Impact of use of combined oral contraceptive pill on the quality of life of Japanese women

Severity of Menstrual Pain Is Associated with Nutritional Intake and Lifestyle Habits

Recently, the employment rate of women in Japan has steadily increased. Approximately 80% of women experience menstrual pain and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). These symptoms decrease a woman's quality of life and her work productivity, leading to an economic loss. This cross-sectional study of 321 healthy Japanese women aged 20-39 years aimed to clarify the lifestyle-related factors or nutrient intake that might cause menstrual pain. The participants underwent body composition measurements and completed meal survey sheets and lifestyle questionnaires, including menstrual status, exercise, sleep and breakfast consumption. Based on the questionnaire results, participants were divided into two groups according to the severity of menstrual pain, namely, heavy and light. Chi-square and Wilcoxon signed-rank sum tests were used to compare the severity of menstrual pain in the two groups. In the heavy group, the intake of animal proteins, including fish, vitamin D and vitamin B12, was significantly lower (p < 0.05), as was the frequency of breakfast consumption and bathing (p < 0.05). The rate of PMS symptoms was significantly higher in the heavy group (p < 0.05). This study suggests that a lack of animal protein, the accompanying vitamins and fatty acids, and the frequency of breakfast or bathing are associated with the severity of menstrual pain.

Health-related quality of life in undergraduate women using any contraceptive

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this research was to assess university students' health-related quality of life whether they use some contraceptive method or not.

METHODS

This research is a cross-sectional study. Female participants who studied a degree in health at the University of Seville (Spain) were recruited. Respondents completed a demographic questionnaire and health-related quality of life was measured with validated instrument SEC-QoL (Sociedad Española de Contracepción- Quality of Life) in Spanish that measured five dimensions: sexual, social, breast, menstrual and psychosocial.

RESULTS

A total of 992 women aged 21.37 (3.6) years old participated in this study. Women who used a contraceptive method reached higher scores at the SEC-QoL questionnaire 47.09 (17.04) and 46.91 (18.73) than those that didn't. Likewise, women who chose a hormonal method showed a better overall health-related quality of life, compared to those who used a non-hormonal method. Participants who used hormonal contraceptives obtained higher scores in all health-related quality of life domains (social, menstrual, breast and sexual), except psychological domain when compared to those who used a non hormonal method or none. Furthermore, a moderated mediation model showed that the effect of the current contraceptive method on health-related quality of life was partially explained by the moderated mediation of the time using this method, the reason for using it and the existence of a partner.

CONCLUSION

The usage of hormonal contraceptives increases health-related quality of life in young women. Several variables regarding the experience with contraceptive methods should be considered in order to examine the effect on health-related quality of life in undergraduate women.

Sexual experiences and quality of life in Turkish women using methods of contraception

The aim of this study was to examine the sexual experiences and quality of life in women using methods of contraception. The sample of this descriptive study consisted of 259 women. The data were collected by the Personal Information Form, the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASES) and the World Health Organisation Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF). It was found that 35.1% of the women use condoms, 30.1% of them use the Intrauterine Device (IUD), 22.0% had problems using the method and 39% had the side effects while using the method. There was a statistically significant difference between the state of having problems using the methods and quality of life average scores and between the state of having side effects and sexual life and quality of life average scores (p < .05). Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Sexual problems are common health problems among women and can lead to loss of self-esteem in women, depression and emotional stress. What do the results of this study add? Women who experience problems using a contraception method have a lower quality of life. Sexual dysfunctions were higher among those who experienced side effects of the methods, quality of life scores were lower. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Health professionals should provide information and counselling about possible problems or side effects and ways to cope with these problems or side effects.

Better documentation in electronic medical records would lead to an increased use of lower extremity venous ultrasound in the inpatient setting: a retrospective study

Aim

We hypothesized that the quality of the assessment of abnormal laboratory data in the emergency department (ED) could affect the hospital-attending physicians' decision-making after a patient's hospitalization. To test this hypothesis, we investigated how patients with a positive D-dimer result were reported by ED physicians in electronic medical records, and measured whether lower extremity venous ultrasonography examination was undertaken during hospitalization by the hospital-attending physicians.

Methods

In an urban tertiary acute care general hospital in Japan, between January 2012 and December 2013, we included patients hospitalized after a positive D-dimer measurement (≥1.0 μg/mL) that was taken in the emergency department. We retrospectively measured the quality of ED physician assessments. Then we examined whether that affected the decisions of attending physicians to order lower extremity venous ultrasonography examinations during hospitalization. The exposure variable was the quality of the ED physicians' assessment of patients with positive D-dimer results. The outcome was whether a lower extremity venous ultrasonography examination was ordered by the attending physician during hospitalization.

Results

When assessments were described by ED physicians for patients with positive D-dimer results, the attending physicians frequently ordered lower extremity venous ultrasonography (odds ratio, 10.74; 95% confidence interval, 5.92-19.50), even if the assessments only contained "copied and pasted" laboratory data (odds ratio, 1.68; 95% confidence interval, 2.10-2.40).

Conclusions

Better documentation by ED physicians, regarding patients with positive D-dimer results, strongly affected the decisions made by attending physicians to order lower extremity venous ultrasonography examination.

Evaluation of contraceptive methods in women with congenital heart disease in Germany, Hungary and Japan

AIMS

For women with congenital heart defects (CHD), pregnancy may pose a health risk. Sexually active women with CHD without the desire for own children or for whom pregnancy would imply considerable health risks require adequate counselling regarding appropriate contraception. This study gathers data on the contraceptive behaviour of women with CHD from three different cultural regions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

634 women with CHD from Germany, Hungary and Japan were surveyed regarding contraception and contraceptive methods (CM) used. The patients were divided into groups according to different criteria such as pregnancy associated cardiovascular risk or "safety" of the contraceptive methods used. 59% of the study participants had already gained experience with CM. The average age at the first time of use was 18.4 years; the German patients were significantly younger at the first time of using a CM than those from Hungary and Japan. Overall the condom was the method used the most (38%), followed by oral contraceptives (30%) and coitus interruptus (11%). The range of CM used in Japan was much smaller than that in Germany or Hungary. Unsafe contraceptives were currently, or had previously been used, by 29% of the surveyed patients (Germany: 25%, Hungary: 37%, Japan: 32%).

CONCLUSION

Most women with CHD use CM. There are differences between the participating countries. Adequate contraceptive counselling of women with CHD requires considering the individual characteristics of each patient, including potential contraindications. For choosing an appropriate CM, both the methods' "safety", as well as the maternal cardiovascular risk, are important.

Impact of an implantable steroid contraceptive (etonogestrel-releasing implant) on quality of life and sexual function: a preliminary study

The aim of the study was to determine the impact of etonogestrel (ENG)-implant used for contraceptive purpose on Quality of life (QoL) and on sexual function (FSF) of healthy Italian women. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) validated questionnaire were administered at baseline, 3 and 6 months after insertion of Nexplanon. The implant seems to have a positive impact on QoL after the first three months of therapy. Users showed an improved general health status and physical role status. The implant did not show negative effects on libido and on sexual function. In the first three months of treatment, users experienced a temporary reduction of vitality, mental health, social functioning and emotional role functioning, which seem to disappear after six months of therapy.

Effects of estradiol valerate and dienogest on quality of life and sexual function according to age

This is an observational study on 102 women aged 25-45 years to evaluate if the E2V/DNG pill has any impact on quality of life (QoL) and sexual function (FSF). Thirty-nine women were younger than 35 years (group A), and 63 women were 35 years old or older (group B). At baseline and after 6 months, patients received the Italian validated version of the Short Form-36 questionnaire and the Italian validated version of the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire. Group A showed an overall higher perception in all QoL scores at baseline and after 6-months (p < 0.05). E2V/DNG treatment did not exert any significant effect on QoL perception in group A apart from an increase in the GH domain (general health). In group B we observed a significant improvement both in GH and in VT (vitality) scores. We found a significant reduction in "lubrication" after 6 months both in group A and B (p < 0.01) and a significant improvement in "satisfaction" and "pain" scores in group A and in "desire", "satisfaction" and "total" score in group B (p < 0.01). The E2V/DNG pill is associated with a significant improvement of GH and VT and with an improvement in FSF with no difference between age groups.

Associations between recent contraceptive use and quality of life among women

BACKGROUND

Whether contraception affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is unclear.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of routine intake data collected from women aged 18-50 years, including the RAND-36 (Research and Development Corporation) measure of HRQoL, pregnancy intentions and recent contraceptive use. We used multivariable logistic regression to test the relationship between HRQoL and use of any and specific contraceptives. Physical and mental HRQoLs were dichotomized based on US population averages. Models were adjusted for age, race, marital status, education and pregnancy intentions.

RESULTS

Among the 726 women, those using any form of contraception were more likely to have average or better mental HRQoL than women using no contraception [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-2.53]. Women using injectable contraception were less likely than those using combined hormonal methods to have average or better physical HRQoL (aOR=0.26, 95% CI 0.09-0.80) and mental HRQoL (aOR=0.24, 95% CI 0.06-0.86).

CONCLUSIONS

Measures of women's HRQoL differ with contraceptive use.

Development and validation of the SEC-QOL questionnaire in women using contraceptive methods

OBJECTIVES

Develop and validate a Spanish society of contraception quality-of-life (SEC-QOL) questionnaire to assess the impact of contraceptive methods on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of women.

METHODS

SEC-QOL was developed following a standardized procedure including review of the literature, interviews with contraception users, and the administration of a pilot questionnaire to 187 women. SEC-QOL consists of 19 items and includes five dimensions. To validate the questionnaire, a multicenter, observational, prospective study was conducted in Spain. The following three study groups were defined: group A (n = 129) comprised women using effective contraceptive methods; group B (n = 251), comprised women about to start using an effective method; and group C (n = 73) comprised women using no or poorly effective contraception. All women attended baseline and final visits (4 ± 1 months). Participants completed the SEC-QOL, psychological well-being index, EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire, and perceived health state questionnaires.

RESULTS

At baseline, women from group A had a better HRQOL in all SEC-QOL dimensions, except for breast symptoms. Heavier menstrual bleeding, more androgenic and breast symptoms, menstrual pain, and not using hormonal contraceptive methods were associated with lower HRQOL. SEC-QOL scores showed moderate correlations to psychological well-being index and slightly lower correlation to EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire scores. At follow-up, HRQOL had improved in all groups; most markedly in group B, which obtained an average effect size of 0.59. The minimum important difference was established as a 3.4-point change in the global SEC-QOL score. SEC-QOL obtained a Cronbach's α of 0.88 and an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.82.

CONCLUSIONS

SEC-QOL is a valid, reliable, and sensitive to change questionnaire for use in daily clinical practice and future research projects on contraception.

Non-contraceptive benefits of oral contraceptives

BACKGROUND

There is increasing awareness of the opportunity that many contraceptive interventions may provide for additional health benefits. However, treatment of medical problems with oral contraceptives (OCs) is often an 'off-label' practice.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review is to summarize available data on non-contraceptive benefits of OCs.

METHODS

Review of the literature.

RESULTS

OCs have been shown to reduce the risk of ovarian, endometrial, and colorectal cancer. It has been suggested that OCs may be used in treatment of endometriosis, menorrhagia, and uterine leiomyomas. Pelvic inflammatory disease, dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, and acne have been shown to improve under OCs.

CONCLUSION

OCs are important for global and female health. Besides contraception, non-contraceptive effects of OCs are evidence based, well established, and commonly used in clinical practice.