Current Women's Health Reviews - Volume 22, Issue 3, 2026

Vaginismus is characterized by involuntary tightening of the pelvic floor muscles around the vagina and requires appropriate management. This review systematically evaluates the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in treating sexual dysfunction in patients with vaginismus.

PRISMA guidelines were used to compile a systematic review. A search of the ScienceDirect, PubMed, ProQuest, and Google Scholar databases was conducted to find English-language studies published between 2002-2023 that examined the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy and its effects on the sexual function of women with vaginismus. The included studies were assessed for quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tools (MMAT), and data were analyzed narratively.

A total of 5 studies, including a total of 288 women with vaginismus, were included in the review. The majority of studies included women with vaginismus according to DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria. The duration of the treatment and outcome measurements varied.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy has an effect on sexual satisfaction, sexual functions, and marital adjustment, as well as reducing levels of depression and anxiety symptoms in women with vaginismus. CBT is a helpful, cost-effective, and non-invasive interventional therapy.

The duration of therapy required for improvement, as well as its possible association with the severity of vaginismus, remains unclear.

Pregnant employees have special needs, and most of them require sick leaves during pregnancy. Pregnancy can lead to complex work adjustments and may affect women's well-being. Therefore, this integrative review of the literature aims to assess studies on job adjustment and sick leaves availed during pregnancy.

Searches were performed using Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest, ISI Web of Science, and Cochrane databases using both relevant keywords and MeSH terms, including “job adjustment”, “pregnancy”, and “sick leave” up to August 2023 (search updated in January 2024) with no geographical restrictions. Full-text articles published in English, observational studies including cross-sectional, longitudinal, and qualitative studies, including phenomenological content analysis, and grounded theory, were included. Studies published in the form of conference proceedings, other study designs with an interventional study method, and the articles for which full texts were not available were all excluded.

Twenty-one full-text articles were considered eligible. More job adjustments lead to few sick leaves and increased presenteeism during this period. Pregnant employees implement different kinds of adjustment strategies to reach job adjustment. The manager’s efforts to facilitate job adjustment and sick leave days during pregnancy should also involve professional care or guidance, adjusting job tasks, and work schedules.

This integrative review of the literature shows that job adjustment during pregnancy could reduce sick leave, but it needs comprehensive support from families and organizations so that pregnant women can make appropriate changes. In addition, implementing adjustment strategies should be improved in pregnant women to increase job adjustment.

Social media has a significant capacity to influence healthcare delivery. The development of online communities is well documented for conditions including asthma and stroke. Less is known about social media use amongst those with endometriosis. This review explores internet groups as an under-recognised supplement to healthcare, prompting greater clinician engagement online.

This scoping review was conducted according to the methodology developed by Arksey & O’Malley. It is the first piece of work bringing together commentary on endometriosis-related social media use and existing frameworks used to analyse other online communities. Relevant studies were identified through searches of MEDLINE and EMBASE. As an exploratory piece, there were no predetermined exclusion criteria, provided articles were in English or translated into English. A total of 26 articles from 2004-2024 were included.

The literature on social media posts about chronic conditions typically explores the accuracy of medical content or offers sociological commentary. Nine articles assessed the evidence base of endometriosis posts across various platforms. All raised concerns about the reliability of information shared and called for expert engagement in the dissemination of educational materials online.

Three key themes emerged from the analysis of online communities. First, online groups are perceived as an antidote to unmet needs in endometriosis patients accessing traditional healthcare, including problem-solving and psychosocial support. Further, such groups cultivate a sense of kinship amongst affected individuals. The exchange of experiences and peer validation of symptoms contributes to a collective narrative. Finally, social media can facilitate open conversation around sensitive topics through anonymity within these communities.

Endometriosis is a condition with the potential for profound psychological and psychosexual impact. Social media communities create a space in which private suffering can become public and taboo subjects explored. Clinicians have a responsibility to engage both with factual content curation and in addressing unmet care needs expressed by patients online.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is prevalent among under-five and school-aged children in Indonesia, often attributed to maternal knowledge gaps and unsupportive behaviors. This study, grounded in the theory of planned behavior, explores maternal intentions toward preventing IDA in children.

A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among 226 mothers of children aged 6 months to 12 years. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0, employing descriptive statistics and Likert scale scoring (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.82).

The results showed that participants were predominantly housewives (64.2%), aged 31–35 years (39.8%), with secondary education (44.2%) and monthly incomes of Rp 1–3 million (approximately 60–180 USD). Strong positive intentions were found for balanced nutrition provision (93.7%) and iron-content monitoring (89.9%). While mothers showed positive attitudes towards nutrition (95.4% agreed on providing balanced diets) and supplement monitoring (93.5%), most (63.5%) did not perceive the need for IDA screening. Knowledge of IDA causes was high (88.5%), but implementation was hindered by economic constraints (40.7%) and limited nutritional information access (38.9%).

Despite strong knowledge and positive intentions toward IDA prevention, mothers showed gaps between knowledge and practice, particularly in screening behaviors. Findings suggest a need for targeted interventions focusing on screening awareness and addressing economic barriers to enhance IDA prevention effectiveness.

Breastfeeding represents the most enduring investment in the physical, cognitive, and social development of children. Maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) is suggested to be a predictor of breastfeeding. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of a maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) training program on breastfeeding success among nulliparous women in Iran.

This clinical trial study was conducted on 70 pregnant women referred to two maternity clinics in Tehran, Iran. Using the randomized sampling method, two perinatal care services in the north of Tehran were selected for recruiting the subjects into control and intervention groups. The eligible women completed the demographic and reproductive, and Cranley’s MFA questionnaire. Then, the intervention group received two MFA education sessions, while the control group received routine prenatal education. Cranley’s MFA questionnaire was filled up again one month after the educational intervention. The breastfeeding success questionnaire and the Breastfeeding practice-related questionnaire were also completed in the 8th week of postpartum. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 22 and parametric and non-parametric tests.

Seventy women aged 30.67 ± 3.69 years participated in the study. There was no significant difference in MFA scores between the intervention and control groups prior to the intervention (89.03 ± 7.83 vs 89.66 ± 11.3; p = 0.7, respectively). However, a significant difference was observed between the intervention and control groups one month after the MFA education intervention (89.91 ± 8.23 vs 97.86 ± 9.72; p <0.001, respectively). The results also revealed a significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of breastfeeding success at eight weeks postpartum (64.71 ± 9.99 vs 71.11 ± 11.05; p <0.001, respectively).

Maternal-Fetal attachment education is effective on the success of breastfeeding. This finding could be used in breastfeeding promotion programs, meaning that providing MFA education can help breastfeeding promotion among mothers.

MFA education not only improves maternal-fetal attachment behaviors but also increases the success of breastfeeding, and so, it is suggested to be integrated into the maternal-child health services.

IRCT20120122008801N22; Registration date: 05/03/2018

Back pain is one of the main causes of disability, most of which is caused by non-specific factors. There is a relationship between infections and back pain. The present study was conducted to detect the association between the severity of back pain and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in women.

This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among women with STDs referred to the selected clinics in Shahrekord city in 2022. After confirming the STD by a gynecologist, the questionnaire was completed by the clients in a private environment. The research tool consisted of a demographic questionnaire, a checklist related to medical and fertility records, and a disability questionnaire for low back pain. The pain intensity was categorized into four levels: no pain, mild, moderate, and severe. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 25) and the chi-square test and analysis of variance. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

A total of 310 women were included in the study. The mean age of the women was 37.04 ± 7.88 years, and the mean number of pregnancies was 2.43 ± 1.40. The overall prevalence of back pain was 71.9%, with 28.1% reporting no pain, 22.9% reporting mild pain, 24.5% reporting moderate pain, and 24.5% reporting severe pain. There was a statistically significant association between the severity of back pain and the type of delivery, menstrual status, menstrual complications, history of medical illness, history of drug use, travel abroad by self or spouse alone, previous history of sexually transmitted infections, multiple sexual partners, type of sexual activity, the use of condoms, the number of sexual partners of the spouse, the history of sexually transmitted infection in the spouse, and job risk (p < 0.05). Also, significant associations were observed between the severity of back pain and the type of sexually transmitted disease, suffering from cervicitis, burning and frequent urination, vaginal discharge, unusual mass in the groin area, abdominal pain, pain during intercourse, pain in the perineum, and anal discharge (p < 0.05), while there was no significant association with post-coital bleeding, genital ulcer, or vulvovaginal itching (p > 0.05).

Health service providers should consider the examination and diagnosis of STDs when patients present with symptoms of back pain. In addition, policymakers and health care providers should work to prevent STDs and their consequences, including back pain, by adopting educational and support policies, thereby reducing the burden of disease on the health care system.

Pregnancy and childbirth increase maternal fear and distress. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of drawing combined with midwife-led counseling (MLC) with that of MLC alone in reducing fear of childbirth (FOC) and distress during the third trimester of pregnancy.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 100 pregnant women (28–32 weeks). The drawing and MLC group painted with free themes twice a week and received MLC once a week to address maternal fears and distress over a five-week period. In the MLC group, only MLC was conducted. Data were collected through demographic information, the Childbirth Attitudes Questionnaire (CAQ), and the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire before and after the intervention, and were analyzed using analysis of covariance, chi-square tests, and independent t-tests.

The mean fear and distress scores of both groups decreased significantly after the intervention (P<0.001). However, the difference in the mean fear score between the intervention group (33.5 ± 7.7) and the MLC group (34 ± 8.1) and the difference in the mean distress score between the intervention group (10.2 ± 3.8) and the MLC group (11 ± 4.9) were not statistically significant. There were also no significant differences in pregnancy outcomes between the two groups.

Compared with the MLC group, the drawing and MLC group experienced greater, although statistically insignificant, reductions in fear of childbirth and distress. However, further research is necessary to draw definitive conclusions. Furthermore, the interventions in our study did not affect pregnancy outcomes, including delivery method, hypertension, preterm delivery, or gestational diabetes.

Quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic diseases is affected by physical, emotional, and social aspects, including medication burden. This study evaluates the impact of chronic diseases and medication on quality of life, emphasizing the importance of incorporating patient perception.

A cross-sectional study conducted in Ecuador focused on the adult population treated at the Rheumatology Department of the Homero Castanier Crespo Hospital in 2023. A sample of 161 individuals was selected based on specific criteria, and the COOP-WONCA questionnaire was used to assess health-related quality of life. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS^®, including descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis with Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests to explore relationships between variables.

The study population was predominantly composed of women (95.1%), adults over 70 years of age (37.8%), and individuals from urban areas (60.4%). Regarding education, the majority had completed primary education (62.2%) and a significant proportion were illiterate (18.3%). Additionally, 39.6% of the sample had hypertension and 14% had diabetes. Quality of life was characterized by high satisfaction with social activities (84.1%), while perceptions of physical fitness and general health were more moderate. Quality of life was influenced by osteoporosis and hypertension in the domain of physical fitness (p < 0.05) and individuals with depression reported negative effects on their emotional well-being (p < 0.05).

The predominantly female and elderly population presents differences in quality of life related to chronic diseases and depression, highlighting the impact of these conditions on physical and emotional well-being.