Comorbidity profiles among women with postcoital bleeding: a nationwide health insurance database

Frequency of abnormal Pap smear in patients presenting with postcoital bleeding in Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan

Postcoital bleeding increases the chance of detecting cervical dysplasia and cancer; and the Pap smear is the recommended screening test in these patients. We conducted a cross-sectional study that included 110 women to find out the frequency of abnormal Pap smear in such patients. Their age range was 15-65 years with a mean age of 31.2 ± 11.2 years. Abnormal Pap smear was found in 54 (49%) women. Atypical squamous cells of unknown significance (ASCUS) were found in 13.6%, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) in 20.9%, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) in 11.8% and carcinoma in 2.7% of those. Because of the high frequency of abnormal Pap smear associated with postcoital bleeding in our population, cervical screening and strict monitoring are suggested as the important screening indications.

Clinical indications referrals – what is the risk of premalignant and malignant female genital tract disease in women referred to a dedicated nurse-led colposcopy service? A retrospective cohort study

Post-coital bleeding (PCB) is a poor predictive factor for cancer and should not be managed as urgent referral. Urgent referral to colposcopy is justified however, in the presence of a visible suspicion of cervical cancer. This retrospective cohort study of women attending a clinical indications referral service aims to identify the risk of pre-malignant and malignant disease in women with clinical indication referrals to colposcopy. Thirty-seven of 3521 women (1%) were diagnosed with pre-malignant cervical or endometrial disease; 14 women (0.4%) were diagnosed with cancer (11 cervix, three endometrial). To detect one cancer in women referred with an abnormal cervix, one would need to see 70 women; to detect one cancer in women referred with PCB one would need to see 790 women. Improved education in primary care and obstetrics and gynaecology training is key to improving clinical indications referral services, which is otherwise an effective and efficient service.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? Post-coital bleeding is a poor predictive factor for cancer and should not be considered an urgent referral.What do the results of this study add? The presence of a visible suspicion of cervical cancer however does warrant urgent referral as approximately one in 70 women will have a malignancy detected.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Improved education in primary care and obstetrics and gynaecology training is the key to improving clinical indications referral services.

Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021

These guidelines for the treatment of persons who have or are at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were updated by CDC after consultation with professionals knowledgeable in the field of STIs who met in Atlanta, Georgia, June 11–14, 2019. The information in this report updates the 2015 guidelines. These guidelines discuss 1) updated recommendations for treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Trichomonas vaginalis; 2) addition of metronidazole to the recommended treatment regimen for pelvic inflammatory disease; 3) alternative treatment options for bacterial vaginosis; 4) management of Mycoplasma genitalium; 5) human papillomavirus vaccine recommendations and counseling messages; 6) expanded risk factors for syphilis testing among pregnant women; 7) one-time testing for hepatitis C infection; 8) evaluation of men who have sex with men after sexual assault; and 9) two-step testing for serologic diagnosis of genital herpes simplex virus. Physicians and other health care providers can use these guidelines to assist in prevention and treatment of STIs.

Postcoital bleeding is a predictor for cervical dysplasia

Background

Postcoital bleeding (PCB) is a common gynecological symptom that may cause concern among both patients and physicians. Current literature is inconclusive regarding management recommendations.

Objective

To identify risk-factors for dysplasia/cancer among patients presenting post-coital bleeding (PCB).

Methods

Using large health maintenance organization (HMO) database, all women reporting PCB in 2012–2015 were identified. PCB patient records in a single colposcopy center were reviewed. Age, marital status, ethnicity, gravidity, parity, BMI, smoking, PAP smear result (within 1 year of PCB presentation), colposcopy and biopsy results were recorded. Cases were matched by age and socio-economic enumeration area to controls accessing primary care clinics for routine care.

Results

Yearly incidence of PCB ranged from 400 to 900 per 100,000 women; highest among patients aged 26–30 years. Among the sample of 411 PCB cases with colposcopy, 201 (48.9%) had directed biopsy. Biopsy results included 68 cervicitis (33.8%), 61 koilocytosis/CIN 1/condyloma (30.3%), 44 normal tissue (21.9%), 25 cervical polyp (12.4%), 2 CIN 2/3 (1%) and 1 carcinoma (0.5%). Positive predictive value for koilocytosis/CIN 1 or higher pathology was 15.6% (64/411) and 0.7% for CIN 2 or higher grade pathology (3/411). In conditional logistic regression, multiparty was a protective factor: OR 0.39 (95% CI 0.22–0.88, P = 0.02), while pathological PAP smear was a related risk-factor: OR 3.3 (95% CI 1.31–8.35, P = 0.01). When compared to controls, PCB patients were significantly (P = 0.04) more likely to present CIN 1 or higher grade pathology (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.02–3.33).

Conclusions

Study results indicate that PCB may require colposcopy, especially for nulliparous women with an abnormal PAP smear.

Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy in Germany: a retrospective study of 100,197 patients

Aim: The goal of this study was to identify potential risk factors for ectopic pregnancy in women followed in German gynecological practices.

Methods: The present study included pregnant women diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy and pregnant women without ectopic pregnancy followed in 262 gynecological practices between January 2012 and December 2016. The effects of demographic and clinical variables on the risk of developing ectopic pregnancy were estimated using a multivariate logistic regression model.

Results: This study included 3,003 women with ectopic pregnancy and 97,194 women without ectopic pregnancy. The mean age was 31.4 years (SD=5.9 years) in ectopic pregnancy patients and 31.1 years (SD=5.6 years) in non-ectopic pregnancy patients. Women aged 36–40 (OR=1.12) and 41–45 years (OR=1.46) were at a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy than women aged 31–35 years. Prior ectopic pregnancy was strongly associated with a risk of recurring ectopic pregnancy (OR=8.17). Prior genital surgery (OR=2.67), endometriosis (OR=1.51), and eight other gynecological diseases were also positively associated with ectopic pregnancy (ORs ranging from 1.19 to 2.06). Finally, there was a 1.80-fold increase in women previously diagnosed with psychiatric disorders.

Conclusions: Prior ectopic pregnancy and prior genital surgery were strongly associated with ectopic pregnancy in women followed in German gynecological practices. Psychiatric diseases had an additional impact on the risk of ectopic pregnancy.