Micromotions of bladder wall in chronic pelvic pain (CPP): a pilot study.

The aim of the study was to investigate the occurrence and duration of micromotions of the bladder wall. Thirty women with CPP and 7 healthy women underwent micromotion detection (MMD). A latex balloon provided with eight electrodes was placed within the bladder through the urethra and filled with saline up to 200 ml. Micromotions (MM), pressure within the balloon, abdominal pressure and respiratory excursions of the abdomen were registered simultaneously. A significant difference in duration as well as frequency of occurrence was found for MM activity between subjects with CPP and controls. For the occurrence of variations in detrusor presure, the difference between groups tended towards significance. We conclude that there are indications that the bladder is involved in CPP.

Duration of hormonal replacement therapy in general practice; a follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the mean duration of use of HRT in general practice and to identify determinants of the duration of HRT use. METHODS: A general population of 1689 women aged 45-60 years and enlisted in five group practices of general practitioners were followed for 9 months to trace first HRT prescriptions. All 103 women who were prescribed HRT were followed for a period of 2.25 years. Duration of HRT was assessed by using the data provided on the dispensing of HRT. Possible determinants of duration of use, such as attitude towards menopause, menopausal status and another six variables were measured by means of a questionnaire. RESULTS: None of the 103 women received HRT for a preventive purpose; the main indication was menopausal complaints. More than 60% of the women stopped their HRT within 6 months and only 8% of the women remained on HRT for more than 2 years. The mean duration of use was 7 months. Determinants that significantly predicted the duration of HRT use were age, attitude towards treatment of the menopause and the group practice. CONCLUSIONS: The mean duration of HRT use is very short, despite the fact that the most prevalent indication is the alleviation of menopausal symptoms. Apparently, Dutch women are presently unwilling to take HRT for longer periods.

Histopathologic features of vulvar vestibulitis.

Vulvar vestibulitis, a subset of vulvodynia, is present in 15% of patients in a general gynecologic practice. Only a few studies have focused on pathologic features of vulvar vestibulitis and none have included a control group. Punch biopsies from the vulvar vestibule of 12 patients with an age range of 22 to 51 years (mean 28 years) and 12 age-matched controls were analyzed for histopathologic features and investigated for the role of probable etiologic factors including human papillomavirus (HPV). A chronic inflammatory infiltrate was present in all specimens from patients with vestibulitis, and was composed predominantly of T-lymphocytes with a small number of B cells and an admixture of plasma cells, mast cells, and occasional monocytes. T-helper suppressor ratio was normal. The infiltrate was mild in 5 patients, moderate in 1, and severe in 6. Minor vestibular glands were observed in 8 (66%) patients and were associated with a periglandular inflammatory infiltrate. Squamous metaplasia was observed in 4 (44%) patients. Epithelial hyperplasia was present in 10 (83%) patients with mild dysplasia in 2 (16%). Immunohistochemistry for immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, and IgM showed the presence of IgG-positive plasma cells in 75% of patients, suggesting chronic irritation, but an autoimmune etiology cannot be excluded or confirmed. Biopsies of control cases did not show any inflammatory infiltrate. In situ hybridization for HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 was negative in the patient group as well as in the control group. We conclude that histopathologic abnormalities in patients with vulvar vestibulitis are the result of a chronic inflammatory reaction of the mucosa of the vulvar vestibule, for which the cause remains unclear.

Changes in bowel function after hysterectomy.

PURPOSE: It has been suggested that hysterectomy has a disturbing influence on bowel function. To assess the incidence and nature of these changes, we performed a retrospective study. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in all 593 women who had undergone hysterectomy between 1989 and 1993. A control group consisted of 100 women who had undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy. RESULTS: The response rate was 90 percent (n = 531; median age, 45 (range, 18-84) years). Of the responding women, 315 patients (59 percent) indicated a normal defecation pattern before hysterectomy. Of these women, severe deterioration in bowel function was reported by 98 patients (31 percent), whereas 36 women (11 percent) mentioned a moderate change after hysterectomy. Most frequent symptoms were severe straining (90 patients), incomplete and/or digital evacuation (83 and 50 patients, respectively). According to most patients, the changes in bowel function were reported to have started within one month after hysterectomy. With advancing age, fewer complaints were recorded (P = 0.008). No significant difference was found in the incidence of disturbed bowel function between the different types of operation (abdominal, vaginal, supravaginal, or radical hysterectomy). In the control group, the response rate was 96 percent. Median age of these women was 46 (range, 25-78) years. Fifty-eight patients (60 percent) reported normal bowel function before laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In this group of patients, disturbed bowel function after surgery was reported by five women (9 percent), which figure is significantly (P < 0.001) lower compared with that in the corresponding hysterectomy group. CONCLUSION: Hysterectomy seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis of disturbed defecation.

The low transverse Pfannenstiel incision and the prevalence of incisional hernia and nerve entrapment.

OBJECTIVE: The authors determined the prevalence of incisional hernia and nerve entrapment in patients with a low transverse Pfannenstiel incision. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The literature on the Pfannenstiel incision suggests an incisional hernia rate of 0.0% to 0.5%. However, in these series, physical examination, which is essential in the authors' view, was not performed. To the authors' knowledge, the prevalence of nerve entrapment after the Pfannenstiel incision is not known or has never been published. METHODS: All adult women, operated on between 1986 and 1992 using a Pfannenstiel incision and not having had another lower abdominal incision other than for laparoscopy, were invited for follow-up at the outpatient department. All patients were interviewed and subjected to a physical examination, with special interest to the presence of incisional hernia or nerve entrapment. RESULTS: In patients having had a Pfannenstiel incision, no incisional hernias were found. In patients also having had a laparoscopy, the incisional hernia rate was 3.5%. Nerve entrapment was found in 3.7%. The length of the incision was identified as a risk factor (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Incisional hernia is a rare complication of the Pfannenstiel incision. Complications of nerve damage, however, are not uncommon and should be recognized. When possible, nerves should be identified and preserved, especially when extending the incision more laterally.

Behavioral approach with or without surgical intervention to the vulvar vestibulitis syndrome: a prospective randomized and non-randomized study.

This article describes the outcome of a behavioral approach with or without preceding surgical intervention in 48 women with the vulvar vestibulitis syndrome. In the first part of the study, 14 women with the vulvar vestibulitis syndrome were randomly assigned to one of two treatment programs: either a behavioral approach or a behavioral approach preceded by surgery. In the second part of the study, 34 women and their partners were given a choice of treatment. Follow-up data were gathered a mean of 3 and 2 1/2 years after treatment, respectively. In the randomized patient population, the intervention had a positive effect on all of them: the complaints disappeared, diminished or did not change but formed less of a problem. The difference in outcome between the two different treatments, a behavioral approach with or without preceding surgery, was not statistically significant. In the second non-randomized part of the study, 28 out of the 34 women (82%) chose the behavioral approach without preceding surgery. The difference in outcome between the two treatments was not statistically significant. Two out of the 28 women who chose behavioral treatment without preceding surgery had to be referred for psychiatric consultation because of serious psycho-sexual problems. In one woman, psychiatric treatment was successful. Three other women, whose behavioral treatment failed, underwent additional surgery, which clearly helped them to overcome the deadlock in the behavioral approach. The behavioral approach should be the first choice of treatment for the vulvar vestibulitis syndrome. Surgical intervention should be considered as an additional form of treatment in some cases with the vulvar vestibulitis syndrome to facilitate breaking the vicious circle of irritation, pelvic floor muscle hypertonia and sexual maladaptive behavior.

Pain relief during and following outpatient curettage and hysterosalpingography: a double blind study to compare the efficacy and safety of tramadol versus naproxen. Cobra Research Group.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the analgetic efficacy and side-effects of Naproxen and Tramadol following the outpatient VABRA aspiration or hysterosalpingography. SETTING: Ninety-one patients from the gynaecology clinics of two university hospitals and one municipal-teaching hospital. DESIGN: Multicentre double blind randomized clinical trial. Computerised randomisation, stratification per-centre. METHODS: Semiquantitative assessment of the two drugs was performed by the patient and the gynaecologist using a 1- to 6-point scale. Pain, stress and well-being was scored by the patient using the visual analog scale (VAS) and the verbal description scale (VDS), ranging from 0 (good) to 100 (bad). Side-effects during the first 24 h postoperatively were recorded by the patient in a diary. RESULTS: The analgetic efficacy (pain, stress and well-being) of Naproxen and Tramadol was identical. Subjective assessment by the patient and the doctor also revealed no differences between Naproxen and Tramadol. Side-effects of Tramadol, however, were significantly more severe than those of Naproxen and this phenomenon was responsible for a lower ability to proceed with normal activities in the Tramadol group. CONCLUSION: Tramadol is a good alternative for Naproxen at outpatient VABRA or HSG procedures when Naproxen is contra-indicated.

Vasomotor symptoms and well-being in the climacteric years.

OBJECTIVES: To determine more closely the relationship between vasomotor symptoms, well-being and climacteric status according to the last menstrual bleeding and according to the women themselves. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was executed using a postal questionnaire. Well-being of women with and without vasomotor symptoms was compared, for the different menopausal statuses. All 2729 women living in a commuter suburb of Rotterdam aged 45-60 years were approached of whom 1947 (71.3%) responded. Well-being was measured by the Inventory of Subjective Health (ISH) and three subscales of the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP). RESULTS: The results showed that the relationship between vasomotor symptoms and well-being was dependent on climacteric status. Pre- and (middle and late) postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms more often experienced a relatively lower level of well-being compared to women without these symptoms. However, when the prevalence of vasomotor symptoms is as its peak, i.e. in late perimenopause, a difference in the level of well-being between women with and without vasomotor symptoms was absent. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that well-being and vasomotor symptoms were inversely related in all menopausal statuses except for the (late) perimenopausal phase. For this no somatic explanation seems plausible. A more social scientific explanation is suggested.

Short-term results and long-term patients' appraisal of abdominal colposacropexy for treatment of genital and vaginal vault prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate short-term results and long-term patients' satisfaction of abdominal colposacropexy performed for massive genital prolapse in our institute during a 14-year period. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis was performed of 101 consecutive women who underwent abdominal colposacropexy. The procedure consisted of retroperitoneal interposition of a Mersilene mesh between a prolapsed vaginal vault or uterus and the anterior surface of the sacrum. A questionnaire was used to evaluate patients' satisfaction after surgery. RESULTS: In the short-term there was an acceptable rate of complications of surgery, comparable with that reported in the literature. Prolapse-related complaints evaluated by questionnaire were markedly diminished after surgery. Pain and functional complaints were only partly improved in a subgroup of patients. Only 32% of the patients responded that they were fully cured after operation. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal colposacropexy shows a particularly favorable result on prolapse-related complaints. Functional complaints and pain are not substantially relieved by this procedure. The complication rate of surgery is acceptable.

Determinants of first prescription of hormone replacement therapy. A follow-up study among 1689 women aged 45-60 years.

The aim of the present study was to ascertain the cumulative incidence of first hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the factors that predict its prescription. In a general population 1689 women were followed for 9 months in order to trace first HRT prescriptions. Determinants (well-being, attitude towards menopause, menopausal status and another 9 variables) were measured by means of a questionnaire. Data analyses were performed for all women and for women with or without typical climacteric complaints. The cumulative 9 month incidence of HRT was 6.2%. For women without typical complaints a lower level of well-being (odds ratio 5.5; 95% CI 1.9-15.5) and the former use of the contraceptive pill (odds ratio 4.6%; 95% CI 1.0-20.5) were independently associated with HRT prescription. For women with typical complaints a positive attitude towards 'menopause should be treated' (odds ratio 3.8; 95% CI 1.8-8.0) was a determinant of HRT prescription. The cumulative incidence of HRT prescription is high, but from additional data it is apparent that within a period of 1 year and 9 months the majority of women stop taking HRT. For women without typical complaints, physicians prescribe HRT five times more often to those with a lower level of well-being. For women with typical complaints the physician's prescription is primarily related to the woman's attitude towards (medical) treatment of the menopause.

Prolapse of the sigmoid neovagina: report of three cases.

BACKGROUND: Prolapse of a sigmoid neovagina, created in patients with congenital vaginal aplasia or male transsexualism, is rare. In correcting this condition, preservation of coital function and restoration of the vaginal axis should be of primary interest. CASES: One patient with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster syndrome developed a protrusion of the sigmoid neovagina almost 4 years after the initial operation. The prolapse was treated successfully using an abdominal approach to suspend the neovagina to a Cooper ligament. The second patient is a male-to-female transsexual who developed a prolapse 3 years after the creation of a sigmoid neovagina. After suspension of the neovagina to a Cooper ligament, the prolapse recurred; in a repeat approach, the neovagina was successfully suspended to the sacral promontory. The third patient, with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster syndrome, complained of a protrusion immediately after creation of the neovagina. Initially, the redundant sigmoid was resected vaginally. However, the prolapse recurred, and an abdominal suspension to a Cooper ligament was performed. Finally, after 1 year, another recurrence was treated successfully with a vaginal approach. CONCLUSION: Prolapse of an artificially created vagina is a rare occurrence, without a standard treatment. Both abdominal and vaginal approaches may be needed to restore the neovagina without compromising its function.

Bacterial flora of the sigmoid neovagina.

The bacterial microbiota of 15 sigmoid neovaginas, created in patients with congenital vaginal aplasia or male transsexualism, was studied. No specimen was sterile, and only normal inhabitants of the colon were cultured. The total counts of bacteria were lower than those reported for healthy sigmoid colons.

Long-term psychosexual and psychosocial performance of patients with a sigmoid neovagina.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to study the long-term psychosexual and psychosocial performance of patients with a sigmoid vagina in vaginal dysgenesis and male-to-female transsexuals. STUDY DESIGN: Nineteen patients who had undergone surgery to create a neovagina with the use of a sigmoid segment participated in a long-term follow-up study. Evaluation was done with standardized gynecologic examination and a structured interview. RESULTS: The anatomic result was good in 18 patients, although several reoperative procedures had been necessary. Sexual adjustment was good or satisfactory in 12 of 19 patients. Of the 19 patients, 16 were capable of reaching an organism. Social adjustment was good or satisfactory in 16 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The creation of a sigmoid neovagina results in a long-term anatomically satisfactory situation, in both patients with vaginal dysgenesis and male-to-female transsexuals. In a majority of the patients sexual and social adjustment is good or satisfactory.

Women's opinion on withdrawal bleeding with hormone replacement therapy.

The objective of the study was to assess the opinion of women about the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in relation to continuation or re-induction of bleeding periods after menopause. The design was a population-based cross-sectional study using a postnatal questionnaire in Krimpen aan den IJssel, a commuter suburb of Rotterdam. The participants were all 2729 women living in Krimpen aan den IJssel aged 45-60 years, of whom 1947 (71.3%) responded. The main outcome measure was an opinion on monthly or trimonthly withdrawal bleedings with HRT. The results showed 16.9% of all women have no or little objection to use of HRT with monthly withdrawal bleedings. There is a marked difference between premenopausal women (32.4% have no or little objection) and postmenopausal women (only 9.2% have no or little objection). Trimonthly cycles during HRT tend to be perceived as more acceptable (41.4% of premenopausal women and 11.8% of postmenopausal women have no or little objection). It is concluded that a reasonable proportion of premenopausal women accept continuation of periodic bleeding with HRT. There is a preference for trimonthly cycles rather than monthly withdrawal bleedings. Most postmenopausal women object to having withdrawal bleedings with HRT, irrespective of a monthly or trimonthly cycle. Research should continue on schedules without withdrawal bleedings.

Relationships between attitude towards menopause, well-being and medical attention among women aged 45-60 years.

This study aims to answer the following questions: (i) what is the attitude of women in the climacteric years towards menopause, (ii) what is the association between attitude towards menopause and well-being and (iii) to what extent is medical attention determined by both well-being and attitude towards menopause. All 2729 women aged 45-60 years living in a suburb of Rotterdam were sent a questionnaire, of these 1947 (71.3%) were returned. Attitude was measured on a 5-point rating scale using 28 items that have been used in other studies. Well-being was measured by the Inventory of Subjective Health and three subscales of the Sickness Impact Profile. Medical attention was measured by asking the women whether they were currently being treated by a general practitioner or specialist. Results show that three clusters of attitudes towards menopause exist: two clusters encompasses items reflecting attitudes towards disadvantages and advantages of the menopause, one cluster encompasses items reflecting attitudes towards (medical) treatment of the menopause. On the whole, women answer neutrally to items relating menopause with the disadvantages and tend to agree with items relating menopause with the advantages. The women slightly agree, premenopausal women more than others, with items that are in favour of treatment of menopausal complaints. Agreement with items on the disadvantage cluster is moderately associated with a low level of well-being, whereas agreement with items on the advantage cluster is slightly associated with a high level of well-being; the treatment cluster is not associated with well-being. Both well-being and agreement with items on the treatment cluster are statistically significantly associated with medical attention. Apart from these variables, the woman's ideas about treatment are also related to medical attention.

The occurrence of diversion colitis in patients with a sigmoid neovagina.

Diversion colitis is an inflammatory process occurring in segments of the colorectum surgically diverted from the fecal stream. Clinical symptoms of this condition are rectal discomfort, pain, discharge, and bleeding. We diverted isolated segments of sigmoid to create neovaginas in patients with aplasia vaginae and in male to female transsexuals. In contrast to what is reported in most studies of diversion colitis, the neovagina consists of an isolated segment not connected to the anus in patients without any pre-existing bowel disease. To investigate the occurrence of diversion colitis in these sigmoid-neovaginas we studied biopsy specimens from 13 patients. Most of the patients complained of discharge and slight blood loss from their sigmoid-neovagina. Microscopic examination of the biopsy specimens showed lymphocytic infiltration in all cases. Four cases showed an acute inflammatory infiltrate in the lamina propria. Our results indicate that the changes observed on clinical and histopathologic examinations represent the entity of mild diversion colitis. We conclude that diversion colitis also occurs in a sigmoid neovagina.

The climacteric and well-being.

The climacteric is accompanied by many changes in life, which may give cause to a variety of complaints. Thus, it may be difficult to discern to what extent the climacteric is related to well-being. The association between menopausal status and well-being was determined in a population of 2729 women aged 45-60 years. A self-administered questionnaire was filled out and returned by 1947 women (response 71.3%). Well-being was measured by the Inventory of Subjective Health (ISH) and the three subscales of the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP): social functioning; emotions, feelings and sensations; and intellectual functioning. The relationship between menopausal status and well-being was estimated using linear regression analysis, while adjusting for age and other potential confounding variables, including body mass index, smoking behavior, education, work outside the home, parity, way of cohabitation, difference in age with the partner and partner's employment. The results show that early perimenopausal women report a lower level of well-being as compared to premenopausal women on all three SIP scales. Early postmenopausal women report a lower level of well-being on the SIP emotions, feelings and sensations. Intermediate postmenopausal women have a lower level of well-being on the ISH only. Finally, late postmenopausal women have a lower level of well-being on the SIP social functioning and SIP emotions, feelings and sensations. We tentatively conclude that the influence of the climacteric on well-being independent of confounders is primarily found in behavioral functioning in the daily life of a woman.

Determinants of lumbar bone mineral density in normal weight, non-smoking women soon after menopause. A study using clinical data and quantitative computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: Is there an influence of oral contraceptive use, parity and lactation on early postmenopausal bone mass? Is assessment of reproductive history, body weight in combination with biochemical markers of bone metabolism suitable to predict lumbar bone mass soon after menopause? STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study in 94 healthy, normal weight, non-smoking women, 1-3 years after spontaneous menopause. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine was measured with single energy quantitative computed tomography. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis showed that only total duration of lactation and alkaline phosphatase (AP) levels are independently related to trabecular BMD (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002 respectively). AP was also associated with cortical BMD (P = 0.003). Assessment of reproductive history, body mass index and biochemical markers of bone metabolism could only account for 17% of the variation of trabecular BMD observed in the study population. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that total duration of lactation rather than parity is associated with trabecular BMD of the spine. Clinical assessment of risk factors unsuccessfully predicts lumbar BMD in healthy, early postmenopausal women.

The menopause, urinary incontinence and other symptoms of the genito-urinary tract.

In a study on incontinence and other symptoms of the genito-urinary tract in postmenopausal women covering their prevalence, consequences and predisposing factors, the prevalence of incontinence was found to be 26.4%. Daily incontinence was present in postmenopausal women more than twice as often as before the menopause (P < 0.05). The frequency of medical consultation for such incontinence was low; only 26.1% of the postmenopausal women had ever seen their doctor about it. Urgency, nocturia and dyspareunia were more prevalent in postmenopausal women, while vaginal itching and discharge were more frequent in premenopausal women (P < 0.05). The prevalence of incontinence and the other genito-urinary symptoms was higher after surgical than after natural menopause. Multivariate analysis showed the menopause to be the only factor that contributed significantly to the onset of incontinence (P < 0.001).