IntroductionPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with biochemical and hormonal disturbance and adverse cosmetic, reproductive, metabolic, and psychological consequences, resulting in reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Various generic and specific questionnaires have been used for assessing different dimensions of HRQoL in PCOS women. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify those general and specific instruments and to determine the factors that affect HRQoL in PCOS women.Materials and methodsThe research strategy involved general and specific terms in relation to PCOS women and their QoL. A review was performed on studies that were published between 1945 to 2017 and that were indexed in MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus. A narrative synthesis of the data was provided.ResultsIn total, 52 studies (9 qualitative and 43 quantitative) were included in the review. The analysis indicated that 3 specific and 5 general instruments were used to measure the QoL in PCOS women. Of these, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (PCOSQ) were used most frequently. All studies assessed different aspects of QoL in PCOS women and found that PCOS had negative effects on QoL in this population.ConclusionThe PCOSQ and the SF-36 were used most frequently for the assessment of QoL in PCOS women. Perhaps using either a specific questionnaire solely or a specific questionnaire in conjunction with a generic measure would be more appropriate when measuring QoL in PCOS women. However, both questionnaires showed that they are able to capture different aspects of QoL in PCOS women and to identify areas that can help to improve QoL in these women.

We showed based on odds ratio reports in observational studies that ART procedures are a risk factor for placenta previa.

BackgroundPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a major public health concern worldwide affecting up to one in five women at reproductive age. It is associated with biochemical and hormonal disturbances as well as adverse cosmetic, reproductive, metabolic, and psychological consequences, resulting in worsened quality of life. The aim of the present study is evaluating the quality of life and determining its degrading factors among Iranian women suffering from this syndrome.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 PCOS women in Hamadan, Iran. In order to measure quality of life we used the Persian version of Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire for PCOS (PCOSQ). Descriptive statistics was used to explore the data. In addition linear regression analysis was performed to assess factors affecting health-related quality of life in this population.ResultsThe mean score for quality of life domains (from the greatest to the least serious concern) were: infertility (3.43 ± 1.63), emotions (3.55 ± 1.17), menstrual problems (3.77 ± 1.36), body hair (3.80 ± 2.05) and weight (4.32 ± 1.80), respectively. The higher score represents better function. However, multivariate analysis revealed that hirsutism had the strongest impact on the patients’ quality of life (p < 0.001) followed by infertility (p = 0.038) and menstrual irregularity (p = 0.003).ConclusionThe findings showed that impairment of quality of life was associated with PCOS related conditions such as hirsutism, infertility and menstrual problems.

We showed based on reports in observational studies that uterine leiomyoma is a risk factor for placenta previa in studies adjusted.

We showed based on reports in epidemiological studies that smoking before and during pregnancy is not a risk factor for hyperemesis gravidarum but also can reduce the risk of it.

ObjectivePrimary dysmenorrhea typically occurs with no associated pelvic pathology and is common in adolescents and young women. This study evaluated the effect of bee propolis on relief of primary dysmenorrhea.MethodsThe study was performed in 2018 in Hamadan, in western Iran, among female students with primary dysmenorrhea. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, using balanced block randomization, and were administered a placebo or bee propolis capsules for 5 days during two menstruation cycles. The number of participants required was estimated to be 86 in total, with 43 students in each group according to the inclusion criteria. We used the visual analog scale to assess pain severity. The independent t-test was conducted for comparing between two groups, using SPSS 16.0.ResultsA significant change was found in the mean pain scores during the first (P<0.001) and second (P<0.001) months after using bee propolis in comparison with placebo. The means of the pain scores in the bee propolis group were 5.32±2.28 and 4.74±2.40 in first and second months after the intervention, respectively, whereas the means of the pain scores in the placebo group were 7.40±1.21 and 7.17±1.24 in first and second months after the intervention, respectively.ConclusionOur study showed that the use of bee propolis for two months compared with placebo reduced primary dysmenorrhea during the first and second months after use, with no adverse effects. Therefore, it could be used as an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for relief of primary dysmenorrhea.

Background Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent gynecologic disease, with a prevalence of 6%-10% in reproductive women. Endometriosis is defined as the presence of ectopic endometrial gland and stroma outside of the uterine cavity. 1 It can cause pelvic inflammation, adhesions, infertility, dyspareunia, and dysmenorrhea. The symptoms of endometriosis can occur with manifestations in systems such as the gastrointestinal, urinary, and psychiatric systems. 2 However, the etiology of endometriosis is not well understood. 3 There are some risk factors, such as infertility, early age at menarche, shorter menstrual cycle, hypermenorrhea, nulliparity, mullerian anomalies, birth weight (<7 pounds), one of multiple fetal gestation, diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure, endometriosis in first-degree relative, dioxin/polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure, alcohol/caffeine exposure, diet high in fat and red meat, being tall, underweight, nulliparity, and smoking. 4 Some of these risk factors have confounding influences and may actually be a consequence of the disease instead of a cause. This adds to the difficulty in determining the exact relationship. Menstruation duration and nulliparity have been demonstrated by some authors as a clear risk for the development of endometriosis.

Background: To date, no study has been performed on the relationship between depression and perimenopausal symptoms using the Path model in Iran. Objective: This study aims to assess the relationship between depression and menopause symptoms using the PATH model. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for 4 months in 2019 and 332 menopausal women enrolled in 14 public health centers. Data collection instruments included questionnaires of demographic characteristics, anxiety instrument, Menopause Rating Scale, and the Beck Depression short Inventory (BDI-S). The hypothesized mediators were assessed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The model included depression symptoms (dependent variable), anxiety (mediators), number of alive children (moderator), and menopausal symptoms (independent variable). Analyses were conducted by SPSS 16 and AMOS 20. Results: There was a significant positive correlation between menopause symptoms with total anxiety (Rs=0.52), state anxiety (Rs=0.47), trait anxiety (Rs=0.46), and depression (Rs=0.54). Depression had a significant positive correlation with total anxiety (Rs=0.64), trait anxiety (Rs=0.58), and state anxiety (Rs=0.59). Also, the total mediating effect of total anxiety and depression and the total moderating effect of the number of alive children were significant on menopause symptoms. Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, there is an association between depression and menopausal symptoms. Therefore, health providers should pay more attention to the psychological health of women during the period of perimenopausal. The predictor factors should be considered in both intervention and clinical assessment of menopause women.