Self-care agency and associated factors in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: The aging process in women is marked by several changes, including the transition to menopause. The evaluation of self-care management is essential and has great relevance for public health. The aim of the present study was to evaluate self-care management and associated factors in postmenopausal women. METHOD: This study was a cross-sectional study performed with 260 postmenopausal women who attended routine consultations at the Menopause Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital of the State University of Campinas-SP. Women aged 50 years or older with amenorrhea for at least 12 months were included. The women were interviewed by a researcher during the routine consultation, and the self-care agency assessment was performed using the Appraisal of Self-Care Agency Scale-Revised questionnaire. RESULTS: The average total self-care score for the women in this study was 62.27 (± 9.64). Higher Appraisal of Self-Care Agency Scale-Revised scores were associated with performing outdoor activities, better self-perceived health, and a higher score on knowledge about vitamin D. Active smoking was associated with a lower self-care score. CONCLUSION: We observed that the self-care management of postmenopausal women was satisfactory and was associated with lifestyle, self-perceived health, and knowledge about vitamin D.

Prevalence of hormone therapy, factors associated with its use, and knowledge about menopause: a population-based household survey.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of hormone therapy (HT), the factors associated with its use, and the importance of knowledge about menopause and HT. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based study with 749 Brazilian women aged 45 to 60 years living in the Campinas Metropolitan Region was carried out between September 2012 and June 2013. The dependent variable was current or previous HT use. The independent variables were sociodemographic data, health-related problems, and knowledge about menopause assessed using a score that was obtained with a questionnaire on various aspects of menopause. RESULTS: The mean age of the women was 52.5 (±4.4) years. With regard to the menopause status, 16% were premenopausal, 16% were perimenopausal, and 68% were postmenopausal. Among all the women included, 19.5% reported current or previous HT use. In multiple regression analysis, being postmenopausal (prevalence ratio [PR] 2.76; 95% CI, 1.74-4.38), receiving information about menopause from physicians and health service workers (PR 2.73; 95% CI, 1.91-3.89), having bilateral oophorectomy (PR 2.18; 95% CI, 1.49-3.17), experiencing work interruption due to hot flashes (PR 1.44; 95% CI, 1.03-2.01), and having extensive knowledge about menopause (PR 1.12; 95% CI, 1.05-1.19) were associated with a higher prevalence of HT use. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HT use was 19.5%. Menopause status, information source, surgical menopause, work interruption due to hot flashes, and knowledge about menopause were associated with HT use. Education promoted by healthcare systems can increase HT use in women who have indications for treatment.

Vaginal epithelium and microflora characteristics in women with premature ovarian failure under hormone therapy compared to healthy women.

PURPOSE: To evaluate some microbiological aspects of the vaginal flora and the vaginal trophism of women with premature ovarian failure (POF) in use of oral hormone therapy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 36 women with POF under the age of 40 years using oral hormonal therapy. They were age matched with 36 women with normal gonadal function (control group). The characteristics of the vaginal epithelium were assessed through the hormonal vaginal cytology, vaginal pH measurement and vaginal health index to identify vaginal disturbances. Vaginal microflora was evaluated by the amine test, bacterioscopy (Nugent score) and culture for fungi to identify vaginal abnormal microflora and fungi infections. RESULTS: Despite the fact that there were no statistical significant differences related to the cytological aspects and pH measurements, it was found that the vaginal health index was highly superior in the control group than in the POF group (23.4 ± 1.8 vs 20.8 ± 3.5), p < 0.0001 despite both groups had trophic scores. There were no statistical significance differences regarding to vaginal microflora types and fungi infection. CONCLUSION: Oral hormone therapy for young women with POF seems to be good enough to reestablish the epithelium cells, vaginal pH and microflora.

Aspectos microbiológicos e funcionais da mucosa vaginal e sua relação com função sexual de mulheres com falência ovariana prematura / Microbiological and functional aspects of the vaginal mucosa and its relationship with sexual function of women with premature ovarian failure

Introdução: Em mulheres com falência ovariana prematura (FOP) em uso de terapia hormonal (TH) os aspectos microbiológicos e funcionais da mucosa vaginal e sua relação com a função sexual (FS) não está clara. Não está claro também se a FS em mulheres com FOP está mais relacionada a questões emocionais ou a problemas orgânicos. Objetivo: Avaliar a função sexual em mulheres com FOP em uso de TH e correlacioná-la com algumas características da mucosa vaginal de mulheres. Identificar o escore de lubrificação e dor no ato sexual e relacioná-los com as características da mucosa vaginal. Desenho do estudo: Corte transversal com 36 mulheres com FOP em uso de TH, acompanhadas no Ambulatório de Ginecologia Endócrina do Departamento de Tocoginecologia da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas, pareadas por idade (± 2 anos) com 36 mulheres com função gonadal normal; todas sexualmente ativas e referindo pelo menos uma relação sexual no último mês. Avaliou-se função sexual através do questionário Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), o trofismo vaginal através da citologia hormonal vaginal, pH e escore vaginal e a flora vaginal através do teste de amina, bacterioscopia e cultura de fungo. Resultados: As mulheres pareadas por idade apresentaram no grupo FOP 33,8 ± 6,1 anos e controles 34,9 ±6,1 anos e tinham relacionamento conjugal estável (91,7% e 97,2% para FOP e controle, respectivamente). O FSFI mostrou escore total para o grupo FOP e controles, respectivamente, de 21,3 ± 6,3 vs. 27,9 ± 3,4 (p<0,0001), com pior desempenho sexual na presença da falência gonadal. Também se observou diferença significativa, com mais dor e pior lubrificação, no grupo com FOP do que nos controles. O escore vaginal mostrou pior trofismo da mucosa vaginal no grupo FOP (20,8 ± 3,5) em relação ao controle (23,4 ± 1,8), p<0,0001. O estudo de citologia hormonal e do pH vaginal não evidenciou diferenças...

Introduction: In women with Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) using hormonal therapy (HT) the microbiologycal and functional aspects of the vaginal mucosa and its relationship with sexual function (SF) is not clear. It is also unclear if SF in women with POF is more related to issues in emotional or physical problems. Objective: To evaluate SF in women with POF using HT and to correlate to some characteristics of the vaginal mucosa. To identify the lubrication and pain score during the intercourse and to correlate with the vaginal mucosa characteristics. Study design: Matched cross-sectional study between 36 women with POF and 36 women of the same age (± 2 years) with normal ovarian function, accompanied by the Endocrine Gynecology Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medical Sciences at the State University of Campinas. Women were sexually active and had at least one sexual intercourse in the last month. Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire (FSFI). The trophism was determined by vaginal hormonal cytology, pH and vaginal health index. The vaginal flora was identified by amine test, bacterioscopy and culture for fungi. Results: Women showed a similar age - in the POF group were 33.8 ± 6.1 years and in the control group were 34.9 ± 6.1 (p=0.296) - and had stable marital status (91.7% and 97.2% respectively for POF and control, p = ns). The sexual function of women with POF resulted in the total score of 21.3 ± 6.3 vs. 27.9 ± 3.4 for control group (p<0.0001). The vaginal health index showed better trophism in the control group than in the POF group (23.4 ± 1.8 vs 20.8 ± 3.5, p < 0.0001), both with trophic scores. There was more pain and poorer lubrication in the group with POF than in controls...

Avaliaçäo citológica da orofaringe de mulheres portadoras do HPV genital / Cytological evaluation of the oropharynge in carriers women of genital HPV

O Vírus do Papiloma Humano (HPV) na mucosa oral das mulheres com lesoes clínicas ou subclínicas do condiloma nos órgaos genitais foi pesquisado através de esfregaço citológico da cavidade bucal. Para a análise, empregou-se coloraçao de Papanicolaou e técnica de imunoperoxidase. A casuística constou de 51 pacientes com diagnóstico clínico e histológico de HPV genital, atendidas no período de agosto de 1994 a julho de 1995. A idade média das pacientes foi de 22,5 anos, sendo que a média das idades na primeira relaçao foi de 17,4 anos. Destas mulheres, 60 por cento tiveram mais que três parceiros sexuais na vida, e a prática do sexo oral foi relatada em 45 por cento dos casos. O sexo anal, apesar da dificuldade em sua abordagem, foi relatado em 35 por cento dos casos. As lesoes genitais com HPV apresentaram-se nas formas clínicas e subclínicas em 86 por cento e l4 por cento dos casos, respectivamente: na vulva, 53 por cento; no colo, 14 por cento; na vagina, 6 por cento e mais de um local, 27 por cento. No nível de orofaringe, sinais citológicos como discariose, binucleaçao, paraceratose foram interpretados como suspeitos da presença do HPV, ocorrendo em 65 por cento dos casos. Evidências conclusivas desta infecçao estiveram presentes em 6 por cento dos casos analisados e, em 29 por cento das vezes, nao houve qualquer suspeita ou evidência citológica do HPV na mucosa orofaríngea. A paciente com lesao clínica de HPV genital apresentou evidência ou suspeita de HPV oral mais freqüente que as pacientes com lesao subclínica. O estudo serviu para mostrar que o vírus do papiloma humano pode estar presente na orofaringe de mulheres portadoras de HPV genital, mesmo nao havendo lesoes clinicamente detectáveis na mucosa oral.