Objectives The purpose of this work was to study the role of 2‐dimensional (2D) and 3‐dimensional (3D) sonographic and Doppler techniques in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome. Methods A total of 112 young adult lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome and 52 healthy volunteers with regular ovulatory cycles, matched for age and body mass index, underwent a detailed history, medical examination, hormonal assay, and 2D and 3D sonographic and Doppler flow ovarian evaluation during the early follicular phase. Results The Ferriman‐Gallwey score, circulating androgen levels, ovarian volume, and mean number of small subcapsular follicles on 2D and 3D sonography were significantly higher in the patients with polycystic ovary syndrome than the controls (P < .001). A stromal score of 1 or 2 was found in all of the patients but none of the controls. The ovarian stromal/total area ratio was 0.32 or higher in 104 of 112 of the patients (93%), which was significantly higher than in the controls (P < .001). On Doppler analysis, the lowest ovarian stromal resistance levels were found in the patients. On 3D sonography, the total ovarian stromal volume, ovarian stroma/total ovarian volume ratio, and stromal mean grayness were significantly higher in the patients than the controls. With 3D power Doppler imaging, ovarian vascularization measurements were significantly lower in the controls than the patients. The ovarian stroma/total ovarian volume ratio was the most accurate predictor of both hyperandrogenemia (area under the curve, 0.915; P < .0001) and hirsutism (area under the curve, 0.891; P < .0001). Conclusions Our data strongly support the use of 3D sonography with analysis of stromal volume and vascularization in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Introduction Oral contraceptives (OCs) induce mood and libido changes. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate in young, eumenorrheic, healthy women the sexual behavior and the genital vascular effects of an OC containing 30 µg ethinylestradiol (EE) and 3 mg drospirenone (DRSP). Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measures are McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire (MFSQ), the labia minora thickness and vaginal introitus area, the pulsatility index (PI) of clitoral and labia minora arteries, and hormonal and biochemical assays. Methods Twenty-two adult, eumenorrheic, healthy women were administered the two-factor Italian MFSQ. The labia minora thickness was studied by two-dimensional ultrasonographic, and the clitoral and labia minora arteries were evaluated by color Doppler; three-dimensional static volumes of the vulvar area were calculated. Hormonal (estradiol, androstenedione, and testosterone) and biohumoral (sex hormone binding globulin) parameters were assayed. Subjects were studied in baseline conditions and after 3 months of therapy with an OC (Yasmin®, Bayer-Schering Italia, Milan, Italy; −30 µg EE + 3 mg DRSP). Results After 3-month treatment, the labia minora thickness and the vaginal introitus area significantly decreased in comparison with the baseline values, whereas the PI of the dorsal clitoral artery and the posterior labial artery significantly increased. The OC use induced a significant decrease of the two-factor Italian MFSQ score, a reduction of the number of intercourse/week, and a reduction of the frequency of orgasm during intercourse. The item 18 (pain during intercourse) worsened after OC. Conclusions The treatment with Yasmin® (Bayer-Schering Italia) is associated with increased pain during intercourse, with decreased libido and spontaneous arousability, and with diminished frequency of sexual intercourse and orgasm.

Introduction Oral contraceptives (OC) are effective for birth control and have good cycle control and tolerability. However, the hormonal components could modify mood and libido. Aim The aim of this study is to evaluate the genital vascular effects and sexual behavior of an OC containing 30 μg ethinyl estradiol and 3 mg drospirenone in comparison with a flexible combined contraceptive vaginal ring. Methods Forty women underwent a sonographic assessment of the clitoral anatomy and vascularization and were administered the McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire (MFSQ) and the Beck's Depression Inventory questionnaire (BDI). Estradiol, androstenedione, testosterone, and SHBG were assayed. Free Androgen Index (FAI) and Free Estrogen Index (FEI) were calculated. The patients were randomly submitted to OC (group I; n = 21) or vaginal ring (group II; n = 19). Main Outcome Measures Ultrasonographic clitoral volume, pulsatility index (PI) of dorsal clitoral arteries, MFSQ, BDI, and hormonal and biochemical assays were analyzed. Results After therapy, the testosterone levels were reduced in both groups, whereas estradiol decreased only in group I women. The SHBG increased in all the subjects, and both FAI and FEI decreased. The clitoral volume decreased in all the women. The PI of the dorsal clitoral artery increased only in patients on OC. The hormonal contraception was associated, in both studied groups, with a significant decrease of the two-factor Italian MFSQ score, which was more marked in OC users. In group I subjects, there was a reduction of the number of intercourse/week and a reduction of orgasm frequency during intercourse. The pain during intercourse worsened after OC use. The vaginal ring users reported a vaginal wetness. Conclusions Six-month treatment with hormonal contraception is associated with a diminished MFSQ score. However, the frequency of sexual intercourse and orgasm was reduced only by the use of OC. The OC use was associated with increased pain during intercourse.

Introduction Increased body mass index is associated with a higher prevalence of metabolic diseases, depression, and sexual dysfunction. In obese patients, the perception of an altered body image may influence health and psychologically related behaviors. Furthermore, there is a significant positive relationship between sexual function, sexual satisfaction, and all body image variables. Aim To evaluate the relationship between body weight, perceived body image, and sexual behavior. Methods Ninety women underwent ultrasonographic clitoral volume measurement and color Doppler evaluation of the clitoral and ophthalmic arteries. The subjects filled the McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire (MFSQ), the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale (FRS), and the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) questionnaire. Main Outcome Measures Clitoral volume, clitoral and ophthalmic artery pulsatility index (PI), MFSQ, FRS, and BDI. Results The women were distributed into three groups: lean (N = 47); overweight (N = 22); and obese (N = 21). The ophthalmic artery showed lower PI in lean (1.72 ± 0.39) than in overweight (1.99 ± 0.30) and obese women (2.08 ± 0.19). The obese subjects presented the worst clitoral vascularization. The MFSQ for sexuality was higher in lean (45.8 ± 11.8) than in overweight (36.4 ± 15.0) and obese (36.1 ± 10.8) women. The frequency of intercourse per week was higher in lean (2.2 ± 1.4) than in overweight (1.3 ± 0.7) and obese (1.2 ± 0.4) women. The percentage of anorgasmic women was higher in obese (23%) than in lean subjects (6%). The FRS evidenced that the lean subjects represented themselves with a mean value (3.5 ± 1.0) lower than overweight (4.8 ± 0.7) and obese women (5.9 ± 0.6). The silhouette that represented their own ideal was significantly higher in obese (4.0 ± 0.4) than in overweight (3.3 ± 0.5) and lean (2.9 ± 0.7) subjects. The mean BDI was significantly higher in obese (15.8 ± 5.4) than in lean (8.4 ± 6.8) women. Conclusions Lifestyle modifications such as weight loss may be mandatory in obese subjects because obesity might impair the quality of sexual life by inducing genital and general vascular stiffness and body image distortion.

Introduction Increase in the knowledge of “caring science” among nurses plays a key role in ensuring a correct caring behavior towards patients. Caring training for students is a priority in nursing education, but unfortunately there are limited and conflicting studies which explore this outcome. The purpose of this observational study was to explore the perceptions of caring behaviors by nursing students during their clinical practice training in order to highlight if the level of caring behaviors changes as the nursing course progresses. Materials and Methods The Caring Behaviors Inventory-24 (CBI-24) was administered to 331 students, enrolled in the three years of an Italian Nursing Course, who accepted to participate in the study (89.2% response rate). The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Results The total mean score of CBI-24 was 4.82 in the first, 5.12 in the second and 5.26 in the third-year students. The CBI-24 dimensions “Responding to individual needs” and “Being with” obtained the highest scores among the students of the first year. At the end of the first year, our students were already able to perform expressive caring, whereas instrumental caring developed at a high level in the second and third years. We did not highlight any statistically significant difference between the two gender CBI-24 item scores. Conclusion In light of our results, we put in evidence that Nursing Degree Programme favours the development in students of both relational and technical components of caring behaviors. We hope that in future students’ self-assessment of caring behaviors could be considered an educational outcome for Nursing Programme.