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Fertility and Sterility Oct 2022Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are highly prevalent among women across their life span, especially during the reproductive age. An iron-deficient... (Review)
Review
Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are highly prevalent among women across their life span, especially during the reproductive age. An iron-deficient state has been associated with a number of adverse health consequences, affecting all aspects of the physical and emotional well-being of women. Heavy menstrual bleeding, pregnancy state, and the postpartum period are the major causes of ID/IDA. However, despite the high prevalence and the impact on quality of life, ID/IDA among fertile age women remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. The present Views and Reviews provides an overview on IDA in women's health, describing the background on iron metabolism, heavy menstrual bleeding pathogenetic mechanisms, including a focus on uterine disorders, such as uterine fibroids and adenomyosis. Iron replacement therapies, patient blood management, and treatment options for uterine disorders also are explored.
Topics: Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Female; Humans; Iron; Iron Deficiencies; Menorrhagia; Pregnancy; Quality of Life; Reproductive Health; Women's Health
PubMed: 36182259
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.08.850 -
Seminars in Reproductive Medicine May 2020Adenomyosis is a common disorder of the uterus, and is associated with an enlarged uterus, heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), pelvic pain, and infertility. It is... (Review)
Review
Adenomyosis is a common disorder of the uterus, and is associated with an enlarged uterus, heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), pelvic pain, and infertility. It is characterized by endometrial epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts abnormally found in the myometrium where they elicit hyperplasia and hypertrophy of surrounding smooth muscle cells. While both the mechanistic processes and the pathogenesis of adenomyosis are uncertain, several theories have been put forward addressing how this disease develops. These include intrinsic or induced (1) microtrauma of the endometrial-myometrial interface; (2) enhanced invasion of endometrium into myometrium; (3) metaplasia of stem cells in myometrium; (4) infiltration of endometrial cells in retrograde menstrual effluent into the uterine wall from the serosal side; (5) induction of adenomyotic lesions by aberrant local steroid and pituitary hormones; and (6) abnormal uterine development in response to genetic and epigenetic modifications. Dysmenorrhea, HMB, and infertility are likely results of inflammation, neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and contractile abnormalities in the endometrial and myometrial components. Elucidating mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of adenomyosis raise possibilities to develop targeted therapies to ameliorate symptoms beyond the current agents that are largely ineffective. Herein, we address these possible etiologies and data that support underlying mechanisms.
Topics: Adenomyosis; Animals; Cell Movement; Dysmenorrhea; Endometrium; Female; Humans; Infertility, Female; Menorrhagia; Myometrium
PubMed: 33032339
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1716687 -
The Medical Journal of Malaysia May 2022Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is one of the commonest complaints of women in reproductive age and non-gravid state that brings them to the attention of the primary...
Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is one of the commonest complaints of women in reproductive age and non-gravid state that brings them to the attention of the primary care doctor or the gynaecologist. Anovulation without any medical illness or pelvic pathology seems to be the common cause. Bleeding due to a wide variation in pathology both inside and outside the reproductive tract can be termed as anovulatory bleeding. Therefore, it is mandatory to elicit a focused menstrual history and appropriate evaluation followed by a pelvic examination. This includes a vaginal speculum examination to differentiate anovulatory bleeding from other causes of bleeding. In contrast, Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is referred to as an ovulatory bleeding exceeding 8 days duration and is often caused by uterine fibroids or adenomyosis, a copper IUD or coagulation disorders. PALM-COEIN classification is a system designed by the Federation Internationale de Gynaecologie et d'Obstetrique to define the precise underlying causes of AUB. Aetiology of AUB can be classified as the following acronym "PALM-COEIN": Polyp, Adenomyosis, Leiomyoma, Malignancy and hyperplasia, Coagulopathy, Ovulatory dysfunction, Endometrial, Iatrogenic and Not yet classified. AUB describes a range of symptoms, such as HMB, intermenstrual bleeding (IMB) and a combination of both heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding (MB). Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) and menorrhagia are now better described as AUB. Newborn girls sometimes spot for a few days after birth, due to placental oestrogenic stimulation of the endometrium in utero.
Topics: Adenomyosis; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Leiomyoma; Menorrhagia; Placenta; Pregnancy; Uterine Hemorrhage
PubMed: 35638495
DOI: No ID Found -
International Journal of Environmental... Jan 2021The aim of this review is to clarify the relative association between adenomyosis and infertility and the possible treatment for an infertile patient. Although... (Review)
Review
The aim of this review is to clarify the relative association between adenomyosis and infertility and the possible treatment for an infertile patient. Although adenomyosis is detected more often in women of late reproductive age, its influence on pregnancy rates is important, especially considering the tendency to delay pregnancy among women in developed countries. In this article, we present a critical analysis of the literature data concerning the impact of adenomyosis on fertility. The possible effects of treatment on the pregnancy rate will also be discussed. We conducted a literature search; publications from Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane databases published from 1982 to 2019 were retrieved using terms 'adenomyosis and infertility' and 'adenomyosis and pregnancy outcomes', extensively studied in the aspects of diagnosis, pathogenesis of infertility and possible treatment methods. Molecular studies have given deep insight into the pathogenesis of adenomyosis in the recent few years, but there is a huge discrepancy between in vitro studies and praxis. Oral contraceptive pills, anti-prostaglandins, oral or parenteral progestins, danazol and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues have all been used to control menstrual pain and menorrhagia in women with adenomyosis, but they temporarily suppress the menstrual cycle. Additionally, endometrial ablation and hysterectomy used to alleviate pain caused by adenomyosis exclude pregnancy planning. The development of imaging techniques-ultrasound and MRI-enables the diagnosis of adenomyosis with very high accuracy nowadays, but the methods of treatment mentioned above have not given satisfactory results in women planning pregnancy. For these patients, the high-intensity-focused ultrasound method (HIFU) and combined treatment before assisted reproductive techniques can prove beneficial in adenomyosis patients.
Topics: Adenomyosis; Dysmenorrhea; Female; Humans; Infertility; Menorrhagia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate
PubMed: 33573117
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18031235 -
The New England Journal of Medicine Feb 2021Uterine fibroids are a common cause of heavy menstrual bleeding and pain. Treatment with the combination of relugolix (an oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone-receptor... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Uterine fibroids are a common cause of heavy menstrual bleeding and pain. Treatment with the combination of relugolix (an oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone-receptor antagonist), estradiol, and norethindrone acetate, administered once daily, may have efficacy in women with uterine fibroids and heavy bleeding while avoiding hypoestrogenic effects.
METHODS
We conducted two replicate international, double-blind, 24-week, phase 3 trials involving women with fibroid-associated heavy menstrual bleeding. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive once-daily placebo, relugolix combination therapy (40 mg of relugolix, 1 mg of estradiol, and 0.5 mg of norethindrone acetate), or delayed relugolix combination therapy (40 mg of relugolix monotherapy, followed by relugolix combination therapy, each for 12 weeks). The primary efficacy end point in each trial was the percentage of participants with a response (volume of menstrual blood loss <80 ml and a ≥50% reduction in volume from baseline) in the relugolix combination therapy group, as compared with the placebo group. Key secondary end points were amenorrhea, volume of menstrual blood loss, distress from bleeding and pelvic discomfort, anemia, pain, fibroid volume, and uterine volume. Safety and bone mineral density were assessed.
RESULTS
A total of 388 women in trial L1 and 382 in trial L2 underwent randomization. A total of 73% of the participants in the relugolix combination therapy group in trial L1 and 71% of those in trial L2 had a response (primary end point), as compared with 19% and 15%, respectively, of those in the placebo groups (P<0.001 for both comparisons). Both relugolix combination therapy groups had significant improvements, as compared with the placebo groups, in six of seven key secondary end points, including measures of menstrual blood loss (including amenorrhea), pain, distress from bleeding and pelvic discomfort, anemia, and uterine volume, but not fibroid volume. The incidence of adverse events was similar with relugolix combination therapy and placebo. Bone mineral density was similar with relugolix combination therapy and placebo but decreased with relugolix monotherapy.
CONCLUSIONS
Once-daily relugolix combination therapy resulted in a significant reduction in menstrual bleeding, as compared with placebo, and preserved bone mineral density in women with uterine fibroids. (Funded by Myovant Sciences; LIBERTY 1 [L1] and LIBERTY 2 [L2] ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT03049735 and NCT03103087, respectively.).
Topics: Adult; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Drug Therapy, Combination; Estradiol; Estrogens; Female; Hot Flashes; Humans; Leiomyoma; Menorrhagia; Middle Aged; Norethindrone Acetate; Phenylurea Compounds; Pyrimidinones; Uterine Neoplasms; Young Adult
PubMed: 33596357
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2008283 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2021Platelets play a major role in hemostasis as ppwell as in many other physiological and pathological processes. Accordingly, production of about 10 platelet per day as... (Review)
Review
Platelets play a major role in hemostasis as ppwell as in many other physiological and pathological processes. Accordingly, production of about 10 platelet per day as well as appropriate survival and functions are life essential events. Inherited platelet disorders (IPDs), affecting either platelet count or platelet functions, comprise a heterogenous group of about sixty rare diseases caused by molecular anomalies in many culprit genes. Their clinical relevance is highly variable according to the specific disease and even within the same type, ranging from almost negligible to life-threatening. Mucocutaneous bleeding diathesis (epistaxis, gum bleeding, purpura, menorrhagia), but also multisystemic disorders and/or malignancy comprise the clinical spectrum of IPDs. The early and accurate diagnosis of IPDs and a close patient medical follow-up is of great importance. A genotype-phenotype relationship in many IPDs makes a molecular diagnosis especially relevant to proper clinical management. Genetic diagnosis of IPDs has been greatly facilitated by the introduction of high throughput sequencing (HTS) techniques into mainstream investigation practice in these diseases. However, there are still unsolved ethical concerns on general genetic investigations. Patients should be informed and comprehend the potential implications of their genetic analysis. Unlike the progress in diagnosis, there have been no major advances in the clinical management of IPDs. Educational and preventive measures, few hemostatic drugs, platelet transfusions, thrombopoietin receptor agonists, and in life-threatening IPDs, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are therapeutic possibilities. Gene therapy may be a future option. Regular follow-up by a specialized hematology service with multidisciplinary support especially for syndromic IPDs is mandatory.
Topics: Blood Platelet Disorders; Blood Platelets; Genetic Testing; Hemostasis; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Humans; Platelet Function Tests; Platelet Transfusion; Rare Diseases
PubMed: 33926054
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094521 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2022Anemia in pregnancy is a serious threat to maternal and child health and is a major public health problem. However, the risk factors associated with its incidence are... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Anemia in pregnancy is a serious threat to maternal and child health and is a major public health problem. However, the risk factors associated with its incidence are unclear and controversial.
METHODS
PubMed, Ovid Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were systematically searched (inception to June 27, 2022). The screening of search results, extraction of relevant data, and evaluation of study quality were performed independently by two reviewers.
RESULTS
A total of 51 studies of high quality (NOS score ≥ 7) were included, including 42 cross-sectional studies, six case-control studies, and three cohort studies. Meta-analysis showed that infected parasite, history of malarial attack, tea/coffee after meals, meal frequency ≤ 2 times per day, frequency of eating meat ≤ 1 time per week, frequency of eating vegetables ≤ 3 times per week, multiple pregnancies, multiparous, low household income, no antenatal care, rural residence, diet diversity score ≤ 3, have more than 3 children, history of menorrhagia, underweight, family size ≥ 5, middle upper arm circumference < 23, second trimester, third trimester, birth interval ≤ 2 year were all risk factors for anemia in pregnancy.
CONCLUSIONS
Prevention of anemia in pregnancy is essential to promote maternal and child health. Sufficient attention should be paid to the above risk factors from the social level and pregnant women's own aspects to reduce the occurrence of anemia in pregnancy.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42022344937.
Topics: Child; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Anemia; Prenatal Care; Cohort Studies; Risk Factors
PubMed: 36311562
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1041136