Effect of Menstrugole on primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: Primary dysmenorrhea occurs in more than 50% of women of reproductive age. This survey evaluated the effects of Menstrugole on the alleviation of primary dysmenorrhea. METHODS: This study was performed in western Iran between August 15 and December 15, 2017, in female students with primary dysmenorrhea. The students were randomly divided into 2 groups and received placebo or a Menstrugole capsule for 3 days in each of 2 menstrual cycles. The visual analog scale was used to assess pain severity. The χ2 test, one-way analysis of variance, and the paired t-test were used for statistical evaluation. RESULTS: We compared the severity of pain between the 2 groups. There was a significant change in the mean pain score during the first (P < 0.001) and second months (P < 0.001) after the use of Menstrugole, compared with that in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Menstrugole decreased pain severity in female students, and can be considered by health care providers for treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.

Effect of calcium on premenstrual syndrome: A double-blind randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects millions of women and is known as the most important disorder among them. The very aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of low dose calcium on severity of PMS. METHODS: This study can be considered as a double-blind randomized clinical trial. Female students of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences diagnosed with PMS in 2014 participated in the present study. Sixty-six female students diagnosed with PMS were involved in the experimental and control groups. The participants were randomly assigned into two groups to receive 500 mg of calcium daily or placebo for two months. Severity of PMS was detected by Daily Record of Severity of Problems, which was used to measure symptoms during one menstrual cycle before and two menstrual cycles after the intervention. RESULTS: No signifcant differences were observed in the mean scores of PMS symptoms between calcium and placebo groups before the treatment (P=0.74). However, signifcant differences were noticed between the two intervention groups in the first (P=0.01) and second menstrual cycles (P=0.001) after the intervention. The differences were significant in subgroups of anxiety, depression, emotional changes, water retention, and somatic changes in calcium group compared with placebo group in the menstrual cycle before the intervention and two menstrual cycles after the intervention and among menstrual cycles (0, cycle 1, cycle 2) in calcium group (P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Overall, the results of the present study suggest that treatment with calcium supplements is an effective method for reducing mood disorders during PMS.

The Effect of Educational Program on Quality of Life in Menopausal Women: A Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Educational program on quality of life (QOL) in menopausal women in 2016 in Hamadan, Iran. METHODS: In this clinical trial study, 100 postmenopausal women were randomly selected and allocated to case and control group (50 per group). Data collection tool included questionnaires of demographic information and Menopause QOL, which were completed by the samples before the intervention. In the case group, education program was run during 5 sessions for 45 to 60 minutes. Immediately and Three months after intervention, information were collected using questionnaire in both groups and they were analyzed using SPSS 16 software. RESULTS: The menopause women in both intervention and control groups had similar demographics. There was not a significant difference in the QOL mean scores in before of the intervention between the two groups of intervention and control in all dimension of QOL. There was a significantly difference in the mean of QOL scores between the two groups in immediately after the intervention and 3 months after the intervention in dimension of vasomotor, psychosocial, sexual and physical (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study recommend that a unit in health and treatment centers be established for training menopausal women about health care by holding didactic classes.

Salivary, plasma and cord blood oxidative stress biomarkers in mother and neonate: a combined analgesia concern

Objective: To measure oxidative stress biomarkers in saliva and venous blood of mothers and cord blood of newborns delivered with and without combined analgesia

Methodology: In this analytical cross-sectional study, carried out in 2015. 68 parturient mothers and newborns were recruited in random to two groups in Fatemieh Teaching Hospital, Hamadan City, Iran. Thirty four of them were delivered via normal vaginal delivery [NVD] and 34 delivered through combined analgesia [CA]. This study was designed to measure total antioxidant capacity [TAC], Total thiol molecules [TTM] and catalase activity [CAT], in blood and saliva of mothers at the second stage of labor and cord blood of newborns delivered through these different delivery modes

Results: No significant difference could be observed in the mean of first and third labor stages in CA and NVD groups, but the difference was significant during the second stage in CA and NVD groups, respectively. No statistically significant difference was noticed between the means of oxidative stress parameters [TTM, TAC and CAT] in plasma, saliva and umbilical cord samples in two groups [P> 0.05]. A significant positive correlation existed between [plasma and umbilical cord TAC] and [plasma and saliva CAT]. There was no significant relationship between newborn birth weight and oxidative stress parameters in two groups

Conclusion: Markers of oxidative stress does not seem to have a major role in the delivery with combined analgesia

The association between polycystic ovary syndrome and breast cancer: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: The results of epidemiological studies investigated the association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the breast cancer are inconsistent. This meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the association between PCOS and the breast cancer risk. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for observational studies until June 2015. Data were independently extracted and analyzed using 95% odds ratio, and confidence intervals (CIs) based on the random-effects models. METHODS: We identified 970 references and conducted eight studies with 45,470 participants and 243,064 person- year. RESULTS: The association between PCOS and the breast cancer risk in case-control studies 0.87 (95% CI, 0.44 to 1.31) and that of cohort studies was estimated 1.18 (95% CI, 0.93 to 1.43). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis demonstrated that PCOS no does increase the risk of breast cancer. Further prospective cohort studies are needed to provide convincing evidence in order to PCOS can increase or not effect on the risk of the breast cancer.

The association between polycystic ovary syndrome and breast cancer: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: The results of epidemiological studies investigated the association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the breast cancer are inconsistent. This meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the association between PCOS and the breast cancer risk. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for observational studies until June 2015. Data were independently extracted and analyzed using 95% odds ratio, and confidence intervals (CIs) based on the random-effects models. METHODS: We identified 970 references and conducted eight studies with 45,470 participants and 243,064 person- year. RESULTS: The association between PCOS and the breast cancer risk in case-control studies 0.87 (95% CI, 0.44 to 1.31) and that of cohort studies was estimated 1.18 (95% CI, 0.93 to 1.43). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis demonstrated that PCOS no does increase the risk of breast cancer. Further prospective cohort studies are needed to provide convincing evidence in order to PCOS can increase or not effect on the risk of the breast cancer.

The Association between Body Mass Index and Hot Flash in Midlife Women: A Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES: The association between body mass index (BMI) and hot flash risk has not been specifically clarifies yet. This meta-analysis was, therefore, conducted to estimate the association between overweight and obesity and hot flash risk. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for observational studies addressing the association between BMI and hot flash until August 2015. Data were independently extracted and analyzed using 95% odds ratio (OR), and confidence intervals (CI) based on the random-effects models. RESULTS: We identified 2,244 references and conducted seven studies with 4,219 participants. The association between hot flash and overweight was estimated 1.13 (95% CI: 0.97-1.32) and that of obesity was estimated 1.79 (95% CI: 1.52-2.11). No evidence of heterogeneity and publication bias was observed. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis demonstrated that, though not to a great extent, obesity does increase the risk of hot flash. The findings from this meta-analysis indicated that obesity is associated with an increased risk of hot flash. Further large prospective cohort studies are required to provide convincing evidence as to whether or not BMI is associated with an increased risk of hot flashes.

Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women in Iran: A Population-based Study

OBJECTIVES: Menopause can have psychological, physical, and vasomotor symptoms along with sexual dysfunction and these symptoms can affect the quality of life (QOL). The purpose of this research was to determine and association the effective factors on QOL among postmenopausal Iranian women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 on 300 postmenopausal women in Hamadan, Iran. We used the Menopause-Specific QOL questionnaire (MENQOL) for measuring QOL in postmenopausal women. SPSS version 16 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The mean scores of QOL for vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, and sexual domains were 11.65 ± 5.93, 19.36 ± 1.20, 39.12 ± 1.95 and 11.02 ± 5.66, respectively. Higher scores had worse QOL. Using MENQOL scores, our study showed significant differences in QOL based on age, education level, financial status, number of children, employment, and body mass index (BMI). CONCLUSION: Menopause causes a decrease in QOL, which is dependent to age, work, BMI, financial status and number of children variables. Therefore, it is necessary to develop effective intervention programs to improve QOL in postmenopausal women.

Cyclical mastalgia: Prevalence and associated determinants in Hamadan City, Iran

Objective: To assess prevalence of cyclical mastalgia and its main determinants in women who attended in health centers of Hamadan City, Iran. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 400 women (case: cyclical mastalgia, n = 240; control: without cyclical mastalgia, n = 160) who attended family planning clinic for routine follow-up in health centers. The cluster sampling was used. Information was collected by interviewing and using a standardized validated questionnaire. Severity of mastalgia was assessed through using visual analog scaling. Data processing and statistical analysis were performed by using SPSS 19.0. Results: The results revealed that majority of women (60.0%) experienced cyclical mastalgia. Out of these, 22.5% and 37.5% were mild and moderate-to-severe mastalgia, respectively. No association was revealed in experience of depression and anxiety in mastalgia group. In a multivariable logistic regression model, the increasing age, age of marriage, history of abortion and history of premenstrual syndrome were main determinants of mastalgia, while use of oral contraceptive and regular exercise was associated with lower incidence of mastalgia. Conclusions: Most of women with breast discomfort suffered cyclical mastalgia which severity can be determined by advanced age, age of marriage, history of abortion and history of premenstrual syndrome, but inversely by oral contraceptive use and exercise activity.

Hydatidiform mole: a statistical survey in west of Iran

Objective: To determine the incidence of hydatidiform mole in west of Iran

Methodology: This study was carried out on pregnant women referring for delivery in Hamadan province in west of Iran. We retrospectively evaluated medical records of all referring subjects to medical centers in Hamadan province between 1997 and 2006. All pregnant women referred to 11 referral hospitals as well as obstetric care facility centers in the province were studied. We recorded all cases with hydatidiform mole. Data Processing and statistical analysis were performed using SPSS version 16.0

Results: The incidence of hydatidiform mole in Hamadan province estimated 3.34 per 1000 pregnancies Between 1997 and 2006. It means 1 per 298.2 pregnancies had hydatidiform mole. The incidence rate of hydatidiform mole was considerably higher compared to reported from Japan, Turkey, Europe, USA, UK, China, Malaysia, whereas was lower than reported from Indonesia and India. The risk of recurrence rate of mole was higher than that reported in the UK, but lower than that shown in South Africa

Conclusion: The incidence of hydatidiform mole in Hamadan province of Iran seems to be high. Therefore early and rapid diagnosis of gestational tropho-blastic diseases in this region is strongly recommended

impact of aerobic exercise on quality of life in women with breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial

Background: The women with breast cancer experience high rates of morbidity due to different treatments

The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of aerobic exercise in the quality of life [QoL] among women suffering from breast cancer in Hamadan, western Iran

Method: Participants who had consummated the eligibility criteria were randomly assigned in exercise group [n=30] and control group [n=30]. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The mean age was 42.70 +/-9.6 and 43.50 +/-8.60 yr old in exercise and control groups, respectively. The quality of life was assessed by two widely used standard questionnaires [EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23]

The exercise group received supervised exercise 2 days per week for 10 weeks. Through two stages [before and after intervention] these groups were evaluated. Analyzing the data was performed by SPSS/20.0, using ttest, chi-squared and ANCOVA. P<0.05 was regarded as significant level

Results: The global health status QoL, based on EORTC QLQ-C30, developed significantly in the exercise group [48.76+/-24.96 vs. 81.79+/-16.34] in comparison with the controls [47.75 +/-15.73 vs. 52.88 +/-14.51] [F<0.001]

The exercise intervention was associated with substantial development in total score of functions and symptoms of QoL using EORTC QLQ-BR23 [P<0.001]

Conclusions: The statistically and clinically crucial developments were indicated in functions and symptoms of QoL in response to exercise in breast cancer women

Assessment of questionnaire measuring quality of life in menopausal women: a systematic review

Menopause is a natural part of the aging process in women and is defined as occurring 12 months after the last menstrual period marking the end of menstrual cycles. Menopause has a negative impact on the quality of life [QoL]. Various generic and specific questionnaires have been used for assessing different dimensions of QoL in menopausal women. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify those general and specific instruments, and to determine the factors that affect QoL in menopausal women. We assessed eight specific and three general tools and found that some general and specific instruments, such as the 36-item short form [SF-36] and the Menopause Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire [MENQOL], were mostly used for assessment. The specific tools available were diverse. Employment status and a high educational level in menopausal women were considered to be protective factors in improving QoL. Identification of predicting factors of QoL, such as body mass index, race, age, duration of menopause, and social and occupational variables can help to improve the QoL of these women allowing planning of psychological consultations and practical interventions

Quality of life and its related factors in infertile couples

Health related quality of life [QoL] has now been considered as a main tool for outcome measurement in infertility. The present study aimed to determine the association be-tween general and specified QoL with different psychological aspects of self-esteem, social sup-port, sexual satisfaction, and marital satisfaction in a sample of Iranian infertile couples. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 385 infertile couples referred to the Fatemieh Hospital in Hamadan City, western Iran in 2012.To measure the self-esteem, the Iseng test was used. The social support scaling developed by Cassidy and Long was used for as-sessment of social support. The sexual satisfaction was also assessed by the Lindaberg ques-tionnaire. For assessing the general QoL state, the WHO-QoL-BREF and FertiQoL tools were employed. Self-esteem scores were lower in the couples with longer infertility duration. The social support mean score was lower in low income couples. Those with higher educational level, shorter infertility duration, and higher income were more satisfied from their marital relationships. Besides, we revealed that the previous failed efforts for treatment of infertility were adversely associated with the lower social support and sexual satisfaction. The higher educational level, higher monthly income, living in urban area, shorter duration of marriage and infertility, and male gender were associated with better QoL status in the most components. Associations between QoL and self-esteem, social support, sexual satisfaction, and marital satisfaction were significant [P<0.05]. The QoL status in infertile couples is directly associated with their self-esteem, social support, sexual satisfaction, and marital satisfaction.

Age at menopause and its main predictors among Iranian women

Since time of menopause is influenced by a variety of racial, environmental, and physiological factors, determining age at natural menopause and its main indicators seems to be necessary. The present study attempted to determine average age at menopause and its main predictors among Iranian women. This descriptive-analytic study was carried out on 400 post-menopausal women aged 43 to 65 years attending the health centers in Hamadan, Hamadan Province, Iran, during 2013. Due to potential effects of oral contraceptive pills [OCP] on age of menopause, we considered two groups of women with and without OCP use using cluster sampling method. Data were collected through individual interviews at the health centers. The findings showed significant univariate relationships between age at menopause with some baseline variables including mother's age at menopause [p<0.001], mother and spouse with high educational level [p<0.001], passive cigarette smoking [p<0.001], weekly physical activity [p<0.001], and high family income [p<001]. Adversely, smoking was associated with early menopause. The postmenopausal women doing intense weekly physical activity, having mothers with late menopause, having higher monthly income, and experiencing later-age pregnancy are likely to reach menopause later than their contemporaries, while smokers have an early menopause

[Quality of life among midwives working in Hospitals, in Hamedan, Iran]

Objective [s]: To determine quality of life among midwives in different wards in hospitals in Hamdan, Iran

Methods: This was a descriptive study. Research community included all midwives working in maternity and midwifery departments in Fatemiyeh hospital [state], Bu-Ali Hospital [Private] and Atieh Hospital [affiliated to the Social Security Organization]. The short form health survey [SF-36] was used to measure health-related quality of life

Results: The results indicated that midwives working in obstetrics wards had a better health-related quality of life in all domains as measured by the SF-36

Conclusion: The findings suggest that working in environments that are more related to educational backgrounds of midwives might improve health-related quality of life in this population

Assessment of questionnaires measuring quality of life in infertile couples; a systematic review

Infertility has potentially inappropriate effects on quality of life in infertile couples. Various general and specific questionnaires have been structured for assessing different aspects of quality of life in infertile men, women, or couples. The present systematic review was designed to assess these questionnaires and also identify different factors affecting infertile couples based on the aforesaid questionnaires. The research strategy involved general and specific terms in relation to couples's infertility and their quality of life. A review was done for studies published from 1982 to 2012 that were indexed in Medline, ISI Web of Science and Scopus as well as abstract books on this subject. We also corresponded with the authors of the references in related studies for introducing more resources and references. In all reviewed studies, different aspects of the quality of life in couples were evaluated including sexual, psychological, social, communicational, environmental, occupational, medical, as well as economical ones. In total, after initial screening of all studies, 10 general and 2 specific questionnaires were retrieved. Although no meta-analysis was found in the review, infertility had a negative effect on quality of life in couples. This study revealed that some general questionnaires such as SF-36 and WHO-QOL were mostly used for assessing quality of life in infertile couples and some specific questionnaires such as FERTI-QoL and Fertility Problem Inventory were rarely used. Thus, it seems that the evaluation of quality of life in infertile couples needs valid instruments for measurement

Comparison of the mental health post abortion and post partum [normal vaginal delivery and cesarian section]

To assess and compare mental health after spontaneous abortion, normal vaginal delivery [NVD] and cesarian section [C/S]. This prospective analytical descriptive study was carried out in university-affiliated teaching hospitals in Tehran city, Iran. The specific questionnaire [PANAS and SCL-90] was applied in this study. The sample population of this study included 48 women during their post abortion period as well as 48 women after NVD and 48 women after C/S. The subjects' mental changes and disorders have been measured. It has been followed by interview and completing the questionnaires at first 24 hours and the weeks of 6th and 12th. The negative emotional change in the first 24 hours showed no significant differences between abortion and delivery [P=0/002] but on the week 6th and 12th after abortion and delivery the AN OVA test showed significant differences between [NVD and C/S] and abortion [P=0/00]. The frequency of mental disorders in the first 24th in the case and control groups were 33.3% and 10.3% respectively and the difference was statistically significant [P=0/00]. The severity of emotional changes after spontaneous abortion was more than NVD and in the C/S was more than the rate in NVD. The statistics reveals that abortion and delivery threaten women's psychological well-being and through the time the intensity of negative mental changes and disorders in all three mentioned groups was decreasing

Physical activity and pregnancy outcome among indian women belonging to high socioeconomic families

This study was carried out to describe the relationship of the mother's physical activity to the pregnancy outcome. Material and A total of 500 healthy women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies were studied. Subjects belonging to high socio economic families from Mysore city, India participated in the study. An activity questionnaire according to WHO was used. Activity score were derived based on Basal Metabolic Rate [BMR] per unit body weight using published data. It was then administered to assess physical activity at initial time, 14 +/- 2, 28 +/- 2 and 38 +/- 2 weeks of gestation. Women were classified into very light, light, moderate and heavy activity categories based on their activity pattern. Mean energy intake of women at initial time was 1765 Kcal. This increased by 25% by the end of pregnancy [38 +/- 2 week] period, however energy expenditure was increased by 10%. Correlation computation revealed that higher maternal activity in first as well as second trimester was associated with lower mean birth weight and birth length, while no such effects occurred for third trimester after adjusting for the major confounding factors [P<0.05]. It can be concluded that excessive maternal activity during first and second trimesters leads to smaller fetal size in urban affordable families of higher socioeconomic status