Comparison of Metabolic and Hormonal Profiles of Women With and Without Premenstrual Syndrome: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is reported by up to 85% of women of reproductive age. Although several studies have focused on the hormone and lipid profiles of females with PMS, the results are controversial. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the association of hormonal and metabolic factors with PMS among Iranian women of reproductive age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a community based cross-sectional study. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, and metabolic disorders were compared between 354 women with PMS and 302 healthy controls selected from among 1126 women of reproductive age who participated in the Iranian PCOS prevalence study. P values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Prolactin (PRL) and triglycerides (TG) were significantly elevated in women with PMS, whereas their testosterone (TES), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) levels were significantly less than they were in women without the syndrome (P < 0.05). After adjusting for age and body mass index (BMI), linear regression analysis demonstrated that for every one unit increase in PMS score there was 12% rise in the probability of having metabolic syndrome (P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant association between PMS scores and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Further studies are needed to confirm and validate the relationships between lipid profile abnormalities and metabolic disorders with PMS.

History of perinatal loss and maternal-fetal attachment behaviors.

BACKGROUND: Maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) is an important requirement for optimal maternal-infant adaptation. Current studies showed conflicting findings about whether a history of perinatal loss (fetal/neonatal death) affects maternal attachment in pregnancy. RESEARCH QUESTION: "Does a history of perinatal loss affect maternal-fetal attachment behaviors?" METHODS: One hundred women with and without a history of PL were recruited using a convenience method of sampling, from prenatal care services affiliated to Shahid Behesti University of Medical Sciences. Data collected by questionnaires from a convenience sample of multiparous women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy with no surviving children were compared with data from a selected cohort of primigravid women. The two groups of women were matched for health and literacy. The data collected included demographic characteristics and responses to 24 questions in five groups of behaviors on the Persian version of Cranly's Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale. Data were analyzed by SPSS 13 and using t, ANOVA, Chi square, Pearson correlation and Mann-Whitney tests. FINDINGS: Finding showed that total score of MFA for women with a history of PL (68.95±9.20%) is not significantly different from this score for women without such a history (71.22±11.75%; p<0.05). Women with a history of PL had a significantly lower score for a subgroup of behaviors "differentiation of self from fetus" compared to women without of a history of PL (78.25 vs. 83.21%; p<0.05). But, there were no statistically significant differences between two groups respecting to other subgroups of behaviors between two groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, a history of pregnancy loss was found to be associated with disturbances in the group of maternal-fetal attachment behaviors related to "differentiation of self from fetus" in a subsequent pregnancy.

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

UNLABELLED:   BACKGROUND: 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. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate sexual attitudes and sexual function among Iranian menopausal age women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSION: Attitude regarding sexual function has a great impact on sexual activity of postmenopausal women that need to be considered in their health care programming.

Anxiety and success of in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of anxiety on pregnancy rate after in vitro fertilization (IVF). STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective study of 180 infertile women who were referred for IVF treatment to two selected infertility treatment centers in Tehran. They were recruited at the last visit before the procedure by quota sampling and their anxiety was assessed using the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, following which they were categorized, based on their anxiety scores, to high and low anxiety groups. A positive pregnancy test was considered as the criterion of success of treatment. Data were analyzed using SPSS 17. Pregnancy rates in the low and high anxiety groups were compared using the Chi square test. RESULTS: Pregnancy rates in the groups with high and low levels of state anxiety were not significantly different (11.1 vs. 10.1 percent; X(2), p>0.05); neither were these rates significantly different in groups with high and low levels of trait anxiety (14.5 vs. 9 percent; X(2), P>0.05). CONCLUSION: High or low levels of state or trait anxiety have no effect on the pregnancy rate after IVF treatment. Counseling is necessary, however, to decrease anxiety in infertile women to improve their quality of life.

Supportive family relationships and adolescent health in the socio-cultural context of Iran: a qualitative study.

Parents have a critical role in adolescent health. The association of adolescents' perceptions of family relationships with adolescent health was investigated using a sample of 67 female adolescents who participated in eight focus group discussions, utilising a purposeful sampling method. All tape-recorded data were fully transcribed and content analysis was performed. Three themes were identified, namely emotional support, responsible parents and well-informed parents. With regard to some of the challenges in Iranian adolescents' relationships with their parents, it is necessary to educate parents to be alert to their role in adolescent health.