Sophy project: evidences intimate hygiene

The importance of intimate hygiene, pH and vaginal flora in keeping the vaginal ecosystem in good balance is known and widely described. No systematic, nation-wide, current study is up to now available, on the correlation between vaginal pH and intimate hygiene in the different ages and condition of the woman, mainly considering the modified hygienic and clothing habits. A project aimed to collect systematically data related to intimate hygiene, in a representative sample of the Italian gynaecological population has been realised, helped by a specific website to insert the data. Lifestyle, vaginal pH, intimate hygiene compliance, presence of symptoms, gynaecological treatment stratified in different subgroups (prepubertal, fertile, pregnant, lactating, pre-menopause and menopause) have been recorded up to now on 119t women. The Study on pH and Hygiene (SOPHY) provides a strong educational impact, pushing doctors and women in considering pH and intimate hygiene an important moment of their professional and daily life. Each natural plant extract used in intimate hygiene (Sage, Thyme and Chamomile) confirmed its clinical activity on protecting against bacteria, mycoses and inflammation

Long-term low-dose dehydroepiandrosterone replacement therapy in aging males with partial androgen deficiency.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) age-related withdrawal is very likely to be involved in the aging process and the onset of age-related diseases, giving rise to the question of whether preventing or compensating the decline of these steroids may have endocrine and clinical benefits. The aim of the present trial was to evaluate the endocrine, neuroendocrine and clinical consequences of a long-term (1 year), low-dose (25 mg/day) replacement therapy in a group of aging men who presented the clinical characteristics of partial androgen deficiency (PADAM). Circulating DHEA, DHEAS, androstenedione, total testosterone and free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, allopregnanolone, estrone, estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), cortisol, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels were evaluated monthly to assess the endocrine effects of the therapy, while beta-endorphin values were used as a marker of the neuroendocrine effects. A Kupperman questionnaire was performed to evaluate the subjective symptoms before and after treatment. The results showed a great modification of the endocrine profile; with the exception of cortisol levels, which remained unchanged, DHEA, DHEAS, androstenedione, total and free testosterone, DHT, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, estrone, estradiol, GH, IGF-1 and beta-endorphin levels increased significantly with respect to baseline values, while FSH, LH and SHBG levels showed a significant decrease. The Kupperman score indicated a progressive improvement in mood, fatigue and joint pain. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that 25 mg/day of DHEA is able to cause significant changes in the hormonal profile and clinical symptoms and can counteract the age-related decline of endocrine and neuroendocrine functions. Restoring DHEA levels to young adult values seems to benefit the age-related decline in physiological functions but, however promising, placebo-controlled trials are required to confirm these preliminary results