User satisfaction with an intrauterine system containing 52 mg levonorgestrel: a Portuguese study.

OBJECTIVE: To characterise patient satisfaction 6 and 12 months after insertion of a 52 mg levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) in Portuguese women. STUDY DESIGN: A non-interventional and prospective study was conducted in Portuguese women of reproductive age who had Levosert® inserted. Two questionnaires (administered 6 and 12 months after 52 mg LNG-IUS insertion) were used to collect information on the patients' menstrual pattern, discontinuation rate, and satisfaction rate with Levosert®. RESULTS: A total of 102 women were enrolled, of which only 94 (92.2%) completed the study. Seven participants discontinued the use of the 52 mg LNG-IUS. At 6 and 12 months, 90.7% and 90.4% of participants, respectively, were either satisfied or very satisfied with the 52 mg LNG-IUS. At 6 and 12 months, 73.2% and 72.3% of participants, respectively, indicated that they were very likely to recommend the 52 mg LNG-IUS to a friend or family member. Most women (92.2%) continued to use the 52 mg LNG-IUS for the first year. The percentage of women who were 'much more satisfied' with Levosert® than with their previous contraceptive methods was 55.9% and 57.8% at 6 and 12 months, respectively, per questionnaire assessment. Satisfaction was associated with age (p = 0.004), amenorrhoea (p < 0.003) and absence of dysmenorrhoea (p = 0.003), but not with parity (p = 0.922). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the continuation and satisfaction rates with Levosert® were very high, and that this system is well accepted among Portuguese women. Patient satisfaction was driven by a favourable bleeding pattern and absence of dysmenorrhoea.

Satisfaction with the 52 mg levonorgestrel­releasing intrauterine system was high among Portuguese women. Patient satisfaction was mainly driven by a favourable bleeding pattern and absence of dysmenorrhoea.

[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.

[Demographic and Professional Characteristics of Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology Registered in Portugal: Needs, Resources and Challenges]. / Características Demográficas e Profissionais dos Especialistas em Ginecologia-Obstetrícia Registados em Portugal: Necessidades, Recursos e Desafios.

INTRODUCTION: The demographic and professional characteristics of specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology registered in Portugal are presented and current and future needs assessed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An analysis of the data from Instituto Nacional de Estatística, Ordem dos Médicos and a survey sent to the directors of the departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Portuguese hospitals was perfomed. In order to calculate the necessary number of specialists, established indicators of the activity of the specialty were used. RESULTS: In 2018, there were 1 437 441 consultations of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 89 110 major gynecologic surgeries and 85 604 deliveries. For that, 1065 Obstetrics and Gynecology physicians, working 40 hours per week, with no more than 40% aged 55 years of age and older or including 30 residents per year, are deemed necessary. According to the National Institute of Statistics, in the same year there were 1143 specialists in Portuguese hospitals, of which 234 worked in private hospitals. On the other hand, 1772 specialists were registered with the Ordem dos Médicos: 1163 (66%) were aged 55 years old or above and 84% of specialists under the age of 40 were females. In 2020, there were 864 specialists, 46% of which aged years of age and older working in 39 out of the 41 public or public-private departments that answered the survey. In 2035, an increase of 7% in the required number of specialists is expected. CONCLUSION: In Portugal, there is not lack of Obstetrics and Gynecology specialists in absolute numbers, but the large number of specialists aged 55 years of age and older, who are exempt from shifts in emergency department work, and the existence of regional asymmetries contribute to the perpetuation of some shortages of these healthcare professionals in several departments, namely in public hospitals.

Introdução: Apresentam-se as caraterísticas demográficas e profissionais dos especialistas de Ginecologia-Obstetrícia registados em Portugal e avaliam-se necessidades atuais e futuras.Material e Métodos: Analisaram-se dados do Instituto Nacional de Estatística, da Ordem dos Médicos e de resposta a questionário enviado a diretores de serviços hospitalares portugueses de Ginecologia-Obstetrícia. Calcularam-se as necessidades de especialistas com base em indicadores estabelecidos de atividade médica da especialidade.Resultados: Em 2018, registaram-se, em Portugal, 1 437 441 consultas da especialidade, 89 110 grandes cirurgias e 85 604 partos. Para essa atividade calcula-se serem necessários 1065 médicos da especialidade, em regime de 40 horas semanais, dos quais não mais do que 40% com idade igual ou superior a 55 anos; para manter este número são necessários 30 internos por ano. Segundo o Instituto Nacional de Estatística, nesse ano existiam 1143 especialistas nos hospitais portugueses, 234 dos quais em hospitais privados. Por outro lado, estavam inscritos 1772 especialistas na Ordem dos Médicos, dos quais 1163 (66%) apresentavam uma idade igual ou superior a 55 anos, sendo 84% dos especialistas com menos de 40 anos do sexo feminino. Em 2020, nos 39 dos 41 serviços públicos e público-privados que responderam ao questionário, existiam 864 especialistas, dos quais 395 (46%) com idade igual ou superior a 55 anos. Para 2035 prevê-se um aumento de 7% nas necessidades de especialistas desta área.Conclusão: Em Portugal não há falta de especialistas de Ginecologia-Obstetrícia em número absoluto, mas a existência de um elevado número de especialistas com idade igual ou superior a 55 anos, que tem direito a deixar de prestar atividade nos Serviços de Urgência, e de assimetrias regionais, contribuem para que continuem a existir algumas carências destes profissionais em vários serviços, nomeadamente em hospitais públicos.

Progression of HPV infection to detectable cervical lesions or clearance in adult women: Analysis of the control arm of the VIVIANE study.

The control arm of the phase III VIVIANE (Human PapillomaVIrus: Vaccine Immunogenicity ANd Efficacy; NCT00294047) study in women >25 years was studied to assess risk of progression from cervical HPV infection to detectable cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The risk of detecting CIN associated with the same HPV type as the reference infection was analysed using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox models. Infections were categorised depending upon persistence as 6-month persistent infection (6MPI) or infection of any duration. The 4-year interim analysis included 2,838 women, of whom 1,073 (37.8%) experienced 2,615 infections of any duration and 708 (24.9%) experienced 1,130 6MPIs. Infection with oncogenic HPV types significantly increased the risk of detecting CIN grade 2 or greater (CIN2+) versus non-oncogenic types. For 6MPI, the highest risk was associated with HPV-33 (hazard ratio [HR]: 31.9 [8.3-122.2, p < 0.0001]). The next highest risk was with HPV-16 (21.1 [6.3-70.0], p < 0.0001). Similar findings were seen for infections of any duration. Significant risk was also observed for HPV-18, HPV-31, and HPV-45. Concomitant HPV infection or CIN grade 1 or greater associated with a different oncogenic HPV type increased risk. Most women (79.3%) with an HPV infection at baseline cleared detectable infections of any duration, and 69.9% cleared a 6MPI. The risk of progression of HPV infection to CIN2+ in women >25 years in this study was similar to that in women 15-25 years in PATRICIA.

[Factors predictive of retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer]. / Factores preditivos de metastização ganglionar retroperitoneal no cancro do endométrio.

INTRODUCTION: It has been suggested that a complete staging may be safely omitted in endometrial carcinoma patients at low risk for lymph node metastasis. The purposes of our study were to explore the prognostic significance of pathologic factors for pelvic and paraaortic nodal spread and to validate the Mayo algorithm in order to identify patients in whom lymphadenectomy may be avoided. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review including 208 patients, regarding the evaluation of pathologic variables and nodal metastases. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test, the Fisher exact test and the Student's t-test. RESULTS: Myometrial invasion > 50% (p < 0.001), cervical invasion (p = 0.001), lymphovascular space invasion (p = 0.003) and positive peritoneal cytology (p = 0.03) were significant predictors of retroperitoneal lymph node dissemination. Pelvic lymph node metastases were predictive of positive paraaortic lymph nodes (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: The Mayo algorithm identified patients without pelvic or paraaortic nodal metastases with a 98.4% negative predictive value (61/62). Myometral invasion ≤ 50% and absence of cervical and lymphovascular invasion presented a negative predictive value of 98.8% (79/80). CONCLUSION: Although the Mayo criteria predict a very low likelihood of retroperitoneal nodal metastases, the combination of myometral invasion ≤ 50% and absence of cervical or lymphovascular invasion would have safely avoided lymphadenectomy in a larger number of women.

Introdução: Tem sido sugerido que o estadiamento completo possa ser omitido com segurança em doentes com carcinoma do endométrio e baixo risco de metástases ganglionares. Os objectivos do nosso trabalho foram a exploração do significado prognóstico de factores patológicos para disseminação ganglionar pélvica e para-aórtica e a validação do algoritmo da Clínica Mayo, de forma a identificar as doentes em que a linfadenectomia possa ser dispensada.Material e Métodos: Efectuámos um estudo retrospectivo incluindo 208 doentes, para a avaliação de variáveis tumorais patológicas e metástases ganglionares. A análise estatística foi realizada através dos testes qui-quadrado, exacto de Fisher e t de Student.Resultados: A invasão miometrial > 50% (p < 0,001), a invasão do colo (p = 0,001), a invasão dos espaços linfovasculares (p = 0,003) e a citologia peritoneal positiva (p = 0,03) constituíram preditores significativos de disseminação ganglionar retroperitoneal. A metastizaçãoganglionar pélvica foi preditiva de metastização ganglionar para-aórtica (p < 0,001).Discussão: O algoritmo da Clínica Mayo identificou as doentes sem metástases nos gânglios pélvicos ou para-aórticos com um valor preditivo negativo de 98,4% (61/62). A combinação de invasão miometrial ≤ 50% e ausência de invasão cervical ou linfovascular apresentou um valor preditivo negativo de 98,8% (79/80).Conclusão: Apesar de os critérios da Clínica Mayo predizerem uma probabilidade muito reduzida de metástases ganglionares retroperitoneais, a combinação de invasão miometrial ≤ 50% e ausência de invasão cervical ou linfovascular teria evitado a linfadenectomia num número superior de mulheres.