Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(5):210-214
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000500004
PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between the level of physical activity and the incidence of premenstrual syndrome. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was conducted on 71 apparently healthy university students (24.4±4.8 yrs; 61.5±8.7 kg; 1.63±0.06 m). The level of physical activity was determined with a questionnaire and the presence of premenstrual syndrome was verified based on daily symptoms self-reported in a diary during two consecutive menstrual cycles. 17 premenstrual symptoms are considered in the diary, which should be scored on a 5-point scale (0-4) according to their occurrence, so that a score can be calculated in each cycle. The occurrence of premenstrual syndrome was considered if three or more symptoms were reported up to six days before menstruation (premenstrual period) and were absent up to six days after menstruation (postmenstrual period). RESULTS: The Spearman correlation coefficient showed a significant and negative relationship between the level of physical activity and premenstrual syndrome score (r=-0.506; 95%CI -0.335 to -0.678; p<0.001). When the participants were divided into a group with a positive diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome (n=31) and a healthy group (n=40), the Mann-Whitney test showed higher habitual physical activity in the healthy group than in the premenstrual syndrome group (7.96±1.17 and 6.63±1.20, respectively) (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There is a negative relationship between the level of physical activity and the incidence of premenstrual syndrome, with women with a positive diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome having a lower level of physical activity than healthy women.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(5):199-204
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000500002
PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of the hospitalization of pregnant women for treatment of urinary tract infection and the repercussions on the health of the newborn, and the absence of a urine exam during the prenatal period. METHODS: A cross-sectional design, where were eligible all mothers of newborns with births occurring between January 1st and December 31, 2010 in Rio Grande (RS). Mothers were interviewed in the two maternity hospitals in the city. Information was collected regarding hospitalization for urinary tract infection, the prenatal assistance and sociodemographic conditions. Statistical analyses were performed by levels and controlled for confounding using Poisson regression. RESULTS: Of the 2,288 women eligible for the study, 2.9% were hospitalized for treatment of urinary tract infection and was higher, after adjustment, in woman with lowest economic status (3.1% the lowest and 2.1% the highest), younger (4.0% in adolescents and 1.8% in those over 30 years), had less education (3.1% had seven years or less of studying and 1.2% had 12 years or more) and did not live with a partner (4.3% living without partner and 2.6% living with partner). Pathologies of the newborn associated with hospitalization, were preterm birth (4.1% in pre-term and 2.7% in those at term) and low birth weight (6.4% in low and 2.6% in those in normal). Of the women who underwent prenatal care, 23.6% had not done the urine test as recommended and, after adjustment, and the risk for not done the test was higher among those with lower socioeconomic status (34.4% in lower and 14.4% in the highest level), less educated (32.3% with seven years or less of studying and 11.0% with 12 years or more) and not living with a partner (32.7% living without partner and 22.0% living with partner). CONCLUSIONS: The high rate of hospitalization reflects the lack of effectiveness of screening for urinary tract infection during pregnancy. The socioeconomic profile of women who required hospitalization and who did not undergo adequate screening of urinary tract infection in prenatal care, demonstrate the need of more careful attention to pregnant women with the features found.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(5):205-209
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000500003
PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of pregnancy on female sexual function. METHODS: An analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted on 181 non-pregnant and 177 pregnant women aged 18 to 45 years. The study included premenopausal, sexually active women with a steady partner and excluded those taking antidepressants or with a diagnosis of depression. Eleven of these women (6.2%) were in the first trimester, 50 (28.2%), in the second trimester and 116 (65.5%), in the third trimester of pregnancy. The evaluation consisted of an interview in which the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was applied. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 16.0. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the mean FSFI values of pregnant and non-pregnant women. RESULTS: Sexual dysfunction was 40.4% among pregnant women and 23.3% among non-pregnant women, with a significant difference between the scores of the studied groups (p=0.01). The difference in the mean global FSFI values between the groups was also significant (p<0.0001). There were significant differences between pregnant and non-pregnant women regarding desire (p<0.0001), excitation (p=0.003), lubrication (p=0.02), orgasm (p=0.005) and satisfaction (p=0.03). The same was not observed regarding pain. CONCLUSION: We conclude that pregnancy negatively influences female sexual function, particularly the desire and excitement domains, revealing the importance of addressing the issue by professionals dealing with pregnant women.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(4):185-191
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000400009
PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) among women users of Basic Health Units (BHU) in the State of São Paulo. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study based on secondary data analysis of women users' interviews at 75 BHU in the State of São Paulo, from August/2008 to May/2009. We used a questionnaire based on the Abuse Assessment Screen and the Conflict Tactics Scales modified by the Violence Against Women Study (VAW), structured and pre-tested. The variables studied were the types of IPV (psychological, physical and sexual) and sociodemographic variables (age, education, race, paid work, religion, marital status and economic class). We interviewed 2,379 women aged 18 to 60 years. RESULTS: The prevalence of lifetime IPV was 55.7%, and the prevalences of psychological, physical and sexual IPV were 53.8, 32.2 and 12.4%, respectively. Women without a partner but previously married, with schooling <8 years and belonging to the lower economic class had a higher risk for all types of IPV, and other factors were also associated with psychological and sexual IPV. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of IPV is high. Healthcare professionals in primary care should make an attempt to detect IPV.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(4):178-184
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000400008
PURPOSE: To analyze the climacteric symptoms, nutritional status and distribution of abdominal fat in postmenopausal women using or not hormone therapy. METHODS: exploratory analytical study of the population survey type in the urban area of Maringa, Parana, conducted on 456 postmenopausal women aged 45 to 69 years. Data collection was based on the urbanized census sector (368) of the municipality, according to the Brazilian Demographic Census. A simple random sample proportional to women residing in each census sector was used, and a questionnaire was applied during a home visit, when anthropometric measurements were performed and blood pressure was determined. The Blatt and Kupperman Menopausal Index was used for the evaluation of climacteric symptoms. The outcome variable was the use of hormone therapy. RESULTS: Mean subject age was 58.7 years. Overweight was present in 72.6% of the women and abdominal obesity in 81.4% of them. Mild climacteric symptoms were observed in 69.5% of the women. Only 18.4% of the women studied were using hormone therapy and they were white, non-smokers, had no comorbidities, and had a partner. Users of hormone therapy had a lower frequency of overweight and obesity and had a lower prevalence of severe climacteric symptoms. CONCLUSION: Overweight and obesity were prevalent in this sample. Although fewer in number, the hormone therapy users had a lower frequency of overweight and mild and severe menopausal symptoms during the postmenopausal period.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(4):171-177
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000400007
PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in the venous axillary-subclavian and lymphatic systems of women with lymphedema after axillary lymphadenectomy for breast cancer treatment. METHODS: This was a case series involving 11 women with unilateral upper limb lymphedema after axillary lymphedenectomy for the treatment of breast cancer. The study was carried out in the Mastology Program of the Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, during the period between March 2010 and March 2011. Doppler velocimetry ultrasonography was used to detect the presence of venous changes in the subclavian and axillary veins. Lymphatic changes were evaluated by lymphoscintigraphy in both upper limbs. Fisher's exact test was used for the comparison between limbs. RESULTS: Subclavian vein flow volume in the upper limb with lymphedema was significantly different from that in the contralateral limb (p<0.001), 54.6% of the women had increased flow. In the axillary vein, 45.4% had increased flow and 45.4% had decreased flow, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.01) between limbs. Compared to the contralateral limb, significant lymphatic changes (p<0.05) were also found in the vessel route (not visualized), number of lymphatic vessels (none), axillary lymph nodes (absent) and dermal reflux (present). In the contralateral upper limb without lymphedema, no venous or lymphatic alterations were encountered. CONCLUSION: The women subjected to axillary lymphadenectomy for the treatment of breast cancer presented both venous and lymphatic changes in the upper limb with lymphedema.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(4):159-163
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000400005
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of electrical stimulation (ES) of the pelvic floor on the urethra of female rats. METHODS: Forty adult rats were divided at random into four groups of ten animals each: Ctrl - without intervention; Sham - not submitted to ES, but with an electrode inserted into the vagina; Exp6 - submitted to six sessions of ES of the pelvic floor, and Exp12 - submitted to 12 sessions of ES of the pelvic floor. At the end of the experiment, all animals were anesthetized and the middle third of the urethra was removed, fixed in Bouin's fluid and processed for histomorphometric study. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for morphological and morphometric description, and others were stained with picrosirius red for the quantitation of total collagen. The thicknesses of the muscle layer and of the epithelium were determined, in 4 quadrants of the urethra, by performing 20 measurements per animal. The number of blood vessels present in the lamina propria was counted in the four quadrants over an area of 10³ µm² per quadrant and the images were obtained using the image analysis program AxioVision® REL 4.3 (Carl Zeiss). The collagen and muscle fiber ratios in the urethrae were calculated from two images per quadrant of every slice stained with picrosirius red, employing the Imagelab® Program. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test (p<0.05). RESULTS: The morphometry of the collagen, number of blood vessels and thickness of the epithelium showed no significant changes; however, the thickness of the periurethral muscle tissue increased significantly in Exp12 group, compared to the other groups (Exp12*>Exp6==Ctrl==Sham; *p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Prolonged functional electric stimulation of the pelvic floor induced an increase in periurethral muscle thickness in rats.