Effect of Carob and Ginseng Supplements on Semen Analysis Parameters, Sexual Function, and Sex Hormones in Infertile Men: Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial Study.

Background: Infertility is one of the most common problems in the world; there is a growing demand for herbal medicines to treat infertility-related problems. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial with three groups was conducted, each with 30 participants. The first group was administered 1.5 grams of Carob daily, the second group was administered 1.5 grams of Ginseng daily, and the third group received a placebo. The treatment was administered for 12 weeks, and before and after the intervention, semen parameters, testosterone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, thyroid hormones, and sexual function were evaluated. Sexual function was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire. Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 34.83 (6.22), 34.60 (5.78), and 33.67 (5.82) years in Carob, Ginseng, and Placebo groups, respectively. The results showed that in the Carob group, the normal volume of semen (Z 133 = 3.05, p = 0.02) and the normal shape of sperm (Z 134 = 2.97, p = 0.01) increased significantly compared to the control group. In the Ginseng group, the normal volume (Z 133 = 3.90, p = 0.001) and the normal viscosity of semen (Z 133 = 2.36, p = 0.01) increased significantly compared to the control group.The Carob group showed a significant increase in normal sperm counts and testosterone hormone levels (Z 131 = 2.81, p = 0.05). The Ginseng group demonstrated a significant improvement in orgasm function (H2 = 6.14, p = 0.04) and the total score of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) (H2 = 5.8, p = 0.05). Conclusions: Carob supplements are suggested to enhance some semen parameters and male sex hormones. For infertile men, Ginseng can be beneficial in improving sexual function.

The effect of midwife-oriented breastfeeding counseling on self-efficacy and performance of adolescent mothers: a clinical trial study.

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding behaviors are strongly influenced by self-efficacy. This research aimed to determine the effect of breastfeeding counseling based on the Ready Set Baby (RSB) education program on self-efficacy and breastfeeding performance in adolescent mothers. METHODS: In 2022, a parallel randomized clinical trial was carried out in Hamadan city's comprehensive health centers, involving 64 pregnant teenagers. The block randomization method was employed to divide the participants into two groups. The data collection instruments were a demographic characteristics questionnaire, a breastfeeding self-efficacy questionnaire, and the Bristol breastfeeding checklist. Three individual counseling sessions during pregnancy were conducted based on the "RSB" program. The ANCOVA was used for comparing groups. The statistical analyst was blinded to the group assignment. RESULTS: The study included 64 participants with a mean age of 16.97(1.30) years, data from 60 participants were analyzed. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the two groups were relatively similar (P > 0.05). Following the intervention, self-efficacy and breastfeeding performance scores were measured and adjusted for confounding factors. The mean scores for self-efficacy were 116.03(20.64) and 100.02(20.64) (P < 0.005), with effect size 0.77 [MD = 16.01 (95% CI: 5.34,26.67)], and the mean scores for breastfeeding performance were 6.30(2.07) and 4.12(2.07) (P < 0.002), with effect size 1.05 [MD = 2.18 (95% CI: 1.11,3.24)] in the intervention and control groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Ready Set Baby education program's breastfeeding counseling for primiparous adolescent pregnant women significantly boosted their self-efficacy and performance in breastfeeding. Given the crucial role of breastfeeding in ensuring the well-being of both mother and child, further research is imperative to identify suitable and impactful interventions that can encourage breastfeeding practices among adolescents. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial protocol of this study has been registered in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials at 08/09/2021. The registration reference is IRCT20200530047596N3.

Midwifery-oriented group counseling based on the GATHER approach on quality of life of women during the transition to menopause: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effect of midwifery-oriented group counseling based on the GATHER model on the quality of life of women during the transition to menopause. METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial was performed on 90 women 45 years or older in 2019 to 2020 in Kermanshah, Iran. The women were assigned into two groups using a randomized blocked design. In the intervention group, counseling sessions based on the GATHER approach (Greet, Ask, Tell, Help, Explain, and Return) were performed in four sessions of 45 to 90 minutes. Sociodemographic and quality of life (MENQOL) questionnaires were used for data gathering. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney test, sample t test, and Wilcoxon using SPSS 24. RESULTS: The mean age of women was 49.04 ±â€Š3.94 and 49.62 ±â€Š3.63 in the intervention and control group, respectively (P = 0.412). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding demographic characteristics and quality of life before the intervention (P > 0.05). There was a considerable difference between the mean score of quality of life 55.62 ±â€Š18.37 and 73.64 ±â€Š25.84 (P = 0.001) and its dimensions, especially for physical symptoms (P = 0.002), between the two groups 4 weeks after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that midwifery-oriented group counseling based on the GATHER approach may improve the life quality of women during the transition to menopause.

Video Summary:http://links.lww.com/MENO/A816 .

Effect of Combined Herbal Capsule Menohelp on Hot Flashes and Night Sweats in Postmenopausal Women: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Hot flashes and night sweats are the most common and annoying consequences of menopause. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of a combined herbal capsule (black cohosh, soy, potato, chaste tree, and burdock) on hot flashes and night sweats in postmenopausal women. METHODS: The present study was a randomized clinical trial conducted on postmenopausal women who were referred to Hamadan health centers in 2018-2019. The patients were distributed randomly in two groups of 85 individuals using the permuted block technique. The intervention group received the Menohelp capsule 550 mg twice daily for eight weeks and those in the control group received placebo. Data was obtained using a demographic questionnaire and a night sweat checklist one week before and eight weeks after the intervention. Data analysis was done using Stata 13. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed that means of hot flashes duration, frequency and intensity did not significantly decrease in the postintervention phase as compared to the pre-intervention phase in both the groups (P > 0.05). Comparative analyses of frequency and intensity of night sweats in the two groups revealed that both variables decreased after intervention with the Menohelp capsule (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that combined herbal medicine (Menohelp) was effective in reducing the frequency and intensity of night sweats. Therefore, it can be used to reduce night sweats in postmenopausal women.

Effects of ear and body acupressure on labor pain and duration of labor active phase: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to compare the effects of multi-point ear and body acupressure on labor pain and the duration of labor active phase. DESIGN: Three-armed randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Kowsar Hospital, Qazvin, Iran. INTERVENTION: Participants in the body acupressure group received acupressure on GB21, GB30, BL32, LI4, and SP6 points, each for two minutes, at cervical dilation of four, six, and eight centimeters. For participants in the ear acupressure group, adhesive auriculotherapy-specific Vaccaria seeds were attached to their auricles on the zero, genitalia, Shen Men, thalamic, and uterine 1 and 2 acupoints. The seeds were compressed every thirty minutes, each time for thirty seconds. Participants in the control group received routine care services. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Labor pain intensity was assessed using a visual analogue scale at cervical dilation of four and ten centimeters. RESULTS: While there was no significant difference between mean scores of pain among three groups, mean score of labor pain in both acupressure groups was significantly less than that in the control group (P < 0.001). However, the difference between the acupressure groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.12). Moreover, the duration of labor active phase in the ear acupressure group was significantly less than those in the body acupressure and the control groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Ear acupressure was significantly effective in reducing labor pain and shortening labor active phase. However, body acupressure solely reduces labor pain. Therefore, ear acupressure can be used to reduce labor pain and shorten labor active phase.

Comparing the effect of auricular acupressure and body acupressure on pain and duration of the first stage of labor: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Labor pain is one of the leading causes of fear of childbirth. Acupressure is a non-pharmacological pain relief method that has shown promising results in relieving this pain. The present study is designed to compare the effects of body acupressure at multiple points and auricular acupressure on the pain and duration of labor. METHODS/DESIGN: In a randomized controlled trial, 90 primigravida women who attend for childbirth will be randomly assigned to one of three groups (intervention groups of either body acupressure or auricular acupressure; control, consisting of routine care). Computer-generated six-block randomization techniques will be used to determine the allocation sequence with a 1:1:1 ratio. To hide the allocation, the type of intervention will be written according to the generated sequence and put in opaque envelopes; these as well as questionnaires will be encoded. The pain score for all participants will be measured at the peak uterine contraction at 4-cm cervical dilation and at 10-cm dilation based on a visual analog scale (VAS). The duration of the active phase of labor in these groups will be recorded too. Data will be imported into SPSS-16 software. First, normality of the data distribution will be investigated. To compare labor duration among the research groups, ANOVA will be used, which will be followed, in case of significance, by the Scheffe post hoc test. Furthermore, Chi-squared test will be used to compare the categorized demographic variables and ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests will be used to compare the quantitative variables in the studied groups. A significance level of 0.05 is considered significant. DISCUSSION: In this study the effect of auricular acupressure and body acupressure on pain and duration of first stage of labor will be compared. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT20180218038789N1. Registered 2018-03-04; pre result.

Effect of Massage Therapy on Duration of Labour: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Massage is an old technique that is widely used in childbirth and can decrease the childbirth pain by reducing the adrenaline and noradrenaline and increasing the endorphins and oxytocin and reduce the childbirth duration by increasing the uterine contractions. Therefore. AIM: This study is aimed to evaluate the effect of massage therapy on the duration of labour. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was performed as randomized controlled clinical trial method on 100 pregnant women referred to maternity ward in Fatemieh Hospital, Shahroud. Subjects with inclusion criteria and who were interested to participate in the study were placed in one of the test or control groups based on pre-specified sequence. Questionnaires were completed in several stages. Data analysis was conducted using chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney test and multivariate linear regression in SPSS-21software. In data analysis, p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The results of multivariate linear regression showed that the duration of the first and second stage labour in the massage receiving group is significantly decreased compared to the test group (p= 0.004 and p= 0.02, respectively). In addition, the Apgar scores at minutes 1 and 5 in test group is significantly increased compared to control group (p <0.0001). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study showed that massage therapy during labour will lead to shortening of the first and second stage labour duration and improve Apgar scores at the first and fifth minutes. By shortening the duration of labour, pregnant women tend to have more normal vaginal delivery.

Investigation of Nutritional Behaviors in the First and Second Trimesters in Pregnant Women Referring to Clinics in Hamadan, Iran, in 2013.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is a particular period in women's life that is accompanied by an increase in nutritional needs. Having a normal pregnancy period and successful pregnancy outcomes depends on the intake of sufficient amount of food. The present study aimed to determine nutritional behaviors in pregnant women in the first and second trimesters referring to clinics in Hamadan, Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 170 women referred to health and treatment centers of Hamadan in 2013. Among Hamadan's health and treatment centers, 10 were selected as the research setting through cluster sampling. Then, the pregnant women at 8-24 weeks of gestation were randomly entered into the study. The data were collected using nutritional behaviors questionnaire in three months. Accordingly, mean scores below 50, between 50 and 75, and above 75 were considered as weak, moderate, and perfect nutritional behaviors, respectively. The data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software, version 21 and P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: The results showed that more than three fourths of the study participants had moderate nutritional behaviors. Insufficient intake of fruit, vegetables, and cereals was detected in 80.6%, 54.1%, and 47.1% of the participants, respectively. Besides, 30% of the women had not used folic acid supplement during their pregnancy period or were not aware of its necessity. The results of multivariate analysis indicated that age was only significantly associated with pregnant women's score of nutritional behaviors (P=0.010). Additionally, no significant relationship was found between the women's nutritional behaviors and their strategies for elimination of common pregnancy complications, such as constipation, heartburn, urinary tract infection, and anemia. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION: Considering the participants' moderate nutritional behaviors, health and treatment centers are recommended to provide the necessary training for improving pregnant women's nutritional behaviors and supervise and follow their execution and evaluation.

Protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis: hop (Humulus lupulus L.) for menopausal vasomotor symptoms.

INTRODUCTION: Menopause is a critical stage in every woman's life. It can cause a distressing time for women by creating various vasomotor symptoms (VMS). Phytoestrogens can potentially exert various favourable effects and alleviate VMS in postmenopausal women. The hop (Humulus lupulus L.) contains 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN), the most potent phytoestrogen known to date. The hop is eight times stronger than any other herbal oestrogens. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive systematic review and a meta-analysis survey of the effects of hop in the management of VMS in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Only randomised controlled clinical trials, with cluster randomisation and crossover, blinded and non-blinded designs, conducted between 2000 and 2015, will be included in this review. Quasi-experimental and observational studies as well as case reports will be excluded. The studies will be selected if their participants were aged 40-60 years, had elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and/or menstrual irregularities, and experienced discomforting VMS (at least hot flashes or night sweats). The primary outcome will be the rate of response to treatment, such as changes in frequency and intensity of symptoms in the intervention and placebo groups. 'Hop', 'Humulus', 'menopause', 'vasomotor', 'hot flashes', 'phytoestrogen' and 'night sweats' will be used as search key words. Prior to their inclusion in the review, the selected papers will be assessed by two independent reviewers for methodological validity. Any disagreements will be resolved through a third reviewer. The risk of bias will be independently determined using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The quality of the papers will be assessed based on the CONSORT checklist. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Results will be disseminated through traditional academic literature. Dissemination of results will occur by peer-reviewed publications. The results of our project can help reproductive health researchers when evaluating the discomforts of research procedures described in study protocols or when designing a study. Information on experiences of menopausal women involved in previous studies may also help in future research. The expected dissemination actions are effective treatment in designing strategies that aim to develop women's health and healthcare providers when offering treatment for women with vasomotor symptoms.