Health-related quality of life and resilience in peri- and postmenopausal women during Covid-19 confinement.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of confinement due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and resilience in peri- and postmenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used an online questionnaire which was sent between April 30th and May 13th, 2020 to women aged 40-70 years who were peri- or postmenopausal according to STRAW criteria. We used the 16-item Cervantes short-form scale (Cervantes-SF) to measure HRQoL, and the 14-item Wagnild and Young Resilience Scale (RS-14) to measure resilience. High scores on the Cervantes-SF indicate low HRQoL and high scores on the RS-14 indicate high levels of resilience. Covid-19 status, sociodemographic descriptors, and lifestyle variables were also evaluated. RESULTS: We included 2430 peri- and postmenopausal women with valid questionnaires. All items of the Cervantes-SF were completed in 2151 cases, whilst the RS-14 was completed in 2413 cases. There was a negative correlation between scores on the Cervantes-SF and RS-14 scales (Rho -0.350; p < 0.0001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a statistically significant association between Cervantes-SF scores and living with others (ß-coefficient -10.2; p < 0.001), use of antidepressants (ß 9.3; p < 0.001), physical activity (ß -8.6; p < 0.001) and sexual activity (ß -2.7; p < 0.001). Resilience was associated with the use of antidepressants (ß -5.9; p < 0.001), physical activity (ß 3.2; p < 0.001) and sexual activity (ß 1.7; p = 0.005). According to the multivariate analysis, there were no associations between either Covid-19 or menopausal status and HRQoL or resilience scores. CONCLUSIONS: During the period of mandatory Covid-19 confinement, peri- and postmenopausal women who engaged in physical and sexual activity had higher HRQoL and higher levels of resilience, whilst women who were using antidepressants had lower HRQoL and lower levels of resilience. HRQoL was greater in women who lived with others.

Situación actual de la anticoncepción posembarazo y parto / No disponible

No disponible

One year quality of life measured with SEC-QoL in levonorgestrel 52 mg IUS users.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to prospectively evaluate quality of life (QoL) of women using 52-mg levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) for contraception determined through the Sociedad Española de Contracepción (Spanish contraception Society) (SEC)-QoL, a questionnaire specifically designed to assess the impact of contraceptive methods on QoL of fertile women. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a prospective observational multicenter study of 201 reproductive age women who initiated the LNG-IUS for contraception. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected at baseline and 12 months afterwards. Participants filled in the SEC-QoL questionnaire at both visits. SEQ-QoL scores range from 0 (worst QoL) to 100 (best QoL). RESULTS: Participants claimed an increased QoL 12 months after insertion in all five dimensions of SEC-QoL due to its high contraceptive efficacy and its capability to reduce other menstrual symptoms (e.g., heavy menstrual bleeding or dysmenorrhoea), overall exerting a positive impact on user's satisfaction. SEC-QoL general overall score went from a mean (S.D.) score of 46.3 (17.3) at baseline to 72.2 (14.8) 12 months afterwards (p<.001). Overall, 94.6% of women claimed having found additional benefits other than contraception. No pregnancies were reported during the 12 months of study duration, and only 14 women discontinued use of LNG-IUS (only two of them due to an adverse event), representing a continuation rate of 93%. CONCLUSIONS: Women using LNG-IUS for contraception have an increased QoL after 12 months of use, demonstrated by the increased score in all dimensions of the SEC-QoL questionnaire. IMPLICATIONS: The present study prospectively evaluated QoL of women using LNG-IUS for contraception through the SEC-QoL questionnaire. Participants claimed increased QoL 12 months afterwards, implying that women using LNG-IUS for contraception in usual clinical practise also benefit from the reduction of period-related symptoms, overall leading to very low discontinuation rates.

Nuevas recomendaciones para el consejo anticonceptivo basadas en el estilo de vida. Resultados de un estudio Delphi / New lifestyle-based recommendations for contraceptive counseling. A Delphi study

Objetivo. Elaborar un listado de condiciones más allá de las condiciones médicas de la OMS que puedan ayudar en la toma de decisiones durante el proceso de asesoría anticonceptiva. Métodos. Estudio Delphi en el que 27 expertos contestaron a 24 preguntas planteadas por los coordinadores del estudio. Se requirió un nivel de consenso igual o superior al 50% del total de expertos consultados en cada una de las preguntas con respuesta de escala nominal formulada. Resultados. Tras el proceso Delphi se realizaron 20 recomendaciones sobre cuestiones relacionadas con el consejo anticonceptivo: condiciones médicas, época de la vida, estilo de vida, estado laboral, nivel académico, nivel económico, actividad sexual, métodos anticonceptivos y cumplimiento con el régimen anticonceptivo. Conclusiones. El consejo anticonceptivo debe de contemplar, además de las condiciones médicas, los aspectos relacionados con el estilo de vida de la mujer para mejorar la adherencia al método anticonceptivo más adecuado (AU)

Objective. To present a list of factors that go beyond the medical conditions established by the World Health Organization to assist decision-making during the process of contraceptive counseling. Methods. A Delphi study was carried out, in which 27 experts responded to 24 questions posed by the study coordinators. At least 50% agreement among the experts on a nominal scale was required in each of the questions. Results. After the Delphi process, 20 recommendations were made on issues related to contraceptive counseling: medical conditions, stage of life, lifestyle, employment status, educational level, economic status, sexual activity, contraceptive methods and contraceptive adherence. Conclusions. In addition to medical conditions, contraceptive counseling should include issues related to women's lifestyles in order to improve adherence to the most appropriate contraceptive method (AU)

Anticoncepción en mujeres nulíparas: necesidades no cubiertas y barreras a la anticoncepción intrauterina / Contraception in nulliparous women: uncovered needs and barriers for intrauterine contraception

El cada vez mayor retraso en la edad de la primera maternidad en nuestro país, que ya supera los 31 años, implica la existencia de un volumen importante de mujeres menores de 30 años, nulíparas, con necesidad de una anticoncepción efectiva. La elevada utilización de métodos anticonceptivos con alta dependencia activa de la usuaria, como el preservativo y la píldora, pone a estas mujeres en un alto riesgo de embarazo no deseado. Las cifras acerca de las interrupciones voluntarias del embarazo entre mujeres de esta edad lo confirman. Los anticonceptivos de larga duración reversibles (LARC por sus siglas en inglés: long-acting reversible contraception) -siendo los más populares el dispositivo intrauterino (DIU) de cobre (DIU-Cu) y el liberador de levonorgestrel (DIU-LNG)- tienen la ventaja de no depender de la participación activa de las usuarias, lo que les confiere una alta efectividad y tasas de continuidad superiores a las de otros métodos. Presentan pocas contraindicaciones y ofrecen una protección anticonceptiva efectiva durante el tiempo que la mujer desee. Sociedades médicas internacionales los recomiendan para todas las mujeres, incluidas las adolescentes, como estrategia para evitar embarazos no deseados. Sin embargo, su uso en nuestro país es muy limitado, se cree que debido a la falta de experiencia y a la existencia de creencias erróneas por parte del profesional sanitario. El escaso conocimiento que adolescentes y jóvenes tienen sobre los LARC afecta también a su actitud hacia los mismos. Se analizan en profundidad barreras como la dificultad de inserción (incluido el riesgo de perforación y el dolor provocado por ésta), el riesgo de expulsión, de enfermedad inflamatoria pélvica y de infertilidad subsecuente y se plantea el beneficio que un nuevo DIU-LNG, de menor tamaño y contenido hormonal, puede tener en estas mujeres (AU)

First child birth in contemporary women is becoming delayed, and it’s nowadays set on 31 years old within Spanish women. This fact indicates that a wide population of fertile nulliparous women under 30 years old is requiring for effective and safe contraception. The extensive use of contraceptive methods which require user’s active participation, such as oral contraceptive pills or condoms, exposes these women to high risk of unintended pregnancy. Unfortunately, termination of pregnancy data confirms that situation. Long-acting reversible contraceptive methods (LARC), with cooper intrauterine device (Cooper-IUD) and levonorgestrel intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) being the most popular, give the advantage of offering the user independence for compliance, and this confers them higher efficacy and continuation rates compared to other contraceptive methods. Moreover, few contraindications are described for intrauterine device use, and contraceptive protection is guaranteed for as long as women wish. Several international medical societies do recommend its use for all women, including adolescents, to prevent effectively unintended pregnancies. However, use of LARC methods in Spain is yet limited, probably because of lack of experience and misperceptions among healthcare providers. Adolescents and young women’s little knowledge about LARC also affects their attitude towards them. In this review we deeply analyse those barriers such as difficulty of insertion (including pain during insertion and risk of perforation), expulsion risk, and pelvic inflammatory disease and subsequent infertility. We propose the option of a new, smaller, low-dose LNG-IUD, which can offer numerous benefits for these women (AU)