Clinical and Psychological Outcomes of the Use of Vaginal Dilators After Gynaecological Brachytherapy: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the dimensions of the vaginal canal in patients undergoing gynaecological brachytherapy and the effect of the use of vaginal dilators (VD) used in the follow-up of pelvic physiotherapy. Methods: A total of 88 patients were randomly allocated to the control group (CG) and intervention group (IG). Three evaluations were performed: pre-brachytherapy, post-brachytherapy and follow-up of 3 months. The CG received standard guidance from the health team while the IG was instructed to use VD for 3 months. The dimensions of the vaginal canal (main outcome) were defined by the length of the vagina (centimetres), width (number of full clockwise turns of the opening thread of a gynaecological speculum) and area (defined by the size of the VD). Quality of life and pelvic floor (PF) functionality were also evaluated. Results: There was no effect of the VD on vaginal length, width and area among the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. However, in the analysis stratified by adhesion, the CG had a significant decrease in the vaginal area. PF was predominantly hypoactive throughout the follow-up. Quality of life improved in both groups, but the reduction of constipation, vaginal dryness and stress urinary incontinence manifested only in the IG. Conclusion: The use of VD did not alter the dimensions of the vaginal canal within the first 3 months after the end of radiotherapy treatment. However, there was a large sample loss during follow-up so studies with a larger sample number and longer follow-up time need to be conducted. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03090217

Urinary incontinence and quality of life in high-performance swimmers: An observational study

Each day more women around the world practice high impact physical activities and this may be a risk factor for urinary incontinence (UI) in young. We verified the prevalence of UI and the impact in quality of life (QoL) in high-performance swimmers, through a cross-sectional observational study with 9 high performance swimmers and 9 sedentary women who responded the International Consultation on incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form (ICIQ-SF), participated in a functional evaluation of pelvic floor muscles with bidigital palpation and pad test. We verifed that was present in 78% of high-performance swimmers, and the quality of life was significantly worse (p =.037) when compared to sedentary women. These findings led us to conclude that presence of UI affects the quality of life, even if it is not a factor of abandonment of the sport

Sexual dysfunctions in female university students and the correlation with body image: a cross-sectional study

Purpose This study aims to correlate female sexual dysfunctions and dissatisfaction with female university students' body image. Methods 276 female university students completed an online questionnaire, including sociodemographic data, the Female Sexual Function Index, and the Body Shape Questionnaire. Results 31.1% reported some degree of dissatisfaction with body image, and 39.5% had a risk of female sexual dysfunction. The majority of women with a risk of female sexual dysfunctions (69.4%) had no concerns with shape, and the majority of women without sexual problems (67.7%) had no concerns with shape. Pearson’s coefficient underlined no correlation between Body Shape Questionnaire and Female Sexual Function Index domains. Conclusion The body image perception did not seem to affect the sexual function of female university students in our sample. However, it is important to further investigate these variables to improve women’s quality of life

Sexual function evaluation in Brazilian women accessing a public health service: an observational cross-sectional study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction (SD) and its impact on quality of life in a sample of women attending a public health service in the city of Porto Alegre. We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study in which 278 women who had sexual intercourse within four weeks before the study were interviewed. All of the women answered three self-administered questionnaires: a questionnaire for sample characterization, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). Most of the women were white, Catholic, married, and had a high school diploma. In addition, a large percentage of women had at least one child, had sex with only one partner, and used oral or injectable contraceptive methods. Of the women interviewed, 103 (37.1%) experienced SD. Women without SD had higher scores in all domains of the FSFI and SF-36 questionnaires, including the pain domain. According to the results of this study, SD decreases women’s quality of life, and the high prevalence of SD emphasizes the importance of preventive approaches and treatment that allow women to fully enjoy their sexuality and sexual healt

Sexual Function and Quality of Life in Brazilian Transgender Women Following Gender-Affirming Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Study

This cross-sectional and descriptive study aimed to evaluate the sexual function, urinary function, and quality of life of 26 Brazilian trans women who have undergone gender-affirming surgery (GAS) using the gold standard technique (penile inversion vaginoplasty) in the Gender Identity Transdisciplinary Program at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil, between March 2016 and July 2017. The Female Sexual Function Index, the SF-36 Health Survey, and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form were used. Regarding their surgical results, 84.6% of the women said they were satisfied, 73.1% were sexually functional, and 15.4% reported urinary incontinence not associated with surgery. Participants also reported a good quality of life, despite low scores of pain and physical vitality. Transgender women in our sample reported a good quality of life and sexual function after GAS. Further studies are required to improve the psychosexual wellbeing of this specific population