ABSTRACT
Objectives: Polycystic ovarian syndrome [PCOS] phenotypes in different races and ethnicities present with various features. This study aimed to investigate the anthropometric, clinical and biochemical differences according to the four Rotterdam phenotypes of PCOS
Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted
Setting: Two private infertility clinics and a public endocrinology clinic in Rasht, Iran
Subjects: One hundred and sixty one women with PCOS aged between 15 and 41 years from March 2010 to July 2012 were included. Polycystic ovarian syndrome was diagnosed by irregular menstruation [IM], polycystic ovary [PCO] and hyperandrogenism [HA]
Intervention: Demographic data, and fertility features were collected and anthropometric, clinical and biochemical characteristics were measured
Main outcome measures: There were significant differences in mean levels of 17-hydroxyprogesterone [P = 0.010], luteinizing hormone [P = 0.047], and ratio of luteinizing hormone / follicle stimulation hormone [P = 0.017] among the four phenotypes
Results: Most of the subjects were categorized into the IM + PCO + HA phenotype [54%], followed by IM + HA [28%], IM + PCO [13%], and PCO + HA [5%]. Among the four phenotypes, there were no significant differences in terms of demographic characters, fertility features and anthropometric measurements [P > 0.05], but there were significant differences in the prevalence of hirsutism, alopecia and morphology of PCO [P < 0.05]
Conclusion: Phenotypes of PCOS in women from Rasht are similar in most anthropometric, clinical and biochemical features
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate the educational needs and knowledge about sexually transmittable infections [STIs] demonstrated by midwives. In a cross-sectional study in 2014, 144 midwives in Rasht, Islamic Republic of Iran, were surveyed. The Persian version of the Sexually Transmitted Disease Knowledge Questionnaire [STD-KQ] and a researcher-made questionnaire to evaluate educational needs and profile were used. The participants obtained 74% of the total score of STD-KQ. Thirty-one percent of participants were categorized in high or very high need of education. Seventy percent of midwives mentioned they were trained on all STIs at university. However, only 6.3% of midwives were aware of existing STIs guidelines. Participants reported that in the last two years they were only educated about HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B at their workplace. Thus, a comprehensive educational programme to empower midwives for complete STIs control is recommended