The effect of Hypericum perforatum on postmenopausal symptoms and depression: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) is an herbal plant that has antidepressant activity and contains ingredients such as flavonols derivatives, bioflavonoids, proanthocyanidins, xanthones, phloroglucinol, and naphthodianthrones. This study was aimed to test the effect of Hypericum perforatum on hot flashes, menopausal symptoms, and depression in postmenopausal women. DESIGN & SETTING: This randomized controlled study was conducted on 80 postmenopausal women aged 45-60 in Izeh, Iran. INTERVENTION: Two groups received 270-330 µg of H. perforatum (n = 40) or placebo (n = 40) tablets three times a day for two months. MAIN OUTCOMES: Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire, the modified Kupperman index before the intervention and 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after intervention. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was used to gather data before the intervention and in the 8th week of intervention. The data were analyzed using an independent t-test, chi-square test, and repeated measure test. RESULTS: Seventy women completed the study and five women from each group withdrew the study. The frequency and intensity of hot flashes and the score of Kupperman scale significantly decreased in the H. perforatum group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). In addition, the intensity of depression significantly decreased in the H. perforatum group compared to the control group. At the end of the study, 80% of women in the intervention group did not have depression compared to only 5.7% in the control group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Treatment with Hypericum perforatum is an efficient way of reducing hot flashes, menopausal symptoms, and depression in postmenopausal women.

The relationship between function and sexual satisfaction with sexual violence among women in Ahvaz, Iran.

BACKGROUND: One of the forms of violence that receives less attention due to cultural and social issues is sexual violence against women, which is a hidden and a constant epidemic and impact on their health. AIM: This study aimed to determine the relationship between function and sexual satisfaction in women who have experienced sexual violence in Ahvaz-Iran. METHODS: This study was a case-control study which was conducted on 105 women (cases=35 and control=70) referred to one forensic center and seventeen Shahrivar health centers during 2013-2014 in Ahwaz-Iran. The data collection tools included questionnaires for evaluating demographic characteristics and sexual satisfaction, sexual female function index and sexual violence. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and independent-samples t-test) in SPSS, version 19. P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Two groups of women were matched according to age and education. Mean ± SD sexual satisfaction was (71.4±15.84) in the case group and (99.44±15.68) in the control group (p<0.001). The mean ± SD of sexual function was (17.1±4.94) in the case group and (26.37±5.27) in the control group. The groups had a statistically significant difference in terms of sexual arousal, sexual orgasm, sexual lubrication, pain and sexual satisfaction (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Sexual dysfunction and dissatisfaction have a relation with sexual violence, and a major concern is that the sexual violence in most cases is hidden and can seriously affect the general health condition of women.

The Relationship Between Factors Related to Divorce Request and Mental Health Among Divorce Applicant Women Referred to Legal Medicine Organization in Ahvaz, Iran.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between factors related to divorce request with mental health among divorce applicant women in order to understand the effect of these factors on women's mental health. Materials and methods: This study was a cross-sectional study performed on 434 divorce applicant women who referred to legal medicine department of Ahvaz in 2013 based on convenience sampling. Information was collected by using researcher made questionnaire for factors affecting divorce and symptom checklist-25 (SCL-25) standard questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS ver.18. Results: The results showed that among the social factors, life skills and communication, family and individual factors had a significant relationship with mental health among divorce applicant women (p < 0.05). No relationship was seen with economic and cultural factors affecting divorce request (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Regarding the negative effects of various causative factors of divorce on mental health of women including social, life skills, communication, family and individual factors strategies for prevention and reduction of these factors should be seriously considered for prevention and early treatment of mental health problems. These strategies include counseling before marriage, after marriage and during the divorce process.

Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral stress management on psychological stress and glycemic control in gestational diabetes: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the effect of cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBT) on reducing psychological stress in diabetic pregnant women. METHOD: This randomized controlled trial applied through pretest and post-test with control group was conducted on 88 eligible women with gestational diabetes. Women who had a stress score more than 15, randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. Intervention group received stress management training within six two-hour sessions for three weeks. Stress and FBS were measured before intervention and two weeks after the last session. Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 19.0. Results were analyzed using chi-square, paired t test and independent sample t test. RESULTS: In CBT training group, stress significantly decreased two weeks after the training (p < 0.001). In the control group, the stress scores were significantly different before and after the intervention and women had a significant increase in the stress scores (p = 0.028). There was a significant difference between two groups in stress scores, two weeks after intervention (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Cognitive-behavioral stress management reduces stress in women with gestational diabetes and reducing stress may also improve the pregnancy outcomes, especially whose glycemic along with stress is not adequately controlled by medication.

Effect of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) vaginal cream on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Vaginal atrophy is one of the main concerns of postmenopausal women. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of fennel vaginal cream on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women in Ahvaz, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 postmenopausal women (45-65 years of age) in Ahvaz, Iran. The study participants were randomly divided into one of two groups, receiving either a placebo (n=30) or fennel 5% vaginal cream (n=30) administered as one application per day (5g/day) for 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME: The vaginal pH and maturation vaginal index (MVI) were measured at baseline and 8 weeks after the intervention, while the vaginal atrophy symptoms was measured at baseline and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the intervention. The data were analyzed using the independent t-test, chi-square test, paired sample t-test, and the generalized estimating equation. RESULTS: The number of superficial cells increased significantly in the fennel group after 8 weeks compared to the control group (76.1±15.3 vs. 11.8±8, p<0.001). The number of intermediate and parabasal cells decreased significantly in the fennel group compared to the control group (p<0.001). The vaginal pH decreased significantly at the 8-week follow-up in the fennel group compared to the control group (100% vs. 7.4%, p<0.001). All women in the fennel group had an MVI of 65-100 at the 8-week follow-up, whereas almost half (40.7%) of the women in the control group had an MVI of 50-64 (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: According to results of this study, fennel is an effective means to manage the symptoms of vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women and is devoid of side effects. Larger studies are necessary to confirm the positive impact of fennel for vaginal conditions occurring among postmenopausal women.

The impact of isosorbide mononitrate on cervical ripening and labor induction in primiparous women with term pregnancy: A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The most favorable method for cervical ripening is not fully agreed upon by practitioners; however, vaginal administration of isosorbide mononitrate (IMN) is considered a low-risk method of labor induction for pregnant women at full term. Our study was designed to assess the effect of IMN on cervical ripening and labor induction among primiparous women in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 90 primiparous women with Bishop score ≤ 5, term pregnancy, and no sign of labor. The women were allocated into two groups to receive either a 40 mg (2 × 20 mg) IMN tablet vaginally (n = 45) or placebo (n = 45) at 0 and 12 h. If uterine contractions were not present after 24 h, women were sent to the labor section for induction of labor. Bishop score, reason for induction, duration of active, second, and third phase of labor, and mode of delivery were assessed. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the IMN group and the controls with respect to the Bishop score (4.92 vs. 4.03, P = 0.0.01), induction to active phase interval (387.6 vs. 520.4 min, P = 0.03), the length of induction (350 vs. 446 min, P = 0.03), and the drug administration to delivery interval (33.9 vs. 36.2 h, P = 0.03). The major side effect of IMN was headache, which responded to analgesia. CONCLUSIONS: IMN can be an effective alternative drug for cervical ripening and could decrease the labor interval. Further studies are necessary to fully address the benefits of IMN, especially in pregnancies of gestational age greater than 42 weeks.