Our results suggest that excessive systemic angiogenic activity is a feature of patients with endometriosis.

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The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the impact of the vaginal milieu on the presence of abnormal Pap smears and a positive human papilloma virus (HPV) test. A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2014 and May 2015, evaluating the vaginal discharge by fresh wet mount microscopy and comparing these data with Pap smear findings. Wet mount slides were scored for bacterial vaginosis (BV), aerobic vaginitis (AV), presence of Candida and Trichomonas vaginalis. Cytologic evaluation was done on all Pap smears according to the Bethesda criteria. The cobas© HPV Test (Roche) was performed for HPV detection. A total of 622 cases were evaluated. The mean age of the patients was 41.6 ± 10.65 years (range 21-75). Eighty-three women (13.3 %) had a cytology result worse than low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL). When comparing this group with the one with normal or minor [atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) or LSIL] Pap smear abnormalities, there were no differences in the presence of Candida (32.5 % vs. 33.2 %, p = 1.0), absence of lactobacilli (38.6 % vs. 32.5 %, p = 0.32) or BV (20.5 % vs. 13.2 %, p = 0.09). On the other hand, moderate or severe inflammation (msI) (41.0 % vs. 28.8 %, p = 0,04), moderate or severe AV (msAV) (16.9 % vs. 7.2 %, p = 0.009) and msAV/BV (37.3 % vs. 20.0 %, p = 0.001) were more common in women with such major cervical abnormalities. No significant association was found between deviations of the vaginal milieu and high-risk HPV infection. The presence of msI or msAV, but not BV, is independently associated with an increased risk of major cervical cytological abnormalities, but not with HPV infection.

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The prevalence of vulvodynia in Portugal is similar to that elsewhere. Three main groups of factors might lead to vulvodynia: local inflammatory factors, general pain susceptibility, and pelvic nerve interference.

The human endometrium is a hormonally regulated tissue that cyclically growths and differentiates in order to become a structure adequate for implantation. Molecular studies have shown some contradicting results and thus a reappraisal of the endometrium ultrastructure is warranted. In our study, endometrium biopsies were taken during the implantation window of 10 healthy women of reproductive age and analyzed using electron microscopy. Our results showed that during implantation window, the endometrial epithelium encompassed 4 cell types: microvilli-rich cells, pinopode cells, vesiculated cells, and ciliated cells. These cells showed signs of active communication with their external environment and neighboring cells, such as endocytosis, transcytosis and exocytosis. We highlighted important differences between surface and glandular epitheliums and characterized apocrine and holocrine secretion. It is likely that the features described reflect distinct functions in endometrium physiology that should be taken into account in the evaluation of the endometrium during the implantation window.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation represents a valid strategy to preserve ovarian function in patients with a high risk of premature ovarian failure. We present a case of ovarian tissue cryopreservation carried out in an 18-year-old woman after a laparotomy for left adnexal mass with left adnexectomy. Congenital absence of the right ovary was observed during surgery. To preserve fertility, rescue cryopreservation of ovarian tissue was carried out under extreme conditions (without adopting the standard published protocol, not yet available at our centre). Ten years later, transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue was carried out and, shortly after it, restoration of ovarian function was confirmed.