Is sexual dysfunction associated with periodontal status in perimenopausal women?: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to investigate the possible relationship between periodontal status and sexual dysfunction in perimenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 106 participants. After the evaluation of the sexual functioning of participants with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), their periodontal status and decayed-missing-filled teeth (DMFT) were assessed using appropriate indexes and obtained results were recorded for comparisons. Participants were divided into two groups by the periodontal status. Patients with periodontitis were grouped by the stage and the extent of the disease. Besides, participants were grouped according to the bleeding on probing (BOP) ratios for more detailed analyses. RESULTS: A negative significant correlation was observed between total FSFI scores and each of the clinical periodontal parameters. Total FSFI scores and the scores of arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain domains were significantly lower in periodontitis patients (p < .05). When the patients were grouped as having localized or generalized periodontitis or whether they had stage-I, -II, and -III periodontitis, no statistically significant differences were observed in the distribution of general sexual dysfunction parameters across the groups (p > .05). CONCLUSION: Periodontal status in perimenopausal women may be associated with sexual dysfunction.

Investigation of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and mean platelet volume in patients diagnosed with preterm labor.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the level of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLO) and mean platelet volume (MPV) in preterm birth in patients who gave birth before 37 weeks. METHOD: This study was conducted by a retrospective examination of the patients who gave birth with preterm labor diagnosis from January 2017 to May 2018 at Ankara Keçiören Training and Research Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic. The study included 138 patients. Patients were divided into three groups: Early Preterm (delivery before 34 weeks, Group I = 39), Late Preterm (delivery between 34 and 37 weeks, Group II = 59) and the Control Group (delivery after 37 weeks, Group III = 40). All three groups were compared with respect to demographic, obstetric and laboratory results, MPV and NLO parameters. RESULTS: The difference between the groups was not significant when the patients were compared in terms of age, gravida, parity, fetal sex and smoking. When the three groups were compared in terms of leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, hemoglobin, MPV and NLO, NLO was higher and MPV rate was lower in the preterm birth group, which was significant (p < 0.05). When the preterm delivery group was further divided as early preterm (<34 weeks) and late (34-37 weeks) preterm delivery group, the NLO rate was higher in the former group, while MPV was lower and the difference was significant (p < 0.05). When the patients were compared in terms of caesarean and vaginal delivery, 58.6% (81) of the total patients were delivered vaginally and 41.4% (57) were delivered by caesarean section. The most common cesarean indication was a previous caesarean section history. Subsequent indications included breech presentation, fetal distress, oligohydramnios, cephalo-pelvic disproportion (CPD), and placenta previa, respectively. The C-section rate was higher in the preterm group when the groups were compared in terms of the mode of delivery, and the difference between them was significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: NLO and MPV may be decisive as a proinflammatory process marker in patients who give birth before 37 weeks. Preterm births and fetuses of pregnant women with high NLO and low MPV may be considered to be likely to go to the neonatal care unit.

A New Practical Surgical Technique for Hymenoplasty: Primary Repair of Hymen With Vestibulo-Introital Tightening Technique.

BACKGROUND: Hymenoplasty is distinct from other genital surgeries with its ethical and psychological issues. It is performed to narrow the vaginal opening to ensure vaginal bleeding with penetration. There are various kinds of techniques with different success rates. OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to report a new hymenal reconstruction technique with vestibulo-introital tightening with the results of 145 procedures. METHODS: The new technique included a diamond-shaped incision to the vestibulum with the base in the posterior midline and superior corner 2 to 3 cm higher above the hymen. The angles were accommodated according to the degree of tightening, and the submucosal layer was closed from the apex downwards involving the vaginal mucosa. RESULTS: The satisfaction rate of the patients was 99.3%. No adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with previous techniques described, this hymenal reconstruction technique is an alternative with the advantage of low risk of loosening because the tension on the hymen alone is decreased. Additional tightening of the introitus increases the satisfaction rates in some patients.

The histopathological results of vestibulectomy specimens in localized provoked vulvodynia in Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: Localized Provoked Vulvodynia (LPV) is a gynecological disease that is difficult to manage. Despite the wide spectrum of pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment modalities, there is limited success in the management of this disease. Surgical treatment is usually performed as the last resort. We aimed to investigate the histopathological results of 38 women with LPV who underwent surgical vestibulectomy. METHODS: of the 55 women that were diagnosed with LPV and underwent vulvar vestibulectomy, 38 patients with complete histopathological results were included in this retrospective study. RESULTS: in 14 patients, the pathological reports revealed Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (LGSIL) (36.8%) whereas for 21 cases (55.2%), the findings were concordant with vestibulitis. The remaining three patients (7.8%) were diagnosed with lichen simplex chronicus. CONCLUSION: the presence of LGSIL in the surgical specimens of LPV cases is noteworthy. In this group of patients, surgical excision may contribute to the prevention of progression into high-grade lesions. The relationship between Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infections and LPV should be further investigated.

Comparison of transvaginal sonography, saline infusion sonography, and office hysteroscopy in reproductive-aged women with or without abnormal uterine bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic accuracy and acceptability of transvaginal sonography (TVS), saline infusion sonography (SIS), and office hysteroscopy (OHS) for detecting intracavitary abnormalities in women with or without abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). DESIGN: Prospective double-blind study. SETTING: Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Gynecology Clinic (Ankara, Turkey). PATIENT(S): A total of 26 women with AUB and 24 women without AUB were enrolled in this study. INTERVENTION(S): Transvaginal sonography, SIS, and OHS were performed on women scheduled for hysterectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of TVS, SIS, and OHS to detect intracavitary abnormalities (with histopathologic findings used as the gold standard), duration of procedure, and pain scores. RESULT(S): The sensitivity and specificity of TVS, SIS, and OHS in detecting intracavitary abnormalities were 56.3% and 72%, 81.3% and 100%, and 87.5% and 100%, respectively. The prevalence of endometrial polyps was not different in women with and without AUB. Saline infusion sonography was less painful than OHS (pain scores of 4.3 and 7.2, respectively). CONCLUSION(S): The diagnostic accuracy of SIS was equal to that of OHS in diagnosing intracavitary abnormalities. Moreover, SIS was less painful than OHS for patients.