{"title":"The influence of gender norms on women's sexual and reproductive health outcomes: a systematic review.","authors":"Hajar Ouahid, Majda Sebbani, Mohamed Cherkaoui, Mohamed Amine, Latifa Adarmouch","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03768-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03768-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite progress toward gender equity, enduring societal norms continue to shape women's roles, particularly impacting their sexual and reproductive health, including fertility, maternal health, and family planning, all of which are influenced by traditional gender expectations.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This review investigates how gender norms affect women's sexual and reproductive health outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review was conducted on publications from 2013 to 2023, sourced from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, using keywords, MeSH terms, and Boolean operators. Of 1,500 articles identified, 38 peer-reviewed articles in English or French met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted using a standardized form and evaluated with the mixed-methods appraisal tool. Findings from the selected studies were analyzed through a narrative synthesis approach.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>The review identified key themes from the 38 included studies results underscoring the lack of comprehensive sexual education and the challenges posed by cultural norms and social stigma. It highlighted how cultural and gender dynamics restrict women's autonomy in family planning and maternal healthcare, with impacts varying by context. Finding also highlight the importance of culturally competent healthcare that respects diverse cultural beliefs and tackles educational and economic barriers to enhance women's sexual and reproductive health outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This review identifies gender norms as one of major obstacles to accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education and services among women. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive SRH education, women's autonomy, and culturally competent healthcare services to address barriers and promote gender equity globally.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"224"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12076893/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143977092","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}
Elhadi Miskeen, Sultana Korkoman, Norah Khaled Alhassoun, Rafeef Fahad Aljuhani, Rawan Ali Hamad Alqahtani, Salsabeel Salman Alwabari, Mohannad S Alamri, Abdullah M Alshahrani, Abdullah Hassan Alhalafi, Shehab Almalki, Jabir Al Fifi, Suaad Elnour, Farah Fahad ALmuqrin, Yaqin Ali Al Ali, Mohammed Jalwi Karkaman, Abdullah M Al-Shahrani
{"title":"Factors influencing family planning decisions in Saudi Arabia.","authors":"Elhadi Miskeen, Sultana Korkoman, Norah Khaled Alhassoun, Rafeef Fahad Aljuhani, Rawan Ali Hamad Alqahtani, Salsabeel Salman Alwabari, Mohannad S Alamri, Abdullah M Alshahrani, Abdullah Hassan Alhalafi, Shehab Almalki, Jabir Al Fifi, Suaad Elnour, Farah Fahad ALmuqrin, Yaqin Ali Al Ali, Mohammed Jalwi Karkaman, Abdullah M Al-Shahrani","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03737-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03737-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Family planning (FP) is an essential intervention to improve the health and well-being of women and their children. Understanding the determinants of FP decisions among Saudi women is critical to the success of FP efforts. This study aims to assess socio-cultural factors related to women's family planning decisions in Saudi Arabia (SA).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A cross-sectional survey-based study examined a convenient sample of 1489 ever-married women living in SA. A structured online questionnaire was developed to assess the personal and socio-demographic characteristics of the sample as well as their fertility and FP preferences, practices, and experiences. Participants were approached through different social media platforms.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Women's reported ever use of contraceptive method was 64.1%. Challenges women face in trying to use contraceptive methods were side-effects of the method (40%) and partner opposition (19%). Women's ever use of contraception was significantly different according to their age group, residence, occupation, income level, duration of marriage, number of children, reaching their desired number of children, having challenges in using contraception (p < 0.001), their career goals (p = 0.005) and access to FP (p = 0.030). Logistic regression results for the factors influencing the decision toward family planning showed the significant factors: marital status (odd 1.28, p-value = 0.042, 95% CI 1.02-1.61), having a supportive husband (odds 1.35, p-value = 0.018, 95% CI 1.08-1.69), and family and societal expectations (odds 1.32, p-value = 0.034 and 95% CI 1.04-1.68).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study contributes essential insights into the socio-cultural factors influencing FP decisions among Saudi women. The identified determinants, including economic considerations, spousal support, and societal expectations, provide a foundation for tailored interventions to promote informed and autonomous FP choices. These findings ultimately contributed to women's and their children's health and well-being in SA.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"222"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070546/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143978588","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":"Depression, anxiety, and stress among mothers of children with thalassemia in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Farhin Islam, Senjuti Seemanta, Sonia Rezina, Afsana Mehrab, Enayetur Raheem, Mohammad Sorowar Hossain","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03762-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03762-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite Bangladesh being one of the major hotspots of thalassemia in the world, this preventable inherited blood disorder is neglected in research and policy level. Mothers are the primary caregivers of children in South Asian countries with limited resources. Caring for a child with thalassemia can be an emotionally challenging experience for mothers in low and middle-income countries including Bangladesh. This study aimed to explore the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress of the mothers of thalassemic patients in Bangladesh and to correlate with sociodemographic and thalassemia-related factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study, conducted with 156 mothers of children with thalassemia, was a continuation of a previous investigation conducted at Bangladesh Thalassaemia Samity Hospital (BTSH) regarding the parental perspective of thalassemia in Bangladesh. A validated Bengali version of the DASS-21 questionnaire was employed to assess the depression, anxiety, and stress levels of mothers with thalassemic children. Descriptive statistics were used to examine sociodemographic characteristics, thalassemia concerns in the family, effects on social and professional life, and DASS-21 scores. The depression, anxiety, and stress levels were predicted using a multiple-regression model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that most mothers of thalassemia children experienced stress (~ 62%), anxiety (~ 58%), or depression (~ 63%) to some extent. Mental health concerns were significantly associated with education level (p < 0.01 for depression and stress and p < 0.05 for anxiety), spouse's education level (p < 0.01 for depression, anxiety and stress), monthly family income (p < 0.01 for depression and stress and p < 0.05 for anxiety), mortality from thalassemia in the extended family (p < 0.01 for depression and p < 0.05 for anxiety and stress), years of suffering (p < 0.10 for depression and anxiety), frequency of transfusions (p < 0.10 for depression and p < 0.05 for anxiety), social life (p < 0.01 for depression, anxiety and stress), and worry about the child's future (p < 0.05 for depression and p < 0.01 for stress). Depression and anxiety were significantly influenced by the frequency of transfusions as well as monthly cost of treatment. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the likelihood of lower level of depression among mothers was associated with higher family income (95% CI [-0.48, -4.67]) and children who had more than a 30-day gap between two transfusions. On the other hand, the likelihood of a higher level of depression was associated with a higher monthly treatment cost (95% CI [-0.48, -4.67], p = 0.037).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Mothers of thalassemic patients in Bangladesh experience complex mental health challenges, including stress, anxiety, and depression. The chronic nature of the condition, combined with associated financial, social, and physical bur","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"221"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12070637/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143973384","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":"Effects of family planning education given to married illiterate women of reproductive age via visual material support on family planning related attitudes and contraceptive preferences: the example of Viranşehir, Türkiye.","authors":"Esra Güney, Sözdar Karakaş, Yurdagül Doğan","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03756-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03756-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study was conducted to determine the effects of family planning education given to married illiterate women of reproductive age via visual material support on their family planning attitudes and contraceptive preferences.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The randomized controlled study was carried out between 31 January and 31 July 2023. The sample of the study consisted of 148 women, including 74 in the experimental group and 74 in the control group. Using a Family Planning Education Booklet prepared for illiterate women, an education program lasting a week in total was held in three sessions. No intervention was made in the control group. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, a Family Planning Assessment Form, and the Family Planning Attitude Scale.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After the intervention, the Family Planning Attitude Scale total and subscale scores of the participants were significantly higher in the experimental group compared to both their pretest scores and the posttest scores of the control group (p < 0.001). There was an increase in the rates of participants who preferred modern and effective family planning methods in the experimental group after the education program. All participants in the experimental group stated that they were satisfied with the education given within the scope of the study.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The family planning education program provided to women using educational content prepared for illiterate women was effective in increasing the knowledge and positive attitudes of the women regarding family planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"219"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12063435/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143975363","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":"The impact of training based on the transtheoretical model on increasing physical activity in overweight and obese housewives.","authors":"Tayebeh Rakhshani, Zahra Jalalpour, Mohsen Jafari, Samira Taravatmanesh, Amirhossein Kamyab, Ali Khani Jeihooni","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03767-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03767-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Due to the nature of their activities, housewives are often at higher risk of weight gain. Considering the importance of interventions and the role of housewives in the family, the present study was designed and conducted to examine the impact of training based on the Transtheoretical Model on increasing physical activity in overweight and obese housewives.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 120 overweight and obese housewives attending comprehensive health centers in Yazd, Iran. The sampling method was multi stage, and participants were randomly assigned to two groups: intervention (60 participants) and control (60 participants). The educational intervention consisted of six 90-minute sessions held over one and a half months (one session per week) in person. The educational content provided to the intervention group was based on the Transtheoretical Model. Data collection tools included standardized physical activity and behavior change questionnaires based on the Transtheoretical Model, Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 with paired t-tests, independent t-tests, and chi-square tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Independent t-test results showed after the intervention, the differences between two group were statistically significant (P = 0.001). Additionally, independent t-test results showed no significant difference in physical activity levels between the intervention and control groups before the educational intervention (P = 0.312), whereas the difference became statistically significant after the intervention (P = 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings of this intervention demonstrated that interventions based on the Transtheoretical Model effectively improve behavior, identify barriers and benefits of physical activity, and enhance self-efficacy in overweight and obese housewives. This study revealed that the Transtheoretical Model, through identifying perceived barriers and benefits (via the training provided) and, most importantly, improving self-efficacy and behavior, led to an increase in physical activity among housewives.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"218"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12063253/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143977067","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":"Effects of a web-based decision aid on breast cancer patients considering a breast reconstruction: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Yan Wang, Qingyue Zhang, Chang Cheng, Xiaoyuan Wang, Jian Yin, Wanmin Qiang","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03754-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03754-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Due to the variety of surgical methods, breast cancer patients may face dilemmas regarding decision-making. Web-based decision aids (WDAs) are interactive tools that help patients make informed decisions by meeting their needs both inside and outside the hospital, providing real-time decision assistance, and being more practical and convenient. Although the incidence of breast cancer ranks first among female cancers in China, studies focusing specifically on the use of WDAs in breast cancer patients have not been conducted in the country. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of WDAs on breast cancer patients considering a breast reconstruction.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 70 patients with breast cancer were randomized, with 63 completing the whole trial. The control group used paper-based decision aids, which they could use freely in the ward to obtain health information support. The intervention group used web-based decision aids, including decision assessment, decision support, and decision evaluation, which they could use anytime and anywhere on their mobile phones. The study measured decision conflict, preferred decision-making roles, unmet needs, and decision satisfaction at baseline and before and after the intervention.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No differences were found in the demographic and clinical features between the two groups. Compared with the control group, the intervention group had lower scores for the dimensions of decision support and decision effectiveness, decision uncertainty, total score of decision conflict and information needs, work and financial needs, access and continuity of care, coping, sharing and emotional needs, and total score of unmet information needs (P all < 0.05). Patients in the intervention group had a higher proportion of active and collaborative roles, higher scores in the information, deliberation, decision, and global satisfaction and confidence dimensions, and a higher total score for decision satisfaction (P all < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>WDAs are a convenient tool for promoting collaborative decision making, satisfying information needs, reducing decision conflict, and improving decision satisfaction. In addition, the development of WDAs avoids the limitations of region and time, and provides sufficient knowledge for patients to improve their medical experience.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Registration Number: ChiCTR2400092924 Dated: 26.11.2024.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"217"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12060549/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143966007","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":"The impact of objective/sensationalist media on young women's concern and misconceptions about breast cancer: an experimental study.","authors":"Aldo Aguirre-Camacho, Amalie Akerø Hylland, Valeria Moriconi, Alberto Bellido-Esteban, Judit Tirado-Muñoz","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03751-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03751-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Young women are overrepresented in sensationalist media stories about breast cancer, which has been associated with heightened breast cancer concern within this population. Recent research has also revealed that young women show significant misconceptions about breast cancer, and that these seem to have been increasing over the last two decades. Accordingly, the present study sought to gather experimental evidence on the impact of media messages on negative affect, fear of breast cancer, fatalism, and misconceptions about breast cancer among young women.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>186 females aged 18 to 40 were randomly allocated into one of three experimental conditions, designed to recreate the nature of breast cancer information typically presented in government health websites (i.e. objective information, condition 1) and women's magazines (i.e. sensationalist information); as part of the sensationalist information, participants were either exposed to a photograph of a young woman (i.e. condition 2) or a middle-aged woman (i.e. condition 3) featured as a cancer patient.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants exposed to sensationalist information (i.e. conditions 2 and 3) reported significantly higher levels of negative affect, fear of breast cancer, and fatalism than participants exposed to objective information, after statistically adjusting for relevant covariates. No statistically significant differences were observed between participants exposed to sensationalist information featuring women of different ages. Overall, participants held important misconceptions about breast cancer. First, they greatly overestimated the risk of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, especially participants exposed to sensationalist information featuring a young woman. Second, they also believed that breast cancer was most often diagnosed among women just under 50 years of age; participants exposed to sensationalist information (i.e. conditions 2 and 3) estimated the age at diagnosis as significantly lower than those exposed to objective information.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides experimental evidence that sensationalist media increases concern and contributes to misconceptions about breast cancer. Concern and misconceptions may by further exacerbated when sensationalist messages feature a young woman as a cancer patient, thus offering a distorted view of the women typically diagnosed with breast cancer. Overall, participants revealed important misconceptions about breast cancer, which has significant implications for preventive behaviors and health communication.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"215"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12060305/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143970983","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":"The impact of reproductive health needs on women's employment: a qualitative insight into managing endometriosis and work.","authors":"Tom Hvala, Karin Hammarberg","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03726-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03726-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Reproductive health conditions present various challenges for women in all aspects of their lives, including in the workplace. This study explores the workplace experiences of employed women with reproductive healthcare needs arising predominantly from endometriosis, as well as adenomyosis and infertility.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 women with one or more of these conditions who were employed while experiencing symptoms of their condition or seeking treatment (such as in-vitro fertilization or laparoscopic surgery).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Interviewees reported significant physical and psychological hardship because of their reproductive health conditions, namely pain associated with endometriosis. The impact of reproductive health needs and treatment on women's ability to work included: difficulty managing symptoms, additional pressure to perform, exhaustion of 'sick leave', and working less and negative impact on career progression. In terms of how workplaces can improve the wellbeing of women with endometriosis and other reproductive health needs, women would benefit from: flexibility and working from home, access to paid reproductive health leave, and improved workplace education, trust and understanding.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Women's own accounts of how endometriosis and their reproductive health impacts their working lives, and what employers can do to support them, provides a platform to better understand women's needs. These findings can inform public-policy solutions and workplace policies to better meet the needs of women with endometriosis and improve their workforce participation.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"216"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12060336/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143953469","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}
Morgan Scarth, Ingrid Amalia Havnes, Marie Lindvik Jørstad, Astrid Bjørnebekk
{"title":"Psychological traits associated with anabolic androgenic steroid use and dependence: an exploratory cross-sectional study among female athletes.","authors":"Morgan Scarth, Ingrid Amalia Havnes, Marie Lindvik Jørstad, Astrid Bjørnebekk","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03711-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03711-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are commonly taken to increase muscle size and enhance performance. However, AAS can lead to many adverse effects, including challenges with mental health and behavior. This study aims to identify behavioral and psychological correlates of AAS use, and explore associations with dependence symptoms among female weightlifters.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A sample of n = 32 female weightlifters, including 16 with reported AAS use completed questionnaires including the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) and Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ). AAS dependence was evaluated using the Structure Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Group comparisons were made using Welch's t-tests between control and AAS groups, and AAS dependent and non-dependent groups. Exploratory correlation analyses were computed between symptoms of dependence and behavioral and psychiatric scales.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Females who had used AAS had higher levels of both externalizing and internalizing psychopathology, including antisocial and attention problems, as well as aggressive traits. The most prevalent dependence symptoms were time spent on activities surrounding AAS use (n = 7, 50%), and using more or for longer than planned (n = 6, 42.9%). Dependence symptoms were associated with several ASEBA scales: tolerance was correlated with aggressive behavior (ρ = 0.79, p < 0.001), withdrawal was correlated with attention problems (ρ = 0.78, p < 0.001), and being unable to quit use was associated with anxious/depressive (ρ = 0.80, p < 0.001) and internalizing problems (ρ = 0.79, p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Females who currently or previously used AAS demonstrated significantly more difficulties with maladaptive functioning and aggressive traits compared to those who have never used. Attention problems and aggressive behavior were also associated with symptoms of AAS dependence, though longitudinal studies are required to determine the direction of this relationship.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"214"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12051273/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143983874","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}
Furkan Özdem, Sümeyya Duran Kaymak, Berna Turhan, Candost Hanedan, Sezgi Barlas, Özge Demirsoy, Rasime Pelin Kavak
{"title":"A rare case of malignant transformation: squamous cell carcinoma arising on the basis of an ovarian mature cystic teratoma.","authors":"Furkan Özdem, Sümeyya Duran Kaymak, Berna Turhan, Candost Hanedan, Sezgi Barlas, Özge Demirsoy, Rasime Pelin Kavak","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03755-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03755-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ovarian mature cystic teratomas (MCTs) are the most prevalent benign ovarian tumors, with rare potential for malignant transformation, most commonly into squamous cell carcinoma. Accurate diagnosis is crucial for optimal management and prognosis.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A 27-year-old woman presented with a year-long history of intermittent abdominal and groin pain. Imaging studies, including contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), revealed a mixed solid-cystic lesion in the left adnexal region, consistent with an MCT exhibiting radiologic signs of malignancy. The patient underwent unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and intraoperative frozen section analysis suggested a mature cystic teratoma. However, definitive histopathological examination confirmed squamous cell carcinoma arising from the MCT. This case highlights the limitations of frozen section analysis in detecting malignancy.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Malignant transformation of MCTs, though rare, poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Comprehensive preoperative imaging and meticulous postoperative histopathological evaluation are essential for accurate diagnosis and effective management. This case underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing complex gynecologic pathologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"213"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12048916/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143980527","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}