Clinical features and management of women with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome in a Thai population.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the clinical features, associated extragenital anomalies, and management of Mayer- Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome in a Thai population. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of 96 patients with MRKH syndrome diagnosed and treated at a university hospital and tertiary referral center in southern Thailand between 2000 and 2022. RESULTS: The study included 96 patients with MRKH syndrome. The most common symptom was primary amenorrhea (88.5%), followed by difficulty or inability to engage in sexual intercourse (9.4%) and pelvic mass (2.1%). Notably, 80.3% of the patients did not have extragenital malformations and were diagnosed with MRKH type I (typical form), whereas 19.7% were categorized as MRKH type II (atypical form). Skeletal malformations were the most frequent extragenital anomalies and were present in 19.5% of patients, with scoliosis being the most common skeletal condition. Other extragenital malformations included renal (8.5%) and neurological (1.0%) abnormalities. Clinical vaginal examination revealed complete atresia in 21.8% and vaginal hypoplasia (median vaginal length, 3 cm) in 78.2% of the patients. Half of the patients did not receive treatment because they had not engaged in sexual intercourse. In this cohort, 41.7% of the patients had no difficulty performing sexual intercourse. Hence, self-dilation therapy or concomitant dilation was recommended. Only eight patients (8.3%) underwent surgical reconstruction of the vagina. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the complexity and heterogeneity of the phenotypic manifestations of MRKH, including the degree of vaginal atresia and types and rates of associated malformations.

Effect of radiation on serum anti-Müllerian hormone during hysterosalpingography in female infertility.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Does radiation exposure during hysterosalpingography (HSG) negatively affect serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in infertile women? DESIGN: Prospective cohort study conducted at Songklanagarind Hospital, Thailand, between April 2021 and May 2023. Thirty-two infertile women and 34 control participants were enrolled. Serum AMH levels were assessed in the infertile group at baseline before the HSG procedure and at 1 and 3 months after the procedure. Control participants, who self-reported no medical conditions, underwent the same AMH level assessments. Changes in serum AMH levels were compared. RESULTS: Infertile women had a mean age of 32.4 ± 3.8 years, body mass index of 21.2 ± 2.0 kg/m2 and baseline mean AMH level of 3.66 ng/ml (95% CI 3.00 to 4.32), which did not significantly differ from the control group. One month after HSG, mean AMH level significantly declined (0.33 ng/ml, 95% CI -0.65 to -0.01; P = 0.045) in the infertile group. The change in serum AMH levels between baseline and 1 month was significantly different in the HSG group compared with controls (-0.33 ng/ml, 95% CI -0.65 to -0.01 versus 0.36 ng/ml, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.67; P = 0.002). Changes in serum AMH levels from baseline to 3 months did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: One month after the HSG, infertile women experienced a significant decrease in serum AMH levels compared with controls. The change in serum AMH levels between baseline and 3 months after HSG did not significantly differ from that of the control group.

Risk factors for recurrent endometriosis after conservative surgery in a quaternary care center in southern Thailand.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the 2-year recurrence rate of endometriosis after conservative surgery and the risk factors for recurrence. METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed women with endometriosis who underwent conservative surgery and had at least a 2-year follow-up at a quaternary care hospital in southern Thailand from January 2000 to December 2019. Recurrent endometriosis was defined as either presence of endometrioma with a diameter ≥ 2 cm for more than three consecutive menstrual cycles or relapse of pelvic pain with the same or higher visual analog scale (VAS) score as before surgery. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for recurrence. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 34 (29, 38) years in 362 cases and nearly three-quarters (74.2%) were nulliparous. Cyclic pain was the most common clinical presentation (48.9%) and the median (IQR) VAS score of pelvic pain was 6 (5, 9). Ovarian cystectomy was the most common procedure (68.1%). The 2-year recurrent endometriosis rate after conservative surgery was 23.2%, and the overall recurrence rate was 56.4%. The risk factors of recurrence were preoperative moderate to severe pelvic pain (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-3.34; p = 0.017), adhesiolysis/ablation/ovarian cystectomy without unilateral oophorectomy (aOR 2.71; 95% CI, 1.40-5.23; p = 0.002), and duration of postoperative hormonal treatment < 24 months (aOR 10.58; 95% CI, 5.47-20.47; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The 2-year recurrence rate after conservative surgery for endometriosis was 23.2%. Preoperative moderate to severe pelvic pain, procedures except unilateral oophorectomy, and postoperative hormonal treatment < 24 months were risk factors for recurrence.

Ovarian steroid cell tumor (not otherwise specified) with subsequent spontaneous pregnancy after tumor removal: a case report and literature review.

Steroid cell tumors not otherwise specified are rare sex cord-stromal tumors of the ovary that may produce various steroids and are associated with hirsutism and virilization. We report a rare case of ovarian steroid cell tumor with subsequent spontaneous pregnancy after tumor removal. A 31-year-old woman presented with secondary amenorrhea, hirsutism, and inability to conceive. Clinical and diagnostic evaluations revealed a left adnexal mass and elevated serum total testosterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone levels. She underwent a left salpingo-oophorectomy, and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a steroid cell tumor not otherwise specified. Her serum total testosterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone normalized one month after surgery. Her menses resumed spontaneously one month after the operation. She spontaneously conceived 12 months after the surgery. The patient had an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivered a healthy male infant. In addition, we reviewed the literature on steroid cell tumors not otherwise specified with subsequent spontaneous pregnancies after surgery and data regarding pregnancy outcomes.

A targeted educational programme improves fundamental knowledge of menstrual pain and endometriosis in young women: The Endometriosis Awareness Promotion Project.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Would a properly designed educational programme offered to young women improve their awareness and fundamental knowledge of menstrual pain and endometriosis? DESIGN: A multinational cross-sectional study using a pen-and-paper questionnaire among women aged 19-24 years was conducted between 2017 and 2019 to assess fundamental knowledge of menstrual pain and endometriosis. Improvement in knowledge was also analysed using a separate questionnaire completed before, and 1-3 months after, a group discussion, lecture on menstrual pain and endometriosis, or both. RESULTS: Among three groups of students (college [n = 271], medical [n = 877] and nursing [n = 763]), knowledge of menstrual pain and endometriosis was lowest among college students, modest among nursing students and fair among medical students (P < 0.001 for each). The experience of cyclical pain, even when painkillers were taken, was reported by 15.5%, 4.6% and 3.8% of students, respectively. Most students managed their cyclical pain by enduring it or by taking over-the-counter medication. An informative education programme with group discussions, lectures, or both, was successful in improving knowledge and consequences of menstrual pain and endometriosis. Proper education and dissemination of knowledge to college students failed to motivate them to visit gynaecologists; however, medical and nursing students became highly interested in visiting gynaecologists. CONCLUSIONS: An educational programme can improve awareness and knowledge of endometriosis and dysmenorrhoea among young women. The programme motivated nursing and medical students, but not college students, to seek medical attention for early detection and management of endometriosis.

Conservative Surgical Management of Early Postpartum Hemorrhage: A 12-Year Experience in a Tertiary Care Center in the South of Thailand.

Background/Purpose of the Study: To evaluate the success rate and predictive factors of success in conservative surgical management of early postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in the south of Thailand, from January 2006 to December 2017. PPH with conservative surgical management including Bakri balloon tamponade, B-Lynch uterine compression sutures, arterial embolization, vessel ligations, and combined surgical procedures was reviewed. The procedures were considered successful if bleeding could be controlled without subsequent hysterectomy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictive factors for success of conservative surgical treatment. Results: Among 39,327 deliveries, 1461 (3.7%) patients had early PPH, and 92 cases received conservative surgical management. Most patients (92.4%) underwent cesarean section. Median (IQR) blood loss before conservative surgery was 1800 (1100, 2575) mL, and median (IQR) time from early PPH to conservative surgical management was 41 (25.5, 60.0) minutes. The overall success rate of conservative surgical management was 80.4%, meanwhile the postoperative complication rate was 27.2%. The predictive factors significantly associated with success were maternal age < 35 years (odds ratio [OR] 4.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27-16.23; p = 0.02), blood loss before conservative surgery < 1800 mL (OR 5.82, 95% CI 1.45-23.33; p = 0.01), and time to start conservative surgery ≤ 40 min (OR 4.76, 95% CI 1.13-20.12; p = 0.03). Conclusion: The overall success rate of conservative surgical procedures was high. Maternal age < 35 years, blood loss before conservative management < 1800 mL, and time to conservative surgery ≤ 40 min were predictive factors of success.

Comparison of 30-degree and 0-degree laparoscopes in the visualisation of the inferior epigastric vessel, rectus abdominis muscle and bladder dome in gynaecologic laparoscopy.

Clear visualisation of the inferior epigastric vessel and bladder dome is important to avoid ancillary port injury. In this prospective cohort study, 52 videos of gynaecologic laparoscopies performed at Songklanagarind Hospital were scored by three expert and three non-expert surgeons in terms of visualisation quality and confidence level in identifying the inferior epigastric vessel, rectus abdominis muscle and bladder dome using 0-degree and 30-degree laparoscopes. No significant difference was reported between the laparoscopes regarding both visualisation quality and confidence level in identifying these three landmarks. When using the 30-degree laparoscope, expert surgeons reported significantly higher visual rating scale scores for both visualisation quality and confidence level than did non-expert surgeons (7.6 (5.3-8.6) vs. 6.5 (4.4-8.3); p=.04 and 7.3 (5.7-8.6) vs. 6.2 (5.2-7.5); p=.02). In conclusion, the two laparoscope angles were similar in terms of both visualisation quality and confidence level in visualising the inferior epigastric vessel and bladder dome.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? Most laparoscopic complications associated with vascular and bladder injuries occur during the process of abdominal penetration. The 30-degree laparoscope tends to be superior to the 0-degree laparoscope in terms of visualisation in the lateral axis. A previous study reported the benefits of using the 30-degree laparoscope in urologic surgery. Data related to the degree of the laparoscope suitable for avoiding abdominal wall injuries are lacking.What do the results of this study add? We demonstrated that both 0- and 30-degree laparoscopes were similar in terms of visualisation and confidence level for the identification of the inferior epigastric vessel and bladder dome. Using the 30-degree laparoscope, expert surgeons reported higher scores for the visualisation of the inferior epigastric vessel than did non-expert surgeons.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Before ancillary port penetration, we recommend using either a 30-degree or 0-degree laparoscope to visualise the inferior epigastric vessel and bladder dome. For non-expert surgeons, a learning curve is required to improve the visualisation quality and confidence level for identifying these landmarks, especially using the 30-degree laparoscope.

A case report of eosinophilia associated with an etonogestrel implant.

Progestogen hypersensitivity is a rare adverse effect of endogenous and exogenous progestogens. Etonogestrel implant is very effective for contraception; however, a few progestogen hypersensitivity cases have been reported. Here, we present a case of delayed-type progestogen hypersensitivity with marked eosinophilia against etonogestrel that resolved after implant removal.