Vaginal delivery is associated with a twofold increased risk of postpartum SUI in primipara women compared with elective cesarean section. Age and birth weight are the main risk factors of postpartum SUI in both modes of delivery. Tool-assisted delivery and episiotomy were determined as the risk factors of postpartum SUI in vaginal delivery.

Background Doing and repairing episiotomy in a natural vaginal delivery is a painful phenomenon and various methods have been used to reduce its pain. Nowadays, topical ointments are being increasingly used due to low systemic absorption and ease of use. Objectives The present study aimed to compare the effects of lidocaine-prilocaine cream (XYLA cream) and lidocaine injection on the reduction of pain while doing and repairing episiotomy. Methods This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 98 pregnant women with the gestational age of > 37 weeks. In the intervention group that contained 50 women, 5 gr XYLA cream was applied to the episiotomy area one hour prior to delivery. It was also applied to healthy wound edges to numb the area while repairing episiotomy. In the control group, lidocaine 2% injection was used at the time of delivery. The two groups were compared regarding demographic characteristics, delivery characteristics, pain intensity based on visual analogue scale (VAS), and satisfaction with the applied technique. Results The results showed no significant differences between the two groups with respect to age, occupation, mother’s weight and education level, gestational age, parity, number of deliveries, and infant’s weight and head circumference (P > 0.05). Also, no significant difference was found between the two groups concerning the length of the active, second, and third phases of labor (P > 0.05). Considering postpartum complications (episiotomy wound infection), the infection was detected in three participants in the XYLA cream group and four individuals in the lidocaine group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.376). It should be noted that the application of XYLA cream did not cause eye irritation in any of the infants. The results also revealed no significant differences between the two groups regarding pain intensity and satisfaction with the applied technique after doing and repairing episiotomy (P = 0.288). Conclusions The results indicated that XYLA cream had no specific complications and had an effect similar to lidocaine injection while doing the episiotomy.

Background and Purpose: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an opportunistic infection due to Candida species, one of the most common genital tract diseases among reproductive-age women. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of VVC among non-pregnant women and identify the epidemiology of the involved Candida species with the evaluation of antifungal susceptibilities. Materials and Methods: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was performed to identify Candida species isolated from the genital tract of 350 non-pregnant women. Moreover, antifungal susceptibility testing was performed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute broth microdilution method guidelines (M27-A3 and M27-S4). Results: Vaginal swab cultures of 119 (34%) women yielded Candida species. Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated species (68%), followed by Candida glabrata (19.2%). Voriconazole was the most active drug against all tested isolates showing an MIC50/MIC90 corresponding to 0.016/0.25 µg/mL, followed by posaconazole (0.031/1 µg/mL). Overall, resistance rates to fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole were2.4%, 4.8% and, 0.8% respectively. However, posaconazole showed potent in vitro activity against all tested isolates. Conclusion: Results of the current study showed that for the effectual therapeutic outcome of candidiasis, accurate identification of species, appropriate source control, suitable antifungal regimens, and improved antifungal stewardship are highly recommended for the management and treatment of infection with Candida, like VVC.