Quality of life assessment in Thai postmenopausal women with an overactive bladder.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the quality of life (QoL) among 3 groups of Thai postmenopausal women with an overactive bladder (OAB), diabetes, and without these conditions. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total cross-sectional cohort of 180 postmenopausal women aged 48-60 years (60 had OAB, 60 diabetes and 60 controls) were recruited from the menopause clinic and diabetes clinic of Hatyai regional hospital between June and December 2003. Information on QoL were collected by the SF-36 questionnaire, validated for Thai women. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the patient's demographic characteristics. All dimensions of QoL score of women with OAB and diabetes were lower than the scores of the controls. When compared with diabetes, OAB had significantly lower scores in the general health, social function and role-function emotional dimensions. CONCLUSION: QoL was significantly impaired in Thai postmenopausal women with OAB and diabetes compared to those women without these conditions. General health, social function and role-function emotional dimensions were particularly affected.

Serum estradiol level in Thai surgical menopausal women receiving oral micronized 17 beta-estradiol 1mg.

OBJECTIVE: To compare serum estradiol (E2) level in Thai surgical menopausal women before and after receiving a daily dose of 1 mg oral micronized 17 beta-estradiol. DESIGN: Experimental study (before and after treatment). SETTING: Gynecological ward, Hatyai regional hospital. PATIENTS: 40 premenopausal Thai women who had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingoooporectomy (Surgical menopause) for 1 week previously due to benign gynecologic conditions were recruited in the present study. These women had no contraindications for receiving hormonal replacement therapy and no history of any hormonal intake in the past. INTERVENTION : All women were assigned to receive a 1 mg micronized 17 beta-estradiol (Estrofem, Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark) orally applied at bedtime (08.00 p.m.) each day. MEASUREMENTS: Serum estradiol (E2) levels were measured before and after treatment at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The hormonal measurement was performed using the ELFA-technique (Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay). RESULTS: Four cases were excluded due to loss to follow up. Of the remaining 36 cases, the mean age (+/- SD) and the body mass index were 46.27 +/- 5. 74 years and 23.72 +/- 2.92 kg/m2, respectively. Serum E2 level significantly increased from baseline value at 4, 8 and 12 weeks (mean (+/- SD) of E2 level at 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks: 3.82 +/- 6.30 pg/ml, 117.11 +/- 92.86 pg/ml, 135.28 +/- 91.38 pg/ml and 164.48 +/- 78.94 pg/ml, p < 0.05) respectively. CONCLUSION: A daily dose of 1 mg oral micronized 17 beta-estradiolfor 12 weeks increased the serum E2 level to the follicular phase level of the normal menstrual cycle.

Location of quinacrine pellets in different positions of non-surgical female sterilization.

OBJECTIVE: To compare quinacrine pellets distribution in the uterine cavity between women standing up promptly after insertion and those lying down for a further 30-minutes. DESIGNS: Randomized controlled trial MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty women who, desired interval female sterilization, were equally randomized into 2 groups. Quinacrine pellets were inserted twice, one month apart in both groups. Transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS) was performed after insertion in order to locate the position of the quinacrine pellets. In group I, the TVS was performed after the women stood up promptly. In group II, the TVS was performed after the women lay down for 30-minute. The distribution of quinacrine pellets, measured from the uterine fundus to the lowest pellet, were compared. RESULTS: There was no difference at the baseline and 30 minutes measurement of both groups. In the first insertion, there was statistical difference of the distance of the quinacrine pellets when compared in the same group immediately and the 30-minute measurement (Gr 1: 19.10+/-3.28 mm vs 22.30+/-3.50 mm); (Gr 2: 18.70+/-3.40 mm vs 24.40+/-5.95 mm). In the same manner, the authors found statistical difference in the same group of the second insertion (Gr 1: 21.80+/-5.39 mm vs 24.70+/-7.24 mm); (Gr 2 : 20.89+/-4.78 mm vs 28.30+/-7.59 mm) CONCLUSIONS: There was statistical difference of quinacrine pellet distribution in uterine cavity after time. However, body movement did not effect the position of the pellets. The failure rate of quinacrine pellet insertion for non-surgical female sterilization may not be explained by the changes of position after insertion.