The effect of Rebozo technique on perceived labour pain and childbirth experience: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Pain, stress, and anxiety experienced during childbirth can have detrimental effects on labor and delivery. The rebozo technique is an ancestral method used to minimize pain and enhance relief during gestation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the rebozo technique on the birth process and its probable benefits on the birth experience. METHODS: This survey was conducted from January to May 2021 in a randomized and controlled manner. A total of 113 pregnant women with their first children were surveyed. Women between 37 and 41 weeks of gestation without complications who were admitted to the delivery room with a cervical dilation of 4 cm or more were chosen as participants. In the Rebozo group, subjects were randomly selected by trained personnel to apply the standardized method, while the control group received a relaxing massage. Cervical dilation, fetal position, contraction patterns, and measures related to the birth experience were key indicators. RESULTS: Women in the rebozo group had lower pain levels during birth and greater birth satisfaction. Mean cervical dilation in the latent phase was 5.61 cm in the rebozo group and 5.71 cm in the control group. In the active phase, cervical dilatation was 6.03 cm in the rebozo group and 6.68 cm in the control group, and this difference was statistically significant (P < .001). In the transition phase, the birth time was 46.29 minutes in the rebozo group and 68.71 minutes in the control group (P = <.007**). In the total birth experience score, the rebozo group received an average of 68.52 points, while the control group received 51.58 points (P < .001). CONCLUSION: This research has established that the use of the rebozo technique throughout labor helps enhance her feelings about being pregnant, as well as heightening fulfillment with delivery.

Effect of polycystic ovary syndrome on the life quality of young women.

OBJECTIVE: The study evaluated the opinions of polycystic ovary syndrome on the life quality of women. METHODS: A total of 249 women with polycystic ovary syndrome participated in this descriptive study between October 2022 and July 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. FINDINGS: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Quality of Life was significantly correlated with age (p=0.000) and frequent weight loss diets (p=0.000) (p<0.01). Among the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Quality of Life total score and polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms, those with hormone imbalance and insulin resistance had the highest mean scores, while those with menstrual irregularity and fatigue had the lowest. CONCLUSION: Advancing age changes the quality of life of women with polycystic ovary syndrome. To prevent the negative impact of polycystic ovary syndrome on women's quality of life, it is recommended that health professionals develop effective care plans utilizing available evidence.

"The biggest disappointment": women's expectations from sex are ignored, from the perspective of infertile women.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes, behaviours and experiences of infertile women towards sexuality. METHODS: This study was carried out in the infertility outpatient clinic of a state hospital in Istanbul of Turkey. Fifteen infertile women who had been receiving primary infertility treatment for at least two years and were actively continuing infertility treatment were included in the study. Data were collected by means of an detailed information form and a semi-structured interview. Content analysis was applied to the data obtained from semi-structured interviews. Consistency percentage calculation was made between the codes and themes determined by 4 researchers who are experts in their fields. RESULTS: Results based on the interviews with the participants, 2 main themes, 6 sub-themes and 27 codes related to sub-themes were determined as 'Factors Affecting Sexual Life' and 'Overview of Sexual Health and Sexuality'. 'Disappointment' was determined as the most commonly defined code in the determined main theme and sub-themes. CONCLUSION: It was determined that the majority of infertile women base their sexual lives on reproductive functions, experience serious sexual health problems, feel worthless, and describe their sexual life as a great disappointment.

Opinions of female academicians on oocyte freezing: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the opinions of female academicians about oocyte freezing. METHODS: This qualitative study included 12 single academic women who had not yet entered menopause, did not have children, and were continuing their doctoral education in Istanbul, Turkey, between August and September 2022. Data were collected with semi-structured interviews and evaluated by content analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes were "Difficulty of fertility in academics," "Advantages of oocyte freezing," and "Concerns about oocyte freezing." Participants mostly had positive attitudes about the advantages of oocyte cryopreservation, but they had concerns about pregnancies obtained with frozen oocytes. CONCLUSION: The academic women attributed fertility as an obstacle to their career and experienced anxiety about fertility. They were aware of the advantages of oocyte cryopreservation; however, they defined the pregnancy with oocyte freezing as artificial.