Uterine Leiomyoma Is Associated with Female Sexual Dysfunction in Postmenopausal Women

Infertility in patients with uterine fibroids: a debate about the hypothetical mechanisms

Fibroids are benign tumours of the myometrium and are the most common gynaecologic abnormality. Although most fibroids are asymptomatic, they can cause symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, pressure complaints, and infertility. The association between fibroids and infertility has been debated for decades. It is generally acknowledged that the closer the fibroid is to the uterine cavity and the endometrium lining, the more unfavourable effect it might have on fertility, reducing the odds for successful implantation and gestation. Based on the limited available literature, we propose and discuss seven hypotheses on the underlying mechanism by which fibroids may reduce fertility. (i) Fibroids can cause sexual dysfunction, as fibroids can cause dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and prolonged and heavy menstrual bleeding, which could interfere with sexual arousal and as a consequence the frequency of intercourse, resulting in a reduced probability of conception. (ii) Mechanical compression by fibroids on theinterstitial part of the fallopian tubes or deformation of uterine cavity could disturb oocyte and sperm transport. (iii) Fibroids can disturb peristalsis of the junctional zone in the myometrium, which could negatively influence oocyte and sperm transport as well as implantation. In addition, fibroids could induce a detrimental environment for implantation in other ways, by: (iv) changing the vagino-uterine microbiome; (v) disturbing the levels of inflammation and autophagy; (vi) inducing molecular changes in the endometrium; and (vii) inducing aberrant angiogenesis and altering the endometrial blood supply. After the discussion of these hypotheses, the implication of the influence of fibroids on early pregnancy loss is discussed. Surgical fibroid treatment is not tailored nor focussed on the pathophysiology of the fibroid; consequently it may be accompanied by recurrence of fibroids and risks of complications. Unravelling the pathogenic mechanisms about how fibroids influence fertility is essential to evolve classic surgical fibroid treatment. Instead of treatment of fibroid-related symptoms, the research should supports development of fibroid-targeted (pharmaceutical) treatment that is compatible with an active wish to become pregnant.

The Effectiveness of Psycho-Educational and Cognitive-Behavioral Counseling on Female Sexual Dysfunction

INTRODUCTION

 Sexual function is a multidimensional phenomenon that is affected by many biological and psychological factors. Cognitive-behavioral sex therapies are among the most common nonpharmacological approaches to psychosexual problems. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of psychoeducational and cognitive-behavioral counseling on female sexual dysfunction.

METHODS

 The present study was a clinical trial with intervention and control groups. The study population consisted of women referring to the general clinic of a governmental hospital in Iran. After completing the demographic questionnaire and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), those who obtained the cutoff score ≤ 28 were contacted and invited to participate in the study. Convenience sampling method was used and 35 subjects were randomly allocated for each group. Eight counseling sessions were held for the intervention group (two/week/1.5 hour). Post-test was taken from both groups after 1 month, and the results were statistically analyzed by PASW Statistics for Windows, Version 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

RESULTS

 The total mean scores of FSFI and the subscales of sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group after the intervention. In addition, postintervention pain mean scores in the intervention group were significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

 The results of the present study indicate that psychoeducational cognitive-behavioral counseling is effective in improving female sexual function. It is recommended to compare the effects of psychoeducational cognitive-behavioral counseling on sexual dysfunctions of couples and with a larger sample size in future research.

Metformin use is associated with a lower risk of uterine leiomyoma in female type 2 diabetes patients

BACKGROUND

Whether metformin may reduce the risk of uterine leiomyoma in type 2 diabetes patients has not been investigated. This retrospective cohort study compared the risk of uterine leiomyoma in ever versus never users of metformin.

METHODS

Female patients with new-onset type 2 diabetes during 1999-2005 were enrolled from the reimbursement database of Taiwan's National Health Insurance and followed up from 1 January 2006 until 31 December 2011. Analyses were conducted in a propensity score (PS) matched-pair cohort of 10,998 ever users and 10,998 never users of metformin. Hazard ratios were estimated by Cox regression incorporated with the inverse probability of treatment weighting using the PS.

RESULTS

A total of 321 never users and 162 ever users developed uterine leiomyoma during follow up, with respective incidence of 704.65 and 329.82 per 100,000 person-years. The overall hazard ratio was 0.467 (95% confidence interval: 0.387-0.564). The hazard ratios for the first (<23.3 months), second (23.3-53.1 months), and third (>53.1 months) tertiles of cumulative duration were 0.881 (0.685-1.132), 0.485 (0.367-0.642), and 0.198 (0.134-0.291), respectively; and were 0.751 (0.576-0.980), 0.477 (0.360-0.632), and 0.277 (0.198-0.386), respectively, for the first (<655,000 mg), second 655,000-1,725,500 mg), and third (>1,725,500) tertiles of cumulative dose. Sensitivity analyses after excluding users of sulfonylurea, users of estrogen, users of insulin, users of incretin-based therapies during follow up, patients with irregular drug refills, patients who discontinued the use of metformin, patients who received metformin prescription less than four times, or redefining uterine leiomyoma by using 'diagnostic code' plus 'procedure codes' consistently supported a lower risk of uterine leiomyoma in ever users of metformin.

CONCLUSION

Metformin use is associated with a lower risk of uterine leiomyoma.