Effectiveness of online sexual education based on the extended PLISSIT model on sexual function and sexual satisfaction in women undergoing breast cancer treatment.

BACKGROUND: Despite therapeutic interventions having increased the survival rate of women with breast cancer, sexual dysfunction occurs in cancer survivors due to treatment. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of online sexual education, based on the Ex-PLISSIT model on sexual function and satisfaction, on women undergoing breast cancer treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was a quasi-experimental and interventional control study. It was conducted with a pretest-posttest design between April and July 2022 in Isfahan, Iran. The participants were divided into an intervention (n = 40) and a control group (n = 40). The intervention group received sexual education based on the Ex-PLISSIT model that consisted of four levels of intervention, namely, permission (P), limited information (LI), specific suggestions (SS), and intensive therapy (IT), presented in four sessions. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Larson's Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire were used to measure the sexual function and sexual satisfaction of the participants. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. P values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The results showed that the mean of sexual satisfaction and function scores in the intervention group significantly increased after intervention. Moreover, the results showed a statistically significant difference in the mean of sexual satisfaction scores between the intervention and control groups after intervention (P = 0.020). Although there was a difference between the mean of sexual function scores in the intervention and control groups after the intervention, the t-test showed no statistically significant difference (P = 0.176). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of the study, sexual education based on the Ex-PLISSIT model could effectively enhance sexual satisfaction of women undergoing breast cancer treatment. It seems that this model can help health care providers evaluate the sexual needs of the patients and provide appropriate suggestions in order to decrease sexual problems.

Changes in sexual activities, function, and satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic era: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Little is known about the impact of the coronavirus on sexual behavior, function, and satisfaction. Aim: The aim of the present study was to systematically review people's sexual function and behaviors and their changes in sexual activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Comprehensive searches in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were conducted with keywords in accordance with MeSH terms: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, sexual health, sexual function, sexual dysfunctions, sexuality, sexual orientation, sexual activities, and premarital sex. Two reviewers independently assessed full-text articles according to predefined criteria: original design, English studies, and investigating either the general population or sexual minorities. Results: Risk of bias in the studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and data were pooled via random effects meta-analyses. We utilized the standardized mean difference to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual activity, functioning, and satisfaction. We included 19 studies in the analysis and 11 studies in the meta-analysis, with a sample size of 12 350. To investigate sexual activity changes, a sample size of 8838 was entered into the subgroup analysis, which showed a significant decrease in both genders (5821 women, P < .033; 3017 men, P < .008). A subgroup meta-analysis showed that the sexual function of men and women during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly declined (3974 women, P < .001; 1427 men, P < .001). Sexual desire and arousal decreased in both genders, though mainly in women. In investigating sexual satisfaction changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, a meta-analysis with a sample size of 2711 showed a significant decrease (P < .001). The most indicative changes in sexual behaviors during the pandemic were the increase in masturbating and usage of sex toys. Greater COVID-19 knowledge was associated with lower masturbation, oral sex, and vaginal sex. The more protective behaviors were associated with less hugging, kissing, cuddling, genital touching, watching porn with a partner, and vaginal sex. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased challenges and changes for individuals' sexual behaviors. Efforts for preventive strategies should therefore be concentrated between pandemics, while ensuring that there is information available to the population during a pandemic for help in times of psychological distress or crisis.

The relationship between sex steroids (E2, progesterone, and AMH) levels and severity and fatality of COVID-19: A systematic review.

Sex steroids are powerful modulators of the immune system and they may affect the immune response and inflammatory consequences of COVID-19. This systematic review aims to explore the impact of sex steroids on COVID-19 mortality and complications. We looked up the keywords of the study in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. All related original articles published in English, as of October 16, 2021, were reviewed to be included in our research. Concerns regarding the effect of sex hormones on COVID-19, eight full texts have been identified for the conclusion. In these studies, the relationship between estradiol and COVID-19 mortality has been mentioned. The most significant findings were the higher COVID-19 mortality rate in men, compared to women; also, in menopausal women compared to younger women and who received estradiol. In two studies, oral contraceptive pills had a protective effect on the morbidity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In a randomized controlled trial, subcutaneous injection of progesterone in hospitalized men significantly reduced their symptoms and need for oxygen therapy. Hormone replacement therapy was positively associated with reducing COVID-19 symptoms. Although the results were insufficient for a conclusion, this study represents estrogen as an appropriate pharmacological method for preventing and diminishing the inflammation related to COVID-19 disease. However, future prospective studies and clinical trials are needed to clarify and approve this protective effect.

A silence full of words: sociocultural beliefs behind the sexual health of Iranian women undergoing breast cancer treatment, a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: Therapeutic interventions lead to impaired sexual health in women undergoing breast cancer treatment. There are some problem such as vaginal dryness, decreased libido, decreased sexual satisfaction, and decreased frequency of sexual intercourse among breast cancer survivors. This study was conducted to discover the sexual experiences of women undergoing breast cancer treatment. METHODS: A total of 39 semi-structured interviews were held with the women undergoing breast cancer treatment, husbands, and health care providers. Recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Three categories of cultural and gender taboos, adherence to subjective norms, and hidden values in sexuality were revealed. The cultural and gender taboos category consisted of subcategories of learned sexual shame, fear of judgment, sexual schemas, and gender stereotypes. The adherence to subjective norms category consisted of subcategories of sexual socialization, being labeled as a disabled woman and the priority of being alive to sexuality. The hidden values in sexuality category consist of subcategories of Task-based sexuality, Tamkin, and Sexuality prevents infidelity. CONCLUSIONS: Socio-cultural beliefs affect the sexual health of women undergoing breast cancer treatment, so paying attention to this issue can improve the quality of sexual health services.

Sexual health promotion interventional program for women undergoing breast cancer treatment: Protocol for a mix-methods study.

BACKGROUND: Women undergoing breast cancer treatment, especially those of reproductive age, experience sexual health challenges. The aim of this study is to design an interventional program for promoting the sexual health of women undergoing breast cancer treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a mixed qualitative-quantitative exploratory study consisting of four phases. In the first phase, the needs and strategies for promoting sexual health of Iranian women with breast cancer in Isfahan city will be identified through a qualitative study. The patients will be selected using purposive sampling method and the data will be collected through semi-structured interviews. In the second phase of the study, the relevant literature will be reviewed. In the third phase, the initial version of the program will be designed based on the results of qualitative study and review of literature, the appropriate strategies are prioritized by the members of the panel of experts, and then, the final interventional program is prepared. In the fourth phase, the designed interventional program will be conducted as a quasi-experimental study in two groups of intervention and control and the effectiveness of the program on sexual quality of life, sexual satisfaction, and sexual function of women undergoing breast cancer treatment will be evaluated. The type of the intervention will be selected based on the results of the previous phases and the opinion of the expert panel. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study are expected to contribute to the design of an interventional program based on the needs of women undergoing breast cancer treatment and promote health and meet the sexual health needs of breast cancer patients.

Prevalence of Toxocara eggs in the soil of public parks of Khorramshahr city, southwest Iran

Human toxocarosis is a chronic zoonotic disease, which creates various syndromes in humans such as visceral larva migrans, ocular larva migrans, and neurological toxocarosis. This disease is commonly contracted through ingestion of eggs from the Toxocara species. The eggs are transmitted to humans through contact with soil that contaminated with feces of infected animals by Toxocara species worm. This study, investigated the soil from various parks and public areas of Khorramshahr city southwest of Iran for Toxocara egg contamination. One-hundred and fifty soil samples were collected from 21 parks and green public areas from April to July 2018 and examined by the modified floatation method using saturated sucrose solution. The Toxocara eggs were isolated in 27 (18%) out of 150 samples collected. Based on Chi-square test, none of the factors: location of sampling (in city and the suburb), the presence of dogs and cats and the size of the sampling location; was not significant difference by soil contamination by Toxocara eggs. The presence of Toxocara eggs in Khorramshahr parks soil and green public areas is one of the main risk factors for catch the toxocarosis. This is important to develop preventive measures in the city and suburb areas to reduce the Environmental contaminations and thus reduce the incidence of disease in humans.