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Evidence-based Complementary and... 2023Sexual disorders such as erectile dysfunction (ED), sterility, and sexual inappetence represent some of the complex reproductive challenges that require addressing the... (Review)
Review
Sexual disorders such as erectile dysfunction (ED), sterility, and sexual inappetence represent some of the complex reproductive challenges that require addressing the underlying causes. The aim of this paper was to systematically synthesize literature on the ethnobotany, phytochemistry, bioactivities, and safety of plants used as remedies for managing sexual dysfunction and infertility, and improving fertility and virility in the EAC. Through an extensive review conducted in multidisciplinary electronic databases, 171 plant species were identified to have been reported for the management of sexual inappetence (i.e., used as aphrodisiacs, 39.4%), ED (35.9%), infertility (18.7%), and increasing fertility (6.0%). The most used plants are , , , , , , and while roots (44.9%), leaves (21.8%), stem and root barks (16.7%) of shrubs (35%), trees (31%), herbs (26%), and climbers (8%) are the preferred organs for making decoctions (69%). The research strides to date indicate that , , , , , , and have been assessed for their bioactivity. The majority (71.4%) of the plants either increased testosterone levels and mounting frequency or elicited prosexual stimulatory effects in male rats. More studies investigating the relevant pharmacological activities (aphrodisiac, fertility, and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitory activities), safety aspects, responsible compounds, and clinical studies are warranted to establish the pharmacological potential of the unstudied species and elucidate the mechanism of action of the bioactive compounds.
PubMed: 37600549
DOI: 10.1155/2023/6878852 -
International Journal For Equity in... Jul 2023Gender-transformative health interventions that involve men and boys are gaining global reach, adaptability to specific geographical, population and epidemiological...
Gender-transformative health interventions that involve men and boys are gaining global reach, adaptability to specific geographical, population and epidemiological contexts, public endorsement, and conceptual sophistication. However, the ways in which masculinities are conceptualised and operationalised in theory and practice across these interventions remains unclear. The purpose of this scoping review is to map intervention studies that conceptually grapple with masculinities and analyse: a) how the concept of masculinities is adapted and operationalised in gender-transformative interventions, with respect to intervention population and context, b) what the relationship between the concept of masculinities and its wider theoretical embedding is, and c) on which levels transformation can be observed when working with 'masculinities'.We conducted a search in APA Psych Articles, APA PsycINFO, and CINAHL via EBSCO, MedLine, PubMed, and Web of Sciences (December 2021) looking for peer-reviewed studies on gender-transformative health interventions which engaged with masculinities conceptually. There were no restrictions regarding language, publication date, or geography. Forty-two articles were included in this review. Our abductive analysis finds that 'hegemonic masculinities' is a central concept in almost all included studies. This shows how the concept is adaptable to a range of different intervention contexts. The review further identifies five theoretical approaches, that help operationalise masculinities on an analytical level: feminist framework, affect theory, critical pedagogy, theories of social change, and ecological approaches. Lastly, this review draws out six levels on which transformation can be observed in the intervention outcomes: relational level, symbolic level, material level, affective level, cognitive-behavioural level, and community-structural level. The discussion underlines that processes and practices of (gender) transformation also require engagement with theories of transformation more widely and advocates for theoretical pluralism. Lastly, implications for practice, including preventative, ecological and community-based care models, are drawn out.
Topics: Male; Humans; Masculinity; Men; Social Change
PubMed: 37501204
DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-01955-x -
PloS One 2023Immigrant students face various challenges in high-income countries that can contribute to the decline of their mental well-being upon arrival in their host country....
BACKGROUND
Immigrant students face various challenges in high-income countries that can contribute to the decline of their mental well-being upon arrival in their host country. Despite the growing population of these students in several high-income countries, there is inadequate attention given to their mental health needs and their access to mental health services. Thus, this systematic scoping review aimed to identify gaps in existing research relating to the barriers and facilitators associated with access to and use of mental health services in high-income countries.
METHODS
Following the PRISMA-ScR checklist as guidance we systematically searched Ovid Medline, APA PsycInfo, Education Source, CINAHL, Web of Science databases for peer reviewed articles related to barriers and facilitators of mental health service use among immigrant students. We conducted a narrative evidence synthesis to highlight barriers and facilitators to the use of mental health services.
RESULTS
Out of the 2407 articles initially found, 47 studies met the inclusion criteria and were considered for this review. The increasing attention towards the mental health concerns of immigrant students and their access to mental health services is evident. However, various barriers like stigma, insufficient knowledge, or adherence to traditional gender roles (such as masculinity) hinder their utilization of these services. On the other hand, factors such as being a woman, having a strong sense of cultural adaptation, or possessing adequate mental health literacy serve as facilitators for accessing mental health services.
CONCLUSION
These students have unique experiences, and their needs are often unmet. To improve their mental health and use of mental health services, it is important to consider the barriers they face and their unique experience in their specific life context and to develop tailored prevention and intervention programs.
Topics: Mental Health Services; Emigrants and Immigrants; Students; Developed Countries; Humans
PubMed: 37384726
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287162 -
Archives of Sexual Behavior Oct 2023Sexual and dating violence (SDV) by male youth (≤ 25 years)-including sexual harassment, emotional partner violence, and rape-is a worldwide problem. The goal of...
Sexual and dating violence (SDV) by male youth (≤ 25 years)-including sexual harassment, emotional partner violence, and rape-is a worldwide problem. The goal of this preregistered (PROSPERO, ID: CRD42022281220) systematic review was to map existing SDV prevention programs aimed at male youth, including their characteristics (e.g., content, intensity), intended psychosexual outcomes, and empirically demonstrated effectiveness, guided by the principles of the theory of planned behavior (TPB). We conducted searches in six online databases for published, peer-reviewed quantitative effectiveness studies on multi-session, group focused, and interaction based SDV prevention programs for male youth ending March 2022. After screening of 21,156 hits using PRISMA guidelines, 15 studies on 13 different programs, from four continents were included. Narrative analysis showed, first, broad ranges in program intensity (2-48 h total), and few program curricula included explicit discussion of relevant aspects of the TPB. Second, programs' main intended psychosexual outcomes were to change SDV experiences, or related attitudes, or norms. Third, significant effects were found mostly on longer term behaviors and short-term attitudes. Other theoretical proxies of SDV experiences, such as social norms and perceived behavioral control, were sparsely investigated; thus, program effectiveness on these outcomes remains largely unknown. Assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, moderate to serious risk of bias arose in all studies. We present concrete suggestions for program content, such as explicit attention to victimization and masculinity and discuss best practices for evaluation research, including assessments of program integrity, and examining relevant theoretical proxies of SDV.
Topics: Humans; Male; Adolescent; Intimate Partner Violence; Rape; Sex Offenses; Violence; Sexual Harassment
PubMed: 37226034
DOI: 10.1007/s10508-023-02596-5 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023Adult pure androgen-secreting adrenal tumors (PASATs) are extremely rare, and their characteristics are largely unknown.
BACKGROUND
Adult pure androgen-secreting adrenal tumors (PASATs) are extremely rare, and their characteristics are largely unknown.
METHODS
A rare case of adult bilateral PASATs was reported, and a systematic literature review of adult PASATs was conducted to summarize the characteristics of PASATs.
RESULTS
In total, 48 studies, including 40 case reports and 8 articles, were identified in this review. Analysis based on data of 42 patients (including current case and 41 patients from 40 case reports) showed that average age was 40.48 ± 15.80 years (range of 18-76). The incidence of adult PASAT peaked at 21-30 years old, while that of malignant PASAT peaked at 41-50 years old. Most PASAT patients were female (40/42, 95.23%), and hirsutism was the most common symptom (37/39, 94.87%). Testosterone (T) was the most commonly elevated androgen (36/42, 85.71%), and 26 of 32 tested patients presented increased dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DS) levels. In malignancy cases, disease duration was significantly decreased (1.96 vs. 4.51 years, P=0.025), and tumor diameter was significantly increased (8.9 vs. 4.9 cm, p=0.011). Moreover, the androgen levels, namely, T/upper normal range limit (UNRL) (11.94 vs. 4.943, P=0.770) and DS/UNRL (16.5 vs. 5.28, P=0.625), were higher in patients with malignancy. In total, 5 out of 7 patients showed an increase in DS or T in the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) stimulation test. Overall, 41 out of 42 patients (including current case) underwent adrenal surgery, and recurrence, metastasis, or death was reported in 5 out of 11 malignant patients even with adjuvant or rescue mitotane chemotherapy.
CONCLUSION
Adult PASAT, which is predominant in women, is characterized by virilism and menstrual dysfunction, especially hirsutism. Elevated T and DS may contribute to the diagnosis of adult PASAT, and HCG stimulation test might also be of help in diagnosis. Patients with malignant PASAT have a shorter disease duration, larger tumor sizes and relatively higher androgen levels. Surgery is recommended for all local PASATs, and Malignancy of PASAT should be fully considered due to the high risk of malignancy, poor prognosis and limited effective approaches.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Female; Adolescent; Young Adult; Middle Aged; Aged; Male; Androgens; Hirsutism; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Testosterone; Virilism
PubMed: 37033242
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1138114 -
F1000Research 2023: The rate of infertility is increasing day by day. According to studies conducted worldwide, 30 million men are diagnosed with infertility. Cases of infertility are...
: The rate of infertility is increasing day by day. According to studies conducted worldwide, 30 million men are diagnosed with infertility. Cases of infertility are often associated with a failure to become male in society. Procreation and gender roles are often closely linked so that infertile men are often considered the second sex. Sometimes, this condition makes men question their masculinity. : We performed a systematic review and metasynthesis with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline procedure on qualitative studies on ten databases exploring the experience of infertile men and their association with masculinity. : Twenty-four studies matched our question, and there are two major themes with eight subthemes that were obtained from the results of the metasynthesis of these studies. The impact of this gender issue is huge on men's health and their social interactions. As a result, gender issues provide a space for debate and a burden on men. Sometimes, men develop mental health problems. The topic of masculinity and infertility is at odds with feminism and is susceptible to the societal stigma that results from the hegemonic conception of masculinity. Interestingly, the men must accept reality and follow the treatment process for infertility, although it affects their psychological well-being. : These findings provide insight for physicians, as treating infertility requires a multidisciplinary team that does not only address procreation issues. Social issues related to gender roles often bring patients into harmful and dangerous conditions. To address the gender issue in men globally in several dimensions, however, a large study in various populations is still required.
Topics: Humans; Male; Masculinity; Infertility; Men's Health; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 37008892
DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.131599.1 -
Clinical Endocrinology Jul 2023As part of the update of the International Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Assessment and Management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a systematic review was...
OBJECTIVE
As part of the update of the International Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Assessment and Management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a systematic review was performed to inform evidence-based recommendations.
DESIGN
Systematic review. Only randomised controlled trial were included.
PATIENTS
Women with PCOS; the use of combined oral contraceptive pills (COCP) was compared with no medical treatment.
MEASUREMENTS
Outcomes were designed in collaboration with clinical experts, researchers, and consumers. Critical outcomes included hirsutism, irregular cycles, quality of life, body mass index (BMI), and weight.
RESULTS
1660 publications were identified, but only four studies were included. No studies could be combined for meta-analysis. COCP treatment improved cycle regularity compared with no medical treatment (100% vs. 0%, with low certainty of evidence). COCP showed no difference in improvement of hirsutism or BMI compared with placebo or lifestyle; a lower weight after COCP compared with no treatment (mean difference [MD] -8.0 (95% confidence interval, CI -11.67); -4.33 kg); and improvement in quality of life (MD 1.2 [95% CI 0.96]; 1.44), but these results were all very low certainty of evidence.
CONCLUSION
Results show that COCP benefit cycle regulation, but other benefits or potential adverse effects were only identified with very low certainty of evidence. The COCP is frontline medical treatment in PCOS, but this is still based on established efficacy in the broader general population. Our results show that research in PCOS is seriously lacking and should be prioritised to capture core reproductive, metabolic and psychological outcomes important in PCOS.
Topics: Female; Humans; Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; Hirsutism; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Quality of Life
PubMed: 36939017
DOI: 10.1111/cen.14913 -
Nutrients Jan 2023Obesity is an established risk factor for the development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), especially phenotype A. PCOS is an important cause of fertility disorders... (Review)
Review
Obesity is an established risk factor for the development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), especially phenotype A. PCOS is an important cause of fertility disorders in a large group of women of reproductive age. For many years, effective methods of treating hormonal disorders associated with PCOS have been sought in order to restore ovulation with regular menstrual cycles. Numerous studies support obesity treatment as an effective therapeutic method for many women. A seemingly simple method of treatment may prove to be particularly difficult in this group of women. The reason for this may be the lack of recognition the primary cause of obesity development or the occurrence of a vicious circle of disease. Primary causes of developing obesity may be emotional eating (EE) and eating disorders (EDs), such as binge eating disorder (BED) and its extreme form, addictive eating, as well as night eating syndrome (NES). All of these are caused by impaired function of the reward system. Consequently, these disorders can develop or be exacerbated in women with obesity and PCOS as a result of depression and anxiety related to hirsutism and fertility disturbances. Therefore, for the effective treatment of obesity, it is very important to recognize and treat EE, BED, and NES, including the appropriate selection of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. Therefore, the aim of our manuscript is to analyze the available data on the relationships between EE, BED, NES, obesity, and PCOS and their impact on the treatment of obesity in women with PCOS.
Topics: Humans; Female; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Binge-Eating Disorder; Night Eating Syndrome; Hirsutism; Obesity
PubMed: 36678165
DOI: 10.3390/nu15020295 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2022PCOS-related literature is mostly dominated by the medical perspective. However, the condition's lifelong, far reaching, and multifaceted impacts highlight the...
INTRODUCTION
PCOS-related literature is mostly dominated by the medical perspective. However, the condition's lifelong, far reaching, and multifaceted impacts highlight the importance to gain the perspectives from those with PCOS. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to explore the current literatures and gaps around the experiences and perceptions of those living with PCOS.
METHOD
A comprehensive search of seven electronic databases was conducted between July and October 2021. A total 34 from 1615 screened articles were included in this systematic review and subsequently coded using NVivo 12 software. The quality of individual studies was assessed by adaptation to the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) quality assessment tool.
RESULTS
Five domains were generated from the data: Signs/Symptoms, Diagnosis, Management, Perceptions, Resources and Improving Outcomes. Dissatisfaction surrounding the experience of diagnosis was common. Concerns surrounded perceived lack of knowledge from healthcare professionals and delays in diagnosis. Individual studies on adults and adolescents shared similar feelings. The consensus was found to be that current management was vague and generalised. Symptoms such as hirsutism, obesity, irregular menstruation challenge personal and societal expectations of femininity. Online PCOS resources are popular amongst those with PCOS but most of them lack evidence. A call for more culturally specific resources was found to be common ground amongst those with PCOS.
CONCLUSION
Overall dissatisfaction amongst adults and adolescents regarding their diagnostic journey of PCOS. Tailored and culturally specific PCOS advice and management is necessary and can be achieved through co-creation of resources between healthcare professionals and those with PCOS.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42021272371.
Topics: Adult; Adolescent; Female; Humans; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Hirsutism; Menstruation Disturbances; Behavior Therapy
PubMed: 36531482
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1064937 -
Performative Masculinity: A META-Ethnography of Experiences of Men in Academic and Clinical Nursing.International Journal of Environmental... Nov 2022Gender differences and stereotypes have been widely studied. Performative masculinity or "doing gender" is the adoption of traits considered to be "masculine" to achieve...
Gender differences and stereotypes have been widely studied. Performative masculinity or "doing gender" is the adoption of traits considered to be "masculine" to achieve acceptance in society. Performative masculinity, as it relates to career development for men in nursing, could be affected by internal attitudes and career choice, and external influences of culture. There are no critical systematic reviews to describe this process. The aim of this study was to synthesize research on how men in nursing experience masculine identity at work. A systematic literature search and qualitative synthesis using meta-ethnography guided this study. The literature search included studies from the electronic databases of PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, and Airiti Library, published in English or Chinese from 1994 to 2016. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. The meta-syntheses identified three themes describing how men in nursing experience masculine identity at work: (1) Nursing could be a gendered-neutral occupation suitable to both genders; (2) performative masculinity; and (3) strategies used when providing bodywork and care. Exploring insights about the tensions of performative masculinity among men in nursing, this study may help to address the challenges encountered in nursing education, practice, and career development. Establishing a male nursing model based on evidence from academic and clinical practice for nursing students and professional nurses could help to meet the increasing demand for nurses.
Topics: Humans; Male; Anthropology, Cultural; Education, Nursing; Masculinity; Nurses, Male; Students, Nursing
PubMed: 36429531
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214813