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Health Care For Women International May 2023
Topics: Female; Humans; Menstruation; Vagina
PubMed: 37015018
DOI: 10.1080/07399332.2023.2187178 -
La Clinica Terapeutica 2024The combination of femininity and inequality is an increasingly studied in the field of social medicine, even more if the girls or women in question experience... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The combination of femininity and inequality is an increasingly studied in the field of social medicine, even more if the girls or women in question experience conditions of disability or neurodivergence. The onset of menstruation, menarche, constitutes a significant and transformative event in women's lives comprising a true and proper watershed in mental and reproductive health and sexual welfare. The onset of menstruation has a profound effect not just for girls but, in the case of disabled girls, for the whole family. In this scoping review, we have researched the literature in studies which consider the issue of menstruation and autism. The works in scientific literature have been selected which, in the last 5 years, investigated the issue of menstrua-tion for autistic girls and/or women.
RESULTS
Selected studies, although few in number, have all equally evidenced the total lack of in-depth understanding of this theme, notwithstanding the fact that females, girls and women with autism would benefit from specialized services if these existed. Families, girls and women involved, moreover, although not experiencing menstruation per se in a negative light, note a deterioration in their condition particularly in respect of sensorial perception and the intensification of anxious depressive instances. This work highlights the need to deepen the aspects concerning the period in autistic girls/women, up to now the question appears to have been little studied, investigated in an uneven way. We propose a social medical program to improve sexual-affective knowledge and body awareness in autistic people.
Topics: Humans; Female; Autistic Disorder; Menstruation; Menstrual Cycle; Menarche
PubMed: 38767074
DOI: 10.7417/CT.2024.5058 -
Reproductive Sciences (Thousand Oaks,... Feb 2018Humans are one of the few mammalian viviparous species in which pregnancy is extended beyond the luteal phase, the phase during which progesterone is synthesized by the... (Review)
Review
Humans are one of the few mammalian viviparous species in which pregnancy is extended beyond the luteal phase, the phase during which progesterone is synthesized by the maternal ovary. Instead, it is the fetal placenta that produces progesterone throughout the latter 2 trimesters of human pregnancy. The placenta is developmentally crucial for reproductive success and is the most conspicuous anatomical novelty of placental mammals. However, before it can exert its dual functions as both an endocrine organ and an organ capable of facilitating gas and nutrient exchange, enormous changes must take place within the uterus to not only tolerate the presence of this hemiallogeneic tissue but to also accommodate and support placental development. The most dramatic of these changes is endometrial decidualization, the origin of which coincides in evolutionary history with invasive placentation. This article builds on the observation that the physiological changes that occur during the nonpregnant secretory phase of the uterine cycle in women are remarkably similar to that seen during pregnancy. The fundamental characteristics of human pregnancy (including endometrial decidualization followed several months later by intrauterine inflammation, uterine contractions, and discharge of the decidual lining from the uterine cavity) are present already in the nonpregnant menstrual cycle and are thus independent of the fetus. We hypothesize that many of the physiological defects that lead to complications during pregnancy and parturition are detectable already during spontaneous decidualization in the nonpregnant state and at the onset of menstruation, and can thus be determined before the onset of pregnancy.
Topics: Embryo Implantation; Endometrium; Female; Humans; Menstruation; Parturition; Placenta; Placentation; Pregnancy; Uterus
PubMed: 28826363
DOI: 10.1177/1933719117725830 -
BMC Women's Health Apr 2023There is growing recognition of the important role menstrual health plays in achieving health, education, and gender equity. Yet, stigmatisation and taboo remain present...
There is growing recognition of the important role menstrual health plays in achieving health, education, and gender equity. Yet, stigmatisation and taboo remain present and negative emotions like fear and shame dominate the narrative when speaking about periods. This paper analyses how formal and informal menstrual education is received in Spain, to understand the role of menstrual health literacy in the way menstruation is experienced, and to identify what information would be useful to integrate into formal menstrual education. An online survey with more than 4000 participants (aged between 14 and 80, both people who will/do/have previously menstruate/d and those who do not menstruate) was conducted. Data was gathered using the digital platform Typeform, descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software and qualitative data was thematically analysed using Nvivo. Many participants declared not having received sufficient information on menstruation prior to menarche, particularly about how to physically manage it. Furthermore, negative emotions like shame, worry, and fear were recurrently reported to describe menarche; this has not changed between generations. Interestingly, we saw an increase in stress and sadness with an increase in perceived knowledge of the reproductive role of menstruation. We did observe a reduction in negative emotions when people who menstruate perceived they had sufficient information on how to manage their first bleeding. It is recommended that menstrual education beyond reproductive biology, particularly including how to physically manage periods, is integrated into school curricula. Menstrual education of everyone - including those who do not menstruate-can improve how periods are experienced in Spain.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Educational Status; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Menarche; Menstruation; Schools; Surveys and Questionnaires; Social Stigma; Taboo; Spain
PubMed: 37016318
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02293-4 -
American Journal of Respiratory and... Jun 2018
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Menopause; Menstruation; Middle Aged; Pregnancy; Sleep; Sleep Wake Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 29856255
DOI: 10.1164/rccm.19711P19 -
Pediatric Annals Sep 2015Menstrual suppression--the use of hormones to delay or eliminate menses--is often used in adolescents to manage conditions associated with the menstrual cycle and to... (Review)
Review
Menstrual suppression--the use of hormones to delay or eliminate menses--is often used in adolescents to manage conditions associated with the menstrual cycle and to accommodate lifestyle preferences. Reducing the frequency of menstrual bleeding does not cause any known physiologic harm and has potential short-term and long-term advantages. Different methods used for menstrual suppression, however, have associated risks and side effects that need to be weighed against the benefits of controlling menses. This article reviews the advantages and disadvantages of menstrual suppression and the different methods available for adolescents.
Topics: Adolescent; Contraceptive Devices, Female; Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; Female; Humans; Levonorgestrel; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; Menstruation; Menstruation Disturbances; Periodicity; Progestins; Transdermal Patch
PubMed: 26431242
DOI: 10.3928/00904481-20150910-11 -
Gynecologie, Obstetrique, Fertilite &... Mar 2019
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Menopause; Menstrual Cycle; Menstruation; Middle Aged; Pregnancy
PubMed: 30857732
DOI: 10.1016/j.gofs.2019.01.012 -
BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health Apr 2021There has been a phenomenal worldwide increase in the development and use of mobile health applications (mHealth apps) that monitor menstruation and fertility. Critics... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
There has been a phenomenal worldwide increase in the development and use of mobile health applications (mHealth apps) that monitor menstruation and fertility. Critics argue that many of the apps are inaccurate and lack evidence from either clinical trials or user experience. The aim of this scoping review is to provide an overview of the research literature on mHealth apps that track menstruation and fertility.
METHODS
This project followed the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. The ACM, CINAHL, Google Scholar, PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for material published between 1 January 2010 and 30 April 2019. Data summary and synthesis were used to chart and analyse the data.
RESULTS
In total 654 records were reviewed. Subsequently, 135 duplicate records and 501 records that did not meet the inclusion criteria were removed. Eighteen records from 13 countries form the basis of this review. The papers reviewed cover a variety of disciplinary and methodological frameworks. Three main themes were identified: fertility and reproductive health tracking, pregnancy planning, and pregnancy prevention.
CONCLUSIONS
Motivations for fertility app use are varied, overlap and change over time, although women want apps that are accurate and evidence-based regardless of whether they are tracking their fertility, planning a pregnancy or using the app as a form of contraception. There is a lack of critical debate and engagement in the development, evaluation, usage and regulation of fertility and menstruation apps. The paucity of evidence-based research and absence of fertility, health professionals and users in studies is raised.
Topics: Female; Fertility; Humans; Menstruation; Mobile Applications; Pregnancy
PubMed: 32253280
DOI: 10.1136/bmjsrh-2019-200488 -
The Journal of Adolescent Health :... Jul 2024Period poverty is the lack of accessible menstrual education or menstrual tools. Millions of women and girls around the world experience period poverty, which can...
PURPOSE
Period poverty is the lack of accessible menstrual education or menstrual tools. Millions of women and girls around the world experience period poverty, which can contribute to disparities in school and work performance, as well as overall quality of life. However, not much is known about youth experiences and perceptions of period poverty. This study aims to understand the personal experiences and opinions of American youth regarding knowledge about menstruation and period poverty, as well as to gauge youth attitudes of existing and future period poverty initiatives.
METHODS
The MyVoice nationwide text message poll was used to ask five open-ended questions to over 1,000 youth across the United States aged 14-24 years. Responses were analyzed using content analysis by two independent researchers, and differences in coding were reviewed and resolved by discussion.
RESULTS
Overall, 963 youth (80%) responded, and the sample was 54.7% self-reported male with an average age of 20.1 years (standard deviation = 2.3). Three main themes emerged: 1. Most youth, regardless of self-reported gender, have had conversations about periods but comfort discussing the topic varies, 2. Youths' knowledge of menstruation varies with personal experience, or lack thereof, and 3. Some youth have experience with period poverty, and most are overwhelmingly supportive of policies to improve access to period products.
DISCUSSION
These findings suggest that normalization of discussions of menstruation, increasing awareness of the prevalence and impacts of period poverty, and greater implementation of programs to mitigate period poverty are supported by youth, and may reduce period poverty in the United States.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Female; Menstruation; Poverty; Young Adult; Male; United States; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 38493390
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.02.018 -
Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening... Mar 2019
Topics: Female; Global Health; Humans; Menstruation; Shame; Women's Health
PubMed: 30872823
DOI: 10.4045/tidsskr.19.0158