A silent burden-prolapse, incontinence, and infertility in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women: A systematic search and narrative review

Recommendations from the 2024 Australian evidence-based guideline for unexplained infertility: ADAPTE process from the ESHRE evidence-based guideline on unexplained infertility

INTRODUCTION

The 2024 Australian evidence-based guideline for unexplained infertility provides clinicians with evidence-based recommendations for the optimal diagnostic workup for infertile couples to establish the diagnosis of unexplained infertility and optimal therapeutic approach to treat couples diagnosed with unexplained infertility in the Australian health care setting. The guideline recommendations were adapted for the Australian context from the rigorous, comprehensive European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) 2023 Evidence-based guideline: unexplained infertility, using the ADAPTE process and have been approved by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS

The guideline includes 40 evidence-based recommendations, 21 practice points and three research recommendations addressing: definition - defining infertility and frequency of intercourse, infertility and age, female and male factor infertility; diagnosis - ovulation, ovarian reserve, tubal factor, uterine factor, laparoscopy, cervical/vaginal factor, male factor, additional testing for systemic conditions; and treatment - expectant management, active treatment, mechanical-surgical procedures, alternative therapeutic approaches, quality of life. CHANGES IN ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RESULTING FROM THE GUIDELINE: This guideline refines the definition of unexplained infertility and addresses basic diagnostic procedures for infertility assessment not considered in previous guidelines on unexplained infertility. For therapeutic approaches, consideration of evidence quality, efficacy, safety and, in the Australian setting, feasibility, acceptability, cost, implementation and ultimately recommendation strength were integrated across multidisciplinary expertise and consumer perspectives in adapting recommendations to the Australian context by using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework, which had not been used in past guidelines on unexplained infertility to formulate recommendations. The Australian process also included an established data integrity check to ensure evidence could be trusted to guide practice. Practice points were added and expanded to consider the Australian setting. No evidence-based recommendations were underpinned by high quality evidence, with most having low or very low quality evidence. In this context, research recommendations were made including those for the Australian context. The full guideline and technical report are publicly available online and can be accessed at https://www.monash.edu/medicine/mchri/infertility and are supported by extensive translation resources, including the free patient ASKFertility mobile application (https://www.askfertility.org/).

Going the Distance : Ethics of Space and Location on Accessing Reproductive Services in Australia

Qualitative studies on assisted reproductive technology commonly focus on the perspectives of participants living in major metropolises. In doing so, the experiences of those living outside major cities, and the unique way conditions of spatiality shape access to treatment, are elided. In this paper, we examine how location and regionality in Australia impact upon access and experience of reproductive services. We conducted twelve qualitative interviews with participants residing in regional areas across Australia. We asked participants to discuss their experience with assisted reproduction services and the impacts of location on access, service choice, and experience of care, and analysed the data using reflexive thematic analysis, as outlined by Braun and Clarke (2006, 2019). Participants in this study reported that their location impacted the services available to them, required considerable time in travel, and reduced continuity of care. We draw on these responses to examine the ethical implications of uneven distribution of reproductive services in commercial healthcare settings which rely on market-based mechanisms.

Impact of pelvic floor dysfunction in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women attending an urban Aboriginal medical service

BACKGROUND

Pelvic floor dysfunction causes high-level disease burden, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women less likely to have access to best management for these issues due to multiple sociocultural barriers. There is limited data on the impact of pelvic floor dysfunction in this specific population.

AIMS

To explore the impact of pelvic floor dysfunction on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women attending an urban Aboriginal medical service, considering barriers and facilitators for care, and the services that are desired to address these conditions.

METHODS

This is a mixed methods project utilising the validated Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire 7 in combination with qualitative data from semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS Version 24 and analysis included the use of means, SD and Fisher's exact test for comparison. Interview transcriptions were coded into initial themes using thematic analysis and a theoretical approach was used to capture common patterned responses.

RESULTS

The majority of women reported urinary incontinence. Higher scores on the urinary impact questions were significantly associated with comorbid risk factors of chronic cough and obesity. Salient themes from interviews included help-seeking behaviours, embarrassment and normalisation of the condition. Women desired access to a pelvic floor physiotherapist, and preferred a female doctor and a consistent care provider.

CONCLUSION

Pelvic floor disorders cause high disease burden for Aboriginal women across a broad age range with associated comorbid risk factors frequently occurring. This study suggests service improvement and care delivery strategies that may improve long-term outcomes for Aboriginal women with pelvic floor conditions.