Uterosacral Nerve Ablation and Presacral Neurectomy in the Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women

Chronic pelvic pain affects 2–24% of women in the reproductive period. There are various causes of chronic pelvic pain in women including gynecologic, urologic, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal problems. The treatment of pain is directed toward the underlying pathology. However, in some cases, no pathology can be found, and sometimes, more than one underlying pathology may be found in the same patient. Surgical denervation methods may be used in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain in women including uterosacral nerve ablation and presacral neurectomy. Uterosacral nerve ablation has been used as a treatment method for uterine causes of pelvic pain. It has been used widely in the treatment of dysmenorrhea- and endometriosis-related pain. But recent randomized studies and meta-analysis have questioned the effect of uterosacral nerve ablation in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain. Presacral neurectomy involves damage of the uterine sympathetic innervation at the level of superior hypogastric plexus. It is effective in the treatment of midline pelvic pain. It has been found to be more effective than laparoscopic uterosacral nerve ablation in a randomized study. The method, effect, and studies evaluating uterosacral nerve ablation and presacral neurectomy will be discussed in this chapter

Adjustable Midurethral Slings in the Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence

Midurethral slings have become the gold standard in the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). However, despite the high cure rates with these procedures, nearly 20% of the patients are incontinent after surgery. On the other hand, in a small percentage of women, voiding dysfunction may develop after surgery. Adjustable slings have been advocated in patients who fail an anti-incontinence surgery or have intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) or in order to prevent postoperative voiding dysfunction. There are various options of adjustable slings according to the surgical route or the type of mesh used

Contraception counselling during gynecology visit — does a questionnaire help?

Objectives: Women are at risk of unplanned pregnancy and inappropriate choice of contraception if not given effectivecontraception counselling. We aimed to understand the contraceptive needs of women, improve effective contraceptioncounselling promoting modern contraception methods during gynecology outpatient visit using a contraception counsellingquestionnaire.Material and methods: All reproductive-age women over 18 were given Contraception Counselling Project Form to fill inwhile in the waiting room. The form consisted of 15 questions evaluating patients’ characteristics and contraceptive methodused. Physicians evaluated these forms during the examination and an appropriate method was chosen. Forms of pregnant,postmenopausal and sexually inactive patients as well as forms with more than one answer missing were excluded.Results: 778 questionnaires were accepted for evaluation. 340 women (43.8%) used modern contraception, 112 (14.4%)used interrupted coitus, 3 (0.4%) used calendar method. 738 women could be given adequate contraception counsellingby the physicians. 215 women among 323 women (66.5%) who did not use modern contraception and did not desirepregnancy, were convinced to use modern contraception and 103 (91.9%) among 112 women who used interruptedcoitus for contraception were convinced to use modern contraception. There was a significant relationship between age,education, working state, parity, number and type of delivery, previous OCP usage, resources of contraception and thepreferred contraception method.Conclusions: More than half the women preferred to use modern contraception methods by means of contraceptioncounselling questionnaire. Women’s backgrounds significantly affected their choice of contraception method

COMPLICATIONS OF MIDURETHRAL SLING OPERATIONS

Midurethral sling operations are the most commonly performed surgeries in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. Midurethral sling surgeries are minimally invasive with high success rate and rare complications. However; the type of complications encountered are different than other incontinence surgeries. The complications may be classified as intraoperative, early, and late complications. In this review, the complications encountered, preventive measures and management will be discussed

External validation of a model predicting de novo stress urinary incontinence after pelvic organ prolapse surgery

Aims De novo stress urinary incontinence (SUI) may develop after surgical correction of advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in otherwise continent women. Prediction of which women with POP will develop SUI after the prolapse is corrected is difficult. We aimed to externally validate a previously described prediction model for de novo SUI after performing vaginal surgery for POP and to assess its clinical performance when used as a diagnostic test

MEDICAL TREATMENT OF LEIOMYOMAS

Leiomyomas are the most common benign gynecological tumors observed during the reproductive period. Although, they are exceedingly common, not all are symptomatic. Leiomyomas are of genetic or hormonal origin and have estrogen and progesterone receptors, making them sensitive to hormones. The main treatment for leiomyomas is surgery, but in women who are not willing to undergo surgery or who want to preserve their fertility, medical treatment options may be used. The main basis of medical treatment in leiomyomas are hormones due to positive response to anti-hormonal therapies. Medical treatment options comprise gonadotropin-releasing-hormone agonists and antagonists, aromatase inhibitors, and selective progesterone receptor modulators. In addition to controlling bleeding, these treatment regimens cause a decrease in the volume of the tumor. In this review, treatment options are discussed

Hirsutism, Acne, and Hair Loss: Management of Hyperandrogenic Cutaneous Manifestations of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

PPolycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrine abnormality that affects reproductive-aged women. Diagnostic criteria of polycystic ovary syndrome have been established by different societies in recent years, and hyperandrogenism remains as one of the main criteria for diagnosis. Cutaneous manifestations of hyperandrogenism include hirsutism, acne and androgenic alopecia and are commonly observed in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. The major determinants of cutaneous manifestations are increased production of androgen and increased tissue availability. Cutaneous manifestations of hyperandrogenism are cosmetic problems, which produce significant emotional distress and psychological morbidity. Treatment includes a combination of combined oral contraceptives, antiandrogens, insulin sensitizers, gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists, topical medications, and cosmetic procedures. The diagnosis, management, and treatment approaches are described in detail in this review