Perception of oral contraception - do women think differently from gynaecologists?

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the experience and satisfaction with contraceptives and use of Combined Oral Contraceptives (COC) by women and compare their perceptions with those of gynaecologists. METHODS: This was a multicentre survey study conducted in Portugal, during April and May, 2021 with women using contraceptives and gynaecologists. Online quantitative questionnaires were carried out. RESULTS: A total of 1508 women and 100 gynaecologists were included. Cycle control was the pill non-contraceptive benefit most valued by gynaecologists and women. For gynaecologists, the main pill concern was the risk of thromboembolic events, but they believed that weight gain was the main concern for their patients. The pill was the most used contraceptive (70%) and women were largely (92%) satisfied. The pill was associated with health risks for 85% of users, mainly thrombosis (83%), weight gain (47%), and cancer (37%). The attributes of the pill most valued by women are contraceptive efficacy (82%), followed by low risk of thromboembolic events (68%), good cycle control (60%), non-interference with libido and mood (59%) and weight (53%). CONCLUSION: Most women use contraceptive pills and are generally satisfied with their contraceptive. Cycle control was the most valued non-contraceptive benefit for gynaecologists and women, agreeing with physicians' beliefs about women. On the other hand, contrary to physicians' beliefs, that women's main concern is weight gain, women are mainly concerned with risks associated with contraceptives. Thromboembolic events are women's and gynaecologists most valued risk. Finally, this study indicates the need for physicians to better understand what COC users really fear.

Comparing women's perceptions with those of gynaecologists regarding Combined Oral Contraceptives, this study showed that contrary to physicians' beliefs, that women's main concern is weight gain, their main concern are risks associated with contraceptives. So, physicians need to better understand what women really fear.

Associated factors to human papillomavirus vaccine adhesion in adult women: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The goal of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is the decline of HPV related premalignant lesions, leading to prevention of cervical cancer. Vaccination against HPV is recommended until the age of 45 to prevent viral reinfections and reactivations. The aim of this study was to evaluate adhesion to HPV vaccination and their associated factors in adult women. Methods: Cross-sectional study in two tertiary hospitals, with a questionnaire distributed to women born between 1974 and 1992, from September till November 2019. Data collected included sociodemographic information, clinical information, knowledge about HPV, and the HPV vaccine and data regarding vaccine recommendation. Factors associated with vaccination were searched by bivariate and multivariate statistical analysis. Results: In 469 questionnaires, 25.4% (n = 119) women were vaccinated. The main reason for not vaccinating was the non-recommendation (n = 276; 70.2%). In bivariate analyses, vaccinated women were younger, predominantly not married, had higher educational level, and higher careers (P ≤ .001); an abnormal cytology, HPV infection or previous excision of the transformation zone were associated with a 3 to 4-fold increase in the odds of vaccination. Age, high-risk HPV infection, and knowing someone vaccinated remained factors independently associated with HPV vaccination in the multivariate analyses (P< .05). The recommendation of "vaccinate immediately" was independently associated with effectively doing it (P< .001). Conclusions: HPV vaccination is associated with vaccine recommendation, especially if it is recommended to do immediately. These results reinforce the need of health professionals to be aware of the impact that their recommendation has on adhesion to HPV vaccination.

[Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Abnormal Cervical Cancer Screening Tests by the SPCPTGI]. / Orientações de Consenso para a Abordagem dos Resultados Alterados nos Testes de Rastreio do Cancro do Colo do Útero pela SPCPTGI.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women. Cervical cancer screening is needed for the detection and treatment of cervical neoplastic lesions that can evolve to neoplasia and to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. Recently, changes were made to increase the efficiency of the screening process such as employing the human papilloma virus detection test as the gold standard for cervical cancer screening and acknowledging the importance of adapting clinical practice to consider the risk of developing this neoplasia. Considering this paradigm shift, new clinical practice guidelines are now needed. For this purpose, a group of experts analyzed and discussed the most recent literature, defining recommendations and proposing clinical practice guidelines that focus on risk stratification, diagnostic evaluation, and on the therapeutical approach and follow-up of women with altered screening results. The aim of this article is to guide clinical practice regarding actions to take in face of altered results of cervical cancer screening and, consequently, to improve the secondary prevention of this condition.

O cancro do colo do útero (CCU) é globalmente um dos tipos de cancro mais comum em mulheres. O rastreio do CCU é indispensável para a deteção e tratamento de lesões neoplásicas cervicais que possam evoluir para neoplasia, com o objectivo de reduzir a incidência deste cancro. Nos últimos anos, têm ocorrido alterações que visam o aumento da eficácia do rastreio. Nomeadamente, o uso de teste de deteção do vírus do papiloma humano como método de rastreio primário do CCU e a valorização da importância de adaptar a prática clínica em função do risco de desenvolvimento do CCU. Desta forma, são necessárias novas normas de atuação clínica, que contemplem esta mudança de paradigma. Assim, um grupo de especialistas analisou e discutiu a literatura mais recente, definindo recomendações e propondo normas de prática clínica que se focam na estratificação de risco, avaliação diagnóstica, e na conduta terapêutica e de seguimento de mulheres com resultados dos testes de rastreio alterados. Este trabalho tem como objetivo facilitar a prática clínica em resposta a resultados alterados nos testes e, consequentemente, melhorar a prevenção secundária do CCU.