Advances in Imaging for Assessing Pelvic Endometriosis.

In recent years, due to the development of standardized diagnostic protocols associated with an improvement in the associated technology, the diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis using imaging is becoming a reality. In particular, transvaginal ultrasound and magnetic resonance are today the two imaging techniques that can accurately identify the majority of the phenotypes of endometriosis. This review focuses not only on these most common imaging modalities but also on some additional radiological techniques that were proposed for rectosigmoid colon endometriosis, such as double-contrast barium enema, rectal endoscopic ultrasonography, multidetector computed tomography enema, computed tomography colonography and positron emission tomography-computed tomography with 16α-[18F]fluoro-17ß-estradiol.

Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) with the intrauterine system with levonorgestrel (6 mcg/d): observational study on the acceptability, quality of life, and sexuality in Italian women.

This observational study was conducted in healthy premenopausal women, who presented themselves for contraception with an intrauterine system (IUS) releasing LNG (6 mcg/d) (Jaydess®, Bayer, Germany) at the outpatient Family Planning Clinics of the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Universities of Cagliari and Sassari (CA/SS), University-Hospitals of CA/SS (Italy). After a screening visit, 31 women without contraindications to Jaydess® were included in the study. No difficulty in Jaydess® insertion (Ji) was found in 87% of subjects, with pelvic pain (PP) (visual analogic scale, VAS:5.33 ± 2.54) reported by 27/31 subjects at the Ji. Pelvic pain was reported by 17/31 subjects on the first day (VAS: 3.07 ± 3.1), 16/31 subjects on the second day (VAS:2.37 ± 2.71), and 11/31 subjects on the third day (VAS:1.18 ± 2.02) from Ji, with a significant (p < .001) decrease in the intensity. The primary purposes of the study were to evaluate whether a 12-month-treatment (12-M-T) with Jaydess® interferes on either the quality of life (QoL) or sexuality. Jaydess® did not modify either QoL or sexuality in the 25 subjects who completed the 12-M-T. Throughout the 12-M-T, PP, or pregnancies were not found; the menstrual blood loss was significantly (p < .0001) reduced, and the intensity VAS of dysmenorrhea (#14 subjects) significantly (p < .001) improved.