needed to establish specific recommendations and better understand experiences of physical activity across the menstrual cycle.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13640090/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149104404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bridging the gap between guidelines and practice: genetic counseling uptake and barriers in patients with ovarian malignancies.","authors":"Walid Shaalan, Nicola Dikow, Felix K F Kommoss, Katharina Smetanay, Nourhan Hassan, Maximilian Riedel, Kyra Fischer, Friederike Stroisch, Cecilie F Torkildsen, Foteini Katsikogianni, Lara Meike Tretschock, Kathrin Hassdenteufel, Dina Batarseh, Riku Togawa, Christina Schmidt, Osama Azzam Nieto, Thomas M Deutsch, Axel Gerhardt, Andre Hennigs, Lisa Katharina Nees, Steffen Hirsch, Andreas Schneeweiss, Oliver Zivanovic, Fabian Riedel","doi":"10.1186/s12905-026-04940-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-026-04940-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Genetic counseling and germline genetic testing are essential components of ovarian cancer care; however, their implementation in routine clinical practice remains inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the utilization of genetic counseling and testing among patients with ovarian cancer and identify barriers to implementation within routine care.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A single-center, retrospective questionnaire-based study was conducted among patients who underwent surgical treatment for ovarian malignancies between January 2021 and June 2025. Patient-reported data on information provision, referral pathways, organizational access, satisfaction, and barriers were linked with clinical and demographic characteristics. Descriptive analyses were performed, reflecting the exploratory nature of the study. A problem frequency (PF) framework, defined as the proportion of responses indicating a problem, was applied to identify and rank patient-reported barriers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 321 identified patients, 61 were deceased prior to study initiation. Among 256 successfully contacted patients, 132 responded (51.6%). Overall, 115/132 (87.1%) reported receiving information regarding genetic counseling, primarily from hospital-based physicians (106/132; 80.3%). Among the 132 questionnaire respondents, 96/132 (72.7%) attended genetic counseling and 93/132 (70.5%) proceeded to genetic testing; pathogenic variants were identified in 26/93 tested patients (28.0%). Genetic counseling among respondents increased from 37.5% in 2021 to 94.7% in 2025. The majority of appointments were self-initiated. The most frequently reported barriers were limited information provision, appointment scheduling difficulties, and travel-related barriers, whereas emotional burden at the time of diagnosis was reported less frequently. Uptake was significantly associated with family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, higher educational attainment, and parity. Notably, nearly half of the participants who had not attended genetic counseling (17/36;47.2%) reported reconsidering uptake after completing the questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite recommendations for universal genetic counseling in ovarian cancer care, gaps in implementation remain evident in routine clinical practice. Organizational and informational barriers represent prominent obstacles to uptake. Our findings highlight the potential value of standardized referral pathways, proactive information provision, and repeated patient engagement to facilitate access to genetic services.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13625251/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149079906","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determinants of intimate partner violence among women of reproductive age: a cross-sectional study in Türkiye.","authors":"Nigar Çelik, Rahime Aslan","doi":"10.1186/s12905-026-04946-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-026-04946-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major global public health issue that adversely affects women's physical, psychosocial, and reproductive health. Although individual characteristics have been widely studied, relational dynamics and intergenerational experiences of violence remain less explored, particularly in the Turkish context. Examining these factors together may contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of IPV and inform prevention strategies.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aimed to examine IPV exposure among women of reproductive age in Türkiye and to identify sociodemographic, partner-related, and relational factors associated with such exposure.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between 15 November 2024 and 15 January 2025 with 453 women aged 18-49 years who had a current partner. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling via five social media platforms. Data were collected using a researcher-developed online questionnaire comprising sociodemographic and partner-related characteristics and a single-item measure of exposure to IPV. Statistical analyses included the chi-square test, the Mann-Whitney U test, and Firth penalized logistic regression to address sparse-data bias and quasi-complete separation. Multicollinearity was assessed using variance inflation factors. Internal validation was performed using bootstrap optimism correction (B = 500) and 10-fold cross-validation repeated 10 times. Statistical significance was set at p < .05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 11.3% of participants reported IPV exposure. Firth penalized logistic regression showed that witnessing the partner's violent behavior toward others (OR = 94.42; 95% CI: 6.06-1471.46), low relationship satisfaction (OR = 24.71; 95% CI: 4.43-137.92), a history of family violence (OR = 15.48; 95% CI: 5.21-46.02), lower income relative to expenses (OR = 19.12; 95% CI: 4.93-74.14), and increasing age (OR = 1.27 per year; 95% CI: 1.17-1.38) were independently associated with IPV exposure. The model yielded a Nagelkerke R² of 0.746 and an optimism-corrected AUC of 0.966. Given the limited number of IPV events and the wide confidence intervals for several estimates, the magnitude of the observed associations should be interpreted cautiously.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>IPV exposure in this study was associated with individual, relational, socioeconomic, and prior violence-related characteristics. The observed associations are consistent with a multilevel understanding of IPV and highlight the relevance of considering relational and family experiences alongside individual and socioeconomic characteristics in IPV prevention and assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13628963/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149104387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Barriers and facilitators of mental health app use among young women - a multimethod study.","authors":"Johanna Schröder, Sandra Miethe, Luana López, Alina Emde, Sebastian Trautmann","doi":"10.1186/s12905-026-04934-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-026-04934-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Prevalences of psychological distress among young women are high and rising. Despite a vast number of potentially helpful mental health apps (MHA), dissemination is limited. The current study aims to inform user-centered development and implementation of mental health apps for young women by examining mental health problems in the target population, existing help-seeking patterns and their gaps, perceived barriers to both conventional and digital care, and preferred MHA characteristics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>521 women between the ages of 18 and 35 participated in a cross-sectional online survey. Alongside descriptive data on psychological distress, help-seeking behaviour, and barriers to mental health app use, associations between indicators of psychological distress and MHA use were examined using binary logistic regression. Thematic analysis was used to reveal attributes of MHA that are considered professional and most helpful by this group.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The most common psychological distress symptoms were fatigue (79%), worry (79%), and tension (74%). Frequently used support sources included self-help books (60%), primary care (51%), and psychotherapy (51%); 31% had ever used MHA. Barriers to MHA use were mainly a lack of knowledge (32.5%), concerns about effectiveness (9.8%), and financial costs (9.6%). General psychological distress (OR = 1.03 [1.01-1.06], p = .012), anxiety and appetite/weight problems (ORs between 1.95 and 1.99, ps ≤ .004) were most strongly associated with MHA use. Thematic analysis showed that young women view professional appearance and helpfulness in MHA as multifaceted, emphasizing usability, security, as well as personal and technical support as relevant aspects.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although psychological distress is common among young women, only a minority uses MHA. Use is associated with the type of symptoms, symptom burden, knowledge of and expectations toward these tools. Improving awareness and accessibility, ensuring app quality, credibility, and data security may represent key factors for strengthening uptake and sustained use in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13615588/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149058309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gender perception as a predictor of women's attitudes towards infertility: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Gülay Can, Çiler Yeyğel","doi":"10.1186/s12905-026-04906-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-026-04906-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Infertility is not only a medical condition but also a reproductive health issue with significant psychological, social, and cultural consequences for women. Gender perception may influence women's attitudes toward infertility; however, evidence regarding this relationship remains limited. This study aimed to examine the relationship between gender perception and attitudes toward infertility among women and to determine whether gender perception predicts attitudes toward infertility.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 346 women aged 18-60 years who were registered at the Çerkeş Family Health Center. Data were collected using the Introductory Information Form, the Infertility Attitude Scale, and the Gender Perception Scale. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to examine the association between gender perception and attitudes toward infertility while accounting for relevant sociodemographic and pregnancy-related characteristics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean Infertility Attitude Scale score was 48.23 ± 7.55, and the mean Gender Perception Scale score was 97.45 ± 18.22. A moderate positive correlation was found between attitudes toward infertility and gender perception (r = 0.634, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression showed that gender perception was positively associated with attitudes toward infertility (B = 0.262, β = 0.621, 95% CI: 0.218-0.306, p < 0.001), with the model explaining 46.8% of the variance (R² = 0.468; adjusted R² = 0.440). Employment status, marital status, and pregnancy history were also significantly associated with infertility attitudes (p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Gender perception was positively associated with women's attitudes toward infertility. These findings highlight the potential value of gender-sensitive approaches in reproductive health education and counselling.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13628946/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149104376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Squamous cell carcinoma arising from ovarian mature cystic teratoma with concurrent cervical high-risk HPV infection and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion: a case report.","authors":"Wenna Zhao, Yaxuan Sun, Masmuha Marshed Al Ramadhany, Ruochen Wu, Yifang Zhang","doi":"10.1186/s12905-026-04834-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-026-04834-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Malignant transformation of ovarian mature cystic teratoma (MCT) is uncommon, with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) being the predominant type. Its pathogenesis remains poorly understood, and the potential role of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is controversial.</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>A 58-year-old postmenopausal woman presented with a huge complex cystic-solid pelvic mass. The elevated Serum SCC antigen revealed potential malignant transformation. Intraoperative frozen section revealed squamous cell carcinoma arising from mature cystic teratoma, and comprehensive staging surgery was performed. Histopathological examination confirmed the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IA SCC arising from MCT. The patient achieved complete remission after surgery and four cycles of adjuvant carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy, with no recurrence at 24-month follow-up. Notably, this case was found to have the HPV infection and a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. The cervical lesion was HPV positive with P16 expression, while the ovarian tumor demonstrated HPV negative with P16 negativity and P53 positivity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>For patients with ovarian teratoma, it is necessary to be vigilant about the malignant transformation when the patients are elderly with a large mass and elevated tumor biomarkers. However, it is not clear whether the role of the gene mutation-driven mechanism is in the pathogenesis of this case, since substantive evidence based on genomic sequencing is lacking.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13628856/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149104355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lifestyle factors and symptom burden in endometriosis: an exploratory mixed-methods analysis of nutrition, physical activity, and psychosocial well-being.","authors":"L Wulfhorst, A Henze, D Portius","doi":"10.1186/s12905-026-04886-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-026-04886-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of reproductive-age women worldwide, with symptom burden significantly impacting quality of life. While current treatment guidelines focus primarily on hormonal and surgical interventions, the role of lifestyle factors in symptom management remains underexplored. Major clinical guidelines acknowledge insufficient evidence for specific lifestyle recommendations, highlighting the need for exploratory research. Therefore, our aim is to explore potential associations between lifestyle factors (nutrition, physical activity, psychosocial well-being) and symptom burden in women with endometriosis using a mixed-methods approach.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A convergent mixed-method design combining a cross-sectional online survey (n = 378) with semi-structured expert interviews (n = 5) was conducted between January and March 2025. Lifestyle factors were assessed using study-specific composite indices for dietary habits, physical activity, and psychosocial well-being. Symptom burden was evaluated using validated endometriosis-related items informed by established assessment tools and 11-point numeric rating scales for symptom frequency and intensity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In exploratory analyses, the Dietary Habits Index was not significantly associated with overall symptom burden in the study cohort. However, subgroup analysis revealed a weak negative correlation in participants without food intolerances (β = -0.144, p = 0.021). Physical activity and psychosocial well-being indices showed weak associations with symptom burden (physical activity: β = 0.133, p = 0.010; psychosocial well-being: β = -0.261, p < 0.001). Expert interviews emphasized the importance of individualized, multimodal approaches and highlighted psychosocial factors as particularly relevant for symptom management.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This exploratory study identified weak and context-dependent associations between selected lifestyle factors and endometriosis symptom burden, with psychosocial well-being showing the most consistent relationship. The findings highlight the potential relevance of individualized lifestyle support as an adjunct to conventional medical care. Given the cross-sectional design and methodological limitations, these hypothesis-generating findings require confirmation in longitudinal and intervention studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13584398/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148988112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}