The impact of irritable bowel syndrome on health-related quality of life in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Background: The objectives of this study were to compare the prevalence and quality of life (QOL) of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared with healthy women. Methods: This was a case-control study of 201 women recruited at an infertility clinic in Iran. The control group were healthy women (n = 100) and the comparison group, women with PCOS (n = 101). Data were collected by clinical Rome III criteria to determine the IBS, Bristol scale for stool consistency and IBS QOL. Results: The reporting of IBS symptoms were higher in PCOS (20.7%) than control group (11%) (P = 0.05). The IBS QOL score in the IBS + PCOS group was lower than other groups (IBS+ non PCOS, non IBS + PCOS, non IBS+ non PCOS; scores in food avoidance and worries about health domains were significant (P < 0.01). Conclusions: We conclude that having PCOS and an increased level of LH/FSH tends to cause IBS symptoms. IBS + PCOS women experience significant impaired quality of life scores particularly in relation to worries about health and food avoidance. These results offer further insights into IBS in PCOS women and their functional status and wellbeing

The influence of infertility on sexual and marital satisfaction in Iranian women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a case-control study

Background: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate sexual and marital satisfaction in couples with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A case-control study was conducted on 90 couples with PCOS and 90 healthy couples as a control group. Three measures were used to evaluate sexual function and marital satisfaction: the female sexual function index (FSFI), the Larson sexual satisfaction, and the ENRICH marital satisfaction measures. Results: The results of this study show that the mean scores of sexual function, sexual satisfaction, and marital satisfaction were significantly lower in PCOS couples compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Infertility was reported as the strongest predictive factor for sexual function and marital satisfaction in couples with PCOS (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, sexual and marital satisfaction was lower in patients with PCOS and their partners. Conclusion: Since infertility is the strongest predictive factor for the sexual health of couples with PCOS and sexual health is important in family health and marital life, sexual counseling may prove beneficial for these patients

Pelvic floor dysfunction and polycystic ovary syndrome

Objectives: To compare the prevalence of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction (PFMD) in patients with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); to test PFMD in women with different PCOS phenotypes. Methods: This was a case-control study of 202 women who were recruited in an infertility clinic in Hormozgan, Iran: PCOS (n=103) and control groups who were healthy women whose husbands were diagnosed with male infertility (n=99). According to the presence or absence of menstrual dysfunction (M), hyperandrogenism (HA) and polycystic ovaries on ultrasonoghraphy (PCO), patients with PCOS were divided into three phenotypes: HA+PCO, M+PCO and M+HA+PCO. PFMD was assessed by the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20. Results: The reported PFMD symptoms were higher in PCOS (P=0.05) than the non-PCOS group. The mean PFDI score in the HA+M+PCO was higher compared to other phenotypes, although the difference did not reach significance level (P>0.05). The mean LH level was higher in HA+M+PCO than the two other phenotypes. There was a significant positive correlation between LH level and PFDI score (P<0.04). Conclusion: The findings suggest that a high level of LH may cause PFMD. Further studies are needed to determine the precise role of LH levels and potential treatment options in women with PCOS and PFMD. Keywords: polycystic ovary syndrome, pelvic floor distress inventory, pelvic floor muscle dysfunctio

Dietary intake and lifestyle behavior in different phenotypes of polycystic ovarian syndrome: a case-control study

Objective: To compare dietary intake and lifestyle behaviour in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and healthy women. Methods: 160 healthy women (partner with male infertility) were recruited to a control group; 168 women with PCOS (diagnosed on ultrasound) were recruited to a case study group for this cross-sectional comparative study. The case group was classified into three phenotypes based on presence or absence of menstrual disorder (M), hyperandrogenism (HA), and polycystic ovary according to sonography (PCO): HA+PCO (n=53), PCO+M (n=57) and M+HA+PCO (n=66). Dietary intake and lifestyle behaviour were measured using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a lifestyle questionnaire (LQ). Results: The mean energy (P<0.001) and fat intake (P<0.001) were greater in PCOS groups compared with the control group. The average energy and fat intake were greater in HA+M+PCO group after age and BMI adjustment compared with other phenotypes (P<0.001). In comparison with the control group, lifestyle scores were lower in the PCOS group in the fields of physical activity, weight and nutrition control after age and BMI adjustment (P<0.001). The average score of lifestyle in the fields of physical activity, weight and nutrition control, and psychological health was lower in the phenotype HA+M+PCO compared with other phenotypes (P<0.001). Conclusions: Limited energy and fat intake is strongly recommended in Iranian women with PCOS especially in phenotype HA+M+PCO. Consultation on improvement of psychological health and the importance of weight and nutrition control, and appropriate physical activity in patients especially in HA+M+PCO is advocated. Keywords: Lifestyle, polycystic ovarian syndrome, die

Psychometrics properties of the Iranian version of fertility quality of life tool: a cross- sectional study

Background: Clinical measurement of quality of life for assessing reproductive problems should be considered as a standard investigation at the initial and continuing medical consultations with infertile people. Objective: The purpose of this study was comprehensive testing the psychometric properties of the Iranian version of fertility quality of life (FertiQol) as its use could be considerable due to the prevalence of infertility in Iran and the importance of evaluation of QoL in patients with infertility. Method and material: This was a psychometric properties study of 300 women referred to infertility clinic, Hormozgan, Iran. After linguistic validation of the Iranian version of MPCOSQ, a semi-structured interview was conducted to assess face validity. Consequently exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed to indicate the scale constructs. Discriminant validity was assessed using the known groups comparison. Convergent validity was evaluated by assessing the correlation between similar content on the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and FertiQol. In addition, reliability analysis was carried out with internal consistency. Results: The reliability of the Iranian version of the FertiQol questionnaire was satisfactory in all dimensions (Cronbach’s alpha ranging from 0.77 to 0.83 ). Six factors (emotional, mind/body, relational, social, environmental and tolerability) were extracted from the results of EFA with factor loading of the more than 0.3. Discrimination validity showed that FertiQol can differentiate between female patients with differing duration of infertility and number of children; this indicates favorable discrimination validity. Moreover, the results of convergent validity showed a favorable correlation between the related dimensions of 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (correlation ranging from 0.43 to 0.68 ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(correlation ranging from 0.47 to 0.52 ) and FertiQol. Conclusion: The Iranian version of FertiQol is valid and reliable for assessing infertility problems and the effects of treatment on quality of life of infertile patients referred for diagnosis and treatment at an Iranian infertility clinic. The clinical use of this measure is recommended for Iranian infertility clinics

The impact of depression, self-esteem, and body image on sleep quality in patients with PCOS: a cross-sectional study

Background: To date, some factors associated with quality of sleep in patients with PCOS have been identified. Previous studies have mainly focused on limited psychological variables related to sleep disorder without evaluating them in a comprehensive framework. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of predictive factors on the sleep quality of PCOS patients using structural equation modeling (SEM). Material and methods: The present study is a case control that is done in an infertility clinic in Hormozgan, Iran. The case group (n = 201) consisted of women with PCOS and the control group (n = 199) was healthy women whose partners had male infertility. All the women recruited to the study completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Body Image Concern Investigation, the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index on attendance at the Hormozgan Infertility Clinic. Direct and indirect relationship between clinical signs, psychological situation, self-esteem, and body image was studied as independent predictors of sleep quality using structural equation modeling. Results: Compared with the control group, there was a lower sleep quality in women with PCOS in all fields, especially subjective sleep quality (P < 0.05), daytime function (P = 0.001), and use of sleep medication (P = 0.003). The strongest effect from a psychological variable on sleep quality was body image which had negative impact on sleep quality of patients with PCOS. Conclusion: Our study showed that body image plays an important role in the sleep quality of women with PCOS. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Novel additive for sperm cryopreservation media: Holotheria parva coelomic cavity extract protects human spermatozoa against oxidative stress—A pilot study

Cryopreservation is the most effective method for preserving semen for a long period of time. However, during the freeze–thaw process, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to a steep reduction in sperm fertility indices. In this study, we tested the effects of the extract of the coelomic cavity of five Holotheria parva, a marine organism rich in antioxidants, for its ROS-scavenging activity and cryoprotective effects on oxidative stress. Using a total of 50 semen samples, our results demonstrated that doses of 250 and 500 µg/ml of H. parva coelomic cavity extract significantly increased sperm vitality as compared to the control (p <.05). The addition of 250 µg/ml of the extract exerted a significant positive effect on sperm motility. Moreover, sperm DNA damage and ROS production were significantly reduced at extract concentrations of 250 and 500 µg/ml (p <.05). To the best of our knowledge, the results of this study represent the first demonstration of the possibility of improving sperm parameters and reducing ROS production and DNA damage by supplementing sperm freezing media with H. parva coelomic extract. Our results suggested that H. parva coelomic extract could be useful for improving the fertilising ability of frozen-thawed human semen

Dietary intake and lifestyle behaviour in different phenotypes of polycystic ovarian syndrome: a case�control study

Background: The present study aimed to compare dietary intake and lifestyle behaviour in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and healthy women. Methods: One hundred and sixty healthy women (partner with male infertility) were recruited to a control group; 168 women with PCOS (diagnosed on ultrasound) were recruited to a case study group for this cross-sectional comparative study. The case group was classified into three phenotypes based on the presence or absence of menstrual disorder (M), hyperandrogenism (HA) and polycystic ovary according to sonography (PCO): HA+PCO (n = 53), PCO+M (n = 57) and M+HA+PCO (n = 66). Dietary intake and lifestyle behaviour were measured using a food frequency questionnaire and a lifestyle questionnaire. Results: The mean energy (P < 0.001) and fat (P < 0.001) intakes were greater in PCOS groups compared to the control group. The average energy and fat intakes were greater in HA+M+PCO group after age and body mass index (BMI) adjustment compared to the other phenotypes (P < 0.001). In comparison with the control group, lifestyle scores were lower in the PCOS group in the fields of physical activity, weight and nutrition control after age and BMI adjustment (P < 0.001). The average score of lifestyle in the fields of physical activity, weight and nutrition control, and psychological health was lower in the phenotype HA+M+PCO compared to the other phenotypes (P < 0.001). Conclusions: A limited energy and fat intake is strongly recommended in Iranian women with PCOS, especially for phenotype HA+M+PCO. Consultation with respect to improvement of psychological health and the importance of weight and nutrition control, as well as appropriate physical activity, is advocated, especially in patients with phenotype HA+M+PCO. © 2019 The British Dietetic Association Ltd