Advancing women's health: The imperative for public health screening of uterine fibroids for personalized care.

Uterine fibroids represent the most prevalent genital tract tumours among women, with a disproportionately higher impact on ethnic minority groups, notably black women. These hormonally dependent monoclonal tumours, characterized by excessive extracellular matrix and influenced by genetic, epigenetic, and lifestyle factors, significantly affect women's quality of life and pose substantial economic burdens on healthcare systems. Recent advances in early detection and minimally invasive treatment options have shifted management paradigms towards personalized care, yet challenges in early diagnosis, education and access to treatment persist. This review synthesizes current knowledge on uterine fibroids, highlighting the impact of fibroids on women's health, risk factors, principles of screening, diagnostic tools, and treatment modalities. It emphasizes the importance of early screening and individualized management strategies in improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. The article also discusses the socio-economic and health disparities affecting the disease burden, underscoring the need for improved patient education, clinician training, and public health strategies to enhance fibroid management. This review proposes a pathway to not only ameliorate the quality of life for women with fibroids, but also to advance global women's health equity.

Surgical management of uterine fibroids.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Fibroids are benign pelvic masses and constitute the most common gynaecological condition. They create a significant health and social burden to many women because of heavy menstrual bleeding and fibroid pressure symptoms. Many women will be faced with the dilemma of surgical management to improve their symptoms at some point of their reproductive age. The aim of this article is to identify current surgical management of fibroids describing the technical steps, advantages, disadvantages and risks of each method. RECENT FINDINGS: The surgical management of fibroids remains challenging, as the overall prevalence, the clinical experience and the patient awareness is increasing because of an upgrade in our sonographic and magnetic resonance diagnostic tools. Unfortunately not every patient is able to benefit from tailor-made surgery that holistically evaluates individual needs including fertility aspirations. SUMMARY: This article provides the most current synopsis of every available surgical modality for fibroid management. Large prospective multicentre cohort studies are needed to definitely determine the most suitable operation for any individual suffering with fibroids; and perhaps artificial intelligence may offer a valuable tool in the future data analysis.

Oral gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists: the continuing search for the ideal nonsurgical therapy of uterine fibroids with a cautionary tale.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Uterine fibroids are very common with a prevalence of over 70%. They present a significant economic and psychological burden. A variety of nonsurgical treatments exist for its management encompassing hormonal and nonhormonal methods. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists are a novel treatment for uterine fibroids. They cause a rapid reduction in endogenous GnRH, leading to a dose-dependent reduction in levels of oestradiol and progesterone, thus reduction in bleeding. The addition of hormones, estrogen, and progesterone, known as add-back therapy, helps curb the menopausal side effects. As such, they pose a potential long-term nonsurgical therapy for management of symptomatic fibroids. RECENT FINDINGS: There are various uses of GnRH antagonists and the results from the clinical trials are promising. Caution needs to be taken when new treatment options are introduced with audit and data collection tools in place to assess effectiveness as well as any side effects. SUMMARY: This article highlights the uses of GnRH antagonists in practice and reflects on previous novel treatments for fibroids with a focus on Ulipristal acetate. It states the importance of using audit tools and multiinstitutional databases to prevent and allow early discovery of issues such as those that encumbered Ulipristal.

Perioperative hormone treatment of endometriosis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The use of hormonally suppressive medication to reduce levels of reproductive hormones around the time of surgery is widely used in the management of endometriosis. This review summarizes the current evidence concerning the perioperative use of hormonal treatment in the management of endometriosis. RECENT FINDINGS: European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) guidanceSurgical Outcomes and Complications of Laparoscopic Hysterectomy for Endometriosis: A Multicentre Cohort StudyPre and postsurgical medical therapy for endometriosis surgery. Cochrane 2020Postoperative hormonal treatment for prevention of endometrioma recurrence after ovarian cystectomy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. BJOG 2021. SUMMARY: The literature highlights the importance of hormonal treatment for symptom relief, reduced surgical complications and postoperative benefits, including a reduction in pain, disease recurrence and improved pregnancy rates. The treatment of endometriosis can be broadly categorized into medical, commonly using hormonal suppression medications and surgical, in which endometriosis tissue is excised or ablated. This review aims to outline current management strategies and examines the relationship between the two treatment modalities.

Women's experiences of birth and birth options counselling after laparoscopic or open myomectomy.

There is emerging evidence that vaginal birth after open and laparoscopic myomectomy may be safe in many pregnancies, however, there are no studies examining the perspectives of women who have given birth post myomectomy and their preferences regarding mode of birth. We performed a retrospective questionnaire survey of women who had an open or laparoscopic myomectomy followed by a pregnancy within 3 maternity units in a single NHS trust in the UK over a 5-year period. Our results revealed only 53% felt actively involved in the decision making for their birth plan and 90% had not been offered a specific birth options counselling clinic. Of those who had either a successful trial of labour after myomectomy (TOLAM) or elective caesarean section (ELCS) in the index pregnancy, 95% indicated satisfaction with their mode of birth however, 80% would prefer vaginal birth in a future pregnancy. Whilst long term prospective data is required to fully establish the safety of vaginal birth after laparoscopic and open myomectomy, this study is the first to explore the subjective experiences of women who had given birth post laparoscopic or open myomectomy and has highlighted the inadequate involvement of these women in the decision-making process.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Fibroids are the commonest female solid tumours in women of childbearing age with surgical management including open and laparoscopic excision techniques. However, the management of a subsequent pregnancy and birth remains controversial with no robust guidance on which women may be suitable for vaginal birth.What do the results of this study add? We present the first study to our knowledge which explores women's experiences of birth and birth options counselling after open and laparoscopic myomectomy.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? We provide a rationale for using birth options clinics to facilitate an informed decision-making process and highlight the current inadequate guidance for clinicians on how to advise women having a pregnancy following a myomectomy. Whilst long term prospective data is required to fully establish the safety of vaginal birth after laparoscopic and open myomectomy, this needs to be carried out in a way which promotes the preferences of the women affected by this research.

Laparoscopic myomectomy to facilitate laparoscopic resection of a bleeding interstitial ectopic pregnancy.

Interstitial pregnancies present a diagnostic and management challenge and are associated with significant bleeding risk. We present a case of an interstitial ectopic pregnancy where there was a diagnostic delay due to the presence of uterine fibroids and where a laparoscopic myomectomy was required in order to perform laparoscopic resection of the ruptured interstitial pregnancy.This case demonstrates the possibilities at laparoscopy for ectopic pregnancy, highlights the benefit of a structured 'buddy' system between gynaecology surgeons and brings attention to the paucity of literature on the unique management challenges of ectopic pregnancy in the presence of leiomyoma.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: a midwifery survey into attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine.

BACKGROUND: Ethnically minoritised people have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerging evidence suggests a lower uptake of the vaccine in ethnically minoritised people, particularly Black females of reproductive age. Unvaccinated pregnant women are high risk for morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. Midwives are the principal healthcare professionals responsible for counselling the pregnant population on decisions relating to vaccine uptake. The aim of this study was to explore midwifery uptake of and attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine in two ethnically diverse areas. METHODS: A 45-point questionnaire was circulated over a six-week period to midwives employed in two teaching hospitals in England; London (Barts Health NHS Trust) and Sussex (Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH)). A total of 378 out of 868 midwives responded. Results were analysed to determine vaccine uptake as well as factors influencing vaccine hesitancy and decision-making between the two trusts and ethnic groups. Thematic analysis was also undertaken. RESULTS: Midwives of Black ethnicities were over 4-times less likely to have received a COVID-19 vaccine compared to midwives of White ethnicities (52% vs 85%, adjusted OR = 0.22, p = < 0.001). Overall, there were no significant differences between trusts in receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine (p = 0.13). Midwives at Barts Health were significantly more likely to have tested positive for COVID-19 compared to midwives at BSUH (adjusted OR = 2.55, p = 0.007). There was no statistical difference between ethnicities in testing positive for COVID-19 (p = 0.86). The most common concerns amongst all participants were regarding the long-term effect of the vaccine (35%), that it was developed too fast (24%), having an allergic reaction (22%) and concerns about fertility (15%). Amongst unvaccinated midwives, those of Black ethnicity had a higher occurrence of concern that the vaccine contained meat / porcine products (adjusted OR = 5.93, p = 0.04) and that the vaccine would have an adverse effect on ethnic minorities (adjusted OR = 4.42, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the significantly higher level of vaccine hesitancy amongst Black midwives and offer insights into midwives' concerns. This can facilitate future targeted public health interventions. It is essential that vaccine hesitancy amongst midwifery staff is addressed to improve vaccine uptake in the pregnant population.

To Fight or to Flee? A Systematic Review of Ectopic Pregnancy Management and Complications During the Covid-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND/AIM: During the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns regarding theoretical risks of surgery contributed to changes in clinical management to prevent contamination. We looked at the effect the pandemic had on the management of ectopic pregnancy. Our review compares published data on pre-COVID to COVID management of ectopic pregnancies and evaluates the differences where Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU) structures exist. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a systematic review of the published evidence using a keyword strategy. The "Population Intervention Comparison and Outcome" (PICO) criteria were used to select studies. Three independent reviewers agreed on the data extracted after screening of the literature. The total population analysed included 3122 women. A meta-analysis of the included studies was completed using a random or fixed effect model depending on the heterogeneity (I2). Our outcomes were the following: type of management of ectopic pregnancy (EP), incidence of ruptured EP and rate of complications. We compared units with and without EPU infrastructure. RESULTS: We included every study which recruited women diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy and compared the type of management during and prior the COVID-19 peak. Our literature search yielded 34 papers. 12 were included using the PRISMA guidelines. We observed no difference in the type of management (surgical versus non-surgical) [OR=0.99 (0.63-1.55), p=0.96, I2=77%] in the pre-Covid vs. Covid cohorts overall but a reduction of surgical management in EPU structures. There was no difference in the ectopic rupture rate within the EPU branch [OR=0.66 (0.33-1.31), p=0.24, I2=37%]. In contrast, in non-EPU (NPEU) structures there was a clear increased risk of ruptured ectopic pregnancy [OR=2.86 (1.84-4.46), p<0.01 I2=13%] and complications [OR=1.69 (1.23-2.31), p=0.001, I2=45%]. CONCLUSION: The risk of ruptured ectopic and complications was significantly higher in the absence of EPU structures. This worldwide trend was not reflected in the UK, where EPU systems are widespread, suggesting that EPU structures contributed to prompt diagnosis and safe management. In the post-COVID era, healthcare systems have come to realise that pandemics might become the norm and thus the onus is to identify services that have worked seamlessly.

Perspectives on modes of labour and delivery after different modalities of surgery for bowel endometriosis.

Bowel or intestinal endometriosis is estimated to affect 5-37% of women with deep infiltrative endometriosis (DIE), especially in the rectum and recto-sigmoid junction. However, there are no current guidelines or consensus regarding safest mode of delivery in pregnant women after different surgical interventions for bowel/intestinal endometriosis. From October 2019 to February 2020, we conducted an online survey of members of the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE). These included questions on what gynaecologist members would recommend as modes of delivery in women who had different surgical modalities for bowel endometriosis, and the particular factors that influence such recommendations. Analysis of data was performed using SPSS for Windows (V9) software package. One hundred and two members of BSGE completed the survey (61.76% of BSGE gynaecologist members). Only 30.39% of respondents counsel women, pre-operatively, about possible effects of surgical treatment of bowel endometriosis on their subsequent mode of delivery. Our survey highlights wide variation in practice that currently exists. Around 70% of clinicians are not counselling patients regarding delivery options pre-surgery despite almost one-third recommending planned caesarean section if the vagina is opened. Further studies are required to stratify the risk factors for such patients when attempting vaginal delivery or caesarean section.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Treatment of colorectal endometriosis consists of rectal shaving, discoid resection or segmental colorectal resection. However, the relationship between different surgical modalities for bowel endometriosis and the subsequent safe mode of labour and delivery remains unclear.What do the results of this study add? No study has been published that specifically looked at the particular course and outcome of labour and delivery after each of these bowel surgeries; rectal shaving, disc excision, or segmental colorectal resection. Our study highlights the wide variations in practice that currently exists. Despite around 70% of clinicians not counselling women regarding delivery options pre-surgery, almost one-third would recommend a planned caesarean section if the vagina is opened.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study suggests that risk factors should be stratified for such patients when attempting a vaginal delivery or undergoing a caesarean section. Guidance from the ESGE and/or BSGE would be useful to aid in the counselling and informed consent of such patients.

Each Uterus Counts: A narrative review of health disparities in benign gynaecology and minimal access surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Health disparities exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic have prompted healthcare professionals to investigate disparities within their own specialty. Racial and ethnic disparities in obstetrics are well documented but inequities in gynaecology are less well known. Our aim is to review the literature on two commonly performed procedures, hysterectomy and myomectomy, and one condition, ectopic pregnancy, to evaluate the prevalence of racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in benign gynaecology and minimal access surgery. METHODS: A narrative review of 33 articles identified from a Pubmed using the following search criteria; "race"; "ethnicity"; "socioeconomic status"; "disparity"; "inequity"; and "inequality". Case reports and papers assessing gynaecological malignancy were excluded. RESULTS: Despite minimal access surgery having fewer complications and faster recovery than open surgery, US studies have shown that black and ethnic minority women are less likely than white women to have minimally invasive hysterectomies and myomectomies. Uninsured women and patients on Medicaid are also less likely to receive minimally invasive procedures. Contributing factors include fibroid size, geographic location and access to hospitals performing minimal access surgery, and the discontinuation of power morcellation. Ethnic minority women who receive minimally invasive myomectomy have been shown to have a higher risk of complications and prolonged recovery. Black and ethnic minority women also have a higher risk of morbidity and mortality from ectopic pregnancy and are more likely to receive surgical than medical management. CONCLUSION: Extensive study from the US has demonstrated disparities in access to minimally invasive gynaecological surgery, whereas in the UK the data is infrequent, inconsistent and incomplete. Little is known about the influence of patient preference and counselling as well as institutional bias on health equity in gynaecology. Further research is necessary to identify interventions that mitigate these disparities in access and outcomes.

In vivo Simulation-Based Learning for Undergraduate Medical Students: Teaching and Assessment.

An increasing emphasis on simulation has become evident in the last three decades following fundamental shifts in the medical profession. Simulation-based learning (SBL) is a wide term that encompasses several means for imitating a skill, attitude, or procedure to train personnel in a safe and adaptive environment. A classic example has been the use of live animal tissue, named in vivo SBL. We aimed to review all published evidence on in vivo SBL for undergraduate medical students; this includes both teaching concepts as well as focused assessment of students on those concepts. We performed a systematic review of published evidence on MEDLINE. We also incorporated evidence from a series of systematic reviews (eviCORE) focused on undergraduate education which have been outputs from our dedicated research network (eMERG). In vivo SBL has been shown to be valuable at undergraduate level and should be considered as a potential educational tool. Strict adherence to 3R (Reduce, Refine, Replace) principles in order to reduce animal tissue usage, should always be the basis of any curriculum. In vivo SBL could potentially grant an extra mile towards medical students' inspiration and aspiration to become safe surgeons; however, it should be optimised and supported by a well-designed curriculum which enhances learning via multi-level fidelity SBL.

COVID-19 in Women's health reducing the risk of infection to patients and staff during acute and elective hospital admission for gynaecological surgery.

The novel coronavirus SARS-Cov-2 has changed healthcare on a worldwide scale. This highly contagious respiratory virus has overwhelmed healthcare systems. Many staff were redeployed, and there was widespread cessation of non-urgent outpatient clinics and surgery. Outpatient clinics and theatre areas were converted to COVID-19 wards and intensive care units. Following the first peak, services began to recommence with new triaging and prioritisation guidance to safeguard patients and staff. Different countries and healthcare systems produced differing guidance and, in particular, variation in the best approach to continuing acute and elective surgical procedures. This chapter collates and evaluates the increasing international literature concerning the surgical management of gynaecological conditions during the pandemic, such that clear inferences, recommendations and guidance can be generated to aid clinical practice and safeguard against further major disruption arising from further COVID-19 peaks. The available data are assessed within the context of the current phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What happens after randomised controlled trials? Uterine fibroids and ulipristal acetate: systematic review and meta-analysis of "real-world" data.

PURPOSE: "Real-world" data incorporates studies performed outside of controlled environments, allowing for a better understanding of the effects of treatment in routine clinical practice. We, therefore, performed a systematic review to summarise available "real-world studies" reporting on the use of ulipristal acetate (UPA) for management of uterine fibroids. METHODS: We designed a prospective protocol according to PRISMA guidelines and registered it with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42019151393). We searched all major databases for relevant citations until 20th September 2019. Our screen included studies for risk of bias using an adapted structured quality assessment tool. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to calculate proportion estimates for each outcome including 95% confidence interval. Reported heterogeneity was assessed using I2. RESULTS: Initial search yielded 755 studies and 13 were included in the final synthesis. Administration of UPA resulted in reduction in the size of fibroids in 56.5% of women, improved menorrhagia in 83% of women, improved perception of pain in 80.1% of women and lead to an improvement in global symptom scores in 85.2% of women. Mean reduction in surgical blood loss and surgical time with use of UPA was 59.85 ml and 12.47 min, respectively. Qualitative analysis suggested that there was no difference in overall surgical experience for patients treated with UPA compared to those without pre-treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are consistent with previously reported data that UPA is an acceptable management option for women with fibroids. However, it provides limited benefits when used as a pre-operative adjunct, in terms of blood loss and surgical time.

ABC of Surgical Teaching: Time to Consider a Global Blueprint for Holistic Education.

BACKGROUND: Educating and equipping students and trainees into clinicians capable of meeting healthcare demands and service provision needs is essential. Unprecedented events like COVID-19 pandemic, highlight urgent need for reformation of training to ensure high quality education is maintained. To this end, we describe an innovative and globally adaptable blueprint for establishing a surgical curriculum, aiming to optimize preparation of future surgeons. METHODS: We used a structured protocol to synthesize evidence from previous systematic reviews focused on surgical education alongside a series of focused original educational studies. This approach allowed incorporation of prospectively applied novel ideas into the existing landscape of published evidence. All material used for this proof of concept derives from the outputs of a dedicated research network for surgical education (eMERG). RESULTS: We propose the foundation blueprint framework called "Omnigon iG4" as a globally applicable model. It allows adaptation to individual local educational environments for designing, appraising and/or refining surgical curricula. We also describe the "Omnigon iG4 Hexagon Pragmatic Model," a novel perspective model which assesses the performance of our blueprint in a multi-layer fashion. This "Hexagon" model is the first to introduce pragmatic outcomes in curricula performance assessment. CONCLUSIONS: This proof of concept, "Omnigon iG4," proposes an adaptable version of a curriculum blueprint. The framework allows educators to establish a surgical curriculum with the ability to map out competencies, permitting full control over their intended learning outcomes. This can form the basis for developing globally adaptable multifaceted Simulation-Based learning (SBL) courses or even surgical curricula for undergraduates.

Social prevalence of knowledge about ectopic pregnancy - tip of the 'health inequalities' iceberg?

We aimed to assess the social and demographic factors determining the level of awareness of the signs and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy (EP) in an East London female population and determine if awareness was related to adverse outcomes. This was a prospective, observational study using a structured questionnaire to assess awareness of EP. A retrospective analysis of a database of EP patients was used to assess the association between adverse clinical outcomes and knowledge about EP. A younger age (<20 years) (p = .024), higher education (p = .008), higher income (p = .002), professional (p = .008), white ethnicity (p= <.00001), single (p = .037) and an awareness of the media (p = .030) were statistically significantly related to a higher knowledge. A significant difference was seen between the white and all other ethnicities in the amount of blood loss (p = .033). The relative risks (RRs 1.169) of having >500 ml of blood loss were higher in the ethnic minorities. RR of >500 ml of blood loss if Asian compared to white is 1.1034 and if black compared to white is 1.1201. Blacks are more likely than whites and Asians to have blood loss >1000 ml (p = .019). An ethnic minority, a lower education level, the older age groups, those with a lower income and with non-professional careers are linked to a lower level of knowledge about EP. Ethnic minority communities have a higher risk of adverse clinical outcomes.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? Research has identified demographic and social factors which prove that victims of health inequalities are usually the poor and the marginalised.What the results of this study add? To-date, our study is the only one to establish that the level of knowledge about ectopic pregnancy (EP) is influenced by demographic and socioeconomic factors and that lower levels of knowledge are significantly associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Our findings show that ethnic minority women are more likely to suffer morbidity from EP than their Caucasian counterparts. We have also established that women of poorer backgrounds, women with lesser levels of education and in non-professional jobs are least likely to be aware of signs and symptoms and consequences of EP.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The health service has a responsibility to identify these populations and target them for interventions to correct these health inequalities. We propose a multifaceted plan to increase the level of knowledge of these identified sections of the local community.

A student initiative to improve exposure in research - Dual benefit?

PURPOSE: Despite the recent implementation of research-focused activities into undergraduate education, there is still a universal lack of offered exposure experienced by medical students. We organised an undergraduate research conference to explore students' views on research and evaluate the impact of the conference on participants' and organisers' research skills and non-technical skills respectively. METHODS: The conference was a student-led initiative which took place at a London medical school. Feedback from delegates was collected before and after the conference and aimed to evaluate previous experience and views in research, subjective assessment of relevant skills and the overall quality of the conference. Subjective change in organisers' non-technical skill performance was also evaluated using an online questionnaire following the conference. RESULTS: Forty-four students attended the conference, out of which only 3 (7.7%) have published in an international peer-reviewed journal. Finding a project supervisor was reported by most delegates as the biggest barrier in becoming involved in research. Delegates' study design (p = 0.041) and oral/poster presentation skills (p = 0.041) showed a statistically significant subjective improvement. A clear benefit in organisers' subjective improvement in non-technical skill performance has been demonstrated. The conference was evaluated highly. CONCLUSION: There is need to address the barriers that medical and dental students face in the path to get involved in research. Our conference framework has demonstrated benefit to both delegates and organisers in improving their research skills and non-technical skills respectively. The conference, being highly appraised, lays the ground for such initiatives to be integrated in undergraduate medical and dental curricula.