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International Journal of Psychology :... Aug 2014The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between ambivalent sexism and beliefs and attitudes towards menstruation, and, in turn, to study...
The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between ambivalent sexism and beliefs and attitudes towards menstruation, and, in turn, to study the influence of these variables on menstrual cycle-related symptoms. One hundred and six Mexican women completed the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory, the Beliefs about and Attitudes toward Menstruation Questionnaire and the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire. The higher scores on benevolent sexism were associated with the most positive attitudes towards menstruation and also with the belief that a menstruating woman should or should not do some activities and that menstruation keeps women from their daily activities. The higher scores on hostile sexism were associated with rejection of menstruation as well as with feelings of embarrassment about it. Beliefs about and attitudes towards menstruation predicted menstrual cycle-related symptoms related to negative affect, impaired concentration and behavioural changes, but did not predict somatic symptoms. These results will be useful to health professionals and advocates who want to change the negative expectations and stereotypes of premenstrual and menstrual women and reduce the sexism and negative attitudes towards women that are evident in Mexican culture.
Topics: Adult; Affect; Attitude; Cultural Characteristics; Emotions; Female; Hostility; Humans; Menstrual Cycle; Menstruation; Mexico; Middle Aged; Premenstrual Syndrome; Sexism; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
PubMed: 24990639
DOI: 10.1002/ijop.12028 -
Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent... Feb 2008
Topics: Adolescent; Amenorrhea; Body Image; Female; Humans; Menstruation; Self Concept; Sexual Maturation
PubMed: 18312792
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2007.10.015 -
Human Reproduction (Oxford, England) Oct 2022Is circulating cell-free DNA (cirDNA) from the endometrium elevated during menstruation and in endometriosis?
STUDY QUESTION
Is circulating cell-free DNA (cirDNA) from the endometrium elevated during menstruation and in endometriosis?
SUMMARY ANSWER
Endometrial cirDNA does not increase during menstruation and is not elevated in endometriosis.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
Changes in cirDNA associated with common benign conditions are a potential source of false positives in cancer diagnostic applications, but also present an opportunity for biomarker development for diseases such as endometriosis. Elevated cirDNA has been reported in endometriosis patients compared to healthy community controls, but no difference in total or endometrial cirDNA has been found between patients with endometriosis and patients with other gynaecological conditions. Likewise, menstruation is a potential driver of changes in cirDNA levels and tissue profile, but total and endothelial cirDNA do not increase during menstruation.
STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION
For endometriosis comparisons, 59 participants with surgically confirmed endometriosis and 27 laparoscopic patients without endometriosis (hospital controls) were prospectively recruited, while 25 healthy community participants (healthy controls) were recruited in a university setting. Total and endometrial cirDNA and cirDNA fragmentation were measured across the three groups. For menstrual comparisons, 36 matched non-menstruating and menstruating samples were collected from healthy women recruited within a university setting, and the endometrial cirDNA was compared between the two groups.
PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS
cirDNA was extracted from venous blood plasma then quantitated by quantitative PCR of ALU repetitive element (115 bp) and TP53 gene sequence (105 bp) for total concentration. cirDNA derived from the endometrium was quantitated by methylation-specific droplet digital PCR of a FAM101A region (69 bp) after bisulfite conversion of the DNA. A cirDNA size fragmentation ratio was obtained by quantifying a long segment of ALU repetitive element (247 bp) and expressing the amount relative to the 115 bp ALU target.
MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE
No differences in cirDNA level were found in any comparison populations in this study. Mean total cirDNA was unchanged between healthy controls (ALU-115-3.31 ng/ml; TP53-2.73 ng/ml), hospital controls (ALU-115-3.47 ng/ml; TP53-2.83 ng/ml) and endometriosis patients (ALU-115-3.35 ng/ml; TP53-2.66 ng/ml). Likewise, endometrial cirDNA was unchanged between healthy controls (18.3 copies/ml), hospital controls (20.6 copies/ml) and endometriosis patients (22 copies/ml). Endometrial cirDNA did not change during menstruation (non-menstruating: 38 copies/ml; menstruating: 33 copies/ml). Irrespective of endometriosis diagnosis, blood from patients undergoing laparoscopy (hospital controls: 0.77; endometriosis patients: 0.79), had a significantly higher cirDNA size ratio than community-recruited healthy controls (0.64), indicating increased abundance of long cirDNA fragments.
LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION
It was not possible to completely match the age, BMI and parity between the three cohorts investigated, however of these, only age has been shown to influence circulating DNA levels and not within the age range of our cohort. Blood from community-recruited healthy women and women undergoing laparoscopy was collected via antecubital vein venepuncture (processed within 3 h) and with either peripheral cannula or venepuncture (processed within 6 h), respectively, which could potentially impact the size distribution of circulating DNA fragments. For the collection of non-menstruating phase blood samples, we did not differentiate between follicular phase, ovulation and luteal phase. Thus, only the mensturating samples were collected at a consistent phase, and any fluctuations in cirDNA that occur at the other phases may have obscured small changes during menstruation.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
There is no evidence that cirDNA has potential as a diagnostic biomarker for endometriosis. Endometriosis, representing a common benign gynaecological condition, and menstruation, representing a normal physiological occurrence in women, should not affect methylation-based diagnostics in other disease areas, including oncology.
STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)
N.L.Y.: Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend through The University of New South Wales, Translational Cancer Research Network PhD Scholarship Top-Up Award via the Cancer Institute NSW, Beth Yarrow Memorial Award in Medical Science, UNSW Completion Scholarship; C.E.H.: Gynaecological Oncology Fund of the Royal Hospital for Women; K.W.: Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation and CAMILLA AND MARC. C.E.F.: UNSW Women's Wellbeing Academy and the Australian Human Rights Institute. We declare the following competing interest: K.W. holds stock in Guardant Health, Exact Sciences and Epigenomics AG. No other authors have competing interests.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
N/A.
Topics: Humans; Female; Endometriosis; Menstruation; Australia; Endometrium; Cell-Free Nucleic Acids; Biomarkers
PubMed: 36166696
DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deac198 -
Annals of the New York Academy of... Jan 1959
Topics: Menstruation
PubMed: 13854539
DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1959.tb44594.x -
Health Communication Feb 2020Menstruation is a salient, and sometimes scary, communication topic for young women. The present study reports on the early communication experiences about menstruation...
Menstruation is a salient, and sometimes scary, communication topic for young women. The present study reports on the early communication experiences about menstruation from 165 women using open-ended survey data. Through the framework of supportive communication, findings reveal that a discrepancy occurs between the health and practical information and needs to which young people who menstruate desire access, and their social and emotional needs. The present study indicates an inadequacy of both aspects of menstruation communication from important others in childhood and adolescence. Themes of boundary management, impersonal, silence, and accidents also characterize early communication experiences about menstruation. Our participants identified a desire for conversations that normalize menstruation as typical and acceptable, validate period pain and prescribe management tactics, and describe the existence of feminine hygiene products other than pads and tampons. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Communication; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Menstruation; Social Support; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
PubMed: 30460861
DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2018.1548337 -
Reproductive Health Jun 2020Menstruation, a natural biologic process is associated with restrictions and superstitious beliefs in Nepal. However, factual data on women's perspectives on menstrual...
BACKGROUND
Menstruation, a natural biologic process is associated with restrictions and superstitious beliefs in Nepal. However, factual data on women's perspectives on menstrual practices and restrictions are scarce. This study aimed to assess socio-cultural perceptions of menstrual restrictions among urban Nepalese women in the Kathmandu valley.
METHODS
Using a clustered random sampling, 1342 adolescent girls and women of menstruating age (≥15 years) from three urban districts in the Kathmandu valley completed a survey related to menstrual practices and restriction. This was a cross-sectional survey study using a customized program allowing pull-down, multiple choice and open-ended questions in the Nepali language. The self-administered questionnaire consisted of 13 demographic questions and 22 questions related to menstruation, menstrual hygiene, socio-cultural taboos, beliefs and practices. Univariate descriptive statistics were reported. Unadjusted associations of socio-cultural practices with ethnicity, education, four major social classes, three major religions, marital status and family type were assessed using logistic regression models.
RESULTS
More than half (59%) of the participants were aged between 15- < 25 years. The majority were Hindus (84.5%), reported not praying during menstruation (83.1%) and were encouraged by their mothers (72.1%) to practice a range of menstrual restrictions. Purifying either the kitchen, bed, bedsheets or other household things on the fourth day of menstruation was reported by 66.1% of the participants, and 45.4% saw menstruation as a "bother" or "curse." There were differences among social classes, where participants of the Janajati caste, an indigenous group, were more likely to enter places of worship [OR (95%CI): 1.74 (1.06-2.86)] and pray [OR (95%CI): 1.79 (1.18-2.71)] while menstruating, compared to the Brahmins. Participants with a master's degree were more likely to pray while menstruating, compared to participants with less than a high school education [OR (95%CI): 2.83 (1.61-4.96)].
CONCLUSION
This study throws light on existing social discriminations, deep-rooted cultural and religious superstitions among women, and gender inequalities in the urban areas of Kathmandu valley in Nepal. Targeted education and awareness are needed to make changes and balance between cultural and social practices during menstruation.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Culture; Educational Status; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Hygiene; Menstruation; Nepal; Religion; Social Class; Socioeconomic Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 32487096
DOI: 10.1186/s12978-020-00935-6 -
Psychological Reports Oct 2023The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between hormone contraceptive use and menstruation on cognitive performance in young women. The object array task...
The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between hormone contraceptive use and menstruation on cognitive performance in young women. The object array task assessed object memory and a mental rotations test assessed spatial ability in women taking hormone contraceptives and naturally cycling women. Women taking hormone contraceptives were significantly better than naturally cycling women at identifying novel objects on an object array, but not on performance of a mental rotations task. There were also no significant differences in either task between naturally cycling women who were menstruating and those who were not menstruating during testing. The results of this study suggest that women taking hormone contraceptives outperformed naturally cycling women in recalling the identities of objects. The findings from this study help to further demonstrate the relationship between ovarian hormones and cognitive performance and add to the understanding of how hormone contraceptives affect cognition.
Topics: Female; Humans; Menstruation; Contraceptives, Oral; Spatial Navigation; Cognition; Hormones
PubMed: 35349378
DOI: 10.1177/00332941221079608 -
Biology of Reproduction Aug 2016
Topics: Animals; Menstruation; Mice
PubMed: 27563028
DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.116.143511 -
Lancet (London, England) May 2000
Topics: Choice Behavior; Contraceptives, Oral; Female; Gender Identity; Humans; Menstruation; Risk Factors
PubMed: 10905278
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)73142-1 -
Contraception Aug 2005Contemporary women experience more menstrual cycles than their predecessors, and their menstrual patterns are modified by contraceptives. Amenorrhea is one side effect...
Contemporary women experience more menstrual cycles than their predecessors, and their menstrual patterns are modified by contraceptives. Amenorrhea is one side effect that has recently been advocated as desirable. This qualitative study investigated Brazilian women's views regarding the suppression of menstruation using hormones. Data were collected through eight focus groups, following a semistructured guideline. Sixty-four women, 21-51 years old, all menstruating regularly and all of whom had already initiated sexual activity and had no perceived infertility participated. Discussions were recorded, transcribed and entered into the computer, using the Ethnograph V 5.0 software to aggregate similar patterns. Thematic content analysis revealed that menstruation and amenorrhea were both seen with ambiguity. Although regarded as a nuisance, menstruation was associated with femaleness, youth, fertility and health. Most women, although they would like to be free from menstruation, feared negative consequences of induced amenorrhea and even regarded the proposition as a male intrusion into what they consider a natural female condition.
Topics: Adult; Amenorrhea; Brazil; Female; Focus Groups; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Menstrual Cycle; Menstruation; Middle Aged
PubMed: 16022856
DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2005.02.013