[Women's experiences about menopause and related factors]

Introduction: Women's quality of life following menopause is influenced not only by physical and psychosocial factors, but also by menopause-related concerns, their feelings and attitude and adjustment to menopause. The aim of the present study was to assess women's experiences after menopause and its related factors

Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in 2016 on 350 menopausal women referred to 12 health centers affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Subjects were recruited using a two-stage sampling method, and data were collected through interview using two questionnaires, including a demographic questionnaire and a valid and reliable questionnaire, the "assessment of women's experiences in after menopause". Data was analyzed using Pearson and spearman correlation coefficient, one way ANOVA and multiple linear regression statistical methods

Results: Assessment of women's experiences in after menopause revealed a total score of 34.9+/-16.9 percent [Mean+/-SD]. Scores for the domains of women's experiences in menopause were 42.8+/-19.3% for physical complications, 34.8+/-26.4% for negative attitudes, 34.1+/-27.5% negative feelings, 32.7+/-19.6% for concerns, 33.2+/-28.2% for adjustment, and 29.5+/-24.3% for psychological complications. Duration of menopause was the only predicting factor for total score of women's experiences in menopause, i.e., with addition of one year to duration of menopause, the total score decreased by 1 point

Conclusion: Duration of menopause was the only predicting factor for the total score of women's experiences. Future policies and programs for improving quality of life of women after menopause should concentrate on decreasing menopause related physical complications, negative attitudes and feelings, concerns and psychological complications

[Mimetical signs and symptoms of thyroid disorders in healthy pregnant women, a population based study]

Introduction: Although for thyroid disorders are the second most prevalent endocrine abnormalities among reproductive aged women, the signs and symptoms of thyroid disease can often be masked by the physiologic changes of pregnancy. The aim of this study was to identify physiological signs and symptoms common to both pregnancy and thyroid disorders among a community based sample of pregnant women without thyroid dysfunction

Materials and Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 1600 pregnant women. A comprehensive questionnaire including questions regarding the signs and symptoms of thyroid disease was completed for subjects and relevant clinical examinations were conducted. Blood samples were taken and serum thyroxine [T4], T-uptake, thyrotropin [TSH] and thyroid peroxidase antibodies [TPO-Ab] were measured

Results: Of study participants, 63.5% had normal thyroid function. The prevalence of overt hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism were 3.8%, and 0.8%, respectively and 29.8% of patients had subclinical hypothyroidism. Of pregnant women without thyroid dysfunction, 64.8% had one or more of the signs and symptoms of thyroid disorders. Most common symptoms were fatigue [30.3%], followed by lethargy and drowsiness [20.3%]

Conclusion: Normal physiological changes of pregnancy can mimic some of the signs and symptoms of thyroid disorders. The results indicated that over half of the healthy pregnant women experienced one or more of the signs and symptoms of thyroid disorders during pregnancy. Correct interpretation of signs and symptoms of thyroid dysfunction during normal pregnancy is critical to discriminate between physiologic and pathological changes

Study on the correlation between serum androgens and sexual function in post-menopausal women

Sexual dysfunction could be influenced by menopause and related hormonal changes. The purpose of this study is to examine the correlation between serum levels of androgens and sexual function in post-menopausal women. This is a community-based, descriptive-analytical study involving 405 post-menopausal women, aged 40 to 65 years, who had reached menopause during the three years prior to the study. A multi-stage, randomized sampling was conducted. Data was collected using the Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI] questionnaire, a researcher-made questionnaire, and blood samples were obtained to assess serum levels of androgens [testosterone, DHEAS], SHBG and estradiol. Among subjects, 61% had female sexual dysfunction [FSD]. Total testosterone levels had a negative correlation with scores in the domain of desire [r=-0.108, P=0.029], DHEAS levels were positively correlated with scores in the domain of pain [r=0.113, P=0.022] and the free estradiol index [FEI] was also positively correlated with scores in the domain of pain [r=0.115, P=0.020]. Satisfaction with marital relationship had a significant positive correlation with total testosterone levels [r=0.131, P=0.008] and the free androgen index [FAI] [r=0.100, P=0.044]. Examining the correlation between FSFI scores and hormone levels, multiple regression analysis showed that serum levels of total testosterone and FAI were predicting factors, in the domains of lubrication [P=0.042] and satisfaction [P=0.021] respectively. Androgenic hormones can affect certain aspects of sexual function in post-menopausal women, subject, which, however, requires further investigation

Sleep disorders in pregnancy and its effect on the length of the labor and type of delivery in firuzabadi hospital in Tehran in 2006

Sleep disorders are among common complains of pregnant women with adverse physical and psychological outcomes. This study is a descriptive-analytical one to determine the sleep disorders in late pregnancy and its effect on the length of the labor and type of delivery in Firuzabadi hospital in Tehran in 2006. In this survey, the sample consisted of 151 women who were hospitalized for delivery in the hospital's labor room. The researchers used questionnaires for data collection. The results indicated that the sleep disorders during pregnancy were significantly more than that of the time before. About 95% of cases reported at least one type of sleep disorders during their pregnancy. Early waking up was the most common disorder. The second was waking up at night and the least common was snoring. The frequent urge to urine [in 70% of the cases] and backache [in 52% of the cases] were most common disturbances that caused the sleep disorders and the least common disturbances were inflation of nose holes, difficult respiration and general bad feeling in 13% of the cases. The results did not indicate any relationship between sleep disorders and the length of labor and type of delivery. Since the labor's length of time differs in the multipara and primipara women, the relationship between the sleep disorders and the length of labor in either group was separately studied, but there were not any meaningful relationship statistically

Comparison of therapeutic effects of fennelin and mefenamic acid on primary dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is one the most common disorders in Gynecology, which occurs in 50% of women with regular menstrual cycls. There have been various treatment methods regarding this, among which the drugs with less side effects are preferred. The purpose of the present study, is to compare the effect of Fennelin and Mefenamic Acid on primary dysmenorrhea. This research is the result of an experimental study at the level of a double-blind clinical trial in 2006. In this study, 104 students with moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea were randomly selected and assigned into 3 drug-taking groups, including Fennelin [36], Mefenamic Acid [36] and Placebo [32]. They were assigned to receive the relevant drugs in two successive menstrual cycles at the beginning of the pain. The selected subjects were asked to fill out the questionnaires regarding the severity of pain, hemorrhage and clinical problems in the first visit, during the first five hours, 48 hours and the first three days in two successive cycles. There were no significant differences between the 3 selected groups regarding the age and the characteristics of menstruation. The average age of the subjects was 20.7 +/- 0.16 and the average age of the beginning of primary dysmenorrhea was 15.11 +/- 0.26. 71.2% of subjects had moderate while 28.8% with severe dysmenorrhea. The pain severity highly decreased in Fennelin takers compared with the Placebo takers, and as the time of treatment continued, this difference increased. However, there was no significant difference between the Fennelin and Mefenamic Acid takers. The effect of Fennelin was also more than Mefenamic Acid in reducing the severity of hemorrhage. There was no significant difference between the 3 groups regarding the clinical symptoms, but there was considerable reduction in the severity of clinical problems in Fennelin takers compared with the two other groups. According to the drug-takers, Fennelin was more effective in reducing the complaints compared with Placebo; however, it had no significant difference from Mefenamic Acid. The effect of Fennelin in relieving primary dysmenorrhea is not less than Mefenamic Acid, and it can be useful in reducing the severity of pain, hemorrhage and clinical symptoms. Therefore, due to the safety of herbal drugs, it can replace the chemical drugs