Home - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia

About the journal

The Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia is a scientific publication of the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Associations (FEBRASGO). It is aimed at gynecologists, obstetricians and professionals in related areas with the purpose to publish research results on relevant topics in the field of Gynecology, Obstetrics and related areas.

  • Recent Articles
  • Most Cited
  • Most Visited
  • Future Articles
  • Review Article

    Breastfeeding and the Benefits of Lactation for Women’s Health

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2018;40(6):354-359

    Summary

    Review Article

    Breastfeeding and the Benefits of Lactation for Women’s Health

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2018;40(6):354-359

    DOI 10.1055/s-0038-1657766

    Views4

    Abstract

    The offer of the maternal breast to the baby is an unquestionable right of mothers and their children, and all efforts should bemade to promote, follow and maintain exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6months and supplement it until the child completes 2 years of age. Many publications are available in the literature about the qualities of breast milk, its benefits and health repercussions, stimulating the practice of breastfeeding and supporting campaigns for its implementation. However, although it is widely known that breastfeeding is an important step in the reproductive process of women and its practice offers benefits to both mother and child, most of the available information highlights the benefits of breast milk for children, while mention of the effects of breastfeeding on the health of the mother is usually neglected. Thus, the objective of the present study is to highlight the multiple benefits of breastfeeding for the physical and emotional health of the nursing mother. The authors consulted articles published in the databases PubMed, Virtual Health Library andWeb of Science using the keywords breastfeeding, breast milk, lactation and maternal health.

    Key-words breast milkbreastfeedingpostpartum period
    See more
    Views4

    Summary

    Review Article

    Breastfeeding and the Benefits of Lactation for Women’s Health

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2018;40(6):354-359

    DOI 10.1055/s-0038-1657766

    Views4

    Abstract

    The offer of the maternal breast to the baby is an unquestionable right of mothers and their children, and all efforts should bemade to promote, follow and maintain exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6months and supplement it until the child completes 2 years of age. Many publications are available in the literature about the qualities of breast milk, its benefits and health repercussions, stimulating the practice of breastfeeding and supporting campaigns for its implementation. However, although it is widely known that breastfeeding is an important step in the reproductive process of women and its practice offers benefits to both mother and child, most of the available information highlights the benefits of breast milk for children, while mention of the effects of breastfeeding on the health of the mother is usually neglected. Thus, the objective of the present study is to highlight the multiple benefits of breastfeeding for the physical and emotional health of the nursing mother. The authors consulted articles published in the databases PubMed, Virtual Health Library andWeb of Science using the keywords breastfeeding, breast milk, lactation and maternal health.

    Key-words breast milkbreastfeedingpostpartum period
    See more
  • Original Article

    Translation into Portuguese, cross-national adaptation and validation of the Female Sexual Function Index

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2008;30(10):504-510

    Summary

    Original Article

    Translation into Portuguese, cross-national adaptation and validation of the Female Sexual Function Index

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2008;30(10):504-510

    DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032008001000005

    Views6

    PURPOSE: to translate from English into Portuguese, adapt culturally and validate the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). METHODS: knowing the objectives of this research, two Brazilian translators have prepared a version each from the FSFI into Portuguese. Both versions have then been retro-translated into English by two English translators. After harmonizing the differences, they have been pre-tested in a pilot study. The final versions from the FSFI and from another questionnaire, the Short-Form Health Survey, which had already been translated and published in Portuguese, have then been simultaneously administered to one hundred patients, to test the FSFI psychometric proprieties concerning reliability (internal consistency and testing-retesting) and construct validity. Retesting was done after four weeks from the first interview. RESULTS: the process of cultural adaptation has not altered the Portuguese version of the FSFI, as compared to the original. The FSFI standardized Cronbach alpha was 0.96, and the evaluation by domains has varied from 0.31 to 0.97. As a measure of test-retest confidentiality, it was applied the intra-class coefficient, which has been considered strong and identical (1.0). Pearson’s correlation coefficient between the FSFI and the Short-Form Health Survey was positive, but weak in most of the interrelated domains, varying from 0.017 to 0.036. CONCLUSIONS: the FSFI English version has been translated into Portuguese and culturally adapted, being reliable to evaluate the sexual response of Brazilian women.

    Key-words questionnairesReproducibility of resultsSexual dysfunctions, psychologicalTranslationsvalidation studieswomen's health
    See more
    Views6

    Summary

    Original Article

    Translation into Portuguese, cross-national adaptation and validation of the Female Sexual Function Index

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2008;30(10):504-510

    DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032008001000005

    Views6

    PURPOSE: to translate from English into Portuguese, adapt culturally and validate the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). METHODS: knowing the objectives of this research, two Brazilian translators have prepared a version each from the FSFI into Portuguese. Both versions have then been retro-translated into English by two English translators. After harmonizing the differences, they have been pre-tested in a pilot study. The final versions from the FSFI and from another questionnaire, the Short-Form Health Survey, which had already been translated and published in Portuguese, have then been simultaneously administered to one hundred patients, to test the FSFI psychometric proprieties concerning reliability (internal consistency and testing-retesting) and construct validity. Retesting was done after four weeks from the first interview. RESULTS: the process of cultural adaptation has not altered the Portuguese version of the FSFI, as compared to the original. The FSFI standardized Cronbach alpha was 0.96, and the evaluation by domains has varied from 0.31 to 0.97. As a measure of test-retest confidentiality, it was applied the intra-class coefficient, which has been considered strong and identical (1.0). Pearson’s correlation coefficient between the FSFI and the Short-Form Health Survey was positive, but weak in most of the interrelated domains, varying from 0.017 to 0.036. CONCLUSIONS: the FSFI English version has been translated into Portuguese and culturally adapted, being reliable to evaluate the sexual response of Brazilian women.

    Key-words questionnairesReproducibility of resultsSexual dysfunctions, psychologicalTranslationsvalidation studieswomen's health
    See more
  • Review Article

    Preeclampsia

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2017;39(9):496-512

    Summary

    Review Article

    Preeclampsia

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2017;39(9):496-512

    DOI 10.1055/s-0037-1604471

    Views7

    Abstract

    The authors review hypertensive disease during pregnancy with an academic and practical view, and using the best evidence available. This disease, which is the most important clinical disease in Brazilian pregnant women, may have its incidence reduced with prevention through the use of calcium and aspirin in pregnant women at risk. Previously, it was a disease that presented with hypertension with proteinuria, but it has now been classified with new clinical parameters besides proteinuria. Morbidity and mortality should be reduced in a continental country such as Brazil using protocols for the early treatment of complications by calculating severe outcomes in preeclampsia. The early treatment of acute hypertension, use of magnesium sulfate and early hospitalization in cases of preeclampsia are concepts to pursue the reduction of our pregnant women’s mortality.

    Key-words HELLP syndromeHigh-risk pregnancypreeclampsiapregnancy arterial hypertensionPregnancy complications
    See more
    Views7

    Summary

    Review Article

    Preeclampsia

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2017;39(9):496-512

    DOI 10.1055/s-0037-1604471

    Views7

    Abstract

    The authors review hypertensive disease during pregnancy with an academic and practical view, and using the best evidence available. This disease, which is the most important clinical disease in Brazilian pregnant women, may have its incidence reduced with prevention through the use of calcium and aspirin in pregnant women at risk. Previously, it was a disease that presented with hypertension with proteinuria, but it has now been classified with new clinical parameters besides proteinuria. Morbidity and mortality should be reduced in a continental country such as Brazil using protocols for the early treatment of complications by calculating severe outcomes in preeclampsia. The early treatment of acute hypertension, use of magnesium sulfate and early hospitalization in cases of preeclampsia are concepts to pursue the reduction of our pregnant women’s mortality.

    Key-words HELLP syndromeHigh-risk pregnancypreeclampsiapregnancy arterial hypertensionPregnancy complications
    See more
    Preeclampsia
  • Original Article

    Coverage of the Pap smear in Brazil and its determining factors: a systematic literature review

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2005;27(8):485-492

    Summary

    Original Article

    Coverage of the Pap smear in Brazil and its determining factors: a systematic literature review

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2005;27(8):485-492

    DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005000800009

    Views0

    PURPOSE: to present an overview of the coverage of the Pap smear in Brazil, emphasizing the determinant factors associated with failure of women to submit to the test. METHODS: the literature was reviewed using the LILACS (Latin-American and Caribbean Literature in Sciences of the Health), MEDLINE – 1966 to 2004 (International Literature in Sciences of the Health), PAHO (Collection of the Library of the Pan-American Organization of Health), and WHOLIS (System of Information of the Library of OMS) databases. The review was enlarged through the search of bibliographical references of relevant studies, request for published and unpublished studies by specialists, and other sources. Articles that fulfilled the following criteria were selected: to be a cross-sectional study, carried out in Brazil, including information about periodicity of the Pap test (some time in life or in the last three years) and/or containing information about factors associated with failure of women to submit to the test. Duplicates and articles without summary were excluded. A total of 13 articles fulfilling these criteria were selected. RESULTS: there are few studies on the coverage of Pap smear in Brazil. Most of them are concentrated in the big cities of the South and Southeast regions of the country. Besides the shortage, little methodological standardization exists in relation to the sampling and profile of the investigated women, which turns difficult the comparison among them. These methodological differences must have contributed to the great variability found in the coverage. However, in spite of all of the problems, a trend of time series increase is observed in the percentage of women who had at least one Pap smear in life. The two studies accomplished in the eighties showed coverage of 55.0 and 68.9% some time in life, while a household survey carried out in 2002 and 2003 presented values that varied from 73.4 to 92.9%; however, two studies of national inclusion presented estimates below 70.0% in the last three years. On the other hand, some variables were associated with the women’s failure to submit to the Pap smear: low socioeconomic level, low education, low family income, and to belong to the younger age groups. CONCLUSION: the data here presented point to regional inequalities in the coverage of the Pap smear in the Brazilian female population and to the need of intervention targeted to those factors associated with women’s failure to submit to the Pap smear.

    Key-words BrazilCervix neoplasmscross-sectional studiesVaginal smears
    See more
    Views0

    Summary

    Original Article

    Coverage of the Pap smear in Brazil and its determining factors: a systematic literature review

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2005;27(8):485-492

    DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005000800009

    Views0

    PURPOSE: to present an overview of the coverage of the Pap smear in Brazil, emphasizing the determinant factors associated with failure of women to submit to the test. METHODS: the literature was reviewed using the LILACS (Latin-American and Caribbean Literature in Sciences of the Health), MEDLINE – 1966 to 2004 (International Literature in Sciences of the Health), PAHO (Collection of the Library of the Pan-American Organization of Health), and WHOLIS (System of Information of the Library of OMS) databases. The review was enlarged through the search of bibliographical references of relevant studies, request for published and unpublished studies by specialists, and other sources. Articles that fulfilled the following criteria were selected: to be a cross-sectional study, carried out in Brazil, including information about periodicity of the Pap test (some time in life or in the last three years) and/or containing information about factors associated with failure of women to submit to the test. Duplicates and articles without summary were excluded. A total of 13 articles fulfilling these criteria were selected. RESULTS: there are few studies on the coverage of Pap smear in Brazil. Most of them are concentrated in the big cities of the South and Southeast regions of the country. Besides the shortage, little methodological standardization exists in relation to the sampling and profile of the investigated women, which turns difficult the comparison among them. These methodological differences must have contributed to the great variability found in the coverage. However, in spite of all of the problems, a trend of time series increase is observed in the percentage of women who had at least one Pap smear in life. The two studies accomplished in the eighties showed coverage of 55.0 and 68.9% some time in life, while a household survey carried out in 2002 and 2003 presented values that varied from 73.4 to 92.9%; however, two studies of national inclusion presented estimates below 70.0% in the last three years. On the other hand, some variables were associated with the women’s failure to submit to the Pap smear: low socioeconomic level, low education, low family income, and to belong to the younger age groups. CONCLUSION: the data here presented point to regional inequalities in the coverage of the Pap smear in the Brazilian female population and to the need of intervention targeted to those factors associated with women’s failure to submit to the Pap smear.

    Key-words BrazilCervix neoplasmscross-sectional studiesVaginal smears
    See more
    Coverage of the Pap smear in Brazil and its determining factors: a systematic literature review
  • Original Article

    Pré-natal Care Profile among Public Health Service (“Sistema Único de Saúde”) Users from Caxias do Sul

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2002;24(5):293-299

    Summary

    Original Article

    Pré-natal Care Profile among Public Health Service (“Sistema Único de Saúde”) Users from Caxias do Sul

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2002;24(5):293-299

    DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000500002

    Views4

    Purpose: to study the prenatal care among Public Health Service (“Sistema Único de Saúde”) users from Caxias do Sul – RS. Methods: a transversal study of 702 pregnancies attended at the Hospital Geral -Universidade de Caxias do Sul from March 2000 to March 2001 based on the criteria set by the “Programa Nacional de Humanização do Pré-natal e Nascimento (PNHPN)” of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Results: the observed prenatal coverage was 95.4%, whereas the average of visits was 6.2. The main reported reason for not following prenatal care was the lack of information about its importance (65.6%). In 51.5% of the cases, prenatal care started in the third month of pregnancy, whereas 44.3% of the pregnant women carried out all the proposed complementary tests. Prenatal care was considered inappropriate in 64.8% and appropriate in 35.2% of the cases. The quality of prenatal attention was significantly associated with the mother’s education, as well as with the number of previous deliveries. The higher the educational level, the better the quality of observed prenatal care (p=0.0148). In addition, the higher number of previous deliveries showed to be associated with a later beginning of prenatal care and a lower number of visits (p=0.0008). Conclusions: the prenatal care available at Caxias do Sul in spite of its good coverage, should be reviewed in terms of quality. Special attention should be given to education in health along the prenatal assistance.

    Key-words Maternal mortalityPerinatal mortalityPrenatal careprimary health care
    See more
    Views4

    Summary

    Original Article

    Pré-natal Care Profile among Public Health Service (“Sistema Único de Saúde”) Users from Caxias do Sul

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2002;24(5):293-299

    DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000500002

    Views4

    Purpose: to study the prenatal care among Public Health Service (“Sistema Único de Saúde”) users from Caxias do Sul – RS. Methods: a transversal study of 702 pregnancies attended at the Hospital Geral -Universidade de Caxias do Sul from March 2000 to March 2001 based on the criteria set by the “Programa Nacional de Humanização do Pré-natal e Nascimento (PNHPN)” of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Results: the observed prenatal coverage was 95.4%, whereas the average of visits was 6.2. The main reported reason for not following prenatal care was the lack of information about its importance (65.6%). In 51.5% of the cases, prenatal care started in the third month of pregnancy, whereas 44.3% of the pregnant women carried out all the proposed complementary tests. Prenatal care was considered inappropriate in 64.8% and appropriate in 35.2% of the cases. The quality of prenatal attention was significantly associated with the mother’s education, as well as with the number of previous deliveries. The higher the educational level, the better the quality of observed prenatal care (p=0.0148). In addition, the higher number of previous deliveries showed to be associated with a later beginning of prenatal care and a lower number of visits (p=0.0008). Conclusions: the prenatal care available at Caxias do Sul in spite of its good coverage, should be reviewed in terms of quality. Special attention should be given to education in health along the prenatal assistance.

    Key-words Maternal mortalityPerinatal mortalityPrenatal careprimary health care
    See more
  • Original Article

    Validation of a quality of life questionnaire (King’s Health Questionnaire) in Brazilian women with urinary incontinence

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2005;27(5):235-242

    Summary

    Original Article

    Validation of a quality of life questionnaire (King’s Health Questionnaire) in Brazilian women with urinary incontinence

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2005;27(5):235-242

    DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005000500002

    Views2

    PURPOSE: the proposal of the present study was to translate and to validate King’s Health Questionnaire (KHQ) for Brazilian women with urinary incontinence. METHODS: a hundred and thirty-four patients with urinary incontinence, confirmed by urodynamic study, were enrolled from the outpatient clinic of Uroginecology. Initially, we translated the KHQ into the Brazilian Portuguese language in agreement with international criteria. Due to language and cultural differences we performed a cultural, structural, conceptual, and semantic adaptation of the KHQ, in order to make sure that patients were able to fully understand the questions. All patients answered the KHQ twice on the same day, within an interval of 30 min, applied by two different interviewers. After 7 to 14 days, on a second visit, the questionnaire was applied again. Reliability (intra- and interobserver internal consistency), construct and discriminative validity were tested. RESULTS: several cultural adaptations were necessary until we reached the final version. The intra-observer internal consistency (alpha of Cronbach) of the several dimensions varied from moderate to high (0.77-0.90), and the interobserver internal consistency varied from 0.66 to 0.94. Moderate to strong correlation was detected among the specific KHQ urinary incontinence dominions and clinical urinary incontinence manifestations known to affect the quality of life of these patients. CONCLUSION: KHQ was adapted to the Portuguese language and to the Brazilian culture, showing great reliability and validity. It should be included and used in any Brazilian urinary incontinence clinical trial.

    Key-words Quality of lifequestionnairesurinary incontinenceValiditywomen's health
    See more
    Views2

    Summary

    Original Article

    Validation of a quality of life questionnaire (King’s Health Questionnaire) in Brazilian women with urinary incontinence

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2005;27(5):235-242

    DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005000500002

    Views2

    PURPOSE: the proposal of the present study was to translate and to validate King’s Health Questionnaire (KHQ) for Brazilian women with urinary incontinence. METHODS: a hundred and thirty-four patients with urinary incontinence, confirmed by urodynamic study, were enrolled from the outpatient clinic of Uroginecology. Initially, we translated the KHQ into the Brazilian Portuguese language in agreement with international criteria. Due to language and cultural differences we performed a cultural, structural, conceptual, and semantic adaptation of the KHQ, in order to make sure that patients were able to fully understand the questions. All patients answered the KHQ twice on the same day, within an interval of 30 min, applied by two different interviewers. After 7 to 14 days, on a second visit, the questionnaire was applied again. Reliability (intra- and interobserver internal consistency), construct and discriminative validity were tested. RESULTS: several cultural adaptations were necessary until we reached the final version. The intra-observer internal consistency (alpha of Cronbach) of the several dimensions varied from moderate to high (0.77-0.90), and the interobserver internal consistency varied from 0.66 to 0.94. Moderate to strong correlation was detected among the specific KHQ urinary incontinence dominions and clinical urinary incontinence manifestations known to affect the quality of life of these patients. CONCLUSION: KHQ was adapted to the Portuguese language and to the Brazilian culture, showing great reliability and validity. It should be included and used in any Brazilian urinary incontinence clinical trial.

    Key-words Quality of lifequestionnairesurinary incontinenceValiditywomen's health
    See more
    Validation of a quality of life questionnaire (King’s Health Questionnaire) in Brazilian women with urinary incontinence
  • Original Article

    Post-partum depression screening among women attended by the Family Health Program

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2005;27(4):181-188

    Summary

    Original Article

    Post-partum depression screening among women attended by the Family Health Program

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2005;27(4):181-188

    DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005000400004

    Views4

    PURPOSE: to estimate the prevalence of Family Health Program postpartum depression (PPD) and its association with minor mental disorders (MMD) among women attended in two (FHP) PSF units, in the city of São Paulo, and to identify risk factors associated with PPD. METHODS:a cross-sectional study with 70 postpartum women from two FHP units (Fazenda da Juta II and Jardim Sinhá), from October 2003 to February 2004. The following instruments were used: questionnaire with socio-demographical-economic data and obstetric and perinatal data; Self-Report Questionnaire 20 (SRQ-20), for screening of MMD, and Edinburgh Post-Natal Depression Scale (EPDS), for evaluation of PPD. To verify association between explanatory variables and PPD, Student’s t test, chi2 or linear trend chi2 were utilized when indicated. To evaluate concordance between scales (EPDS and SRQ-20) kappa (kappa) coefficient correlation was used. RESULTS:the prevalence of PPD and MMD was 37.1%. Scales presented a good concordance (kappa=0.75). The explanatory variables age, ethnicity, years of education, profession, and marital status, besides partner’s profession and years of education, familiar income, number of pregnancies, parity, miscarriage, number of alive children, premature deliveries, gestational age, type of delivery, planning of actual pregnancy, score of Apgar (first and five minutes), newborn sex and weight, and breastfeeding did not show significant statistical association. A greater perception of social support from the partner was associated with lower prevalence of PPD (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: because of its high prevalence and negative impact upon mother and child, it is worthwhile to sensitize health care professionals about the importance of PPD

    Key-words Depression, post-partumFamily health programMental disordersPrevalence
    See more
    Views4

    Summary

    Original Article

    Post-partum depression screening among women attended by the Family Health Program

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2005;27(4):181-188

    DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005000400004

    Views4

    PURPOSE: to estimate the prevalence of Family Health Program postpartum depression (PPD) and its association with minor mental disorders (MMD) among women attended in two (FHP) PSF units, in the city of São Paulo, and to identify risk factors associated with PPD. METHODS:a cross-sectional study with 70 postpartum women from two FHP units (Fazenda da Juta II and Jardim Sinhá), from October 2003 to February 2004. The following instruments were used: questionnaire with socio-demographical-economic data and obstetric and perinatal data; Self-Report Questionnaire 20 (SRQ-20), for screening of MMD, and Edinburgh Post-Natal Depression Scale (EPDS), for evaluation of PPD. To verify association between explanatory variables and PPD, Student’s t test, chi2 or linear trend chi2 were utilized when indicated. To evaluate concordance between scales (EPDS and SRQ-20) kappa (kappa) coefficient correlation was used. RESULTS:the prevalence of PPD and MMD was 37.1%. Scales presented a good concordance (kappa=0.75). The explanatory variables age, ethnicity, years of education, profession, and marital status, besides partner’s profession and years of education, familiar income, number of pregnancies, parity, miscarriage, number of alive children, premature deliveries, gestational age, type of delivery, planning of actual pregnancy, score of Apgar (first and five minutes), newborn sex and weight, and breastfeeding did not show significant statistical association. A greater perception of social support from the partner was associated with lower prevalence of PPD (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: because of its high prevalence and negative impact upon mother and child, it is worthwhile to sensitize health care professionals about the importance of PPD

    Key-words Depression, post-partumFamily health programMental disordersPrevalence
    See more
  • Review Article

    Primary Dysmenorrhea: Assessment and Treatment

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2020;42(8):501-507

    Summary

    Review Article

    Primary Dysmenorrhea: Assessment and Treatment

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2020;42(8):501-507

    DOI 10.1055/s-0040-1712131

    Views3

    Abstract

    Primary dysmenorrhea is defined asmenstrual pain in the absence of pelvic disease. It is characterized by overproduction of prostaglandins by the endometrium, causing uterine hypercontractility that results in uterine muscle ischemia, hypoxia, and, subsequently, pain. It is the most common gynecological illness in women in their reproductive years and one of the most frequent causes of pelvic pain; however, it is underdiagnosed, undertreated, and even undervalued by women themselves, who accept it as part of themenstrual cycle. It hasmajor implications for quality of life, such as limitation of daily activities and psychological stress, being one of themain causes of school and work absenteeism. Its diagnosis is essentially clinical, based on the clinical history and normal physical examination. It is important to exclude secondary causes of dysmenorrhea. The treatment may have different approaches (pharmacological, nonpharmacological and surgical), but the first line of treatment is the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and, in cases of women who want contraception, the use of hormonal contraceptives. Alternative treatments, such as topical heat, lifestyle modification, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, dietary supplements, acupuncture, and acupressure, may be an option in cases of conventional treatments’ contraindication. Surgical treatment is only indicated in rare cases of women with severe dysmenorrhea refractory to treatment.

    Key-words dysmenorrheahormonal contraceptionmenstrual cycleNSAIDspain
    See more
    Views3

    Summary

    Review Article

    Primary Dysmenorrhea: Assessment and Treatment

    Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2020;42(8):501-507

    DOI 10.1055/s-0040-1712131

    Views3

    Abstract

    Primary dysmenorrhea is defined asmenstrual pain in the absence of pelvic disease. It is characterized by overproduction of prostaglandins by the endometrium, causing uterine hypercontractility that results in uterine muscle ischemia, hypoxia, and, subsequently, pain. It is the most common gynecological illness in women in their reproductive years and one of the most frequent causes of pelvic pain; however, it is underdiagnosed, undertreated, and even undervalued by women themselves, who accept it as part of themenstrual cycle. It hasmajor implications for quality of life, such as limitation of daily activities and psychological stress, being one of themain causes of school and work absenteeism. Its diagnosis is essentially clinical, based on the clinical history and normal physical examination. It is important to exclude secondary causes of dysmenorrhea. The treatment may have different approaches (pharmacological, nonpharmacological and surgical), but the first line of treatment is the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and, in cases of women who want contraception, the use of hormonal contraceptives. Alternative treatments, such as topical heat, lifestyle modification, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, dietary supplements, acupuncture, and acupressure, may be an option in cases of conventional treatments’ contraindication. Surgical treatment is only indicated in rare cases of women with severe dysmenorrhea refractory to treatment.

    Key-words dysmenorrheahormonal contraceptionmenstrual cycleNSAIDspain
    See more
    Primary Dysmenorrhea: Assessment and Treatment
View all articles

Search

Search in:

Article type
abstract
book-review
brief-report
case-report
case-report –
correction
editorial
editorial –
letter
letter –
other
other –
rapid-communication
research-article
research-article –
review-article
review-article –
Session
Abstracts of Awarded Papers at the 50th Brazilian Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Authors' Reply
Case Report
Case Report and Treatment
Clinical Consensus Recommendation
Editor's Note
Editorial
Equipments and Methods
Erratum
Febrasgo Position Statement
Letter to the Editor
Methods and Techniques
Original Article
Original Article/Contraception
Original Article/Infertility
Original Article/Obstetrics
Original Article/Oncology
Original Article/Sexual Violence/Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
Original Article/Teaching and Training
Previous Note
Review Article
Short Communication
Special Article
Systematic Review
Thesis Abstract
Year / Volume
2024; v.46
2023; v.45
2022; v.44
2021; v.43
2020; v.42
2019; v.41
2018; v.40
2017; v.39
2016; v.38
2015; v.37
2014; v.36
2013; v.35
2012; v.34
2011; v.33
2010; v.32
2009; v.31
2008; v.30
2007; v.29
2006; v.28
2005; v.27
2004; v.26
2003; v.25
2002; v.24
2001; v.23
2000; v.22
1999; v.21
1998; v.20
ISSUE

Tag Cloud

breast (42) breast cancer (42) breast neoplasms (95) Cesarean section (72) endometriosis (66) infertility (56) Maternal mortality (43) menopause (82) obesity (58) postpartum period (40) pregnancy (225) Pregnancy complications (99) Prenatal care (68) prenatal diagnosis (50) Prevalence (41) Quality of life (51) risk factors (94) ultrasonography (79) urinary incontinence (40) women's health (48)

Featured Articles

Aims and Vision

The Brazilian Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (RBGO) aims to publish basic and clinical research in gynecology, obstetrics and other related specialties and   be a reference to support and promote professional education for residents, researchers and university teachers. As a vision, RBGO aims to become an internationally recognized reference among the main world’s journals in Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Article submission

Indexers

Support