Impact of Cervical Cancer on Quality of Life and Sexuality in Female Survivors.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women worldwide, and the 11th most frequent neoplasm in Spain. Despite the optimization of treatments and a 5-year survival rate of 70%, side effects and sequelae are described after treatment. The treatments have physical, psychological and sociocultural consequences that deteriorate the quality of life of patients. One of the sequelae that worries patients is the impairment of sexual function and satisfaction, considered a fundamental dimension of the human being. The aim of this study was to examine quality of life and sexual function and satisfaction among Spanish cervical cancer survivors. A retrospective case-control study was conducted between 2019 and 2022. The sample consisted of 66 patients who completed the Female Sexual Function Index, the Golombok Rust Sexual Satisfaction Inventory and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire. The control group consisted of women without cervical cancer and gynecological pathologies obtained using the so-called online virtual sampling method. The patient group consisted of women with cervical cancer who completed treatment. Cervical cancer survivors reported sexual dysfunction and impaired sexual satisfaction in almost half of the domains. Quality of life was also affected, with pain and fatigue being the most frequent symptoms in these patients. Our results indicate that there is dysfunction, sexual dissatisfaction and a lower level of quality of life in cervical cancer survivors than in healthy women without pathology.

Premenstrual and menstrual changes reported after COVID-19 vaccination: The EVA project.

BACKGROUND: Menstrual disorders were not reported as a possible secondary effect in any of the clinical trials for the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. AIM: To describe the prevalence of perceived premenstrual and menstrual changes after COVID-19 vaccine administration. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 14,153 women (mean age 31.5 ± 9.3 years old) who had received the full course of vaccination at least three months earlier were included in this cross-sectional study. Data including the type of vaccine administered, perceived changes in the amount and duration of menstrual bleeding, presence of clots, cycle length, and premenstrual symptoms were collected through a retrospective online survey from June to September 2021. RESULTS: Of the women who participated in this study, 3136 reported no menstrual changes and 11,017 (78% of the study sample) reported experiencing menstrual cycle changes after vaccination. In summary, women who reported menstrual changes after vaccination were older (overall p < 0.001) and slightly more smokers (p = 0.05) than women who did not report any changes. The most prevalent changes in relation to premenstrual symptoms were increased fatigue (43%), abdominal bloating (37%), irritability (29%), sadness (28%), and headaches (28%). The most predominant menstrual changes were more menstrual bleeding (43%), more menstrual pain (41%), delayed menstruation (38%), fewer days of menstrual bleeding (34.5%), and shorter cycle length (32%). CONCLUSION: Women vaccinated against COVID-19 usually perceive mild menstrual and premenstrual changes. Future studies are warranted to clarify the physiological mechanisms behind these widely reported changes.

La cura en seco del cordón umbilicalen el recién nacido: revisión de la evidencia / Dry cord approach as umbilical cord care in the newborn: evidence-based revision

Introducción: El uso de alcohol y otros antisépticos para la cura delcordón umbilical está ampliamente extendido. No hay unidad entre loscentros y profesionales sobre cuál es la mejor manera de realizar la curadel cordón umbilical.Objetivo: Revisar la evidencia científica disponible sobre la cura enseco del cordón umbilicalMetodología: Revisión bibliográfica a partir de bases de datos en españoly en inglés. Consulta de las páginas web de los organismos oficialesy asociaciones de profesionales de la salud.Conclusiones: No hay motivos para desaconsejar la cura en seco delcordón umbilical del recién nacido en nuestro medio (AU)

Introduction: The use of alcohol and other antiseptics for the umbilicalcord care is widely spread. Medical centers and professionals do nothave a common opinion regarding the best way to heal the baby’s umbilicalcord.Objective: To review the available scientific evidence on the dry cordapproach of the umbilical cord.Methodology: Bibliography review from databases in Spanish andEnglish, references taken from official organizations and health professionalassociations’ websites.Conclusion: There are no reasons to advise against the dry cord approachas umbilical cord care of the newborn in our society (AU)