International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Research

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11 pages, 353 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quality of Sexuality during Pregnancy, We Must Do Something—Survey Study

by Sonia García-Duarte, Bruno José Nievas-Soriano, Natalia Fischer-Suárez, Gracia Castro-Luna, Tesifón Parrón-Carreño and Gabriel Aguilera-Manrique

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 965; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20020965 - 5 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1639

Abstract

Background: The main aim of this study was to describe the changes in sexual desire in pregnant women during the gestation period. We also sought to analyze their sexual habits, how they perceive their partners’ attitudes, and determine if they know the importance [...] Read more.

Background: The main aim of this study was to describe the changes in sexual desire in pregnant women during the gestation period. We also sought to analyze their sexual habits, how they perceive their partners’ attitudes, and determine if they know the importance of sex education during pregnancy. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was conducted using an existing 32-item questionnaire among pregnant women attending the Fetal Welfare Clinic of a reference hospital. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed. Results: One hundred seventeen women participated. 50.4% stated that their sexual interest decreased. Aspects like the number of coitus, feeling orgasm with penetration or with masturbation, or the frequency of oral sex, were significantly reduced during pregnancy. 90.6% of the women stated that they would like to receive more sex education during pregnancy. There were no differences according to their education level, their partners’ education level, or whether they believed that sexual intercourse could harm the baby. Conclusions: Several advances have been achieved in the healthcare that physicians and midwives provide pregnant women. However, the quality of women’s sex lives still declines during pregnancy. Healthcare providers should assume a proactive role, essential in helping future parents to enjoy their sexuality and dispel myths about sexuality, regardless of their education level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of Health and Quality of Life of Women)

14 pages, 1635 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Usefulness of the Application of Compression Therapy among Lipedema Patients-Pilot Study

by Monika Czerwińska, Jacek Teodorczyk, Dawid Spychała and Rita Hansdorfer-Korzon

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 914; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20020914 - 4 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3081

Abstract

(1) Background: Although lipedema has gained more interest among researchers, specific treatment methods are still unknown. This study aims to identify the effects of compression therapy combined with exercises compared to exercising only. Moreover, the aim is to assess the methodology and outcome [...] Read more.

(1) Background: Although lipedema has gained more interest among researchers, specific treatment methods are still unknown. This study aims to identify the effects of compression therapy combined with exercises compared to exercising only. Moreover, the aim is to assess the methodology and outcome measurements before conducting a larger study. (2) Methods: Six women with lipedema were enrolled in the study; three were undergoing exercise program and compression therapy using compression leggings, and the remaining three were undergoing exercises only. During the first 4 weeks, intervention was under the supervision of a physiotherapist, and in the remaining weeks, participants were exercising independently. Measurements of circumference, weight, thickness of the skin and adipose tissue, symptom severity, and quality of life were taken at baseline, after 4 weeks and after 6 weeks; (3) Results: There was a significant decrease in the subjectively reported tendency for bruising and pain at palpation among patients that received compression therapy. Additionally, there was a tendency to reduce or maintain the circumference of the legs in patients using compression, while it tended to increase in patients without compression. (4) Conclusions: Preliminary results indicate that compression therapy, combined with exercises, could improve the quality of life and decrease the severity of lipedema symptoms. Further studies on a large clinical group are advisable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of Health and Quality of Life of Women)

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20 pages, 366 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quality of Life of Emirati Women with Breast Cancer

by Linda Smail, Ghufran Jassim, Sarah Khan, Syed Tirmazy and Mouza Al Ameri

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 570; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010570 - 29 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1410

Abstract

To examine the quality of life (QoL) of Emirati women with breast cancer (BC) and determine its relationships with their sociodemographic characteristics and clinical factors. The study will play a leading role in providing information about the QoL of Emirati women with BC [...] Read more.

To examine the quality of life (QoL) of Emirati women with breast cancer (BC) and determine its relationships with their sociodemographic characteristics and clinical factors. The study will play a leading role in providing information about the QoL of Emirati women with BC and will help in recognizing the aspects of QoL in BC survivorship that requires special attention. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 Emirati women using a multistage stratified clustered random sampling. The participants were interviewed face-to-face using a structured questionnaire composed of sociodemographic variables, reproductive characteristics, and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Cancer-Specific version (EORTC QLQ-C30, v.3.0) and the EORTC QoL Breast Cancer-Specific version (EORTC QLQ-BR23) translated into Arabic. Emirati BC survivors reported good QoL overall. The most bothersome symptoms were sleep disturbance, fatigue, pain, hair loss and arm symptoms. Emirati women scored average on all functional scales, which indicates mediocre functioning, but high on the symptom scales, which indicates worse symptoms. Factors associated with a decline in the domains of QoL included higher age, lower income, and history of metastases, mastectomy, and lymph node dissection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of Health and Quality of Life of Women)

14 pages, 374 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Eating Concerns Associated with Nutritional Information Obtained from Social Media among Saudi Young Females: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Mona Mohammed Al-Bisher and Hala Hazam Al-Otaibi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16380; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416380 - 7 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1913

Abstract

Eating disorders have been highly prevalent in young females for decades for many reasons. Social media platforms have an enormous impact on users, especially young adults, who use them every day. In Saudi Arabia, social media is popular, with an estimated 72% of [...] Read more.

Eating disorders have been highly prevalent in young females for decades for many reasons. Social media platforms have an enormous impact on users, especially young adults, who use them every day. In Saudi Arabia, social media is popular, with an estimated 72% of users being active in 2020. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to assess the relationship between using social media to search for nutritional information and eating concerns. A nationwide study was conducted on 1092 young Saudi females aged 18–30 years from five administrative regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using an online validated questionnaire, and symptoms of eating concerns were assessed using two brief instruments: SCOFF [Sick, Control, One Stone, Fat, Food] and Eating disorders Screen for Primary care [ESP]. The prevalence of eating concerns was 49.6% among Saudi females. Moderate eating concerns were more prevalent in the central region 24.8%, whereas high eating concerns were more prevalent in the southern region 27.6%. Personal accounts of dietitian/nutritionists (OR = 1.170; 95% CI 1.071–1.277; p ≤ 0.001), interaction with offered experiments about new meals/restaurants, and diets on social media that were mostly promoted by celebrities/influencers (OR = 1.554; 95% CI 1.402–1.723; p ≤ 0.000) were the most prominent risk factors associated with being more likely to suffer from eating concerns. The present study recommends opening clinics specializing in nutrition on social media platforms that target young females to provide nutritional counselling and encourage a healthy lifestyle. In addition, it is important to plan awareness campaigns intended to educate young females on how to deal with messages that circulate on social media without any evidence regarding their truthfulness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of Health and Quality of Life of Women)

9 pages, 332 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Urinary Incontinence Affects Sexual Activity in Polish Women: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study

by Bartlomiej Burzynski, Piotr Gibala, Zuzanna Soltysiak-Gibala, Tomasz Jurys, Piotr Przymuszala, Pawel Rzymski and Rafal Stojko

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 13818; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192113818 - 24 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1400

Abstract

Urinary incontinence (UI) in women can cause a number of sexual dysfunctions and reduce their quality of life. Sexual health is essential to the self-esteem, emotional state, and overall quality of life. We aimed to assess the quality of sexual life of women [...] Read more.

Urinary incontinence (UI) in women can cause a number of sexual dysfunctions and reduce their quality of life. Sexual health is essential to the self-esteem, emotional state, and overall quality of life. We aimed to assess the quality of sexual life of women with UI. The study included a group of 145 sexually active women diagnosed with UI. The research was conducted using the diagnostic survey method with authorial and validated questionnaires. As many as 49.1% of the respondents reported a deterioration of sexual relations in comparison with the time before the onset of UI symptoms. According to the FSDS-R results, 83.45% of respondents were dissatisfied with their sex life. The higher the result obtained by respondents in the FSDS-R scale, the lower was their quality of life in the IIQ-7 scale (p ≤ 0.002, R = 0.53). The greatest impact was observed in the domains of emotional health and physical activity. The more incontinence symptoms reported by the respondent in the UDI-6 scale, the worse was her sexual satisfaction in the FSDS-R (p = 0.003, R = 0.39). UI in women contributes to the development of sexual dysfunctions, including decreased interest in sexual life, limited intercourse, and dissatisfaction with sexual life. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of Health and Quality of Life of Women)

12 pages, 2768 KiB

Open AccessArticle

3D Ultrasound in Pelvic Floor: Is It Useful as a Prognostic Tool in Type of Labor Development and Subsequent Pelvic Floor Diseases?

by Juan A. Barca, Coral Bravo, Santiago García Tizón, Rocío Aracil-Rodriguez, Juan Manuel Pina-Moreno, Ignacio Cueto-Hernández, Maria P. Pintado-Recarte, Melchor Alvarez-Mon, Miguel A. Ortega and Juan A. De León-Luis

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11479; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811479 - 13 Sep 2022

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Abstract

The objective of our study is to determine the thickness of the pubovisceral fasciculus of the levator ani muscle and the area of the genital hiatus by means of three-dimensional perineal ultrasound, in pregnant women in the 2nd trimester, and to analyze the [...] Read more.

The objective of our study is to determine the thickness of the pubovisceral fasciculus of the levator ani muscle and the area of the genital hiatus by means of three-dimensional perineal ultrasound, in pregnant women in the 2nd trimester, and to analyze the related maternal, perinatal and postpartum clinical variables. Furthermore, to compare the results of our study with two similar series previously published. An observational, prospective study of pelvic floor ultrasound was carried out, performed at week 20, whose delivery was attended in the obstetrics service of the Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón de Madrid (HGUGM), during the period of August from 2021 to June 2022. Maternal, ultrasound, perinatal and postpartum clinical variables were collected from each participant. During the study period, a total of 54 patients were included in it. The mean gestational age at which the ultrasound was performed was 19.81 ± 0.91 weeks. In relation to the ultrasound variables, the mean thickness of the pubovisceral muscle was 0.87 ± 0.13 cm (95% CI, 0.64–1.38 cm), while, in the plane of minimum dimension of the genital hiatus, the hiatal area at rest was 13.41 ± 3.22 (95% CI, 4.60–18.78) cm². There is a significant correlation between the age of pregnant women (over 35 years of age) and the increase in the area of the genital hiatus (r = 0.295, p = 0.031). 3D ultrasound of the pelvic floor performed at week 20 of gestation can to be an effective, non-invasive, reproducible and cheap tool in the prognosis of the development of labor and of possible subsequent perineal dysfunctions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of Health and Quality of Life of Women)

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Review

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15 pages, 1582 KiB

Open AccessReview

Nutritional Considerations for Bladder Storage Conditions in Adult Females

by Barbara Gordon

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(19), 6879; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20196879 - 3 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1512

Abstract

Background: Clinical guidelines developed by urologic, urogynecologic, and gynecologic associations around the globe include recommendations on nutrition-related lifestyle and behavioral change for bladder storage conditions. This study identified and compared clinical guidelines on three urological conditions (interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), overactive bladder, [...] Read more.

Background: Clinical guidelines developed by urologic, urogynecologic, and gynecologic associations around the globe include recommendations on nutrition-related lifestyle and behavioral change for bladder storage conditions. This study identified and compared clinical guidelines on three urological conditions (interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), overactive bladder, and stress urinary incontinence) affecting adult women. Methods: A three-step process was employed to identify the guidelines. Next, a quality assessment of the guidelines was conducted employing the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) International tool. (3) Results: Twenty-two clinical guidelines, prepared by seventeen groups spanning four continents, met the inclusion criteria. The AGREE II analyses revealed that most of the guideline development processes complied with best practices. The most extensive nutrition recommendations were for women with IC/BPS. Dietary manipulation for the other two storage LUTS primarily focused on the restriction or limitation of specific beverages and/or optimal fluid intake. (4) Conclusion: Clinical guidelines for IC/BPS, overactive bladder, and stress urinary incontinence include nutrition recommendations; however, the extent of dietary manipulation varied by condition. The need to ensure that clinicians are informing patients of the limitations of the evidence supporting those recommendations emerged. Furthermore, given the need to treat nutrition-related comorbid conditions as a strategy to help mitigate these three urological disorders, the value of referral to a dietitian for medical nutrition therapy is apparent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of Health and Quality of Life of Women)

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10 pages, 535 KiB

Open AccessReview

Stigma Experienced by Rural Pregnant Women with Substance Use Disorder: A Scoping Review and Qualitative Synthesis

by Victoria Bright, Julia Riddle and Jean Kerver

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 15065; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215065 - 16 Nov 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3148

Abstract

Identification and recognition of experiences of rural pregnant women with substance use disorder is needed to inform public policy and medical training. This paper reviews and qualitatively synthesizes literature exploring the experiences of this population. Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science were used [...] Read more.

Identification and recognition of experiences of rural pregnant women with substance use disorder is needed to inform public policy and medical training. This paper reviews and qualitatively synthesizes literature exploring the experiences of this population. Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science were used to identify literature through August 2022 using the search terms, such as pregnancy, substance use or abuse, stigma, and rural. Cited and citing research were also considered. Exclusion criteria included articles that failed to consider rural pregnant women’s perspectives on stigma experienced, included potential confounds, occurred outside of the United States or Canada, and were published before January 2000. Nine articles met the inclusion criteria. Data were synthesized by the listed authors and assessed for common themes. A review of the articles revealed three common themes: stigma occurs in community settings, stigma occurs in healthcare settings, and comprehensive care is important to ensure appropriate support to this population. Stigma as a barrier seems to improve when women have strong social support and access to comprehensive care networks. Addressing this stigma through programs, such as peer social guidance and comprehensive health centers, may provide appropriate support to pregnant, rural women with SUD to further navigate their health needs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of Health and Quality of Life of Women)

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