study of sexual dysfunction in a sample of medicated and non medicated egyptian female patients with schizophrenia

Background: the relationship between sexuality and schizophrenia is complex. It may be related to both the psychopathology and the pharmacotherapy, as the sexual functions may be affected by symptoms itself, living with a severe chronic mental health illness, and the adverse effects of antipsychotics or other medications. Systematic studies have revealed that sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in both untreated and treated schizophrenia patients, affecting 30–80% of women and 45–80% of men. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction may be higher in patients with schizophrenia than in patients treated for other mental disorders

Aim of the Work: to compare a group of females with Schizophrenia to healthy female control group regarding frequency and type of sexual dysfunction

Patients and Methods: this study was sought to extend our knowledge about the association of schizophrenia and its treatment with sexuality problems. It was done at Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University to determine the rate of occurrence of sexual dysfunctions in married females with schizophrenia in comparison to control group. It included 90 females diagnosed as schizophrenia [divided into 3 groups of 30s 1-untreated patients 2-patients treated with typical anti psychotics 3- patients treated with Atypical antipsychotics] and 30 females as a control group

Results: the study revealed high prevalence of sexual dysfunction among all patients group yet it was highest among the drug naive group as 100% of them had sexual dysfunction

Conclusion: the relation between schizophrenia and female sexuality is complex it could be the result of side effect of antipsychotic medications yet the high prevalence of sexual dysfunction among drug naïve patients, suggest that sexual dysfunction is an integral part of the disease

Awareness of women about genital prolapse and their utilization of traditional relieving methods

Genital prolapse is one of the common gynecologic problems, which can have serious sexual, physical, and social as well as psychological consequences, with severe impact on women quality of life. Women may perceive their condition as either being unworthy of medical attention. This will delay treatment and aggravate the condition. The aims of this study are to assess the awareness of women about genital prolapse, to determine their using of traditional methods for relief symptoms of genital prolapse, and the health problems associated with this behavior. The study was conducted at the outpatient Gynecology and Family planning clinics of El Menia University Hospital between the first of October 2003 and the end of March 2004, using an analytic cross-sectional design. It included a consecutive convenience sample of 100 women attending the clinic. The tools of the study included a structured interviewing questionnaire form covering general characteristics, history, awareness about genital prolapse, symptoms, use of traditional methods and associated health hazards, in addition to modified WHO symptoms checklist. Most women [78%] were 35 years old or more, married [82%] housewives [85%] and illiterate [89%], and all were rural. 86% were gravida 4+, 76% had four or more deliveries, and 88.0% were assisted by dayas. 83% were not aware they were having genital prolapse. It was found that 22% used traditional practices, such as local application of onion [5%], or onion with chamomile [3%], and sitting in warm water [4%], or using heel pressure [10%]. Of those using traditional methods, 90.9% had vaginal pain, 63.6% had dyspareunia, and 13.6% had vaginal discharge. Higher age had statistically significant association with awareness about prolapse. All women who used traditional methods were having heavy domestic work, p=0.04. A statistically significant association was found between the degree of prolapse and women awareness about it, p<0.001. It is concluded that the majority of women were not aware about their genital prolapse, especially younger ones. Nearly one quarter of the women used traditional methods such as heel pressure, or application of onion with or without chamomile in the vagina or the rectum to treat their genital prolapse, which had harmful effects. It is recommended that nurses should motivate women to seek treatment from professional sources