Considering the prevalence of sexual dysfunctions among Iranian women and the effects of sexual self-concepts on sexual performance further studies on the effects of sex counseling on the sexual self-concepts of brides-to-be seem necessary.

The objective of this study is to determine the effects of EX-PLISSIT sex counseling on the sexual self-concepts of brides-to-be.

This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 64 women visiting the premarital counseling centers of Tabriz Iran in 2022. The 15-plus-year-old brides-to-be were selected as participants and were then assigned to intervention and control groups with a randomized block design. Participants in the intervention group attended four 60–90-minute individual counseling sessions with an interval of one week in accordance with the EX-PLISSIT model whereas those in the control group received routine premarital counseling. The researcher interviewed all participants before and four weeks after the intervention and then completed the Multidimensional Sexual Self-Concept Questionnaire and the Sexual Dysfunctional Belief Questionnaire.

Results showed no significant differences between the intervention and control groups in terms of demographics and the baseline scores of sexual self-concept and sexual dysfunction beliefs. The post-intervention mean score of negative sexual self-concept was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (mean difference=-5.8 95% confidence interval: -3.3 to -8.2 p<0.001) and the post-intervention mean score of situational self-concept was significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group (mean difference=3.0 95% confidence interval: 0.9 to 5.1 p=0.004). However results indicated no significant differences between the two groups in the post-intervention mean score of positive sexual self-concept (mean difference=-0.5 95% confidence interval: -5.1 to 4.0 p=0.815). In addition the post-intervention mean score of sexual dysfunction beliefs was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (mean difference=-15.3 95% confidence interval: -20.1 to -10.5 p<0.001).

The findings indicated the positive effects of EX-PLISSIT sex counseling on negative and situational sexual self-concept and sexual dysfunction beliefs in brides-to-be. Hence this model is recommended to be used in combination with other sex counseling methods in order to improve the sexual health of brides-to-be.

IRCT20110922007618N10

Infertility is an important issue in reproductive health. In the field of reproductive medicine In vitro Fertilization (IVF) stands out as a central approach to helping infertile couples. Pregnancy-associated Plasma Protein-A (PAPP-A) levels increase progressively throughout pregnancy until delivery. Therefore the present study aimed to conduct a detailed examination and comparison of PAPP-A levels between women who have undergone IVF treatment due to infertility and those with natural pregnancies all of whom have been referred to the Gynecology and Infertility Clinic of Besat Hospital in 2020.

The present case-control study was conducted on women with IVF-induced pregnancies and those with physiological pregnancies who have been referred to the Gynecology and Infertility Clinic of Besat Hospital in 2020. Pregnant women who did not have a complete medical record and had a history of other diseases were excluded from the study. In this study venous blood was collected from the pregnant women and the serum level of the PAPP-A marker was checked. This information was recorded in their medical records and then subjected to statistical analysis.

For this purpose 28 pregnant women by IVF and 34 physiological pregnant women were included in the study. There was a significant relationship between the type of pregnancy (IVF and physiological pregnancy) and the serum level of PAPP-A dispersion based on the KID test and 70.59% of pregnancies were physiological at the level of 0.5-0.9. Based on the results of the ROC curve test the cut-off point of the serum level of PAPP-A in pregnancy caused by IVF and physiological pregnancy was 0.63. This means that in 90.91% of people whose serum level of PAPP-A was less than 0.63 the method of pregnancy was IVF.

The results of the present study have revealed the serum level of PAPP-A to be different depending on the type of pregnancy and it has been found to be significantly higher in pregnant women with physiological pregnancy than in pregnancy due to IVF.

Acute urinary retention (AUR) is a rare but serious condition during pregnancy that can lead to significant maternal and fetal complications. Pregnancy induces various anatomical and functional changes in the lower urinary tract increasing the risk of AUR. In this report we present a novel case of acute urinary retention secondary to a large infected anterior vaginal wall cyst.

A 31-year-old woman in her second pregnancy at 18 weeks of gestation presented with vulval pain fever and urinary retention. On examination a 5x6 cm tense mass on the anterior vaginal wall was identified with no abnormalities in the cervix or lateral fornixes. For the above complaints the patient visited another hospital; she was started on oral antibiotics and Foley catheterization was performed. A transvaginal ultrasound imaging showed a hypoechoic lesion on the anterior vaginal wall with increased vascularity. After 24 hours of intravenous antibiotic therapy post-admission the cyst started collapsing and there was evidence of spontaneous pus drainage from the cyst wall. The remaining loculi were removed under aseptic conditions. The symptoms subsided and hence Foley’s catheter was removed. The patient comfortably passed urine post-catheter removal. She was discharged after five days of oral antibiotics and returned for a follow-up two weeks later with no recurrence of symptoms. Further surgical intervention was postponed due to increased vascularity from pregnancy.

An infected large anterior vaginal wall cyst during pregnancy can cause acute urinary retention. This condition is managed with conservative treatment with cyst excision typically deferred until after delivery.

Assessment of women's satisfaction with the quality of prenatal care (PNC) services leads to identifying the needs and planning the appropriate interventions for quality improvement. This study aimed to assess women's satisfaction with the provision of prenatal service by the midwife and non-midwifery PNC providers and the related factors.

This was an analytical cross-sectional study on 200 pregnant women for prenatal care services. The participants were recruited using a multi-stage sampling method. The tools for data collection were a demographic and fertility questionnaire and a questionnaire for the assessment of clients' satisfaction with the quality of prenatal care services. The questionnaires were completed by the participants in their last weeks of pregnancy and following six PNC visits. T-tests ANOVA Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression tests were conducted using SPSS-24 to analyze the data.

The total score of satisfaction with the quality of PNC services was 68.99 ± 9.54 percent. There was no significant correlation between the women's satisfaction with demographic and fertility variables (p>0.05). However the T-test showed that women’s satisfaction with the care provided by midwives is significantly higher than that provided by non-midwifery personnel. Multiple linear regression showed that providing PNC by the midwives substantially increases the total satisfaction score by 42.48 compared to the non-midwifery personnel.

Providing PNC by midwives increases satisfaction compared to non-midwife PNC providers. Therefore the provision of care during pregnancy by midwives who are specifically trained for perinatal care services is emphasized to improve women's satisfaction and the quality of PNC services which is necessary to reduce mortality and maternal and neonatal complications.

Transverse vaginal septum is a rare mullerian anomaly. Patients with a complete transverse vaginal septum are diagnosed during menarche with symptoms of abdominal pain and amenorrhea. Here we present a patient who underwent septal resection during puberty and was referred in pregnancy due to vaginal synechiae.

The patient was a 40-year-old primigravid referred to the maternity department at 39 weeks of gestational age with labor pain and inability to perform a vaginal examination. She had a past surgical history of low vaginal septum at 13 years old. The vagina was completely obstructed. A thorough resection of the synechiae was performed along with a cesarean section to create a drainage path.

It is important to consider a pregnant woman's history of Müllerian abnormalities. In these patients due to the low frequency of intercourse and the conditions of progesterone dominance there is a possibility of re-stenosis and the imposition of cesarean section. Paying attention to this possible complication and preventing it by using a dilator can be helpful.

Breast cancer remains a prevalent malignancy among women globally. Survivors often experience diminished quality of life pain and sleep disturbances after treatment and suffer feelings of isolation. Non-pharmacological traditional Chinese medicine (NP-TCM) interventions have been increasingly applied in clinical practice yet their efficacy requires further clarification.

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of NP-TCM interventions (e.g. Qigong Tai Chi Baduanjin) on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in breast cancer patients.

Randomized controlled trials published between 1999 and 2024 were retrieved from various databases. Studies comparing NP-TCM and control groups in quality of life and other outcomes were included. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. 14 RCTs with 688 patients were included.

NP-TCM interventions significantly improved overall quality of life (SMD=0.13 95%CI 0.24~0.51 P<0.001). Specifically Baduanjin demonstrated substantial benefits (SMD=0.82 P<0.001). NP-TCM also enhanced sleep (SMD=1.16 P=0.04) and alleviated anxiety (SMD=-0.46 P<0.05).

NP-TCM interventions effectively improved the HRQOL and certain symptoms for breast cancer patients providing practical adjunctive therapies. However study qualities require optimization.

After the injection of the COVID-19 vaccinations many women around the world have reported abnormalities in their menstrual periods. Hence the objective of our study was to compare the prevalence of menstrual abnormalities after the COVID-19 vaccine among females residing within two regions (Hamedan and Zahedan) that are different in the length of sunlight in Iran.

The research (cross-sectional study) utilized a questionnaire to evaluate the menstrual status following COVID-19 vaccination. Based on the determined sample size 170 women were selected with 85 from Hamadan and 85 from Zahedan (both situated in Iran). Checklists were distributed among women above the age of menarche in both regions who had been vaccinated were not pregnant or lactating and did not have a history of primary ovarian insufficiency hypothalamic menopause or hysterectomy. The demographic and clinical characteristics were assessed through the questionnaire which consisted of three parts: demographics menstrual disorders after vaccination and length/repetition/quantity of menstruation disorders. Data analyzed using SPSS software at descriptive and inferential levels included frequency percentage Chi-Square and Fisher exact tests which were used for comparison.

A total of 170 females were included in our study; 85 females were from the Hamedan region and 85 females were from the Zahedan region. About 57.6% of participants reported menstrual symptoms post-vaccination in the Hamedan region and around 54.1% of women experienced these disorders in the Zahedan region (P-value 0.643). The frequency of people in the study who had disorders in length was higher in the Hamedan region (P-value 0.208). Also disorders in the intensity and recurrence of their menstruation were higher in the Hamedan region than in the Zahedan region (P-value 0.054).

This research has demonstrated a potential correlation between the intensity of menstrual disorders experienced by women following the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine and the duration of sun exposure which impacts the level of vitamin D in the body. Hence it is crucial to comprehend and substantiate this association as it holds significant value for the well-being of women and subsequently the health of future generations.

Menopause can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms such as hot flashes night sweats mood swings and sleep disturbances. Although hormone replacement therapy is frequently utilized to help manage these issues long-term use of this treatment approach carries certain potential risks.

This study aims to examine the effects of foot reflexology a type of massage therapy that focuses on applying pressure to specific reflex points on the feet on menopausal symptoms (primary outcome) and anxiety fatigue and depression (secondary outcomes).

A systematic electronic search for relevant studies was conducted in PubMed Scopus Web of Science the Cochrane Library SID Magiran and Google Scholar until September 21 2023. In addition to the electronic database searches manual searches were also performed. This manual search process included scanning the reference lists of the included studies and hand-searching key journals in the topic area. The risk of bias was assessed via the RoB 2.0 and ROBIN-I tools. Heterogeneity was evaluated via the I² statistic and in cases of high heterogeneity a random effects model was used instead of a fixed effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed for the primary outcome on the basis of menopausal symptoms (vasomotor/psychosocial/physical/sexual). The certainty of evidence was assessed via the GRADE approach.

A total of 186 articles were retrieved from database searches and an additional 9 articles were identified through manual searches. Ultimately 8 studies were included in the systematic review and 6 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that foot reflexology had a significant effect on menopausal symptoms with an average reduction of 3.41 points on the associated measurement scale (95% confidence interval (CI): -4.81 to -2.01; low-certainty evidence). It also significantly reduced fatigue with an average reduction of 5.84 points (95% CI: -11.61 to -0.06; very low-certainty evidence). However there was no significant impact on anxiety (SMD: -0.89 95% CI: -1.96 to 0.18; very low-certainty evidence) or depression (SMD: -0.73 95% CI: -1.80 to 0.34; very low-certainty evidence) compared with the control group.

The present study demonstrated that the use of foot reflexology as a nonhormonal and noninvasive intervention led to a significant reduction in menopausal symptoms and fatigue among women. Given the limited number of studies available in this area and the low to very low-level certainty of the evidence for the desired outcomes further research with appropriate methodologies to ensure accurate conclusions in this field is strongly recommended.

Sexual myths are mainly devoid of any substantial evidence and are passed on by word of mouth. Myths about sexuality may thus diminish the quality of sexual activities cause sexual dysfunctions including erectile dysfunction (impotence) vaginismus difficulty reaching an orgasm and premature ejaculation and make individuals feel dread anxiety and failure or inadequacy which can have adverse effects on their sexual identity.

This study investigated the factors affecting sexual myths in women and men based on the biopsychosocial model.

In this scoping review the research databases of PubMed Google Scholar Magiran PsycINFO IranDoc Ovid ProQuest Scientific Information Database (SID) and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched. For this purpose a systematic search was conducted to retrieve the relevant articles from November 3 to 21 2023 using the keywords of “sexual myth sexual beliefs wrong beliefs dysfunctional sexual beliefs sexuality opinions and associated factors.” The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) further evaluated the quality of the included studies. The data were then extracted from all the articles that met the eligibility criteria based on the study objectives.

In total 12 articles were reviewed whose data were grouped into three general categories viz. (i) biological factors (i.e. age and gender) (ii) psychological factors (that is sexual dysfunction political opinions opinions on virginity) and (iii) social factors (namely educational attainment occupation place of residence marital status type of marriage age at marriage premarital sexual experience parents’ educational attainment spouse’s educational attainment number of children parent’s employment status spouse’s occupation primary source of information about sex and feelings about sexual conversations information about sexual life academic department sexual health assessment and religious beliefs).

Biopsychosocial factors could significantly affect sexual myths; therefore considering their mediating role in providing sex education to women and men is crucial.