Objective To assess the efficacy of an exercise program towards reducing back pain in pregnant women. Methods In this prospective control study, 145 low risk pregnant women who scored more than 20 for functional limitation assessment were recruited. The severity of back pain was assessed using the visual analoque scale (VAS) and the functional limitation was assessed using the Oswestry disability questionnaire (ODQ). All participants were informed of back care measures and provided with Paracetamol as an adjunct analgesia. The intervention group will have a session with a trained physiotherapist. Subsequently, all participants will be required to fill in a similar questionnaire regarding pain intensity and functional limitation assessment after 6 weeks post-intervention. Results There was a significant reduction in the VAS score and improvement in functional ODQ score in the intervention group. The median usage of Paracetamol as an analgesia to control back pain in the control group was 500 mg higher than the intervention group. There was a weak association of age, parity, duration of back pain, and body mass index with functional ODQ score at 6 week following intervention. Conclusion The back pain exercise reducing program was effective in reducing back pain intensity and analgesia usage with a significant improvement in functional ability.

Hyperemesis gravidarum is characterized by severe nausea and vomiting. This study aims to illustrate the efficacy of acupressure at P6 in treating nausea and vomiting in hyperemesis gravidarum. This parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted from 2016–2017 in a tertiary hospital. Hospitalized women with ≤16 weeks of gestation and moderate to severe nausea and vomiting classified using a modified PUQE score were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either apply an acupressure wristband at the P6 point three times daily or to receive regular doses of intravenous antiemetics. The primary outcome was differences in modified PUQE scores among the groups. The secondary outcomes were differences in the rate of urine ketone clearance and the frequency of requiring rescue antiemetics. Ninety women were equally randomized into two groups, with no dropout. There was a statistically significant difference in the degrees of nausea and vomiting between the groups at 8, 16, and 24 hours post-admission (p8hours= 0.001, p16hours = 0.006, and p24hours = 0.001). The requirement of antiemetics and the rate of urine ketone clearance between the two groups were also statistically significant, at p = 0.001 and p = 0.02 respectively. There were no side effects in either group. The P6 acupressure was efficacious in alleviating nausea and vomiting among hyperemesis gravidarum women. The trial was retrospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05175079).

IntroductionThe evidence for probiotic efficacy in preventing bacterial vaginosis (BV) recurrences among women aged 18 years and above is sparse. We aimed to ascertain the efficacy of probiotics in preventing BV recurrences after at least one menstrual cycle in this population.MethodsWe conducted a systematic literature search using PubMed, MEDLINE (Ovid interface), Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, Embase, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, Cochrane Library databases and registries comprised of Open Science Framework (OSF) preprints registry, the ClinicalTrials.gov (USA), WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO-ICTRP), International Standard RCT Number (ISRCTN) registry, limited to randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in English published between January 2000 and December 2021. The inclusion criteria were trials that administered probiotics to BV-positive women in an experimental arm of at least 20 samples. The usage of probiotics should be preceded with standard antibiotic regimen and followed by a reassessment of BV status after at least a single menstrual cycle. Risk of bias assessment was completed using revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2). The PROSPERO registration number of the review is CRD42022302044.ResultsFrom 8,162 identified records, we included 10 studies (n = 1,234 participants) for final analysis; 7 trials compared probiotics vs. placebo, whereas 3 trials compared probiotics vs. metronidazole alone. Using random-effects meta-analysis, probiotics were shown to reduce the risk of BV recurrences by 45% compared to either placebo or metronidazole [14.8 vs. 25.5%, RR: 0.55 (95%CI: 0.33, 0.91), p = 0.03, I2 = 45.4% (95%CI: 0, 73.7%)]. Sensitivity analysis revealed the robustness of results upon removal of studies with high risk of bias [RR: 0.54 (95%CI: 0.38, 0.77), p = 0.006] and reporting bias (RR: 0.53, 95%CI: 0.39, 0.74, p = 0.002). Meta-regression demonstrated that the route of administration (pvaginal = 0.67; poral = 0.44), the total dosage of probiotics (p = 0.17), cumulative days of probiotic administration (p = 0.76), and the number of species in probiotic preparation (p = 0.40) were not linked to BV recurrences.InterpretationProbiotics were associated with more than twofold reduction in BV recurrences when BV status was assessed after at least 1-month postintervention. Further high-quality and methodologically standardized RCTs should evaluate probiotic efficacy for BV prevention in a diverse community setting.Systematic review registration[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021290613], identifier [CRD42021290613].

Aim This study is to evaluate whether unacceptable bleeding among the etonogestrel implant user could be better alleviated using combined oral contraceptive pills (COCP) or nonsteroidal anti‐inflammation drugs (NSAID). Methods This is a prospective randomized study for evaluation of 84 etonogestrel implant (Implanon) users with prolonged or frequent bleeding. They were assigned to either receiving a COCP containing 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol/150 mg desogestrel for two continuous cycle or NSAID; mefenamic acid 500 mg TDS for 5 days, 21 days apart for two cycles. Bleeding pattern during the treatment was recorded and analyzed. Results A total of 32 women (76.2%) in COCP group and 15 women (35.7%) in NSAID group stop bleeding within 7 days after the initiation of treatment which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The mean duration of bleeding and spotting days in women treated with COCP was significantly lesser compared to NSAID group (7.29 ± 3.16 vs 10.57 ± 4.14 days (P < 0.05). Conclusion We conclude that COCP is more efficient compared to NSAID in managing bleeding irregularities among etonogestrel implant users.

A total of 400 doctors were invited and 240 (60%) of them responded to the survey. Of the respondents, 161 (65.9%) were from the public or government sector and 89 (34.1%) were from the private sector. The knowledge score of doctors was classed as 'average', and correlated well with their previous training level, working position, number of patients seen in a week and number of contraceptive methods available in their facilities. The age, gender, working duration, availability of IUDs in the premises and number of IUD insertions in a month were not statistically associated with the providers' knowledge. The use of IUDs was low, especially among private doctors, and was significantly related to their knowledge of the method. Knowledge scores, perception and practice were significantly lower in the private sector.

Ectopic adrenal tissue in the ovary is a rare entity. We reported a case of ectopic adrenal tissue in borderline mucinous cystadenoma of the left ovary. A 22 year-old student presented with progressive abdomen distension associated with discomfort for 3 months. Imaging investigation was suggestive of mucinous left ovarian cyst. Left salpingo-oophorectomy was performed and the histopathology revealed borderline mucinous cystadenoma with an incidental finding of ectopic adrenal tissue. This is an interesting case because of its rarity and potential risk of neoplasm changes.

Endometriotic cysts a common benign gynaecological disease in women of reproductive age. We report an unusual case of ruptured endometrioma associated with increased CA 19-9. A 27-year-old woman presented with an acute abdomenal adnexal mass and elevated CA 19-9. The initial diagnosis of ovarian malignancy turned out to be a ruptured endometrioma, confirmed during surgery and in the histopathological report.

C oronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was discovered as a possibly terminal infection starting in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and it has been spreading worldwide. 1 In Malaysia, our first COVID-19-positive cases were discovered on January 25, 2020, and subsequently, the number of cases rose, leading to the implementation of the Movement Restriction Order Act starting on March 18, 2020, aiming to flatten the infection curve. As of June 3, 2020, a total of 7970 confirmed cases with 6531 recoveries and 115 deaths were reported in Malaysia. 2 During this pandemic, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre services were modified as hybrid-COVID-19 cluster hospital, and treating both confirmed COVID-19 cases and standard cases, thus overall significantly affected our health management, including our oncofertility services. Newly diagnosed cancer with significant treatment-related gonadotoxic effects among children and the reproductive age group should receive fertility preservation (FP) treatment. The choices of the embryo, oocytes, sperm, and ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) are offered to tailor to the patient profile. 3 However, assisted reproductive technique services are postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 4 Although international bodies, mainly the European Society Medical Oncology and American Society Clinical Oncology, have highlighted that FP is considered urgent among cancer cases and should not be deferred, majority of oncology clinicians are not aware of this, and thus, few referrals were made during this period. 4,5 Among our oncofertility services, the additional cost of the COVID-19 screening for both members of the couple is added to the FP cost. However, the cancer treatment itself places a significant financial burden on the couple. From our current experiences, most of our patients developed complex emotional responses related to isolation or quarantine. They feared to contract the COVID-19, especially