Positive effects of zinc supplements on the improvement of primary dysmenorrhea and premenstrual symptoms: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial

Primary dysmenorrhea can be relieved via some medical and non-medical approaches. In this regard, the probable therapeutic role of zinc supplements has been recently emphasized. The present study was conducted to determine the positive effects of zinc supplements on relieving primary dysmenorrhea and premenstrual symptoms. The present double-blind, randomized, controlled trial was conducted on 66 students at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. Students with the experience of primary dysmenorrhea in at least the last three menstrual cycles [ranging between 21 and 35 days] were included in the study. The participants were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received oral zinc supplements [50 mg] twice daily for four days before the onset of menstruation and the control group received placebo. For data analysis, t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, ANOVA and Wilcoxon test were performed [95% CI]. The intervention led to a decrease in the severity of dysmenorrhea and menstrual bleeding in the experimental group, unlike the control group. The experimental group experienced a lower frequency of some premenstrual symptoms such as headache, vertigo, muscular pain, disability in performing daily activities and general weakness; however, these changes were insignificant in the control group. Lower rates of medicine use for improving dysmenorrhea and its side-effects were reported in the experimental group, compared to the control group. Moreover, the experimental group had a lower tendency to use thermotherapy. The intake of zinc supplements at therapeutic doses could effectively reduce the severity of dysmenorrhea, improve menstrual bleeding and premenstrual symptoms and prevent other premenstrual symptom

Ovarian stimulation and liver dysfunction: Is a clinical relationship possible? A case of hepatic failure after repeated cycles of ovarian stimulation / 대한생식의학회지

Liver damage induced by ovarian stimulation has been demonstrated in some cases reported in the literature. However, there has never been a fruitful debate on this topic. The present manuscript tried to fill this gap. We reported a case of a 35-year-old nulliparous woman admitted to our obstetric emergency room for severe pre-eclampsia. She had been subjected to four cycles of controlled ovarian stimulation for intrauterine insemination. At 32 weeks of gestation, she developed severe pre-eclampsia, which led to HELLP syndrome complicated by fatal liver failure. The etiological link between ovarian stimulation and HELLP syndrome is intriguing. Further investigations are needed to understand whether repeated ovarian stimulation may represent a risk factor in pre-eclamptic patients.

Hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography: is possible to quantify the therapeutic effect of a diagnostic test? / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (HyCoSy) on natural conception in the infertile patient. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study recruiting 180 patients admitted to Infertility Center of Ferrara University from January 2010 to February 2012. The essential inclusion criteria was the couple's desire to perform only diagnostic evaluation on infertility causes and to wait for natural conception before proceeding with further management. Couples were investigated with hormonal profile, semen analysis and HyCoSy. Expected time for spontaneous pregnancy was 180 days from HyCoSy. First datation sonography of pregnancy was used calculating time elapsed from HyCoSy at conception. RESULTS: Forty patients (22.2%) obtained spontaneous pregnancy within 6 months after HyCoSy. The mean of "conception time" was 75 days. The pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the first 30 days (45%) compared to other the months of observation (p<0.0005). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that maternal age and sterility duration proved independent variables in detecting the "conception time" after HyCoSy (t=3.742, p=0.001, t=2.371, p=0.02, respectively). CONCLUSION: A possible beneficial effect of HyCoSy is feasible especially in the days following its execution. This temporal correlation supports its therapeutic use.