The World Rugby and International Rugby Players Contact Load Guidelines: From conception to implementation and the future.

Managing training load in rugby union is crucial for optimising performance and injury prevention. Contact training warrants attention because of higher overall injury and head impact risk, yet players must develop physical, technical, and mental skills to withstand the demands of the game. To help coaches manage contact loads in professional rugby, World Rugby and International Rugby Players convened an expert working group. They conducted a global survey with players to develop contact load guidelines. This commentary aims to describe the contact load guidelines and their implementation, and identify areas where future work is needed to support their evolution.

Male complications of female genital mutilation.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is known to cause a wide range of immediate and long-term complications for women subjected to the practice. Male complications due to FGM have, however, not been described before. The objectives of this study were to explore male complications and attitudes with regard to FGM. A village in the Gezira Scheme along the Blue Nile in Sudan constituted the basis of the study. Interviews were carried out according to a pre-tested questionnaire, using structured questions with open-answer possibilities. Married men of the youngest parental generation and grandfathers were randomly selected from up-to-date election lists. All respondents except one agreed to be interviewed. A total of 59 men were interviewed, 29 young men and 30 grandfathers. Male complications resulting from FGM, such as difficulty in penetration, wounds/infections on the penis and psychological problems were described by a majority of the men. Most men were also aware of the female complications. More young than old respondents would have accepted a woman without FGM to become their daughter-in-law (p < 0.03). A majority of the young men would have preferred to marry a woman without FGM. This proportion was significantly higher than among the grandfathers (p < 0.01). Female genital mutilation can no longer be considered to be only an issue for women. The acknowledged male complications and attitudes described may open new possibilities to counteract the practice of FGM.

A community based study on the change of practice of female genital mutilation in a Sudanese village.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), among young and old parents. METHODS: One hundred and twenty young parents and grandparents in a rural area in central Sudan were randomly selected for interviews carried out according to structured questionnaires with open answer possibilities. RESULTS: All female respondents had undergone FGM. Of the young respondents, 44% had decided not to let their daughters undergo FGM. Young fathers were more involved in the decision process than previously known, especially when decisions were taken not to perform FGM. Tradition and social pressure were the main motives for performing FGM. Sexuality was an important aspect, mentioned both as motives for and against FGM. Religious belief and education level significantly affected to what extent FGM was practiced. CONCLUSION: This is the first community based study of FGM indicating a significant shift in practice between generations, young parents starting to question the value of FGM.

Ovarian fibro-thecoma in a 19 years old Sudanese girl. Gynaecological case report.

An unmarried, 19 years old, Sudanese girl developed a firm right ovarian mass which increased in size to reach a diameter of 25 x 25 cm and a weight of 2.8 kg in 8 months time. The patient's condition was associated with amenorrhoea, polycystic ovary and ascites. The ovarian tumour was diagnosed by clinical examination and ultrasound scanning and was identified as a fibrothecoma by histopathology.