Impact of postmenopausal vaginal discomfort on sex and relationships in Brazil: the CLOSER survey.

The CLOSER (CLarifying Vaginal Atrophy's Impact On SEx and Relationships) survey investigated how postmenopausal vaginal atrophy (VA) affects relationships between Brazilian women and male partners.Postmenopausal women (age 55-65 years) with VA, and male partners of women with the condition, completed an online survey on the impact of VA and local estrogen treatment on intimacy and relationships.A total of 360 women and 352 men from Brazil were included. Women (83%) and men (91%) reported that they were comfortable discussing VA with their partners. Women's key source of information on VA was health-care providers (HCPs), but 44% felt that not enough information is available. VA caused 70% of women to avoid sexual intimacy and resulted in less satisfying sex. VA had a negative impact on women's feelings and self-esteem. Women (76%) and men (70%) both reported that treatment with vaginal estrogen improved their sexual relationship, primarily by alleviating women's pain during sex. Women (56%) and men (59%) felt closer to each other after treatment.VA had a negative impact on sexual relationships for both women and men in Brazil, and reduced women's self-confidence. Vaginal hormone therapy improved couples' sexual relationships. A proactive attitude of HCPs is essential to educate women on VA and the potential benefits of treatment

Bleeding pattern and management of unexpected bleeding/spotting with an extended regimen of a combination of ethinylestradiol 20 mcg and drospirenone 3 mg

Objective: To compare the bleeding pattern in women using ethinylestradiol 20 mcg/ drospirenone 3 mg (EE 20 mcg/DRSP 3 mg) in a 24/4-day cyclic regimen with an extended regimen. Unexpected bleeding/spotting in the extended regimen group was managed by allowing a 4-day hormone-free interval (HFI). Methods: This was a randomized, prospective, open-label, multicenter study. Participants (N = 348) were randomized to receive EE 20 mcg/DRSP 3 mg in either an extended regimen (EE/DRSPes group) or a 24/4-day cyclic regimen (EE/DRSP24/4 group) and followed for 168 days. In the EE/DRSPes group, a 4-day HFI was allowed whenever unexpected bleeding/ spotting persisted for ≥7 consecutive days. The participants assessed their bleeding daily as “no bleeding,” “spotting,” or “light,” “moderate,” or “heavy” bleeding according to a predefined scale. Results: EE/DRSPes group experienced fewer days of bleeding than those using a 24/4 cyclic regimen (P < 0.001). After 168 days, 57.5% of women in the EE/DRSPes group achieved complete amenorrhea (i.e., neither bleeding nor spotting) and 73.9% achieved “no bleeding” (i.e., no bleeding with or without spotting) during the final 28-day interval of the study period. Women in the extended group who instituted the 4-day HFI experienced a 94.1% rate of successful management of unexpected bleeding/spotting. Conclusion: The use of EE 20 mcg/DRSP 3 mg in an extended regimen resulted in high rates of amenorrhea and “no bleeding”. Unexpected bleeding/spotting in the EE/DRSPes group could be managed effectively with a 4-day HFI

Application of Osteorisk to postmenopausal patients with osteoporosis

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Identification of women at risk of bone fracture is becoming less dependent on evaluating bone mineral density through placing greater value on clinical risk factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of the Osteorisk clinical tool for identifying Brazilian postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, compared with bone densitometry. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional observational study at Faculdade de Medicina do ABC. METHOD: Information on 812 postmenopausal osteoporotic women was retrospectively evaluated from medical records. The women were divided into the age groups 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and over 80 years. The results from the Osteorisk clinical tool, which uses only age and weight, were compared with bone densitometry T-scores. RESULTS: There were significant correlations between the results from the Osteorisk clinical tool and from bone densitometry, in relation to the lumbar spine (P = 0.027) and hip (P < 0.001), thus showing a non-arbitrary relationship. The overall sensitivity of Osteorisk for identifying women with "high risk of osteoporosis" was 86.5%, and it was higher for hip osteoporosis alone (97.2%) than for lumbar spine osteoporosis (85.8%). The sensitivity was better among older women. CONCLUSION: Osteorisk seems to present good sensitivity for identifying postmenopausal women at risk of osteoporosis. It should be used when bone densitometry is not easily available or as a means of selecting individuals for referral for bone densitometry

Accuracy study on "Osteorisk": a new osteoporosis screening clinical tool for women over 50 years old

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Osteoporosis is the greatest cause of quality-of-life reductions, morbidity and mortality among postmenopausal women, with growing incidence as populations age. Clinical tools like Osteorisk provide an easy-access and low-cost alternative method that helps physicians to reduce the need for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), the expensive gold standard examination for diagnosing osteoporosis. The aim here was to study the accuracy of Osteorisk using heel ultrasonography for bone mineral density (BMD). DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study, at Faculdade de Medicina do ABC. METHODS: A structured questionnaire was applied to 615 postmenopausal women, with anthropometric measurements, Osteorisk calculations and quantitative ultrasound on the heel using Sonost 2000 equipment. RESULTS: 461 women were included, with mean age 60 ± 9 years, weight 67.6 ± 12.9 kg and body mass index (BMI) 28.8 ± 5.0 kg/m². Their Osteorisk classifications were: 61.0% low-risk, 28.4% medium-risk and 10.6% high-risk. Quantitative ultrasound showed 81.3% low-risk, 10.0% medium-risk and 8.7% high-risk regarding osteoporosis. Statistically significant results were observed (p < 0.001) when Osteorisk was correlated with age, years since menopause and BMI. Correlating these same variables with quantitative ultrasound, statistically significant results were observed for age (p < 0.001), years since menopause (p < 0.001) and BMI (p < 0.006). The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and positive predictive value for Osteorisk were 64%, 6.7%, 89% and 30.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Osteorisk is a valid tool for screening for women at low risk of osteoporosis, making it possible for these women not to have to undergo densitometry

Vaginal health : insights, views & attitudes survey in Latin America (VIVA-LATAM) : focus on Brazil

Objective: A previous survey investigated postmenopausal vaginal atrophy in a sample of women across Latin America. To help implement a tailored approach to improve postmenopausal care and outcomes in Brazil, we consider results from the survey for this country. Methods: A total of 2509 postmenopausal women resident in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, or Mexico completed an online questionnaire. The Brazilian cohort comprised 504 women. Results: Over half of the Brazilian cohort (56%) reported experiencing symptoms of vaginal atrophy; most described them as moderate or severe (76%), and almost half (48%) experienced symptoms for at least 1 year. Three-quarters of the Brazilian cohort (75%) were unaware of the chronic nature of the condition. Upon experiencing symptoms of vaginal atrophy, 92% had visited a health-care provider to discuss treatment options. Overall, 56% were aware of some form of local hormone therapy and 40% of those affected by vaginal atrophy had used such treatment. Conclusion: Postmenopausal women in Brazil are likely to benefit from increased awareness of the symptoms of vaginal atrophy. Health-care providers can potentially improve outcomes by helping women to understand the chronic nature of the condition and available treatment options. Women may be open to education pre menopause, before symptoms occur

Avaliação da sensibilidade dolorosa e fatores envolvidos na qualidade da amostra citológica do fluxo papilar: resultados preliminares da utilização de sistema automatizado de coleta Assessment of pain sensitivity and factors involved in the quality of the sample fluid cytologic papillary: preliminary results from the use of automated collection

OBJETIVO: avaliar a sensibilidade dolorosa e os fatores envolvidos na produção de fluido papilar adequado para análise de citologia oncótica, por meio de sistema automatizado de coleta. MÉTODOS: foram selecionadas 50 mulheres assintomáticas, sem antecedente pessoal ou familiar de câncer de mama, fora do ciclo gravídico-puerperal para coleta de fluido papilar por meio de sistema automatizado. Foram registradas e relacionadas com a produção de fluido papilar a idade da paciente, tabagismo, antecedente de cirurgia mamária, paridade, amamentação, estado menopausal e idade da menarca. Todo o material coletado foi fixado em meio apropriado, e encaminhado separadamente para análise de citologia oncótica. A sensibilidade dolorosa do procedimento de coleta foi avaliada por meio da Escala Category-Ratio Scale (CR10) de Borg. RESULTADOS: a idade variou de 22 a 59 anos, média de 41,6±8,6 anos. Das 50 pacientes, 20 (40%) não apresentaram fluido papilar adequado para análise em nenhuma das mamas. Naquelas pacientes que se obteve fluido papilar adequado para análise de citologia oncótica, a paridade esteve inversamente relacionada com a capacidade de obter amostra celular adequada, nível de significância estatística (p=0,035), OR=0,0032 (IC 95%=0,0001-0,1388). Em relação à sensibilidade dolorosa, o exame foi bem tolerado. CONCLUSÕES: o método automatizado de coleta de fluido papilar para análise de citologia oncótica foi bem tolerado pelas mulheres tendo produzido material analisável em 60% dos casos, esteve inversamente relacionado com a paridade.PURPOSE: to evaluate painful sensitivity and factors involved in producing papillary fluid suitable for cytological analysis by means of automated collection. METHODS: we selected 50 asymptomatic women without a personal or family history of breast cancer, outside the pregnancy and childbirth cycle in order to collect papillary fluid by the automated system. We recorded and related to the production of papillary fluid patient age, smoking habit, previous breast surgery, parity, breastfeeding, menopausal status and age at menarche. All material collected was fixed in appropriate place, and sent separately for cytological analysis. The painful sensitivity of the collection procedure was assessed using the Borg Category-Ratio Scale (CR10 Scale). RESULTS: patient age ranged from 22 to 59 years, mean 41.6±8.6 years. Of the 50 patients, 20 (40%) showed no papillary fluid suitable for analysis in the breasts. In those patients from whom appropriate fluid was obtained for analysis of papillary cytology, parity was inversely related to the ability to obtain suitable cell samples with a level of statistical significance of p=0.035, OR=0.0032 (95%CI=0.0001-0.1388). Regarding soreness, the exam was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: the automated method of fluid collection for analysis of papillary cytology was well tolerated by the women; thus producing analyzable material in 60% of cases, a rate was inversely related to parity