Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Aug 2021
The Association Between Constipation and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Parous Middle-Aged Women: A Prospective Cohort Study.
Objective: To examine the prospective association between constipation and risk of developing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in parous middle-aged women. Materials and Methods: The study uses data from 3,729 women from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children who provided self-reports of medication intake for constipation at two time points (Baseline): 2001-2003 and 2003-2005. Women with LUTS at baseline were excluded. ⋯ There was no evidence that constipation was associated with stress UI, urgency UI, mixed UI, nocturia, increased daytime frequency, and intermittency. Conclusion: Constipation is prospectively associated with an increased risk of urgency and hesitancy among parous middle-aged women. If further research finds evidence that this association is causal, this implies that women should seek treatment to alleviate constipation to reduce their consequent risk of developing these LUTS.
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Journal of women's health · Aug 2021
ReviewUterine Fibroids: Assessing Unmet Needs from Bench to Bedside.
Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are noncancerous growths that can have deleterious effects on the health and quality of life for millions of women. Attempts to better understand the factors that influence prevalence and disparities associated with fibroids have been made; however, significant knowledge gaps continue to persist, which hinder care for individuals living with fibroids. The Society for Women's Health Research convened an interdisciplinary Uterine Fibroids Working Group to review the current state of knowledge about uterine fibroids and recommend areas in which to prioritize efforts to address research gaps and improve diagnosis, treatment, and access to care for patients with this chronic disease. ⋯ Systematic studies of the etiology and pathology of uterine fibroids are needed to address important knowledge gaps and unmet clinical needs regarding the multifaceted management of fibroids and their effects on overall health and quality of life. The Working Group recommends addressing key deficits within the spheres of research, clinical care, and federal policy. Immediate needs include increasing research investment, improving fibroid assessment using pelvic imaging, implementing longitudinal study designs, addressing factors that contribute to disease disparities (especially among women of color), developing fertility-friendly treatment options, expanding awareness and education beyond gynecologic specialists, and advancing personalized patient care through shared decision-making approaches.
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Journal of women's health · Aug 2021
Health Status of Females Who Experience Incarceration: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.
Background: People who experience incarceration have poor health across a variety of indicators, but we lack population-level data on the health of females in particular. We examined the health status of females released from provincial prison, and compared their data with data for males released from provincial prison and females in the general population in Ontario, Canada in 2010. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using linked correctional and health administrative data. ⋯ They also tended to have higher rates of medical-surgical and psychiatric hospitalization. Conclusion: Females who experience incarceration have worse health overall than males who experience incarceration and females in the general population. Efforts should be made to reform programs and policies in the criminal justice and health care systems to support and promote health for females who experience incarceration.
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Journal of women's health · Aug 2021
Impact of Vulvovaginal Symptoms in Women Diagnosed with Cancer: A Psychometric Evaluation of the Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging Questionnaire.
Background: Vulvovaginal symptoms (VVS), such as dyspareunia, dryness, and itching, are common following cancer treatment and can negatively impact sexual well-being, daily activities, mood, self-concept, and overall quality of life. Information about the impact of VVS after cancer treatment is scarce, mainly because of a dearth of validated measures. This study aimed to validate the Day-to-Day Impact of Vaginal Aging (DIVA) questionnaire, which assesses impact of VVS on women's lives, in a sample of women with cancer. ⋯ Conclusions: This is the first study aimed at validating the DIVA in women treated for cancer. Results provide evidence of the DIVA's utility in assessing the impact of VVS on four relevant domains. Although issues with certain scale items need to be resolved in future research, the DIVA provides opportunity to understand the impact of VVS after cancer treatment, to address unmet needs of cancer survivors.
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Journal of women's health · Aug 2021
Development and Validation of a Nomogram for Predicting the Risk of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
Objective: To develop and validate a prediction model for identifying pregnant women at risk of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) to guide treatment decision and classification of management. Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled 907 consecutive pregnant women with de novo hypertension from the Antenatal Care Center of Henan Provincial People's Hospital between June 1, 2018 and May 31, 2019. The cohort was randomly divided into two subgroups: the development cohort (n = 635) and validation cohort (n = 272). ⋯ When applied to internal validation, the score revealed good discrimination with stratified fivefold cross-validation in the development cohort (AUC = 0.91) and validation cohort (AUC: 0.89) at fixed 10% false-positive rates, and the calibration plots showed good calibration. The total score point was divided into three risk classifications: low risk (0 - 179 points), medium risk (179 - 204 points), and high risk (>204 points). Conclusions: This study established a prediction model for predicting PIH, which could be used in clinical decision-making to improve maternal health and birth outcomes.