Anatomy In Women Research Articles

Exploring female genital self-image: a psychological and sociocultural perspective.

Female genital self-image (FGSI) refers to one's perception of the external and internal appearance of female genitalia. FGSI is a multidisciplinary research area influenced by psychological, sociocultural, and clinical factors, influencing sexual satisfaction, desire, self-perception, and partner perception. The review aims to improve doctors' understanding of genital self-image by incorporating psychological and sociocultural perspectives, thereby promoting a comprehensive and holistic approach. A comprehensive search technique was used to obtain research papers from the following databases: PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and Web of Science. Google Scholar was also manually searched. The search results were imported into Rayyan reference management and assessed using the established inclusion criteria. The quality of the articles was assessed using the appropriate JBI checklist (ie, according to the study design), and the JBI grades of recommendation were used to grade the evidence. Psychological theories like self-schema, body image, and female personal harm view offer insights into FGSI, but none provide a comprehensive explanation of subjective body image dissatisfaction.Research indicates women often experience anxiety about discussing genitalia and accepting sexual attention, but limited literature on negative self-image causes. Interventions include sexological counseling, therapy, educational programs, and public statements. Understanding FGSI is crucial for effective pre-surgical counseling, incorporating online portrayals, attitudes, and reasons for cosmetic surgery, and addressing psychological and sociocultural factors.This text delves into the intricate psychological and sociocultural factors that shape FGSI, presenting a model of intra- and interpersonal dynamics. The link between FGSI and negativism is unclear, but it is linked to women's confidence and subjectivity, with positive self-perceptions predicting higher sexual satisfaction and mental health. FGSI has an imperative role in healthy female sexual function. The study suggests an interdisciplinary approach to managing FGSI, integrating psychological and sociological approaches, to better understand women's anatomy and address gendered distress.

Assessment of daily variation in pelvic anatomy in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse

Introduction and hypothesisSymptoms of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) can affect quality of life and are reported to progress during the day, although this was never objectified. The aim of this study is to determine whether the pelvic anatomy changes during the day using upright magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in POP patients and asymptomatic women.MethodsIn this prospective study 15 POP patients and 45 asymptomatic women were included. Upright MRI scans were obtained three times per day. The distances from the lowest points of the bladder and cervix to a standardized reference (pelvic inclination correction system) line were determined. A principal component analysis was performed on the levator plate (LP) shape. Statistical differences between time points and the groups were determined for the bladder, cervix, and LP shape.ResultsFor all women a significant decrease in bladder and cervix height of −0.2 cm (p<0.001) was seen between morning/midday and afternoon scans. A significant difference in bladder descent during the day between POP patients and asymptomatic women was found (p=0.004). Individual differences in bladder position in the POP group of up to 2.2 cm between the morning and afternoon scan were reported. There was a significant difference in LP shape (p<0.001) between the groups but there were no significant changes during the day.ConclusionsThis study found no clinically relevant pelvic anatomy changes during the day. Still, on an individual level differences can be large, so repeating clinical examination at the end of the day can be recommended in patients when anamnesis and physical examination do not match.

Gender and Habit: John Dewey and Iris Marion Young on Embodiment and Transformation

Gender and Habit: John Dewey and Iris Marion Young on Embodiment and Transformation

Ultrasound strategies for completion of anatomy in women with body mass index over 50

As maternal body mass index (BMI) increases, the completion rate for anatomy ultrasound drops, but the precise reasons for this are unclear. We sought to evaluate whether provider preference had an impact on the number of scans used to complete anatomy in patients with body mass index (BMI) over 50.

Association of EDARV370A with breast density and metabolic syndrome in Latinos.

The ectodysplasin receptor (EDAR) is a tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF) superfamily member. A substitution in an exon of EDAR at position 370 (EDARV370A) creates a gain of function mutant present at high frequencies in Asian and Indigenous American populations but absent in others. Its frequency is intermediate in populations of Mexican ancestry. EDAR regulates the development of ectodermal tissues, including mammary ducts. Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are prevalent in people with Indigenous and Latino ancestry. Latino patients also have altered prevalence and presentation of breast cancer. It is unknown whether EDARV370A might connect these phenomena. The goals of this study were to determine 1) whether EDARV370A is associated with metabolic phenotypes and 2) if there is altered breast anatomy in women carrying EDARV370A. Participants were from two Latino cohorts, the Arizona Insulin Resistance (AIR) registry and Sangre por Salud (SPS) biobank. The frequency of EDARV370A was 47% in the Latino cohorts. In the AIR registry, carriers of EDARV370A (GG homozygous) had significantly (p < 0.05) higher plasma triglycerides, VLDL, ALT, 2-hour post-challenge glucose, and a higher prevalence of prediabetes/diabetes. In a subset of the AIR registry, serum levels of ectodysplasin A2 (EDA-A2) also were associated with HbA1c and prediabetes (p < 0.05). For the SPS biobank, participants that were carriers of EDARV370A had lower breast density and higher HbA1c (both p < 0.05). The significant associations with measures of glycemia remained when the cohorts were combined. We conclude that EDARV370A is associated with characteristics of the metabolic syndrome and breast density in Latinos.

Iliac anatomy in women with developmental dysplasia of the hip: Measurements using three-dimensional computed tomography

BackgroundWe aimed to clarify the iliac anatomy in developmental dysplasia of the hip using three-dimensional computed tomography. MethodsThe distance between two points along each anatomical portion of the ilium, including the acetabular center, were compared between patients in the dysplasia and control groups. ResultsThere were no significant differences in the upper part of the ilium between the groups. However, three distances that included the acetabular center were significantly shorter in the dysplasia group than in the control group. ConclusionsOur study suggests that bone dysplasia occurs in the ilium near the acetabulum, not in the iliac wings.

Influence of alcohol abuse on the structural and functional condition of the uterine tubes in women of reproductive age

Women's health is always the focus of physicians and society. Some physiological features of women's anatomy and physiology determine their specific response to chronic alcohol intoxication, which is better studied for the ovaries, uterus and mammary glands. The study was conducted to examine the effect of excessive long-term alcohol abuse by women of reproductive age on the structural and functional state of their fallopian tubes. The study was based on sectional material from 25 women with chronic alcohol intoxication, with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, but without other existing comorbidities. Possible destructive-sclerotic changes of the fallopian tubes were studied. It was found that in such women the ampullary section of the fallopian tube is significantly shorter by 7.55%. At the same time, there is also a decrease in the outer diameter in the area of the transition of the isthmus to the ampullary department by 17.62% and a narrowing of the lumen area of the ampullary department by 13.14%. Sclerotic-destructive changes were found in the epithelium and in the muscular layer of the fallopian tube. The relative amount of connective tissue in women of the study group was higher than in women in the control group by about 4 times. Immunohistochemical examination of samples of uterine tube section material was also performed, during which signs of stress adjustment of the fallopian tube under the influence of chronic alcohol intoxication and markers of apoptosis, increased p53 protein activity in the study group (this protein acts as a transcription factor and regulates cells). The study concluded that chronic alcoholism can certainly be a factor that causes a number of pronounced, profound, and sometimes irreversible changes in the structure of the fallopian tubes. Keywords: chronic alcoholism, morphofunctional consequences of intoxication, morphometry, immunohistochemistry.

Association between childhood trauma and brain anatomy in women with post-traumatic stress disorder, women with borderline personality disorder, and healthy women

ABSTRACT Background: Childhood trauma (CT) is associated with altered brain anatomy. These neuroanatomical changes might be more pronounced in individuals with a psychiatric disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) are more prevalent in individuals with a history of CT. Objective: In this study, we examined limbic and total brain volumes in healthy women with and without a history of CT and in females with PTSD or BPD and a history of CT to see whether neuroanatomical changes are a function of psychopathology or CT. Method: In total, 128 women (N = 70 healthy controls without CT, N = 25 healthy controls with CT, N = 14 individuals with PTSD, and N = 19 individuals with BPD) were recruited. A T1-weighted anatomical MRI was acquired from all participants for Freesurfer-based assessment of total brain, hippocampus, and amygdala volumes. Severity of CT was assessed with a clinical interview and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Group differences in hippocampal and amygdala volumes (adjusted for total brain volume) and total brain volume (adjusted for height) were characterized by analysis of covariance. Results: Volume of the total brain, hippocampus, and amygdala did not differ between the four groups (p > .05). CT severity correlated negatively with total brain volume across groups (r = −0.20; p = .029). Conclusions: CT was associated with reduced brain volume but PTSD or BPD was not. The association between CT and reduced brain volume as a global measure of brain integrity suggests a common origin for vulnerability to psychiatric disorders later in life.

Child Custody (Hadanah) in Islamic Family Law: An Anatomy of Women's Right in Nigeria and Malaysia

The Quran, the Hadith and the Shari’ah recognise the rights of women to custody of their children when they are no longer with their husband, provided they do not remarry. This right is known as hadanah. The study examines the conditions for the award of hadanah in Nigeria and Malaysia with a view to determining whether its practice is in conformity with the Islamic injunctions. The qualitative approach is used. The qualitative approach includes content, deductive, and inductive analysis as well as comparative method. The references used in this study are the primary and secondary sources. Both materials are analysed accordingly to get the information related to this study. The paper found that women in Nigeria and Malaysia are subjected to ill treatment due to misconceptions about hadanah as an Islamic practice. The study found that women are disadvantaged when securing divorce and custody of their children. The paper concludes that the practice of hadanah in both countries contravenes the constitutional provisions on gender equality. The study recommends that legislative measures be put in place in Nigeria and Malaysia to address the pitfalls of gender-bias.

Presacral Anatomy in Women With a Horseshoe Kidney.

Horseshoe kidney (HSK) is the most common renal fusion defect that can alter vascular and upper urinary tract anatomy. Anatomic variations in the presacral space can make surgical dissection very challenging. The aim of this study was to characterize presacral anatomy in women with HSK. Large academic centers' database was queried to identify imaging studies in adult women with HSK. Available multiplanar computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging images were reviewed, and relevant vascular and upper urinary tract anatomy was measured and compared with published normal values. Study population was compared with the normal controls using Student t test, χ test, or Fisher exact test as appropriate. One hundred seventy-eight women were identified initially, and 20 confirmed to have HSK on imaging. The mean ± SD age was 54.5 ± 16.9 years, and body mass index was 27.3 ± 7.5 kg/m. Women with HSK had a narrower angle of aortic bifurcation (39.1 ± 18.7 degrees vs 55.6 ± 4.5 degrees, P = 0.014); the right ureter was closer to midline (22.9 ± 8.8 mm vs 32.3 ± 1.2 mm, P < 0.001) when compared with normal controls anatomy. In 40% of women with HSK, the bifurcation of the vena cava was below the level of L5 in contrast to the 8% in the normal population (P < 0.001). In 60% of women with HSK, the inferior pole of the kidney was at or below L5. Ureteral, renal, and vascular anatomic alterations in women with HSK may make presacral surgical anatomy challenging by obscuring the anterior longitudinal ligament anchoring point. Preoperative imaging is warranted to determine the feasibility of female pelvic reconstructive surgery in HSK patients.

Human uterine transplantation: a review of outcomes from the first 45 cases.

Uterine transplantation restores reproductive anatomy in women with absolute uterine factor infertility and allows the opportunity to conceive, experience gestation, and acquire motherhood. The number of cases being performed is increasing exponentially, with detailed outcomes from 45 cases, including nine live births, now available. In light of the data presented herein, including detailed surgical, immunosuppressive and obstetric outcomes, the feasibility of uterine transplantation is now difficult to refute. However, it is associated with significant risk with more than one-quarter of grafts removed because of complications, and one in ten donors suffering complications requiring surgical repair. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Uterine transplantation is feasible in women with uterine factor infertility, but is associated with significant risk of complication.

Anatomy of women’s landlessness in the patrilineal customary land tenure systems of sub-Saharan Africa and a policy pathway

A typical character of land tenure or property systems in sub-Saharan Africa is that the systems exclude women (implicitly and explicitly). That is why the discourse on women and land tenure remains a burgeoning policy debate in sub-Saharan Africa. This study is relevant for land policy (and land governance) in sub-Saharan Africa because it evokes the minority voices of women in the land and gender discourse in sub-Saharan Africa. The study dissects, anatomically, female landlessness by probing why women still do not enjoy equal land rights today, and what must be done (policy-wise) to unchain women from their state of landlessness. By way of methodology, the study reviews relevant literature on the historical dimension of womenös access to property rights. It is an explorative study based on two e-Focus Group Discussions conducted on two different online platforms to enable the capture of more expert knowledge on the subject of customary land tenure, gender and womenös land rights in (and on) sub-Saharan Africa. The findings exposed three pillars of womenös landlessness in sub-Saharan Africa, including an analysis of the stages of male power that cripple womenös capacity to own or have access to land. The study identified and explained the nature of the contributions of different stages of male powers — including linguistic power, son power, husband power, and father power — to womenös landlessness. It shows how these powers form the elements of male dominance which interact over a life course to cripple womenös physical and psychological strength within their social spaces (which usually results into socio-political and economic disempowerments). As a key output, the study produced a policy pathway to neutralising the pillars of womenös landlessness.

Lumbar Spine Anatomy in Women Sustaining Unintentional Dural Puncture During Labor Epidural Placement: A Descriptive Study Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasound

(Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2018;43:92–96) Unintentional puncture of the dura mater is one of the most common complications of epidural catheter placement and can result in a postdural puncture headache. The incidence of this complication has remained unchanged and efforts to identify patient risk factors have been unsuccessful. There has not been success in identifying risk factors for this complication. A retrospective study showed there was a higher risk of atypical sonoanatomy of the ligamentum flavum/dura mater unit among women who experienced unintentional dural puncture during epidural placement compared with a control group. It was not clear whether this was a limitation of ultrasound imaging or a representation of abnormal anatomy. The objectives of this study were to assess for abnormal lumbar anatomy in women sustaining unintentional dural punctures during labor epidural placement utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound.

Child Custody (Hadanah) in Islamic Family Law : An Anatomy of Women’s Rights in Nigeria and Malaysia

The Quran, the Hadith and the Shari’ah recognise the rights of women to custody of their children when they are no longer with their husband, provided they do not remarry. This right is known as hadanah. The study examines the conditions for the award of hadanah in Nigeria and Malaysia with a view to determining whether its practice is in conformity with the Islamic injunctions. The qualitative approach is used. The qualitative approach includes content, deductive, and inductive analysis as well as comparative method. The references used in this study are the primary and secondary sources. Both materials are analysed accordingly to get the information related to this study. The paper found that women in Nigeria and Malaysia are subjected to ill treatment due to misconceptions about hadanah as an Islamic practice. The study found that women are disadvantaged when securing divorce and custody of their children. The paper concludes that the practice of hadanah in both countries contravenes the constitutional provisions on gender equality. The study recommends that legislative measures be put in place in Nigeria and Malaysia to address the pitfalls of gender-bias.

Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis and Management of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

ABSTRACT Aim To study the effect of age and parity in pelvic floor anatomy in women with pelvic floor dysfunction and the changes in pelvic floor anatomy after a course of pelvic floor exercises. Design A prospective study at Government Kilpauk Medical College (KMC), Chennai. Materials and methods Patients with pelvic floor dysfunction are subjected to clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The changes in anatomy are analyzed in terms of levator hiatus dimension and descent of the pelvic organs. Substratified analysis is done and mean diameters in each degree of prolapse are identified (Chi-square tests using cross tables). Patients with cystocele, rectocele, or enterocele are also compared in both clinical examination and MRI and the degree of correlation is measured (inter-rater kappa). The changes in pelvic floor anatomy in terms of H line, M line, and levator plate angle with respect to age and parity are studied. In patients with lower degrees of prolapse, the changes in anatomy in terms of H line, M line, and levator plate angle are studied after a course of pelvic floor exercises (post hoc tests and paired t-tests). The area under curve of receiver-operating curve in each degree of prolapse is seen and the critical cut-off value of the various anatomical parameters above which a patient develops a prolapse is calculated. Results Ninety patients with symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction were studied with clinical examination and MRI. Levator hiatus width cut off at rest above 5 cm and at straining above 5.8 cm develops clinical first-degree prolapse. Levator plate angle of more than 44.4° develops a clinical first-degree prolapse. With increasing age there is an increase in mean values of levator hiatus width at straining, levator plate angle, and descent of various organs. With increasing parity, there is an increase in mean values of levator hiatus width at rest and straining and increase in descent at straining. Conclusion Magnetic resonance imaging should be considered as a pretreatment planning tool when the physical findings are equivocal. How to cite this article Shankar P, Gunasingh S. Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis and Management of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. J South Asian Feder Obst Gynae 2017;9(3):250-254.

Anatomy of women’s participation in small professional unions

This article brings the neglected topic of small professional unions into the women and unions literature. In addition to an overview of women’s representation and gender equality strategies in small professional UK unions, it offers a contextually grounded analysis of barriers and enablers of women’s participation in Napo – the union representing professional workers in the probation service. The article identifies several enablers: healthy levels of women’s representation over a long period of time; presence and longevity of gender equality strategies; a strong occupational identity; occupational values that complement those of unionism. However, a highly pressured work environment and hostile industrial relations climate create lived insecurities, work–life imbalance and time poverty, which have constrained women professionals’ union participation.

Outcomes after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair are equivalent between genders despite anatomic differences in women

Prior work confirms gender-specific anatomic differences in patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair, but the clinical implications remain ill defined. The purpose of this study was to compare gender-specific early outcomes after endovascular aneurysm repair using a large international registry. Over the 2-year period ending in 2011, 1,262 patients (131 women, 10.4%; 1,131 men, 89.6%) with infrarenal aneurysms treated with the Endurant stent graft were prospectively enrolled in the ENGAGE registry and followed clinically and radiographically. Women were older (75.5± 7.0 vs 72.8± 8.1; P= .0003) and had smaller aneurysms (57.8± 9.5 vs 60.6±11.9mm; P= .01). Women's infrarenal aortic necks were of narrower diameter (21.8± 3.4 vs 24.0± 3.5 mm; P<.0001), shorter length (24.3± 11.8 vs 27.3± 12.4 mm; P= .009), and greater angulation (37.7± 26.2° vs 29.4±23.3°; P=.0002). More women had an infrarenal neck angle >60° (19.2% vs 9.1%; P= .001). Technical success was achieved in equal numbers of women and men (97.7% vs 99.2%; P= .10). On completion angiography, the incidence of any endoleak (21.5% vs 15.4%; P= .08) and type I endoleak (1.5% vs 1.1%; P= .60) did not differ between genders. At the 1-month follow-up, there were no differences between women and men with respect to endograft occlusion (2.5% vs 1.9%; P=.70), and differences observed in any endoleak (17.2% vs 11.4%; P= .08) and type I endoleaks (3.3% vs 1.2%; P=.08) did not reach statistical significance. Freedom from major adverse events was similar for women and men at 30days (98.5% vs 95.8%; P= .23) and 1 year (85% vs 89.8%; P= .40). Survival at 30 days (100% vs 98.6%) and 1 year (92.5% vs 91.6%; P= .99) was similar for women and men. This large multinational registry confirms the previously observed prevalence of suboptimal neck anatomy in women. Even though women have shorter and more angulated infrarenal necks, their technical outcomes at 30 days and clinical outcomes at 1 year were similar to those of men. Much longer follow-up is necessary to determine whether these outcomes proved durable.

Radiological evaluation by magnetic resonance of the ‘new anatomy’ of transsexual patients undergoing male to female sex reassignment surgery

Magnetic resonance (MR) is the best way to assess the new anatomy of the pelvis after male to female (MtF) sex reassignment surgery. The aim of the study was to evaluate the radiological appearance of the small pelvis after MtF surgery and to compare it with the normal women's anatomy. Fifteen patients who underwent MtF surgery were subjected to pelvic MR at least 6 months after surgery. The anthropometric parameters of the small pelvis were measured and compared with those of ten healthy women (control group). Our personal technique (creation of the mons Veneris under the pubic skin) was performed in all patients. In patients who underwent MtF surgery, the mean neovaginal depth was slightly superior than in women (P=0.009). The length of the inferior pelvic aperture and of the inlet of pelvis was higher in the control group (P<0.005). The inclination between the axis of the neovagina and the inferior pelvis aperture, the thickness of the mons Veneris and the thickness of the rectovaginal septum were comparable between the two study groups. MR consents a detailed assessment of the new pelvic anatomy after MtF surgery. The anthropometric parameters measured in our patients were comparable with those of women.

Definition of recurrence of pelvic organ prolapse: is it really important?

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is becoming an important women's health priority worldwide because the cumulative lifetime risk for undergoing surgical intervention is estimated to be greater than 11% [1, 2]. Almost one third of these women will develop postoperative recurrence requiring further surgery, thus representing a significant public health problem [3]. Causes of recurrence of POP are poorly understood but include younger or older age, obesity, genetic predisposition for weakness of the pelvic floor, advanced prolapse, and performing an inappropriate primary procedure [4–6]. Although the etiology of recurrence of POP is frequently discussed in the literature, very few studies report on the outcome of surgical treatment in women with recurrent disease. In the published case series to date, data on the long-term outcome are often lacking or difficult to compare and therefore the cumulative surgical cure rate and/or independent efficacy of each surgical technique remain uncertain [3, 7]. This is usually attributed to the use of various and non-validated tools to measure the outcome of a large number of operative techniques, particularly the novel disposable surgical kits, in a small subset of patient cohorts. The lack of a uniformly accepted definition of recurrence including a detailed description of the anatomical location of the defect and whether this is in the same or different vaginal compartment may also be responsible [3, 6, 7]. It might therefore be helpful to have a standard definition and/or classification of recurrent POP as a separate clinicopathological entity from primary disease and are urgently needed by the urogynecologic community, similar to recent standardization reports [8]. This endeavor will increase the scientific validity of outcome measures of surgical intervention for recurrent POP with a potential for selecting the most effective procedures and will contribute to our understanding of the pathogenesis of recurrence. A standardized terminology of POP recurrence will also allow comparison of the results of surgical treatment between different surgeons and centers and will provide robust clinical evidence to assist in counseling women about the expected treatment outcome [9]. Hence, the ambiguous postoperative outcome measures that are currently used in the biomedical literature such as “surgical failure,” “persistent,” “recurrence,” “relapse,” or “de novo” should now be replaced by the appropriate medical terminology that facilitates interpretation of data obtained by different researchers in this field. There is also mounting evidence at present that anatomical evaluation, per se, does not often reflect patient perception of their condition and women with the same preoperative POP stage may have completely different expectations [9]. Moreover, the concept of restoring normal vaginal anatomy in women with POP using reconstructive pelvic surgery is S. Salvatore (*) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Insubria, Piazza Biroldi 1, 21100 Varese, Italy e-mail: stefanosalvatore@hotmail.com

From conception to birth: ancient library sources of embryology and women anatomy kept in the Biblioteca Biomedica of the Università degli Studi di Firenze (Biomedical Library of Florence University).

The Biomedical Library of the University of Florence boasts a prestigious group of books collected at first in 1679 at the hospital "Santa Maria Nuova" and then continuously enriched in the course of time up today. The "Antique Collection" consists of 13 incunabola, hundreds of 16th-century books, more than one thousand books on medical subject from the 1600's, about six thousand 18th-century volumes and several large, valuable anatomical atlases. In this paper the most important, curious and fascinating books dealing with human ontogeny (from embryo generation to birth) and with female anatomy (mostly concerning pregnancy and childbirth) are reported in chronological order starting from the work of Hippocrates. Among the ancient sources useful for the reconstruction of the opinions about obstetrics there are also outstanding handbooks specifically edited for midwives. Many of these antique books are especially precious because they embed a great number of didactic pictures, some of which may compete against any modern book of anatomy, embryology and obstetric. Selected images from these books are shown.