Quality of life in Brazilian women with endometriosis assessed through a medical outcome questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of life in women with pelvic pain associated with endometriosis through the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). STUDY DESIGN: The study was cross-sectional and conducted at a tertiary care center. Sixty women diagnosed surgically with endometriosis were interviewed during the first half of 2001. RESULTS: In general, a poor quality of life was observed among the women interviewed. No correlation was found between the quality of life and intensity of pain, use of medications and/or living with a partner. Women with moderate or severe endometriosis scored better on the emotional aspects of the questionnaire. Among those who exercised regularly, better scores on mental health were observed. CONCLUSION: According to the SF-36 questionnaire, this cohort study of Brazilian women with endometriosis showed a poor quality of life.49211512

Weight variation in a cohort of women using copper IUD for contraception

The objective of this study was to assess weight changes over time in reproductive-age women using nonhormonal contraception [copper intrauterine device (IUD) users]. Baseline variables recorded included age, parity, decade when the IUD was inserted and the presence of hypertension. A total of 1697 IUD users were followed for 7 years of use. The mean age (+/- SD) of the women at the beginning of follow-up was 27.6 +/- 5.8 years and the mean height (+/- SD) was 150 +/- 10 cm. The mean weight (+/- SD) at the time of IUD insertion was 58.5 +/- 0.30 kg. After 5 and 7 years of follow-up, the mean weight (+/- SD) was 61.2 +/- 0.33 kg and 62.4 +/- 0.51 kg, respectively. At insertion, the body mass index mean (+/- SD) was 24.5 +/- 0.12 and after 3 years it was 25 +/- 0.14, remaining above 25 up to the 7th year of observation. During the 7 years of follow-up, older women gained more weight than younger women. Parity, decade of IUD insertion and hypertension were not noted to be significant determinants of weight variation. In conclusion, this cohort of lower and middle class Brazilian copper IUD users tended to gain weight during their reproductive life, independent of other factors. These observations may improve counseling of women regarding the prevention of age-related obesity. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.681273

Rectal endoscopic ultrasound with a radial probe in the assessment of rectovaginal endometriosis

Study Objective. To evaluate the accuracy of rectal endoscopic ultrasound and to evaluate endometriosis in the rectovaginal septum, rectum, and sigmoid walls. Design. Validation of diagnostic test (Canadian Task Force classification II-1). Setting. Tertiary care hospital. Patients. Thirty-two consecutive women clinically suspected of having rectovaginal septum endometriosis without previous surgical treatment. Intervention. Colonoscopy, transrectal ultrasound, and rectal endoscopic ultrasound, followed by laparoscopy or laparotomy. Measurements and Main Results. The disease was classified according to 1996 standards of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Images obtained by colonoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, and surgery and histologic findings were compared. In 6 patients endometriosis infiltrated bowel muscularis wall, in 20 it infiltrated rectovaginal septum, and in the remaining 6 there was no evidence of lesions. In all women in whom infiltration of the intestinal wall was suspected, rectal endoscopic ultrasound and colonoscopy confirmed the lesions (sensitivity 100%, specificity 67%). Conclusion. Endoscopic ultrasound was useful in preoperative assessment of women with endometriosis.111505

Prevalence of endometrial cancer and hyperplasia in non-symptomatic overweight and obese women

Background: Obesity is a public health problem and it is necessary to identify if non-symptomatic obese women must be submitted to endometrial evaluation. Aims: To determine the prevalence of endometrial hyperplasia and cancer in non-symptomatic overweight or obese women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 193 women submitted to an endometrial biopsy using a Pipelle de Cornier. The findings were classified as normal, hyperplasia or cancer, and the results were compared to body mass index (BMI; kg/m(2)). For the purpose of statistical analysis, women were divided into two groups: women of reproductive age and postmenopausal women, and according to BMI as overweight or obese. Results: The prevalence of endometrial cancer and hyperplasia was 1.0% and 5.8% in women of reproductive age and 3.0% and 12.1% in postmenopausal women, respectively. According to logistic regression, being in the postmenopause increased the risk of endometrial hyperplasia and cancer to 1.19 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.36-3.90), while being postmenopausal and severely obese increased the odds ratio (OR) to 1.58 (95%CI: 0.30-8.23) and being postmenopausal and morbidly obese increased the OR to 2.72 (95%CI: 0.65-11.5). No increase in risk was found in women of reproductive age who were either overweight or obese. Discussion: Our results show that non-symptomatic, severe or morbidly obese postmenopausal women have a high risk of developing endometrial hyperplasia or cancer; however, no such risk was found for women of reproductive age.48220721

Evaluation of lipid profile in adolescents during long-term use of combined oral hormonal contraceptives

The study evaluated the effects of the long-term use of a combined oral hormonal contraceptive containing 30 mug ethinyl estradiol and 75 mug gestodene in adolescents. Thirty-three volunteers, aged from 14 to 19 years, who used the oral contraceptive for three consecutive years, were studied. Evaluation of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides was made before use and after 1, 2 and 3 years. During the 3-year study period, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C and triglyceride levels were significantly higher than previous measurements, but average values did not exceed the normal range. Compared to the first year, the second- and third-year cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C and triglyceride levels were not significantly different. (C) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.71211812