Women's Satisfaction Research Articles

One-year follow up of contraceptive use and pregnancy rates after early medical abortion: Secondary outcomes from a randomized controlled trial of immediate post-abortion placement of intrauterine devices.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) effectively prevent unwanted pregnancies. Little is known about long-term outcomes of women choosing an IUD after early medical abortion. We present secondary outcome data of continuation rates, factors associated with continuation and discontinuation, choice of IUD type, women's satisfaction with IUD, and IUD expulsions, subsequent pregnancies, and abortions within 1 year post-abortion in a randomized, controlled, multicenter trial on IUD placement within 48 hours compared with placement 2-4 weeks after medical abortion up to 63 days' gestation (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03603145). Of the 240 women studied, 112/120 (93.3%) in the intervention group vs 113/120 (94.2%) in the control group completed the 12-month follow-up. The rate of IUD use at 12 months was 84/112 (75%) in the intervention group vs 75/113 (66.4%) in the control group (P = 0.19). Attendance at the IUD placement visit was the only predictor of long-term IUD use (relative risk [RR] = 5.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.03-16.0; P = 0.001). The main reason for choosing an IUD was high contraceptive effectiveness. The most common reasons for IUD discontinuation were bleeding problems and abdominal pain. IUD expulsion was rare and did not differ between groups. Satisfaction among IUD users at 1 year was high (>94%) and the majority of all participants would recommend IUD to a friend (65.8%). Use of no contraception and experience of unprotected intercourse were less common in the intervention group (11/112 [9.8%] vs 25/113 [22.1%], P = 0.02 and 17/112 [15.2%] vs 32/113 [28.3%], P = 0.02, respectively). There was no difference in the rate of subsequent pregnancies and abortions (pregnancies 14/112, 12.5% in the intervention group vs 8/113, 7.1% in the control group, P = 0.19; abortions 5/112, 4.5% vs 3/113, 2.7%, P = 0.5). IUD placement after medical abortion led to high continuation and satisfaction rates with no difference between groups. We found no difference in IUD expulsions after immediate compared with later placement. Unprotected intercourse was significantly less common in the immediate group. In clinical practice, immediate placement of IUDs available free of charge at the abortion clinic is likely to increase attendance to the placement visit and continued use of IUDs after abortion.

Women's Expectations of and Satisfaction with Antenatal Care Services in a Semi-Urban Setting in Tanzania and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Women's satisfaction has been found to be a good indicator of quality of care and is associated with the utilization of healthcare services. Women's needs and satisfaction could be improved through the provision of high-quality antenatal care services. This study assessed women's expectations of and satisfaction with antenatal care and their associated factors in a semiurban setting in Tanzania. A cross-sectional survey using the Expectations and Satisfaction with the Prenatal Care Questionnaire (PESPC) was used to measure pregnant women's expectations of and satisfaction with antenatal care in the two districts of Kibaha and Bagamoyo, involving 338 pregnant women. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. In the expectation subscale, women had high expectations for personalized care (78.4%), other services (from a social worker and nutritionist) (68.8%), and complete care (being taken care of on time, receiving excellent care, and receiving information without prompting) (60.9%), while expectations for continuity of care were the lowest (38.9%). In the satisfaction subscale, women were highly satisfied with providers' care (being cared for with respect, healthcare provision, the way they were made to feel, and the ability to ask questions) (88.9%), while the least satisfying aspect was system characteristics (e.g., waiting times, scheduling, parking, tests and examinations, and facilities) (63.4%). Distance from a health facility was a significant predictor of both women's expectations of and satisfaction with antenatal care services, while age and number of pregnancies were also significant predictors of antenatal care expectations. To meet expectations for quality antenatal care services and improve satisfaction with antenatal care, policymakers should improve system characteristics, including the availability of human resources and medical supplies, increased consultation time, flexible schedules, and reduced waiting time. Additionally, ensuring the accessibility of evidence-based health information is important for increasing health literacy among pregnant women.

Life Satisfaction and Negative Affect Among Trans Men, Trans Women, and Nonbinary Individuals in a U.S. National Sample.

Purpose: Transgender and nonbinary individuals often have limited educational and economic resources, lack social capital such as family and community support, and face discrimination. These factors are likely to have negative consequences for subjective well-being of transgender individuals. Yet, there is limited research using a national sample and comparing trans women, trans men, and nonbinary individuals. This study examined the impact of social support, social belonging, transgender connectedness, and discrimination on trans and nonbinary individuals' life satisfaction and negative affect. Methods: We used data from TransPop 2016-2018, the first survey conducted on a national probability sample of the transgender population in the United States. We focused on measures of life satisfaction and negative affect and their predictors, including social belonging, transgender connectedness, and everyday discrimination. Results: We found that trans men, trans women, and nonbinary individuals had lower life satisfaction and higher negative affect than cisgender heterosexual individuals. Social belonging had a positive effect on trans men and trans women's life satisfaction, whereas it had a negative effect on trans men and nonbinary individuals' negative emotion. While family support had a positive effect on trans men's life satisfaction, social support had mixed effects on nonbinary individuals' life satisfaction and negative affect. Finally, everyday discrimination had a negative influence on life satisfaction although there was variation by gender identity and dependent measure. Conclusion: Different factors predicted life satisfaction and negative affect of trans men, trans women, and nonbinary people. Thus, a one-size-fits-all model of trans and nonbinary subjective well-being does not work.

Impact of Telehealth on Pregnant Women's Self-care, Self-efficacy, and Satisfaction during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Quasi-experimental Study

Background: Pregnant women need correct information and skills for effective self-care and improved self-efficacy during pregnancy. Maternal training will raise women's awareness of pregnancy and childbirth, leading to higher self-efficacy. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the impact of telehealth on pregnant women's self-care, self-efficacy, and satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This quasi-experimental study involved low-risk pregnant women selected from prenatal public clinics in Ahvaz, Iran. Eligible pregnant women (n=150) were assigned to three groups: WhatsApp training (n=50), phone call training (n=50), and control (n=50). Women in the three groups received four face-to-face prenatal care sessions based on the content recommended by the Iranian Ministry of Health. In addition to these four face-to-face sessions, four more virtual training sessions were held for the WhatsApp and phone call groups. Results: Raising the awareness of pregnant women through telephone counseling was found to not only increase their self-efficacy, self-care, and satisfaction but also reduce the need for in-person visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, a moderate positive correlation was observed between self-efficacy and self-care scores; moreover, they have a relatively negative weak correlation with face-to-face visits. Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that most pregnant women were satisfied with telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, and thanks to this type of care provision, their self-efficacy and self-care levels were high. Reduced face-to-face visits during the pandemic are the main advantage of telehealth.

Effects of the Pregnancy and Newborn Diagnostic Assessment (PANDA) App on Antenatal Care Quality in Burkina Faso: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

The Pregnancy and Newborn Diagnostic Assessment (PANDA) system is a digital clinical decision support tool that can facilitate diagnosis and decision-making by health care personnel in antenatal care (ANC). Studies conducted in Madagascar and Burkina Faso showed that PANDA is a feasible system acceptable to various stakeholders. This study primarily aims to evaluate the effects of the PANDA system on ANC quality at rural health facilities in Burkina Faso. The secondary objectives of this study are to test the effects of the PANDA system on women's satisfaction, women's knowledge on birth preparedness and complication readiness, maternal and child health service use, men's involvement in maternal health service utilization, and women's contraception use at 6 weeks postpartum. Further, we will identify the factors that hinder or promote such an app and contribute to cost-effectiveness analysis. This is a randomized controlled trial implementing the PANDA system in 2 groups of health facilities (intervention and comparison groups) randomized using a matched-pair method. We included pregnant women who were <20 weeks pregnant during their first antenatal consultation in health facilities, and we followed up with them until their sixth week postpartum. Thirteen health centers were included, and 423 and 272 women were enrolled in the intervention and comparison groups, respectively. The primary outcome is a binary variable derived from the quality score, coded 1 (yes) for women with at least 75% of the total score and 0 if not. Data were collected electronically using tablets by directly interviewing the women and by extracting data from ANC registers, delivery registers, ANC cards, and health care records. The study procedures were standardized across all sites. We will compare unadjusted and adjusted primary outcome results (ANC quality scores) between the 2 study arms. We added a qualitative evaluation of the implementation of the PANDA system to identify barriers and catalysts. We also included an economic evaluation to determine whether the PANDA strategy is more cost-effective than the usual ANC strategy. The enrollment ran from July 2020 to January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection ended in September 2022. Data analyses started in January 2023, ended in June 2023, and the results are expected to be published in February 2024. The PANDA system is one of the most comprehensive apps for ANC because it has many features. However, the use of computerized systems for ANC is limited. Therefore, our trial will be beneficial for evaluating the intrinsic capacity of the PANDA system to improve the quality of care. By including qualitative research and economic evaluation, our findings will be significant because electronic consultation registries are expected to be used for maternal health care in the future in Burkina Faso. Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR) PACTR202009861550402; https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/TrialDisplay.aspx?TrialID=12374. DERR1-10.2196/37136.

Comparison Between the Effect of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral (IMB) Model and Psychoeducational Counseling on Sexual Satisfaction and Contraception Method Used Under the Coercion of the Spouse in Iranian Women: A Randomized, Clinical Trial.

Women play an essential role in maintaining the family's health, and family planning is part of women's and families' health. The couple's mutual understanding of family planning methods is essential in selecting contraception. Acceptance of and satisfaction with different contraception methods can impact sexual satisfaction. The present study aimed to compare the effect of the information-motivation-behavioral (IMB) model and psychoeducational counseling on sexual satisfaction and contraception methods of women referring to health centers in Kerman. This trial was conducted on 81 women aged 18 to 45, in Kerman health centers, from 2021 to 2022. Participants were randomly divided into 3 groups of 27 people (control, psychoeducational counseling, and IMB method). Three online counseling sessions were held for the psychoeducational group, and four were held for the IMB group. The control group received routine care. The IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 22 (IBM Corp. Armonk, NY, USA) was used for data analysis using nonparametric Friedman and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The mean age of participants was 32.59 ± 7.04, and the majority of them had university degrees and were homemakers. The mean sexual satisfaction score significantly increased immediately after the intervention and 1 month later in the 2 interventional groups (p < 0.0). Changes in contraception methods after intervention were significant in the psychoeducational group (p = 0.0) CONCLUSION: The results indicate the positive impact of psychological counseling on women's sexual satisfaction and contraception method. The IMB method also impacted men's sexual satisfaction but did not lead to any changes in the contraceptive method.

Flexible Working Hours and Job Satisfaction in Females

To examine the concepts of job satisfaction among females and the impact of working arrangements, this review examines five research articles from different countries. The cultural variations in women's job satisfaction according to their working hours were addressed in research done in different nations. This review claims that gender difference in job satisfaction is present and the impact of working arrangements like flexible hours has an impact on job satisfaction especially in females. Also, flexible working arrangements, such as homeworking, working part-time, flexitime, job-sharing, compressed hours, and term-time, were identified for the study. Moreover, it is suggested that the findings reported as a result of the data of different samples obtained from different countries, even if flexible working hours mean the same concept across countries, whether the effects of conditions and women on them have changed in future studies. Depending on the results of these articles, different directions in the issue were found. In this review paper, the discussion and implications based on whether gender may have an impact on the relationship between flexible working hours and job satisfaction will be covered. Keywords: Flexible Working Hours, Gender, Job Satisfaction, Working Arrangements.

The effect of different types of TikTok dance challenge videos on young women's body satisfaction

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of different types of TikTok dance challenge videos on young women's body satisfaction. Study 1 involved 262 women aged between 18 and 25 years, who were randomly assigned to watch TikTok videos featuring either thin dancers, large dancers, or amusing animal videos. Body satisfaction significantly increased after watching large dancer TikTok videos and decreased after watching thin dancer TikTok videos, although this decrease was not significant. Study 2 replicated and extended study 1 and involved 280 women aged between 18 and 25 years. Females body satisfaction significantly decreased after watching the thin dancer TikTok videos and significantly increased after watching the large dancer TikTok videos. There was no significant difference between the participants in terms of state appearance comparison. Females in the thin dancer condition engaged in upward social comparison, whereas the females in the large dancer condition engaged in downward social compression. The impact of video type was not moderated either by trait appearance comparison, or thin ideal internalization. The effect of video type was not mediated by state appearance comparison but was fully mediated by the direction of social comparison. Study 3 involved 375 women aged between 18 and 25 years and found that body satisfaction was lower after watching the thin dancers than after watching the large dancers. This study shows that findings from the previous two studies could not be explained by the demand characteristics in the design of these studies. All three studies show that exposure to large dancers on TikTok has a positive impact on women's body satisfaction, whereas exposure to thin dancers has a negative impact on women's body satisfaction. The implications of these findings for the design of social media are discussed.

Exploring health care professionals' experiences and knowledge of woman-centred care in a university hospital.

Inspired by the six quality-of-care goals developed by the Institute of Medicine, woman-centred care (WCC) as model of care is used in maternity services as it gives an emphasis on the woman as an individual and not her status as a patient. Bringing stronger attention to women's needs and values, is proven to have clear benefits for perinatal outcomes, but fails to be known or recognised by healthcare professionals' (HCPs) and implemented. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study aimed to explore HCPs definitions of WCC and identify the degree of agreement and knowledge regarding perinatal indicators when a WCC model of care is implemented. The quantitative part was carried using a self-administered questionnaire with perinatal indicators identified from the literature. Semi-structured interviews were realized using a purposive sample of 15 HCPs and an interview grid inspired by Leap's WCC model. The study was conducted in the maternity of a university hospital in French-speaking part of Switzerland. Out of 318 HCPs working with mothers and their newborns, 51% had already heard of WCC without being familiar with Leap's model. The HCPs were aware of the positive perinatal care outcomes when WCC was implemented: women's satisfaction (99.2%), health promotion (97.6%), HCP's job satisfaction (93.2%) and positive feelings about their work (85.6%), which were strongly emphasised in the interviews. The respondents reported institutional difficulties in implementing the model such as administrative overload and lack of time. The positive outcomes of WCC on spontaneous deliveries and improved neonatal adaptation were known by most HCPs (63.4% and 59.9%, respectively). However, fewer than half of the HCPs highlighted the model's positive effects on analgesia and episiotomies or its financial benefits. Knowledge of quality-of-care outcomes (i.e women's satisfaction, positive impact on practice…) was prevalent among most of HCPs. Without adhering to a common definition and without a specific model for consensus, most providers have integrated some aspects of WCC into their practice. However, specific perinatal indicators remain largely unknown, which may hinder the implementation of WCC.

Do Conflicts Strengthen My Relationship?’ The Role of Relational Resilience on Conflict Frequency and Relationship Satisfaction from the Viewpoint of Turkish Women

This study sought to determine whether relational resilience plays a role in the relationship between women's conflict frequency and relationship satisfaction. The sample of the study consisted of 255 Turkish women over the age of 18 who had at least one child. The data collection instruments used were the " Conflict Zone Determination Scale" the "Relationship Stability Scale" the "Relational Resilience Scale" and the "Personal Information Form" developed by the researcher. SPSS 25.0 and Hayes's macro PROCESS 4.0 were used to analyze the data. As a result of the analyzes, it was found that there were low negative significant relationships between conflict frequency and relationship resilience, high positive relationships between relationship resilience and relationship satisfaction and low negative significant relationships between conflict frequency and relationship satisfaction. As a result of this research, it was found that conflict frequency predicted relational resilience, relational resilience predicted relationship satisfaction, and conflict frequency predicted relationship satisfaction. At the same time, relational resilience was found to play a mediating role in the relationship between conflict frequency and relationship satisfaction.

The way you make me feel: an ecological momentary assessment study on couple similarity in sexual arousal and its sexual, relational, and affective correlates.

Although sexual arousal is commonly experienced in the daily context of relationships, most of what we know about sexual arousal comes from studies on individuals, often conducted in a laboratory context. To explore to what extent similarity in levels of sexual arousal during nongenital physical intimacy (ie, cuddling and kissing) was associated with each partner's affect as well as sexual and relationship satisfaction. Ninety-four cohabitating couples (mean ± SD age,26.30 ± 7.60; 88 mixed gender, 6 same gender) completed 6 ecological momentary assessments a day for 10 consecutive days. We used response surface analysis to examine the associations among the degree and direction of similarity in partners' sexual arousal and affective, sexual, and relational outcome variables. Sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and positive and negative affect. Sexual arousal levels covaried only when partners engaged in physically intimate behaviors, unlike affective responses, which covaried within couples more globally over time. Within-couple similarity at high levels of sexual arousal was positively associated with women's sexual satisfaction but unrelated to men and women's relationship satisfaction and affect. Individual- and couple-level sexual arousal was positively associated with men's sexual satisfaction and women's sexual and relationship satisfaction. Couple-level sexual arousal was relevant to men's affect such that positive affect was higher when sexual arousal levels within the couple were high. Our analyses also revealed a discrepancy effect in that women's positive affect was higher when their own sexual arousal levels were higher than those of their partners. These findings suggest that as long as sexual arousal levels within a couple are sufficiently high, sexual arousal similarity and discrepancy can be beneficial to one's well-being, supporting the relevance of therapeutical techniques aimed at increasing arousal levels to promote a better affective and relational climate for couples. This study is the first to test the daily associations among sexual arousal similarity and its correlates in a sample of cohabitating couples, providing a more comprehensive view of the interpersonal dynamics through which sexual arousal may influence individual, relational, and sexual well-being. Given our sample's relatively young age, as well as high sexual and relationship satisfaction, the results may not generalize to couples experiencing sexual or relational distress. Within the context of daily relationships, individual- and couple-level dynamics of sexual arousal were associated with sexual and relationship satisfaction, as well as with affective responses of relationship partners.

Quality and satisfaction in female fitness centers and the moderating roles of age and income: empirical evidence from Saudi Arabia

PurposeFitness centers have become quotidian fundamentals. Consequently, center managers face escalating competitiveness to sustain their businesses. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 emphasizes quality of life and the gravitation toward healthy lifestyles. The service quality of fitness centers is an essential factor influencing customer satisfaction. Owing to the dearth of research on this topic, especially on female-only fitness centers, this study aims to investigate the factors affecting the service quality of female fitness centers in Saudi Arabia regarding satisfaction. Additionally, this study examines the moderating roles of age and income on the relationship between service quality and satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachThe Service Quality Assessment Scale (SQAS) was adopted with five of the original dimensions (staff, workout facilities, physical facilities, exercise program and locker room) and two newly added dimensions (parking and social environment). This study also investigates the moderating roles of age and income on the relationship between service quality and customer satisfaction.FindingsAll SQAS dimensions positively affected the quality of fitness centers. Furthermore, the service quality of fitness centers increased women's satisfaction, and age and income moderated the relationship between service quality and customer satisfaction.Originality/valueFitness centers are highly competitive, and this study offers insights for managers of such facilities to improve customer satisfaction.

Satisfaction of Women with Labor and Delivery in Rural Punjab, Pakistan: A Cross-sectional Study

Women’s satisfaction with the quality of care during pregnancy and childbirth can impact their access to and utilization of healthcare services. Since many women live in rural regions in developing nations, it is crucial to secure their access to and use of basic healthcare services to reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality. This cross-sectional study is part of a first-time, sizeable, mixed-method study involving women and midwives’ quantitative and qualitative perspectives on the quality of mid- wifery care in rural Pakistan. The aim was to describe women’s satisfaction with the quality of midwifery care during labor and delivery at basic health units in rural Punjab, Pakistan. Simple random sampling was used to select 328 women from 96 basic health units. Data were collected between December 2020-March 2021. The Labor and Delivery Satisfaction Index measured women’s satisfaction with childbirth. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in frequencies and percentages. Results indicated that the majority, 277 (84.5%), were satisfied with the quality of midwifery care during labor and delivery, whereas the remaining 51 (15.5%) were unsatisfied. Appropriate tools to monitor labor and delivery and non-pharmacological pain management during labor need much improvement. The women must also be treated with respect, given accurate information about their labor status, and given control over it. Midwives and other health service providers and administrators can use the findings of this study to improve services available to rural women.

Dampak Intervensi terhadap Peningkatan Kepuasan Pernikahan dan Kepuasan Seksual pada Wanita

This study aims to review interventions that can increase marital satisfaction and sexual satisfaction in women. The method used in this research is a systematic review of databases, namely Scopus, Proquest, SAGE Journal, and Taylor and Francis, on published articles from 2012-2022. The number of reports was 8,058 related articles, and ten that met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that after the intervention, compared to before the intervention, the level of marital satisfaction increased. In contrast, the levels of depression and anxiety decreased significantly in the intervention group (p &lt;0.05), so the intervention could increase marital satisfaction and sexual satisfaction in the intervention and control groups (p &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, it is recommended to use interventions to improve interpersonal relationships and can also influence one's coping mechanisms to increase marital satisfaction and psychological health.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Intervention, Marital &amp; Sexual Satisfaction in Women

Antenatal cardiotocography in primary midwife-led care: Women's satisfaction.

In the Netherlands, antenatal cardiotocography (aCTG), used to assess fetal well-being, is performed in obstetrician-led care. To improve continuity of care, an innovation project was designed wherein primary care midwives perform aCTGs for specific indications. The aim of this study was to examine the satisfaction and experiences of pregnant women who received an aCTG in primary midwife-led care and explore which factors were associated with high satisfaction. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire based on the Consumer Quality Index. The primary outcome was general satisfaction on a 10-point scale, with a score above nine indicating participants were "highly satisfied". In total, 1227 women were included in the analysis. The study showed a mean general satisfaction score of 9.2. Most women were highly satisfied with receiving an aCTG in primary midwife-led care (77.4%). On the Consumer Quality Index, the mean satisfaction level varied from 3.98 (SD ± 0.11) for the subscale "client satisfaction" to 3.87 (SD ± 0.32) for the subscale "information provision" on a 4-point scale. Women at between 33 and 36 weeks' gestation were more likely to be highly satisfied (adjusted OR [aOR] = 3.35). Compared with a completely comfortable position during the aCTG, a mostly comfortable or somewhat comfortable level had decreased odds of being associated with a ranking of highly satisfied (aOR 0.24 and 0.19, respectively). This study shows that pregnant women are satisfied with having an aCTG in midwife-led care. Providing aCTG in midwife-led care can increase access to continuity of care.

Analysis of the effects of platelet-rich plasma injection on the human body depending on the site of administration – review article

Introduction: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous material. It is created by drawing the patient's blood and preparing it properly. In that, a several-fold increase in platelets and growth factors is achieved. By applying the PRP prepared this way to the appropriate tissue, it is possible to improve the clinical condition of many disorders. Purpose: Analysis of the effects of platelet-rich plasma injection on the human body depending on the site of administration. Review of literature. Material and methods: We have selected, in our opinion, the most important information from articles about the use of PRP in: androgenetic alopecia, hair regrowth, wound healing, atrophic acne scars, erectile dysfunction, gynecology and improving women's sexual satisfaction, osteoarthritis and skin rejuvenation. Summary (conclusion): Thanks to its properties, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can stimulate the human body to regenerate. Androgenetic alopecia, hair regrowth, acceleration of wound healing, acne scars, erectile dysfunction and osteoarthritis are just some of the disorders in which the use of platelet-rich plasma proves to be promising. From the studies above it can be concluded that the effects of local PRP injections can be complementary to the therapy of many other diseases. However, more adequate research is needed to register the application of local platelet-rich plasma as a form of treatment for these diseases.

(285) From the Proscription to the Prescription of Masturbation

Abstract Introduction The number of new women entering menopause each day in the US is around 6000. Unfortunately, in later life, it becomes increasingly common that a woman may arrive at this stage alone due to separation, divorce, the passing of a partner, or that the partner's decreased health and sexual function constrain the woman's sexual activity, satisfaction, and desire. The number of women with the aforementioned sexual limitations is higher than the number of women that maintain their sexual functioning. Additionally, the lack of sexual activity has been proven to accelerate the deterioration of the structures and functions of the pelvic floor and the genitourinary area. Objective All of the signs and symptoms of the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (atrophy, dryness, recurrent UTI, dyspareunia, anal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, vaginal stenosis, labial fusion, or vulvar obliteration) can be easily found in women without sexual penetrative activity. However, this could be prevented and/or treated in great part with the maintenance of the partnered or solitary penetrative sexual activity. Methods An analysis of peer-reviewed articles on the topic of masturbation and its outcomes on women’s health, along with its data were used to assess the need for increasing the prescription of masturbation for the benefit of improved genitourinary health. Results Masturbation decreases as we age, markedly in women, studies and reports on masturbation activity show; 53% activity in Caucasian men aged 55 - 64, and 19% in women of the same age. At ages 64 – 65 there is a decrease to 33% in men and 10% in women. The result is that these women develop a stark increase in the number of genitourinary pathologies. Frequently absent in those who remain sexually active with a partner or through penetrative masturbation. Not only does the mechanical action of engaging in sexual physical therapy with a partner or with penetrative masturbation preserve the structures and functions of the genitourinary system. But in accordance with several neuroendocrinological studies, arousal and orgasms, increase the number of steroid receptors in the vital organs of the body improving their metabolism and integrity thus increasingly maintaining our health. In addition, if they don't receive hormone replacement therapy for the preservation of sexual function and prevention of genitourinary pathologies, the final results are usually catastrophic. Conclusions The number of women affected by the mentally castrating sexual education in which masturbation is not accepted is extremely high. This is despite the fact that masturbation among both younger and older women is related to a more consistent orgasm, compared with partnered sex. Historically speaking masturbation has been forbidden or taboo for centuries, mainly by religion, and has been extremely difficult to change in the mind of most adults, especially women. There is no doubt that partnered sexual activity and/or penetrative masturbation play a very important role in the health of the pelvic floor functions, just as in the general, psychological, and emotional health. Disclosure No

Surgical adhesive glue to repair first-degree perineal tears in vaginal birth: A randomised controlled clinical trial

BackgroundPerineal tears in vaginal birth are highly prevalent and may be related to physical and psychological trauma. Surgical glues are an alternative repair method to avoid the pain that may be caused by perineal repairs with sutures. ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of surgical adhesive glue in reducing perineal pain when compared to sutures in first-degree perineal tears resulting from vaginal birth. DesignOpen-label parallel-group randomised controlled trial. SettingAn alongside birth centre in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Participants84 intrapartum women with first-degree perineal tears needing repair. MethodsIn the experimental group (n = 42), the perineal tears were repaired with Epiglu® surgical glue (ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate); in the control group (n = 42), the tears were repaired with Vicryl Rapide® (polyglactin 910) sutures. The primary outcome was the intensity of perineal pain after birth measured by a numeric pain rating scale ranging from 0 to 10 points. The secondary outcomes were healing, measured by the “Redness, Oedema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, and Approximation" scale; women's satisfaction with the perineal repair, measured by a visual analogue scale; and the time necessary to complete the repair. Data were collected during postpartum hospitalisation and 10–20 days after discharge, from December 2020 to May 2021. Data were analysed using bivariate analysis and linear models by intention-to-treat. Results36–48 h after birth, the mean of perineal pain was 0.2 (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.1–0.8) in the experimental group and 0.9 (95% CI 0.5–1.5) in the control group; the perineal healing score was 0.7 (95% CI 0.4–1.2) and 0.8 (95% CI 0.5–1.2), in the experimental and control groups, respectively; satisfaction was higher among women in the experimental group (88.1% versus 83.3% in the control group). After discharge, the mean of perineal pain was 0.1 (95% CI 0.0–0.5) in the experimental group and 1.4 (95% CI 0.8–2.2) in the control group; the perineal healing score was 0.0 (95% CI 0) and 1.0 (95% CI 0.7–1.3) in the experimental and control groups, respectively. Satisfaction was higher in the experimental group (94.9% versus 75.0%). The longitudinal analysis showed statistically significant differences between the groups regarding perineal pain and women's satisfaction. The average time necessary for perineal repair was 6.0 (95% CI 4.7–8.7) minutes in the experimental group and 9.7 (95% CI 8.3–11.5) in the control group (p < 0.001). ConclusionsSurgical glue resulted in less perineal pain, faster repair, and greater satisfaction than perineal sutures after birth. The healing process was similar in both cases. Tweetable abstractSurgical glue was less painful and promoted greater satisfaction after birth compared to sutures in women with first-degree perineal tears. RegistrationRegistered on The Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry number RBR-52y5tq (http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-52y5tq/), on July 16, 2020. The first recruitment was on December 17, 2020.

Predictors of maternal satisfaction with labor induction: A prospective observational cohort study.

To identify independent predictors of maternal satisfaction with labor induction. In this prospective observational cohort study, 769 women prior to their labor induction had sleep and psychological well-being assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales. Women were asked about the adequacy of labor induction information provided and their involvement and time pressure felt in the decision-making for their labor induction. Maternal characteristics, induction and intrapartum care measures, and labor and neonatal outcomes were also assessed. Prior to discharge, women rated their satisfaction with their birth experience. A total of 34 variables were considered for bivariate analysis, with 15 found to have P < 0.05. Following adjusted analysis, 10 independent predictors of maternal satisfaction were identified: maternal education, previous cesarean delivery, maternal involvement, information provided, and decision-making time pressure regarding labor induction, amniotomy, induction to delivery interval, mode of delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, and neonatal admission. Maternal satisfaction was not associated with sleep, depression, anxiety, or stress. The identification of independent predictors of maternal satisfaction allows for patient selection, targeting of specific preinduction and intrapartum care, and focus on induction methods that can reduce induction to delivery interval, cesarean birth, and delivery blood loss to maximize women's satisfaction with labor induction.

The Effects of Abortion Decision Rightness and Decision Type on Women's Satisfaction and Mental Health.

Background A case series report based on the Turnaway Study has previously concluded that 99% of women with a history of abortion will continue to affirm satisfaction with their decisions to abort. Those findings have been called into question due to a low participation rate (31%) and reliance on a single yes/no assessment of decision satisfaction. Aim To utilize more sensitive scales in assessing decision satisfaction and the associated mental health outcomes women attribute to their abortions. Method A retrospective survey was completed by 1,000 females, aged 41-45, living in the United States. The survey instrument included 11 visual analog scales for respondents to rate their personal preferences and outcomes they attributed to their abortion decisions. A categorical question allowed women to identify if their abortions were wanted and consistent with their own values and preferences, inconsistent with their values and preferences, unwanted, or coerced. Linear regression models were tested to identify which of three decision scales best predicted positive or negative emotions, effects on mental health, emotional attachment, personal preferences, moral conflict, and other factors relevant to an assessment of satisfaction with a decision to abort. Results Of 226 women reporting a history of abortion, 33% identified it as wanted, 43% as accepted but inconsistent with their values and preferences, and 24% as unwanted or coerced. Only wanted abortions were associated with positive emotions or mental health gains. All other groups attributed more negative emotions and mental health outcomes to their abortions. Sixty percent reported they would have preferred to give birth if they had received more support from others or had more financial security. Conclusions Perceived pressure to abort is strongly associated with women attributing more negative mental health outcomes to their abortions. The one-third of women for whom abortion is wanted and consistent with their values and preferences are most likely over-represented in studies initiated at abortion clinics. More research is needed to understand better the experience of the two-thirds of women for whom abortion is unwanted, coerced, or otherwise inconsistent with their own values and preferences.