Knowledge & attitudes toward fertility preservation (Medical and social freezing) among Lebanese women between the ages of 18 and 39 years.

Egg freezing is a relatively new and controversial procedure in the Arab region, challenging traditional perceptions of fertility and motherhood. This study aims to assess Lebanese women's awareness and acceptance of egg freezing and how these attitudes differ according to vary with age, socio-demographic characteristics, and educational level. We conducted a cross-sectional survey targeting Lebanese females aged between 18 and 39, involving 402 Lebanese women from six different institutions representing diverse cultural backgrounds. 65% of the respondents had heard of egg freezing. Younger women (18-30 years old) were 2.09 times more likely to consider egg freezing than those aged 31-39. Single women were 4.31 times more likely to consider egg freezing than women in relationships, while childless women were 5.00 times more likely compared to women who already had children. Overall, medical egg freezing was more widely accepted than social egg freezing. The most supported indication for social egg freezing was to enable women who struggled to find the right partner during their peak fertile years to have children in the future (41.5%). The most common concern that affected women's decision to undergo egg freezing was whether the procedure would be proven safe for their future children and whether it would affect their future fertility. Interestingly, in a relatively conservative country, concerns about hymenal disruption were the least prevalent, (19%). The most common concern by far was limited information on the procedure (62%). In conclusion, the study reveals that awareness and acceptance of social egg freezing among Lebanese women were higher than expected. Limited information on the procedure's details was the main impediment to higher acceptance rates, highlighting the importance of physicians and primary healthcare providers in providing reproductive-aged women with the necessary information to safeguard their reproductive potential.

Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale in a sample of Lebanese women.

PURPOSE: Resilience is defined as the ability to face adversities with positive outcomes. Various scales have been utilized, including 25-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), to evaluate resilience among populations. Resilience research is scarce, particularly in Lebanon as no such scales have been validated. Thus, in the present work, we aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of CD-RISC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted at the Women's Health Center at the American University of Beirut Medical Center among Lebanese women presenting to the obstetrics and gynecology clinics. Internal validity of the Arabic CD-RISC was examined. Pearson's correlation coefficients between the scores of the Arabic version of CD-RISC and the other related constructs (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Dispositional Hope Scale, Life Orientation Test, and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) were assessed to evaluate its divergent and convergent validity. We collected responses from a total of 63 Lebanese women. RESULTS: The studied scale displayed a high internal consistency. Adequate correlation coefficients were manifested by the significant positive moderate to strong and negative moderate correlations between the Arabic CD-RISC and the other related constructs. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to validate the Arabic version of the CD-RISC in a sample of Lebanese women. The findings of this study provide evidence that the Arabic version of CD-RISC is a reliable and valid tool for the evaluation of resilience among Lebanese women.

Character strengths of women with polycystic ovary syndrome in a single center.

PURPOSE: To investigate the difference in character strengths (CSs) between patients with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the association between biological (i.e., testosterone levels) and psychological factors (i.e., character strengths). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 99 women divided into PCOS (49) and non-PCOS (50) groups who presented to the gynecological clinics at the women's center in the American University of Beirut Medical Center in 2017 were included. Women were assessed for testosterone bioavailable levels and completed a questionnaire that included Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Values in Action Survey-72. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to examine the association of CSs between the two groups and its predictors. RESULTS: The scores of hope, judgement, perspective, and transcendence of the PCOS group were significantly higher in comparison with healthy participants. An increase in free androgen index was negatively correlated to the score of judgement only. CONCLUSION: Women with PCOS have their own profile of character strengths and virtues that constitute judgement, hope, perspective, and transcendence. This in turn can be utilized to reinforce those personality strengths and thus decrease the psychological distress and mood disorders accompanied with this disease.

Knowledge and attitudes among Lebanese pregnant women and women seeking fertility treatment during the COVID-19 outbreak: a cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 has been recognised as a global health emergency necessitating collaborative efforts to halt further disease spread. The success of public health interventions and vaccination campaigns is contingent on the knowledge and awareness level of the public. We aim to assess COVID-19 knowledge and attitudes among Lebanese pregnant women and women seeking fertility treatment. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using telehealth administered survey. SETTING: University-affiliated tertiary care centre. PARTICIPANTS: The data of 402-Lebanese women pregnant or seeking fertility treatment aged 20-45 years were analysed. OUTCOME MEASURES: Extent of COVID-19 general knowledge, pregnancy-specific knowledge and attitudes toward COVID-19 practices. RESULTS: All participants reported being knowledgeable about COVID-19, 70% of which rated their knowledge as 7 or more on a numerical scale of 0-10. The mean general COVID-19 knowledge was 22.15 (SD 2.44, range 14-27) indicating a high level of knowledge. The mean pregnancy-specific COVID-19 knowledge 6.84 (SD 2.061, range 0-10) indicated poorer pregnancy-specific knowledge compared with general COVID-19 knowledge. A trend towards higher knowledge was noted with higher income status. Reproductive age women with higher pregnancy-specific knowledge had more positive attitudes toward COVID-19 pregnancy practices. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a deficiency in pregnancy-specific COVID-19 knowledge stressing the necessity for targeted public health education interventions. It highlights the need for enhancing COVID-19 pregnancy-specific awareness which can serve as a stepping stone in the success of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns and in halting further disease spread.

Parental Attitudes Toward Fertility Preservation in Female Adolescent Cancer Patients in Lebanon.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To measure parental attitudes toward fertility preservation (FP) in female adolescent cancer patients in a Middle Eastern country to understand barriers to decision-making and decisional conflicts. DESIGN AND SETTING: A questionnaire was distributed to parents of all female adolescents at a tertiary care center from February 2018 to September 2018. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 70 families. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Parental attitudes toward FP. RESULTS: The educational level of parents was associated with the knowledge about the side effects of treatment (P < .001). FP options were not offered to parents in 60/70 (85.6%) of cases. Oocyte cryopreservation was an acceptable option for 23/70 (32.9%) of interviewed parents who agreed on collecting the oocytes using vaginal ultrasound. The fear of disrupting the hymen was the main reason for disapproval in 20/70 (28.6%) of cases. The religious preference of the family was a significant factor in the acceptance of vaginal ultrasound and vaginal oocyte retrieval. The educational level of parents, the monthly income, and the current employment status were not linearly associated with their acceptance to approve their daughters' undergoing oocyte cryopreservation through the vaginal route (χ2 = 100.651; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Parents are not aware of the effect of cancer treatment on future fertility of their daughters. Ethical, social, and religious barriers affect the decision-making for FP. However, a major interest exists among parents for FP, highlighting the importance of development of an oncofertility program, involving a multidisciplinary team to initiate proper counseling and guidance.