The influence of physical activity level on climacteric symptoms in menopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between physical activity level and climacteric symptoms in menopausal women. METHODS: A study was conducted on 336 healthy women aged 45-55 years. They were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of two parts: (1) a socioeconomic and obstetric/gynecological survey, and (2) the International Physical Activity Questionnaire long form and the Blatt-Kupperman Index. RESULTS: The women assigned to the high physical activity group felt better and had less severe climacteric symptoms; 52.08% of the women had no climacteric symptoms. The majority of women in this group were assigned to the total high physical activity group. Significant differences were observed in the relationship between physical activity level and climacteric symptoms. In each domain, women with no climacteric symptoms were classified into either the high or the moderate physical activity level group. In the work domain, 25.30% of the women had a moderate, 20.53% a high, and 6.25% a low physical activity level. In the transportation domain, 32.72% of the women had a moderate, and 19.36% a low physical activity level. In the domestic chores domain, 30.06% of the women had a moderate, 16.07% a high and 5.95% a low physical activity level. In the leisure-time domain, 25.61% of the women had a moderate, 16.95% a high and 9.52% a low physical activity level. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity is associated with less menopausal symptoms. It is important to encourage regular physical activity as it is beneficial to health and relieves menopausal symptoms.

Reference values for variables of fetal cardiocirculatory dynamics at 11-14 weeks of gestation.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the increasing popularity of first-trimester fetal echocardiography, the evaluation of fetal heart function during this period remains challenging. The parameters of normal cardiac function at 11-14 weeks' gestation are not well defined and appropriate reference values have not yet been established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fetal cardiocirculatory dynamics during routine first-trimester screening and establish cross-sectional reference ranges for 11-14 weeks' gestation. METHODS: Fetal echocardiography was performed on 202 women with singleton pregnancies at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation. Global cardiac function was evaluated using the heart : chest area ratio and Tei index of the left (LV) and right (RV) ventricles. The proportion of isovolumic contraction (ICT%) and ejection (ET%) times of the cardiac cycle, and the outflow velocities described the systolic function. Diastolic function was evaluated by the proportion of relaxation (IRT%) and filling (FT%) times, the ratio of the blood velocity through the atrioventricular valves during early filling (E) and atrial contraction (A) phases of the cardiac cycle, and ductus venosus pulsatility index for veins (DV-PIV). All participants had additional fetal echocardiography in the second trimester and neonatal clinical examination after birth to confirm normality. RESULTS: The mean heart : chest area ratio (0.203 +/- 0.04) and the Tei indices of both ventricles did not vary significantly during weeks 11-14, but the mean Tei index of the LV (0.375 +/- 0.092) was significantly higher than that of the RV (0.332 +/- 0.079) (P = 0.001). The fetal heart rate (FHR) decreased with increasing crown-rump length (CRL) (P < 0.00001). The LV-ICT% did not vary significantly (P = 0.27), LV-IRT% (P = 0.03) and LV-ET% decreased (P = 0.01), whereas the LV-FT% increased (P = 0.02) with CRL. The RV-ET% (P = 0.84) and RV-FT% (P = 0.60) remained relatively stable. The LV-ET% was lower than the RV-ET% (P = 0.0001). The LV (P = 0.004) and RV (P < 0.00001) outflow velocities and E : A ratios of both ventricles (P < 0.0001) increased with advancing gestation. The E-velocity of the LV (P = 0.003) and RV (P = 0.002) increased significantly but the increase in A-velocity was not significant. The outflow velocity (P = 0.008) and E-velocity (P = 0.005) of the RV were higher than that of the LV but the A-velocities were similar (P = 0.066). The mean DV-PIV was 0.97 +/- 0.23 and did not change significantly (P = 0.95) during weeks 11-14. The FHR and DV-PIV did not correlate with the Tei index of either ventricle. CONCLUSION: We have established reference ranges for the noninvasive evaluation of fetal cardiocirculatory dynamics at 11-14 weeks' gestation.

Body mass index, waist to hip ratio and waist/height in adult Polish women in relation to their education, place of residence, smoking and alcohol consumption.

Obesity is a complex, multifactorial disorder that develops from genotype and environmental interactions. The aim of this study is to describe the variability of body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and waist to height (W/Ht) in adult Polish women, and to determine relationships between these variables and factors such as education, place of residence, smoking and alcohol drinking. The tested group consisted of 10,254 women aged 25-95 years, who voluntarily filled in questionnaires and participated in anthropometric measurements (body height and mass, waist and hip circumferences). The BMI, WHR and W/Ht values were calculated based on these measurements. The participants were differentiated in terms of education, residence and lifestyle (smoking, alcohol drinking). Chi-squared test, product-moment correlations, ANOVA, multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and logistic regression with backward elimination were used to evaluate associations between social and lifestyle factors and BMI, WHR and W/Ht. The results confirm (1) the relationship between low social status and the risk of overweight and obesity as observed in developed countries; (2) higher susceptibility to environmental factors such as education, place of residence, smoking and alcohol drinking in younger (premenopausal) women; (3) the usefulness of simple and practical anthropometric indicators such as WHR and W/Ht for the identification of the higher risk of future metabolic diseases in obese people and those with a normal body mass.

Evaluation of the quality of life and sexual functioning of women using a 30-microg ethinyloestradiol and 3-mg drospirenone combined oral contraceptive.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of a 30-microg ethinyloestradiol and 3-microg drospirenone (EE 30 microg/drsp 3 mg) combined oral contraceptive (COC) on the quality of life (QoL) and sexual functioning. METHODS: Sixty-one women using this COC were assessed. The control group consisted of 65 women using different types of COC. A questionnaire with a Polish version of the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Mell-Krat Scale (SFK-K) evaluating QoL and sexuality was used as the research tool. RESULTS: QoL indices for women using EE 30 microg/drsp 3 mg scored higher than for the controls and statistically significantly so with regard to improved general health and mood (p < 0.02), and mental health (p < 0.01). Women taking EE 30 microg/drsp 3 mg functioned sexually better, particularly with regard to sexual arousal (p < 0.006). Using the SFK-K scale, sexual dysfunctions were diagnosed in 66.2% of the women in the control group and 48.3% of those in the EE 30 microg/drsp 3 mg group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The intake of the COC containing 30 microg ethinyloestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone is associated with an improvement of general QoL and female sexual functioning. However, the limitations of this study should be taken into account.

The influence of bronchial asthma on sexual maturation of girls.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of bronchial asthma on sexual maturation of girls. The study encompassed 111 girls aged 8-17 years (58 girls treated for bronchial asthma and 53 healthy girls). The assessment of girls' sexual maturation has been performed using the Tanner-Marshall scale, determining stages of the development of secondary gender characters - mammary gland (Thelarche: Th1 - Th5), public hair (Pubarche: P1-P5), axillary hair (Adrenarche: A1-A4) and menarche age. The first symptoms of puberty among asthmatic girls started at 11.83+/-2.37 (Th2) and 12.85+/-1.87 (P2) years; they achieved the last stadium, on average, at 15 (Th5) and 17 (P5) years. The ages of Th2 and P2 were comparable, but the ages of Th4 and P5 were statistically younger in healthy girls. Asthmatic girls started to menstruate earlier (10.84+/-1.93 years) than controls (12.24+/-1.16 years). We conclude that bronchial asthma does not affect the beginning of sexual maturation, but it delays the final stage of secondary sexual characters' development. The age at menarche is accelerated in bronchial asthma and it depends on asthma severity and its clinical control.

The influence of bronchial asthma on menstrual cycle.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of bronchial asthma on menstrual cycle. The study population consisted of 111 girls aged 8-17 years (58 girls with bronchial asthma and 53 healthy girls) of the mean age of 13.17+/-2.74 years. The age at menarche and menstrual cycle parameters were analyzed. Asthmatic girls started to menstruate earlier than healthy girls (P=0.0004). The severity of bronchial asthma (P=0.0096) correlated with the age at menarche. Irregular menstrual cycles were found in 50.0% of asthmatic girls and 27.8% of control group (P=0.03). Algomenorrhea was observed in 68.0% of girls with asthma and in 80.6% of healthy ones (P=0.013). We conclude that bronchial asthma increases the risk of irregular menstrual cycles prevalence but decreases the frequency of algomenorrhea among girls. The age at menarche is accelerated in bronchial asthma.

The influence of bronchial asthma on the quality of life and sexual functioning of women.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of bronchial asthma on quality of life and sexual functioning of women. The study was conducted in a population of 72 women aged 18-45 (31 women treated for bronchial asthma and 41 healthy women). A specific questionnaire with a Polish version of Short Form-36 and Female Sexual Function Index was used as a research tool in this study. We found that the quality of life parameters for women with asthma were lower than for the controls in the following aspects: limitations due to physical health, limitations due to emotional problems, social functioning, energy/fatigue and emotional well-being. Asthmatic women showed worse sexual functioning in sexual arousal, lubrication, orgasm, sexual satisfaction, and pain domain. Sexual dysfunctions were diagnosed in 25.8% of asthmatic women and 17.1% of controls (P>0.05). In conclusion, bronchial asthma decreases quality of life and sexual functioning among women.

The influence of bronchial asthma on premenstrual syndrome prevalence among girls.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of bronchial asthma and its severity on the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) among girls. Eighty girls aged 12-19 years were qualified to the study as a research population (50 girls with bronchial asthma and 30 healthy girls). In research part, age at menarche, menstrual cycle parameters, and premenstrual symptoms were analyzed. The mean age in the asthma group was 15.24+/-1.62 years and that in the control group was 15.30+/-1.64 years. The mean duration of bronchial asthma was 6.66+/-4.73 years. The prevalence of PMS among girls with asthma (20%) was significantly lower compared with healthy girls (46.67%) (P=0.012). The intensity of PMS correlated with later age at menarche (P=0.01), lack of use oral contraceptives (P=0.03), and use of b-mimetics (P=0.017). In conclusion, bronchial asthma decreases the risk of PMS prevalence among girls.