Cross-sectional evaluation of the impact of information on flexible extended regimens of oral contraceptives in the choices made by women seeking contraceptive counselling: the FLEXO study.

OBJECTIVE: Oral combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) are available that limit the number of menses when used in a flexible extended regimen. Our aim was to investigate the decision-making processes of women presented with a flexible extended CHC option. METHODS: The FLEXO study is an epidemiological, cross-sectional, multicentre study conducted under typical clinical practice conditions to determine women's acceptance of a flexible continuous CHC regimen versus a cyclical 21/7 day regimen, after receiving standardised information during contraceptive counselling. RESULTS: A total of 1350 women were invited to participate, of whom 1156 were enrolled. Of these, 47.2% chose the flexible extended CHC regimen. Their main reason for choosing this regimen was to reduce the number of menses (25.7%), followed by the desire to avoid symptoms related to menstruation (21.6%). The reasons given for rejecting this regimen were the desire to have monthly menstrual cycles (24.9%) and the fear of becoming pregnant and not being aware of it due to the absence of menstruation (18.1%). CONCLUSION: Many women chose the extended flexible regimen when they received information about this option. Women primarily chose this pattern to relieve or eliminate discomfort related to menstruation.

Primary breast angiosarcoma in a young woman.

INTRODUCTION: Angiosarcomas of the breast are a rare subtype of sarcomas that frequently are diagnosed after radiation therapy for primary breast cancer. Primary angiosarcomas are rare entities accounting 0.05% of all malignant breast neoplasm. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report a case of primary angiosarcoma of the breast in a 25 years woman, with no previous radiotherapy, treated with a total mastectomy followed by radio-chemotherapy. DISCUSSION: Total mastectomy appears to be the only treatment known that has proven to benefit these patients. Adjuvant treatment has not proven value up until today. The 5-year disease free survival for grade 1 tumors can be as high as 76%, and up to 15% for grade 3. CONCLUSION: Due to the rarity of these tumors there is no standard therapies approach.

Psychometric attributes of the Cervantes short-form questionnaire for measuring health-related quality of life in menopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the psychometric properties of the Cervantes scale short-form (SF) in the peri- and post-menopausal periods. METHODS: Outpatients women 45-65 years with menstrual problems associated with the climacteric syndrome were analysed. Original and SF versions of the Cervantes scale were administered along with the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) and work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire (WPAI) scales. Conceptual model, burden of administration, feasibility, reliability, criteria validity and construct validity were assessed. RESULTS: 317 women [55.7±5.3 years (mean±standard deviation)] were recruited: 75.4% were post- and 22.3% were peri-menopausal. The Cervantes-SF was completed in 2.5±1.6min, and 86% answered all items. Cronbach's α was 0.820, and ranged from 0.510 (Aging) to 0.918 (Vasomotor Symptoms) for individual dimensions. The scale structure matched the structure of the original version, χ(2)/(degrees of freedom)=3.6, Comparative Fit Index=0.848, Tucker-Lewis Index=0.850, and root mean square error of approximation=0.099, although differences were found between sexual activity statuses. Criteria validity was good (r=0.890), concurrent validity was congruent with a priori hypothesis using either the EQ-5D or the WPAI scales. The scale discriminated significantly the severity of both vasomotor and genital climacteric associated symptoms. CONCLUSION: The Cervantes-SF has shown good psychometric properties for measuring Health related quality of life in peri- and post-menopausal women who regularly attended gynaecology clinics in Spain.