Evaluation of sexual attitude and sexual function in menopausal age; a population based cross-sectional study

Menopause and its physical, hormonal and psychosocial changes could affect women's sexual function. There are controversial results regarding relationship between sexual attitudes and function. We aimed to evaluate sexual attitudes and sexual function among Iranian menopausal age women. This population based cross-sectional study was carried out on 225 menopausal women, aged 45-65 years. Based on a self-made questionnaire data were collected about women's socio-demographic characteristics, attitudes regarding sexuality and sexual function. Data were analyzed using SPSS and sexual function was compared between three groups of women who had positive, medium and negative attitudes regarding sexuality. The mean age of women was 53.11 +/- 4.56 years. Seventy percent of them had at least one sexual problem. Feeling of dyspareunia was significantly different between three categories of attitudes regarding sexuality [p=0.03]. Comparing data obtained on their attitudes, sexual desire, orgasm and dyspareunia demonstrated significant differences [p=0.03, 0.04, and 0.04 respectively]. Attitude regarding sexual function has a great impact on sexual activity of postmenopausal women that need to be considered in their health care programming

Rise in cesarean section rate over a 30-year period in a public hospital in Tehran, Iran

Numerous studies show a growing trend in cesarean section rates throughout the world, including Iran. However, existing evidence in our country is scant and previous reports are restricted to short time periods. The aim of the current study is to measure the trend in cesarean sections [CS] rates over the past 30 years in a referral hospital in Tehran. We routinely collected data on the demographic characteristics of all women who gave birth in the hospital during the study period. The mode of delivery and the personnel in charge of delivery has like wise been recorded for each birth during the study period. The data were extracted from medical records and entered into a structured checklist. The rate of CS out of all deliveries increased from 14.3% in 1979 to 22.7% in 1989, 52.5% in 1999, and 85.3% in 2009 [P< 0.001]. The most common reason for CS was a repeated section. The percentage of vaginal deliveries performed by midwives has not changed significantly and the number of both midwives and obstetricians per 1000 births has increased, from 2.8 to 15.4 midwives per 1000 births and from 5.5 to 23.0 obstetricians per 1000 births. Immediate strategies should be adopted to prevent the rising trend and increasing number of unnecessary CS in Iran