Management and outcomes after neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced breast cancer in older versus younger women.

AIM: This study examined treatment and survival among women with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) through comparative analyses of women ≥70 years and those <70 years. The primary endpoint was surgery with curative intention following neoadjuvant therapy. Secondary endpoints were 3-year disease free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), response rates, and adherence to treatment guidelines. METHODS: Patients diagnosed and treated for LABC between 2010 and 2019 at Odense University Hospital, Denmark, were eligible. Surgical information was dichotomized into surgery and no surgery for patients ≥70 years and <70 years, and treatment response was extracted from scan and pathology reports. Adherence to treatment guidelines was registered for the initiated neoadjuvant treatment, and 3-year OS and DFS were estimated using Kaplan-Meier and Log-rank-test. RESULTS: Of 210 women, 57/102 (55.9%) of those ≥70 years received surgery with curative intent compared with 103/108 (95.4%) of those <70 years. The main reason for omitting surgery was the patient's request. Fewer women ≥70 years received neoadjuvant therapy according to guidelines compared with their younger counterparts (63.7% versus 98.1%, p < 0.001), but treatment response for women who underwent surgery was similar in both groups. A non-significant difference in 3-year DFS and OS was observed between the groups. Three-year DFS was 80.5% and 73.3%, whereas 3-year OS was 89.6% and 88.7% for patients ≥70 years and <70 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: Among women with LABC, women ≥70 years were less likely to receive neoadjuvant therapy according to guidelines. Only half of the patients ≥70 years reached the goal of surgery with curative intent, with no difference in 3-year OS and DFS between age groups.

Endometrial cancer: A society of gynecologic oncology evidence-based review and recommendations, part II.

In 2014, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology's Clinical Practice Committee published a clinical update reviewing the treatment of women with endometrial cancer. At that time, there had been significant advances in the diagnosis, work-up, surgical management, and available treatment options allowing for more optimal care of affected women. This manuscript, Part II in a two-part series, includes specific recommendations on treatment of recurrent disease, post treatment surveillance and survivorship, considerations for younger women, and special situations. Part I covered histopathology and molecular pathology, risk factors, presentation and diagnostic approach, surgical approach and adjuvant therapy.

Copper IUD continuation, unwanted effects and cost consequences at 1 year in users aged under 30 - a secondary analysis of the EURAS-IUD study.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a secondary analysis of continuation, unwanted effects and cost consequences at 1 year in copper intrauterine device (IUD) users aged under 30 in the European Active Surveillance Study for Intrauterine Devices (EURAS-IUD study) based on IUD type. METHODS: Descriptive and comparative analyses of copper IUD continuation, unwanted effects and estimated cost consequences at 1 year were performed in users aged under 30 based on IUD copper surface area, shape or design, width and arms' flexibility. RESULTS: 5796 copper IUD users were identified to have been aged under 30 at EURAS-IUD study recruitment and data for 5762 users (99.4%) was analysed. Higher IUD continuation, fewer unwanted effects and lower costs were observed with IUDs of the lowest copper content (<300mm2), horse-shoe frame design, widths 18 mm to <30mm and flexible IUD arms. Discontinuation, unwanted effects and costs were greater with frameless IUDs and framed, ≥30mm width IUDs with 380mm2 of copper and copper bands on their rigid transverse IUD arms. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences in continuation, reported unwanted effects and estimated costs at 1 year between IUD types were observed in users aged under 30. Although further research is needed, clinicians should consider these findings when counselling and choosing IUD types for younger women.

Relationship of cue-induced urinary urges to nocturia in women ages 18 to 40 years.

AIMS: Although physiological factors have a role in nocturia, research suggests that behavioral processes, especially classical conditioning may also play an important role in nocturia and other lower urinary tract symptoms. The study aimed to assess the relationship of stimulus-associated urges during the day to nocturia in a sample of women aged 18 to 40, after controlling for physiological symptoms (eg, overactive bladder [OAB]; daytime frequency). METHODS: An online study was conducted using a panel of 356 female participants between the ages of 18 to 40. One-third of the participants self-reported an OAB diagnosis as determined by their physician. Almost 80% of participants reported having at least one nocturnal voiding per night. Participants completed the Urinary Cues Questionnaire, which assessed the frequency with which respondents experienced the urge to urinate in the presence of a variety of cues and the Overactive Bladder Screening Scale (OABSS), which assesses symptoms of OAB syndrome. RESULTS: Controlling for OABSS scores and daytime urinary frequency, the Situational Cues Subscale had a significant relationship with nocturia such that with each unit increase in the subscale, the probability of nocturia increased by 12% to 14% depending on the definition of nocturia. DISCUSSION: Behavioral techniques, such as habituation to decrease the association between awakening at night and feeling an urge to urinate, may be an appropriate intervention to mitigate nocturnal urination. Theoretically, this would translate to decreasing this disorder throughout the lifespan, if behavioral techniques could be effectively utilized in early adulthood.

Psychosocial Factors and Recovery After Acute Myocardial Infarction in Younger Women.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To explain sex and gender approaches to studying acute myocardial infarction (AMI) risk and outcomes in younger women (18-55 years). More specifically, by looking at the AMI care pathway-from AMI risk to receiving acute and follow-up outpatient care to longer term AMI outcomes-we will examine where potential psychosocial factors may be associated with inequalities in AMI care and outcomes in younger women. RECENT FINDINGS: Despite recent declines in AMI incidence, morbidity, and mortality rates, younger women stand out as a group whose incidence has risen and who face worse outcomes following AMI, as compared with other groups. A focus on gender, rather than the binary, biological sex construct, allowed researchers to better understand potential pathways as to why younger women are facing this risk. Feminine traits and disproportionate exposures to psychosocial stressors in society at large may be correlated with inequalities in AMI care and further AMI outcomes in younger women. Psychosocial interventions in women with AMI that have proven to be successful have embraced this wider gender concept. Adopting a wider gender-concept to understand roles and demands that are placed on individuals that make them more at risk to experience psychosocial stressors and make it more challenging to organize self-care, get access to care, and equitable care may be needed.

Breast cancer treatment costs in younger, privately insured women.

PURPOSE: Younger women (under age 45 years) diagnosed with breast cancer often face more aggressive tumors, higher treatment intensity, lower survival rates, and greater financial hardship. The purpose of this study was to estimate breast cancer costs by stage at diagnosis during the first 18 months of treatment for privately insured younger women. METHODS: We analyzed North Carolina cancer registry data linked to claims data from private insurers from 2003 to 2010. Breast cancer patients were split into two cohorts: a younger and older group aged 21-44 and 45-64 years, respectively. We conducted a cohort study and matched women with and without breast cancer using age, ZIP, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. We calculated mean excess costs between breast cancer and non-breast cancer patients at 6, 12, and 18 months. RESULTS: For younger women, AJCC 6th edition stage II cancer was the most common at diagnosis (40%), followed by stage I (34%). On the other hand, older women had more stage I (46%) cancer followed by stage II (34%). The excess costs for younger and older women at 12 months were $97,486 (95% confidence interval [CI] $93,631-101,341) and $75,737 (95% CI $73,962-77,512), respectively. Younger breast cancer patients had both a higher prevalence of later-stage disease and higher within-stage costs. CONCLUSIONS: The study reports high costs of treatment for both younger and older women than a non-cancer comparison group; however, the estimated excess cost was significantly higher for younger women. The financial implications of breast cancer treatment costs for younger women need to be explored in future studies.

Medical costs of treating breast cancer among younger Medicaid beneficiaries by stage at diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Younger women (aged 18-44 years) diagnosed with breast cancer often face more aggressive tumors, higher treatment intensity, and lower survival rates than older women. In this study, we estimated incident breast cancer costs by stage at diagnosis and by race for younger women enrolled in Medicaid. METHODS: We analyzed cancer registry data linked to Medicaid claims in North Carolina from 2003 to 2008. We used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Summary 2000 definitions for cancer stage. We split breast cancer patients into two cohorts: a younger and older group aged 18-44 and 45-64 years, respectively. We conducted a many-to-one match between patients with and without breast cancer using age, county, race, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. We calculated mean excess total cost of care between breast cancer and non-breast cancer patients. RESULTS: At diagnosis, younger women had a higher proportion of regional cancers than older women (49 vs. 42%) and lower proportions of localized cancers (44 vs. 50%) and distant cancers (7 vs. 9%). The excess costs of breast cancer (all stages) for younger and older women at 6 months after diagnosis were $37,114 [95% confidence interval (CI) = $35,769-38,459] and $28,026 (95% CI = $27,223-28,829), respectively. In the 6 months after diagnosis, the estimated excess cost was significantly higher to treat localized and regional cancer among younger women than among older women. There were no statistically significant differences in excess costs of breast cancer by race, but differences in treatment modality were present among younger Medicaid beneficiaries. CONCLUSIONS: Younger breast cancer patients not only had a higher prevalence of late-stage cancer than older women, but also had higher within-stage excess costs.

The factors involved in surgical decision-making in younger women diagnosed with breast cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand: A qualitative analysis.

Women diagnosed with breast cancer must make important surgical decisions. The decision-making process for younger women is complex, with this group more likely to have an advanced diagnosis and life-stage considerations that can impact on treatment. This study investigated the decision-making process of women aged <50 years who had undergone breast cancer surgery within the preceding 12 months in Aotearoa New Zealand. Twelve women participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews to explore the factors that influenced treatment decisions. Thematic analysis resulted in three themes. Fear was the main concept identified as the primary influence on initial decision-making. Good quality shared decision-making between patient and clinician was found to provide essential support during the diagnosis to treatment period. In addition, women expressed a need for multi-modal presentation of medical information and more material reflecting younger women. These findings inform provision for younger women making surgical decisions when diagnosed with breast cancer.

Is a liquid-based cytology more sensitive than a conventional Pap smear?

BACKGROUND: The comparative sensitivity of liquid-based cytology (LBC) test and conventional Papanicolaou (Pap) smears is controversial. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study analyses the distribution of cytology, histology, colposcopy and large loop excision of the transformation zone among women screened in Iceland with LBC at the Cancer Detection Clinic in Reykjavik and with a conventional Pap smear outside the Detection Clinic in 2007-2011. The study material included 42 654 LBC tests from 20 439 women and 103 909 Pap smears from 61 574 women. The period 2000-2004 is used to correct for potential bias as a result of unequal distribution of the studied parameters between the study sites before the introduction of LBC. RESULTS: The observed results indicated that women screened with an LBC sample had significantly decreased detection rates of inadequate smears, increased detection of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL)/atypical cytology and referrals to colposcopy, and an increased detection rate of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) irrespective of age. LBC increased significantly the detection rates of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or worse (HSIL+) cytology and CIN3+ histology only in women under 40 years of age. Taking into consideration the unequal prevalence of the studied parameters between the study sites in 2000-2004 indicated, however, that LBC only affected the rate of inadequate and low-grade cytology tests under the age of 40 years. Positive predictive values for CIN2+ were not significantly different between the tests. CONCLUSIONS: The study results support the view that LBC is no more sensitive than Pap smears for the detection of HSIL+ and CIN2+ irrespective of age. LBC decreased the rate of inadequate smears, but increased the rate of low-grade cytology under the age of 40 years and decreased the total rate of abnormal smears over the age of 40 years.

A Qualitative Study on How Younger Women Experience Living with an Ostomy.

There is a growing demand that ostomy patients receive more systematic and individualised follow-up by ostomy nurses. The purpose of the study was to explore how younger women experience everyday life after an ostomy and to map what healthcare personnel can do to ensure that the patient group can feel safe and looked after. This qualitative study included four younger women who had a stoma fitted. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted, and two participants were interviewed twice. The findings resulted in three main themes: (1) The importance of follow-up and information from healthcare personnel, (2) Experience with illness and freedom in everyday life and (3) Self-image and social relationships. We found that time to prepare before surgery and learning to live with the stoma provide a good basis for handling the new everyday life with a stoma. We conclude that ostomy nurses provide support and security to those undergoing ostomy operations. Healthcare professionals should focus on providing individually tailored information to ensure that patients are receptive to the information being shared with them. Having parts of a bowel removed can be experienced as relief, especially when the disease has previously contributed to poor self-image and social isolation.

A Case of Spontaneous Multivessel Coronary Artery Dissection.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a non-traumatic separation of the epicardial coronary arterial wall leading to luminal obstruction with subsequent myocardial ischemia and infarction. Herein, we describe an interesting case of acute coronary syndrome due to multivessel SCAD without an underlying susceptibility or trigger, and review the literature for SCAD management.

Fertility-Preserving Surgery of Borderline Serous Ovarian Tumors: A Case Report.

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) are tumors with low malignant potential and have an excellent prognosis. They are distinct by an epidemiological shift toward younger women. Fertility-sparing surgery is considered the gold standard in young patients presenting with BOTs. Spontaneous conception has been reported after conservative surgery with no enhanced risk of mortality or morbidity from disease progression during pregnancy. The prognosis of BOTs is very good; however, a small proportion of these tumors may recur and show malignant transformation. Timely follow-up of the patients is required for timely detection of any recurrence. We are presenting here a case of a 23-year-old woman diagnosed with BOT. The patient was nulliparous and hence was the appropriate candidate for fertility-sparing surgery. She underwent unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and is now on regular follow-up.

Younger Women Living with Chronic Disease: Comparative Challenges, Resiliencies, and Needs in Heart Disease and Breast Cancer.

Background: Younger women with chronic disease (<60 years of age), especially women with stereotypically "men's" heart disease (HD), are understudied. Unique difficulties may occur with HD, which is less commonly associated with women, compared with breast cancer (BC). Similarities may also exist across younger women, as chronic disease is less normative in younger people. Intersections of gender, age, and the specific disease experience require greater attention for improving women's health. This exploratory qualitative study compared younger women's experiences of HD or BC. Methods: Semistructured interviews with 20 women (n = 10 per disease) were analyzed using applied thematic analysis. Results: Amidst building careers, intimate relationships, and families, women felt thwarted by disease-related functional problems. Cognitive-behavioral coping strategies spurred resilience, including integrating the illness experience with self-identity. Barriers arose when medical professionals used representativeness heuristics (e.g., chronic disease occurs in older age). Important experiences in HD included worsened self-image from disability, negative impact of illness invisibility, and persisting isolation from lacking peer availability. Initial medical care reported by women with HD may reflect gender biases (e.g., HD missed in emergency settings and initial diagnostics). New information provided by the younger women includes limited illness-related optimism in women with HD facing age and gender stereotypes, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of peer availability in BC. Conclusions: Greater public awareness of younger women with chronic disease, alongside structural support and connection with similarly challenged peers, is suggested. As advocacy for BC awareness and action has strengthened over past decades, similar efforts are needed for younger women with HD.

Persistence of Multimorbidity Among Women Aged 15-49 Years in India: An Analysis of Prevalence, Patterns and Correlation.

Objectives: The present study has examined the patterns and possible correlates of coexisting morbidities among women aged 15-49 years based on biomarker measurement data at the national level in India. Methods: National Family Health Survey conducted during 2015-16 used in the present study. Simple disease count approach was used to calculate the multimorbidity among women. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to analyze the predictors of multimorbidity among women. Results: Almost 30% of the women had any of the selected morbidity and 9% of them had two or more morbidities. Hypertension and overweight combination (3%) was the most prevalent among women. The risk of having two or more morbidities was predominantly high among women aged above 30 years, low educated women, women from the wealthier group, ever-married women and women who were consuming tobacco as compared to their counterparts. Conclusions: From the policy perspective, the identification of groups of women vulnerable to multimorbidity will help in the selection of programmatic focus and preventive public health intervention in adult phase to reduce the multimorbidity burden among women in old ages.

Risk-Based Screening Mammography for Women Aged <40: Outcomes From the National Mammography Database.

OBJECTIVE: There is insufficient large-scale evidence for screening mammography in women <40 years at elevated risk. This study compares risk-based screening of women aged 30 to 39 with risk factors versus women aged 40 to 49 without risk factors in the National Mammography Database (NMD). METHODS: This retrospective, HIPAA-compliant, institutional review board-exempt study analyzed data from 150 NMD mammography facilities in 31 states. Patients were stratified by 5-year age intervals, availability of prior mammograms, and specific risk factors for breast cancer: family history of breast cancer, personal history of breast cancer, and dense breasts. Four screening performance metrics were calculated for each age and risk group: recall rate (RR), cancer detection rate (CDR), and positive predictive values for biopsy recommended (PPV2) and biopsy performed (PPV3). RESULTS: Data from 5,986,131 screening mammograms performed between January 2008 and December 2015 in 2,647,315 women were evaluated. Overall, mean CDR was 3.69 of 1,000 (95% confidence interval: 3.64-3.74), RR was 9.89% (9.87%-9.92%), PPV2 was 20.1% (19.9%-20.4%), and PPV3 was 28.2% (27.0%-28.5%). Women aged 30 to 34 and 35 to 39 had similar CDR, RR, and PPVs, with the presence of the three evaluated risk factors associated with significantly higher CDR. Moreover, compared with a population currently recommended for screening mammography in the United States (aged 40-49 at average risk), incidence screening (at least one prior screening examination) of women aged 30 to 39 with the three evaluated risk factors has similar cancer detection rates and recall rates. DISCUSSION: Women with one or more of these three specific risk factors likely benefit from screening commencing at age 30 instead of age 40.

Optimizing care for younger women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.

Treatment strategies for hormone receptor-positive (HR+ ), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2- ) metastatic breast cancer in young women (<40 years at diagnosis) have traditionally been extrapolated from data obtained from trials conducted either exclusively or predominantly in the postmenopausal setting. These young patients are usually treated with ovarian function suppression (OFS) + endocrine therapy (ET) ± targeted therapy, except if there is a concern about endocrine resistance or a need to gain rapid disease control due to the onset of visceral crisis. This review examines evidence that supports the use of a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor, in combination with OFS and ET, when treating premenopausal or perimenopausal women with HR+ /HER2- metastatic breast cancer. This includes data from the MONALEESA-7 study (treating only premenopausal/perimenopausal women in the first-line setting), and the results of subgroup analyses from the PALOMA-3 and MONARCH-2 trials. We also consider a number of age-specific challenges that younger breast cancer patients can face, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to ongoing care.

Comparison of pathologic characteristics of breast cancer in younger and older women.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer with high mortality in women all around the world. The present evidence shows that younger patients have poor survival. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the pathologic characteristics of breast cancer in women younger than 40 years compared with older. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study which contains 681 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer, who referred to Babolsar Shahid Rajaei Hospital as a referral cancer therapeutic center in the North of Iran. The data included age, residence area, occupation, location, histopathologic characteristics of the tumor, TNM classification and staging. RESULTS: The mean age (SD) of patients was 49.7 (11.9) years, of which 19.5% were under 40. Ductal carcinoma was the most common histopathologic type (90.0%) but patients at a younger age had a higher incidence of lobular and other rare carcinoma compared to the older ones (P=0.04). The younger had a greater tumor size (P=0.01), lymphatic node involvement (P=0.04) and higher staging (P=0.004). The younger age was not associated with positive estrogen/progesterone receptors. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated more aggressive tumor characteristics and serious breast cancer in women less than 40 years compared with older ones.

Factors Associated with Development of High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions of the Uterine Cervix in Women Younger than 30 Years

Objective: To determine the factors associated with the increased risk of developing high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) of the uterine cervix in women younger than 30 years compared with those aged ≥ 30 years who also had HSIL. Methods: Patients with HSIL who underwent loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) between January 2006 and July 2017 at Chiang Mai University Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. We analyzed the factors associated with the development of HSIL by comparing two age groups between women aged < 30 years and those aged ≥ 30 years. The factors analyzed included the well-recognized risk factors for cervical cancer, i.e. age at sexual debut, number of sexual partners, use of oral contraceptive (OC) pills, smoking history, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV status. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess factors associated with the increased risk of developing HSIL in women younger than 30 years compared with those aged ≥ 30 years. Results: During the study period, there were 345 patients with HSIL, 30 were < 30 years (case group) and 315 aged ≥ 30 years (control group). By multivariate analyses , early sexual debut(OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.01-8.13; P=0.047), multiple sexual partners (OR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.23-7.02; P=0.015), history of genital warts (OR, 20.46; 95% CI, 2.27-183.72; P=0.007) and history of smoking (OR, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.10-7.93; P=0.032) were significantly associated with the development of HSIL in women younger than 30 years when compared with those aged ≥ 30 years. The OC use, HIV status and underlying diseases were not significantly different in both groups. Conclusion: Early age at sexual debut, multiple sexual partners, history of genital warts and smoking are significant risk factors for developing HSIL in women younger than 30 years. Cervical cancer screening should be considered in young women with such factors.

Both Baseline and Change in Lower Limb Muscle Strength in Younger Women Are Independent Predictors of Balance in Middle Age: A 12-Year Population-Based Prospective Study.

Poor balance is a risk factor for falls and fracture in older adults, but little is known about modifiable factors affecting balance in younger women. This study aimed to examine whether lower limb muscle strength (LMS) in young women and changes in LMS are independent predictors of balance in middle age. This was an observational 10-year follow-up of 470 women aged 25 to 44 years at baseline who had previously participated in a 2-year population-based randomized controlled trial of osteoporosis education interventions. Linear regression was used to examine the association between baseline LMS (by dynamometer) and change in LMS over 12 years with balance at 12 years (timed up and go test [TUG], step test [ST], functional reach test [FRT], and lateral reach test [LRT]). LMS declined by a mean of 17.3 kg over 12 years. After adjustment for potential confounders, baseline and change in LMS were independently beneficially associated with TUG (ß = -0.008 sec/kg, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.01 to -0.006, and ß = -0.006 sec/kg, 95% CI -0.009 to -0.003 for baseline and change, respectively), FRT (ß = 0.057 cm/kg, 95% CI 0.030 to 0.084, and ß = 0.071 cm/kg, 95% CI 0.042 to 0.101, respectively), and LRT (ß = 0.030 cm/kg, 95% CI 0.012 to 0.049, and ß = 0.022 cm/kg, 95% CI 0.002 to 0.043, respectively) 12 years later. There was an association between baseline LMS and ST (ß = 0.044 steps/kg, 95% CI 0.022 to 0.067) but not between change in LMS and ST. Among young women, greater LMS at baseline and slower decline over time are both associated with better balance in midlife. Analogous to the contributions of peak bone mass and bone loss to fracture risk in older adults, this suggests that both improvement of muscle strength in younger age and prevention of age-related loss of muscle strength could be potentially useful strategies to improve balance and reduce falls in later life. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

The effect of voluntary termination of pregnancy on female sexual and emotional well-being in different age groups.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the impact of voluntary termination of pregnancy (VTOP) on the psycho-sexological well-being of females before/six months after the abortion. METHODS: A sample of 194 women was recruited from three obstetrics and gynaecological divisions. The women were evaluated for the variables "sexual functioning" with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), "depression" with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and "anxiety state" with the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) at time 0 (the beginning of the abortion procedure) and time 1 (six months after the abortion). Since 24 women refused to fill out the questionnaires, the final sample was composed of 170 women. RESULTS: The women showed a slight although significant improvement in the mean FSFI score from time 0 (16.7 ± 12.9) to time 1 (20.9 ± 13.8) (p < 0.001) which paralleled with a slight decrease in the incidence of clinically significant sexual dysfunction [49% (84/170) (time 0) versus 34.1% (58/170) (time 1)], (McNemar's test; p = 0.0241). The sub-group of younger women (18-25) showed a lesser increase in FSFI score from time 0 to time 1. In addition, both depression (p = 0.048) and anxiety (p < 0.001) significantly decreased over time. However, the female sexuality remained impaired since more than two thirds (69.5%) of women were sexually dysfunctional six months after VTOP. DISCUSSION: Voluntary TOP may influence the sexuality of younger females differently from how it influences that of older women. Hence, the sexuality of younger female should be regularly supervised in follow-up examinations.