Investigating the medical journey of endometriosis-affected women: Results from a cross-sectional web-based survey (EndoVie) on 1,557 French women.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the medical journey and the quality of life of French endometriosis-affected women, from the onset of the symptoms to the therapeutic management. STUDY DESIGN: Between January 15th 2020 and February 3rd 2020, a prospective cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted among women diagnosed with endometriosis. The questionnaire included 52 questions distributed in five sections (screening, sociodemographic characteristics, impacts on quality of life, SF36 questionnaire, management of endometriosis and proposals for care improvement). RESULTS: One thousand five hundred fifty-seven endometriosis-affected women aged of 42±12.8 years answered the questionnaire. On average, 7 years elapsed between the first symptoms (at 23.8 ± 10.2 years) and the diagnosis (31.0 ± 8.9 years). The mean number of symptoms was 4.6 ± 2.3, with 82 % of women experiencing pain scores between 7 and 10/10. Following diagnosis, 66 % women received a medical treatment, mostly hormonal treatments (45 %), with a significant decrease in pain intensity (VAS scores after treatment = 4.9 ± 2.7, p < 0.001). Most women (62 %) had already been operated, among whom 22 % by laparotomy. Finally, patients reported numerous impacts on their daily lives, particularly on the sexual, psychological, and physical fields. The overall mean score of quality of life was 4.3 ± 2.6 /10. CONCLUSION: This large prospective web-based survey underlines that the journey of women with endometriosis is long and difficult until diagnosis and efficient treatment. It emphasizes the urgent need to reduce the diagnostic delay and thereby the burden of endometriosis on women's lives. Moreover, the creation of referral multidisciplinary centers appears to be crucial to improve the management of the disease.

Update on the management of endometriosis-associated pain in France.

The French National College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (CNGOF) published guidelines for managing endometriosis-associated pain in 2018. Given the development of new pharmacological therapies and a review that was published in 2021, most national and international guidelines now suggest a new therapeutic approach. In addition, a novel validated screening method based on patient questionnaires and analysis of 109-miRNA saliva signatures, which combines biomarkers and artificial intelligence, opens up new avenues for overcoming diagnostic challenges in patients with pelvic pain and for avoiding laparoscopic surgery when sonography and MRI are not conclusive. Dienogest (DNG) 2 mg has been a reimbursable healthcare expense in France since 2020, and, according to recent studies, it is at least as effective as combined hormonal contraception (CHC) and can be used as an alternative to CHC for first-line treatment of endometriosis-associated pain. Since 2018, the literature concerning the use of DNG has grown considerably, and the French guidelines should be modified accordingly. The levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG IUS) and other available progestins per os, including DNG, or the subcutaneous implant, can be offered as first-line therapy, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists with add-back therapy (ABT) as second-line therapy. Oral GnRH antagonists are promising new medical treatments for women with endometriosis-associated pain. They competitively bind to GnRH receptors in the anterior pituitary, preventing native GnRH from binding to GnRH receptors and from stimulating the secretion of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. Consequently, estradiol and progesterone production is reduced. Oral GnRH antagonists will soon be on the market in France. Given their mode of action, their efficacy is comparable to that of GnRH agonists, with the advantage of oral administration and rapid action with no flare-up effect. Combination therapy with ABT is likely to allow long-term treatment with minimal impact on bone mass. GnRH antagonists with ABT may thus be offered as second-line treatment as an alternative to GnRH agonists with ABT. This article presents an update on the management of endometriosis-associated pain in women who do not have an immediate desire for pregnancy.

The HOPE study: evaluating the impact of an online educational resource for heavy menstrual bleeding on the patient-physician dynamic.

The Heavy menstrual bleeding: Evidence-based Learning for best Practice (HELP) Group developed an educational website about heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). The "HMB improving Outcomes with Patient counseling and Education" (HOPE) project examined the website's impact on women's knowledge, confidence, and consultations with healthcare providers (HCPs). HOPE was a quantitative online survey of gynecologists and women with HMB in Brazil. After an initial consultation, patients had unlimited access to the website and completed a survey. HCPs also completed a survey about the sconsultation. After a second consultation, HCPs and patients completed another survey. HCP surveys assessed their perception of patients' awareness, understanding, and willingness to discuss HMB. Patient surveys assessed their knowledge, experience, and confidence in discussing HMB. Forty HCPs recruited 400 women with HMB. Based on HCP perceptions at the first consultation, 18 percent of patients had "good knowledge" or "very good knowledge" of HMB, increasing to 69 percent after patients had visited the website. Before and after visiting the website, 34 percent and 69 percent of patients, respectively, regarded their HMB knowledge as "goo.d" Additionally, 17 percent of women reported their anxiety as "highest" during the first consultation; this decreased to 7 percent during the second consultation. After visiting the HELP website, patients' knowledge of HMB improved and they were less anxious.

Clinical perspectives on the menstrual pictogram for the assessment of heavy menstrual bleeding.

Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) has an estimated prevalence of 18-32% but is known to be under-reported due to poor recognition and estimation of menstrual blood loss (MBL). HMB can negatively impact quality of life, affecting social interactions, work productivity and sexual life. Abnormal menstrual bleeding may have an underlying structural or systemic cause, such as endometrial and myometrial disorders; however, for some, there is no identified pathological cause. Several methods are available for assessing MBL, including the alkaline hematin (AH) method and the menstrual pictogram (MP). The AH method is considered to be the most accurate way to monitor MBL; however, it is associated with inconvenience and expense, therefore limiting its value outside of research. The MP requires the user to select an icon from a chart that reflects the appearance of a used sanitary product; the icon is associated with a blood volume that can be used to determine MBL. Validation studies have demonstrated that the results of the MP and AH method are well correlated, showing that the MP can measure MBL with sufficient accuracy. Additionally, the MP is more convenient for users, less expensive than the AH method, may be used in regions where the AH method is unavailable and may also be used as part of a digital application. Overall, the MP offers a convenient approach to monitor MBL both in research and clinical practice settings.

Surgical training through simulation dedicated to French Ob-gyn residents. Evaluation and satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: In order to be able to develop surgical training of residents through simulation, we carried out a descriptive study, evaluating the satisfaction of participating residents and the benefit of the workshops offered during the 4 th Junior Master Class, free annual training organized in 2017 in Lille University Hospital. It is dedicated to ob-gyn residents in France, overseas departments and territories. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During two days, plenary sessions and practical workshops on animal models or simulators were organized in laparoscopy, diagnostic and operative hysteroscopy, vaginal surgery and robotic surgery. A questionnaire was given anonymously to each student, collecting on the one hand their surgical curriculum, on the other hand, the evaluations of the theoretical contribution and the quality of the interventions and materials offered during the plenary sessions. The last part was subdivided into a questionnaire specific to each workshop. RESULTS: The 48 residents who voluntarily followed this training were overwhelmingly satisfied with the quality of the training offered. The practical benefits outweighed the theoretical benefits. These workshops improved their practical skills from 63 % to 84 % depending on the workshops offered. In addition, 100 % of students would recommend this training to other residents and consider it useful for their future practice. CONCLUSION: These very satisfactory results encourage us to organize new surgical training. Simulation is the key point for an appropriate surgical learning.

National survey of surgical practices: Sacropexy in France in 2019.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Sacropexy is a reference surgical treatment for pelvic organ prolapse in women. The great variability in surgical techniques for this procedure is a source of bias that complicates analysis of the results of trials assessing it. Using the French guidelines issued in 2016 by the SCGP, AFU, SIFUD-PP, and CNGOF as a reference, we sought to inventory the surgical practices of the surgeons who perform these procedures. METHODS: In November 2018, a questionnaire about the technical aspects of this procedure was distributed by email to the French physicians performing it. It was distributed to members of several professional societies (CNGOF, SCGP, and SIFUD) and to gynecologists practicing in clinics owned by the ELSAN group. RESULTS: Of the 273 responders, 92% reported that they perform most operations laparoscopically. Overall, 83% of gynecologic surgeons used polypropylene prostheses (mesh); 38% routinely placed a posterior mesh, while the rest did so only in cases of clinical rectocele with anorectal symptoms. A concomitant hysterectomy was performed by 51% of respondents when the uterus was bulky and/or associated with substantial uterine prolapse. Finally, half the surgeons suggested the placement of a suburethral sling for women with stress urinary incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: Although practices are largely consistent with the most recent guidelines, surgical techniques vary widely between surgeons, both in France and internationally.

Assessment of the quality of life of gynecologic surgeons: A national survey in France.

INTRODUCTION: Well-being and quality of life (QoL) in the workplace have become a priority in all professions. Both academic studies and the media seek to assess how physicians feel. Nonetheless, few studies have focused on the specific situation of surgeons in terms of their work/life balance and their satisfaction at work. These observations led us to conduct a survey to describe these factors among gynecologic surgeons, as a function of their lifestyles and professional practices. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This self-administered cross-sectional survey was distributed by email to the gynecologic surgeons currently practicing in France, both those who do and do not continue to cover on-call obstetrics duty. This analysis compared responses by gender. RESULTS: Between February and June 2019, we collected 253 responses: 105 from women and 148 from men. In all, 59.6% of the surgeons reported working from 50 to 75 h weekly, and 23.7% considered their workload very high and difficult to manage. Indeed, 32.4% reported they had already experienced an episode of burnout. At the same time, 51.8% of the women but only 18.2% of the men reported they had previously experienced discrimination in the workplace. The women felt they received less recognition by their peers than their male colleagues. They held fewer management and other posts of responsibility. They were notably less satisfied with their salaries. Overall, 73.5% of the surgeons would make the same career choice, if they could do it over again. CONCLUSION: This assessment of gynecologic surgeons shows marked gender differences in the impact of workload on the time they have for themselves, their family, and their friends. Given the diseases it deals with, this profession is stressful and can involve notable psychological repercussions. The burnout rate is high, consistent with the literature. Despite their desire for some changes, the response by three quarters of the respondents that they would choose the same career path if they had it to do over again is evidence of professional satisfaction.

Supracervical hysterectomy by laparoendoscopic single site surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH) by single port access (SPA) with transcervical morcellation. STUDY DESIGN: Observational study conducted between September 2010 and March 2012 in two departments of Gynaecology. Forty women who required hysterectomy underwent LSH by SPA with transcervical morcellation. RESULTS: LSH by SPA with transcervical morcellation was completed successfully in 37/40 (93.5 %) patients. Mean operating time was 128 (±55) min and mean hospital stay was 3.5 (±1) days. The mean of uterus weight was 310 (±214) g. The mean estimated blood loss was 250 (±110) ml. Four women (10 %) required a second surgical intervention including two cases of endocervical bleeding. CONCLUSION: LSH by SPA with transcervical morcellation is a feasible procedure.

[Contraceptive methods after gynecological and breast cancer]. / Contraception après cancer gynécologique et mammaire.

With earlier diagnosis and more effective treatments, more and more women are receiving fertility-preserving cancer therapy. Approximately 10% of breast and gynecological cancers occur in women under 40, and more than 5 000 French women under 45 develop breast cancer each year. While hormonal contraception is contra-indicated for women with a history of breast or endometrial cancer, it seems to have a protective effective in ovarian cancer. Although pregnancy is not contra-indicated after cancer, it must be planned in a timely manner, meaning that appropriate contraception is necessary in the meantime.

Comparison of ropivacaine and lidocaine for paracervical block during surgical abortion.

BACKGROUND: The study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of ropivacaine and lidocaine as paracervical analgesia for elective abortion by vacuum aspiration. STUDY DESIGN: This single-center double-blinded randomized study tested two different agents for paracervical analgesia in elective abortions: lidocaine (n=57) or ropivacaine (n=57). We assessed intra- and postoperative pain according to both a visual analogical scale rated from 0 to 10 and postoperative analgesic requirements. RESULTS: Mean intraoperative pain was significantly lower in the ropivacaine group (5.23+/-2.72 vs. 4.18+/-2.77, p=.048.). There was no significant difference in mean assessed pain at the end of the intervention or at 2 or 4 h afterward. The rate of subjects requiring additional postoperative analgesia did not differ significantly between the lidocaine and ropivacaine groups [8/59 (13.5%) vs. 6/59 (10.1%), p=.33]. DISCUSSION: Intraoperative pain appears to be less with ropivacaine than with lidocaine. Nonetheless, the clinical difference was slight, as was therefore the benefit of using ropivacaine for paracervical block in elective abortions.