Chemicals in menstrual products: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: From menarche until menopause, the average menstruator will use over 11 000 tampons or sanitary pads. Vaginal and vulvar tissue is highly permeable, and chemicals are absorbed without undergoing first-pass metabolism. OBJECTIVES: To conduct a review of the literature to determine exposure to environmental chemicals in menstrual products. SEARCH STRATEGY: This review identified 15 papers over the past 10 years. SELECTION CRITERIA: Papers that measured chemicals in menstrual products and that measured human biomarkers of chemical exposure were included. Papers had to also be available in English. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Reviewers assessed the articles and data provided. Multiple chemical groups were found. MAIN RESULTS: Phthalates, volatile organic compounds, parabens, environmental phenols, fragrance chemicals, dioxins and dioxin-like compounds were detected in menstrual products. Research gaps were identified, including the lack of studies on newer products such as menstrual underwear and cups/discs. In addition to measuring chemicals in these products, future research should focus on clarifying the exposure per menstrual cycle to these chemicals to understand how menorrhagia and cycle length influence exposure from menstrual products. CONCLUSION: Menstrual products contained measurable levels of a range of endocrine disrupting chemicals including phthalates, phenols and parabens. This reflects a potentially important route of exposure to chemicals that can impact women's reproductive health.

Does aging affect the elastic properties of the bladder and the urethra in nulliparous women: An ultrasound shear-wave elastography study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how aging and menopausal status in absence of pregnancy and childbirth affect the elasticity of the bladder and urethra. STUDY DESIGN: A single-center prospective observational study including nulliparous 10 pre- and 12 postmenopausal women. Data collection included baseline characteristics, physical examination data, questionnaire scores, PDFI and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire, and pelvic floor sonographic measurements as well as elastography measurements. The shear wave elastography (SWE) of tissue was measured using Kilopascal (kPa). The elastography measurements were taken over the rhabdosphincter, the suburethra smooth muscle, and the trigonal areas. RESULTS: A total of 22 nulliparous subjects were enrolled in the study. The cohort's mean age was 43.5 years, the mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.8, and 86% were of Caucasian ethnicity. The postmenopausal group was older and with higher BMI (p < 0.001 and p = 0.05). They also had higher scores in all the questionnaires (p < 0.05 for all) and did not demonstrate prolapse in any compartments. The SWE results for the whole group were 35.2 kPa in the rhabdosphincter measuring point, 40.2 kPa in the sub-urethra point, and 20.6 kPa in the trigone point. Comparing the premenopause and postmenopause groups, we found lower measurements in the rhabdosphincter area and equivocal measurements for the suburethral zone. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups CONCLUSIONS: The elastic properties of the different bladder components and the urethra change with age and menopause. Using elastic properties of the tissues, we can further explore both stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder.

Vaginal ultrasound-guided Pouch of Douglas robotic entry in a live ovine model and human female cadaveric specimens.

We aimed to determine whether intraoperative ultrasound is a feasible tool for visualization of the pouch of Douglas (POD) to facilitate a safe vaginal entry for direct robotic vaginal trocar insertion for pelvic floor surgery. Endovaginal ultrasound-guided needle insertion of a trocar into the POD was performed in six fresh frozen female cadavers and a live sheep animal model. Using an endovaginal probe the POD was identified as a fluid-filled space clear of bowel or adhesions, then a Veress needle was also used to confirm POD localization. Access to the POD was achieved using a robotic trocar designed for this purpose. The animal study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Asaf-Harofe hospital. Direct visualization during laparoscopy in cadavers and open cadaveric dissections confirmed safe POD entry and accurate trocar placement. This method was found feasible in the development of a safe vaginal entry in both the animal and cadaveric model, possibly negating the need for laparoscopic umbilical observation.

The Fresh Frozen Cadaveric Study of Direct Pouch of Douglas Laparoscopic and Robotic Trocar Insertion for Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the distances and angles that assure a safe entry into the pouch of Douglas (POD) during blind laparoscopic and robotic trocar entry. DESIGN: Trocars were inserted into the POD of 4 intact fresh frozen female pelves. Cadaveric dissection was performed, and the distance from the POD to the sacrum at rest and with maximal pressure to POD with the trocar was measured. In addition, the optimal angle for trocar insertion and entry was evaluated. SETTING: Inova Advanced Simulation and Technology Evaluation Center. PATIENTS: Fresh frozen cadavers with intact reproductive organs. INTERVENTIONS: Vaginal POD trocar insertion. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Measurements were recorded from the sacrum to the POD at rest and from the sacrum to the hymen with trocar pressure. The dissection demonstrated correct trocar placement in the POD of human cadaveric specimens. The mean distances from the sacrum to the hymen, the sacrum to the POD, and the sacrum to the POD with pressure were 18.75 cm, 9.75 cm, and 7.25 cm, respectively. After the deployment of the trocar, the tip was observed to be 2 cm below the cervix in the POD. The mean trocar angle to clear the sacral promontory and the neurovascular structures without injury to the uterus was 25° to 40° from the horizontal plane and 15° to 30° from the coronal plane. CONCLUSION: A direct trocar entry into the POD has been found to be feasible in fresh frozen cadaveric specimens. This study provided valuable information for the angle of entry into the POD to facilitate vaginal and robotic trocar entry for minimally invasive gynecologic procedures.

To screen or not to screen: ongoing debate in the early detection of prostate cancer.

Debate about the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests to screen prostate cancer in men is ongoing. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer after skin cancer in men and the second most deadly after lung cancer. An elevated PSA level can lead to this cancer's diagnosis and treatment even before the onset of symptoms. However, other causes also can create a high PSA level, which may lead to men being unnecessarily treated for prostate cancer. This article will shed some light on the issue and discuss prostate cancer screening.