Partners in Pain, Two Sides of a Zipper - Midwives' Experiences With Stillbirth: A Qualitative Study.

This study was conducted to explore and understand the experiences of midwives who care for women experiencing stillbirth and the challenges they face in this process. A qualitative study was conducted with 11 midwives using the phenomenological method. Descriptive analysis of the data revealed four main themes: 1) Silent screams in the face of despair (women's reactions to stillbirth), 2) Being a partner in pain, "two sides of a zipper" (midwives' experience of stillbirth), 3) Efforts to cope with the pain, and 4) Just two words: "if only." The impact of stillbirths on midwives should not be disregarded. Emotions such as shock, horror, fear, guilt, and anger experienced by midwives following a stillbirth can adversely affect their mental health. The guilt experienced by midwives can also negatively impact their health and quality of life, as well as cause burnout and distancing from the profession.

Prevalence and correlates of premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder among women aged 18-25 in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) are experienced in the luteal phase among women of reproductive age and are known to affect quality of life. This study sought to determine the prevalence and correlates of PMS and PMDD in women aged 18-25 in Turkey. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2022 and May 2023, which recruited 1125 female college students. A personal information form, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS) were administered. Participants who met criteria for PMS during three consecutive menstrual cycles based on the ACOG and PMSS scores were diagnosed as having PMS. Participants who met the criteria for PMDD during three consecutive menstrual cycles based on the DSM-V were diagnosed as having PMDD. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine correlates of PMS and PMDD. FINDINGS: PMS was found in 49.2% and PMDD in 48.0% of the participants. Women having a blood group type B compared to those with blood group type A were more likely to have PMS (OR = 151.8, 95% CI = 54.5-422.6). In addition, women with PMS were less likely to be physically active based on the metabolic equivalent of task score (OR = 0.99, 95% CI= 0.98-0.99). Menstrual cycle duration was also longer among those with PMDD (OR = 1.47, 95% CI= 1.25-1.72), as was daily caffeine intake (OR = 1.01, 95% CI= 1.00-1.01). PMDD score was also found to be associated with major depressive disorder (OR = 1.06,95% = 1.05-1.07). CONCLUSIONS: PMS and PMDD among young women in Turkey were associated with blood groups, MET scores, and other clinical characteristics that may help clinicians to identify these conditions.

Epidemiology of Endometriosis Awareness in Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: Endometriosis is a chronic painful disease that affects the daily quality of life of individuals. Estimated rates show one in 10 women has endometriosis, although the actual prevalence is unknown. In this study, the impact of endometriosis prevalence and symptoms on women's lives in Turkey was questioned through a web-based questionnaire. METHODS: We utilized a version of the World Endometriosis Research Foundation (WERF) EndoCost tool, which was sent to applicants via social media. Data from women aged 18-50 years were analyzed. RESULTS: The results of 15,673 participants have been analyzed, and 2880 (18.3%) participants had endometriosis. Respondents with endometriosis reported urinary, neurological, and gastrointestinal disorders at statistically higher rates when compared to individuals without endometriosis diagnosis (54.2%, 84.5%, and 89.9% vs. 37.2%, 75.5%, and 81.1%, respectively; p = 0.001). Most respondents with endometriosis (80.1%) reported persistent fatigue and 21.2% of endometriosis participants reported feeling socially isolated related to their condition (p = 0.001). Of the participants with endometriosis, 63.2% mentioned that people did not believe their pain or symptoms and 77.9% experienced financial difficulties due to the cost of therapy. Of the participants with endometriosis, 46.0% reported that they had problems in their personal relationships, 28.3% had difficulties at work/school, and 7.4% were unable to attend class/work due to endometriosis-related symptoms. CONCLUSION: Endometriosis is a chronic, underestimated disease that affects 18% of Turkish women of reproductive age. There is a need for guidelines to inform healthcare providers, population professionals, and patients. Societies and governmental health authorities must work together to resolve this public health issue.