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Purpose of Investigation: To evaluate the effect of soy isoflavones and inulin (SII) on hot flushes (HF) and quality of life in a clinical setting, the authors conducted an observational study., Materials and Methods: The authors performed an observational, prospective, multicentric study on women in peri-/post-menopause treated or untreated with a product present on the Italian market, consisting in a mixture of calcium (500 mg), vitamin D3 (300 IU), inulin (3 g) and soy isoflavones (40 mg)., Results: A total of 135 patients, 75 (55.6%) in the SII group and 60 (44.4%) in the untreated group entered the study. After three months, the mean number of HF declined of 2.8 (SD 3.7) in the SII group and 0.0 in the untreated one. The corresponding values after six months were -3.7 (SD 2.7) in the SII group and -0.9 (SD 5.3) in the control group (p = 0.02)., Conclusion: This observational trial suggests a possible beneficial effect of a dietary soy supplement containing 40 mg of isoflavone/day plus inulin in the management of menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.

The objective of this study was to determine whether delaying attempts to conceive after surgery for endometriosis impacts on reproductive prognosis. Patients operated on for endometriosis who were not seeking pregnancy at the time of surgery were selected (n=124) from a large survey regarding reproductive outcome of women with the disease. Pregnancy rate and rate of second surgery were compared between women who attempted conception within 12 months after surgery (n=61) and those compared who postponed attempts for 12 months or more (n=63). In women delaying attempted conception, the adjusted incidence rate ratio for pregnancy and repetitive surgery was 0.79 (95% CI 0.46-1.35) and 1.70 (95% CI 0.86-3.38), respectively. In conclusion, attempting conception shortly after surgery appears advisable since delaying is associated with a lower pregnancy rate and a higher rate of recurrence. However, these differences did not reach statistical significance and this advice is thus not mandatory. Larger studies are warranted to validate these conclusions., (Copyright 2010 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

After repetitive surgery for recurrent endometriosis, 20 of 89 (22%) women achieved spontaneous pregnancy, compared with 165 of 411 (40%) after first-line procedure (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.32 to 0.82), and the 12- and 24-month cumulative pregnancy rates were 14% and 26% in the former group compared with 32% and 38% in the latter. Among infertile patients at baseline, 13 of 67 (19%) conceived after reoperation compared with 98 of 290 (34%) after primary surgery (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.30 to 0.99), and the 12- and 24-month cumulative pregnancy rates were 13% and 22% in the former group and 25% and 30% in the latter.

Objective: To assess the use and effectiveness of IVF in a cohort of women undergoing surgery for endometriosis., Design: Cohort study., Setting: University hospital., Patient(s): Four hundred thirty-eight patients who attempted to become pregnant after conservative surgery for endometriosis., Intervention(s): Interview., Main Outcome Measure(s): Pregnancy and IVF use., Result(s): One hundred ninety-four women conceived in vivo (44%). One hundred twenty-four women did not undergo IVF despite their infertility status (51% of the group of women who failed to conceive in vivo). One hundred thirty-nine women underwent at least one IVF attempt. The cumulative rate of IVF use at 36 months of infertility was 33%. The live-birth/ongoing pregnancy rate per started cycle and per patient was 10% and 20%, respectively., Conclusion(s): In a large tertiary care and referral center, IVF played only a minor role in the treatment of endometriosis-associated infertility.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the postoperative risk of endometrioma recurrence in women using oral contraception and in those undergoing simple observation., Study Design: After laparoscopic excision of ovarian endometriotiomas, a cyclic, low-dose, monophasic oral contraceptive pill (OCP) was offered to women not seeking pregnancy. One month after surgery, and every 6 months afterward, the patients underwent clinical and ultrasonographic assessment., Results: Of the 277 patients who entered the study, 102 used OCP for the entire follow-up period (always users), 129 used OCP discontinuously (ever users), and 46 declined treatment (never users). The median follow-up was 28 months. Recurrent endometriotic cysts were detected in 74 subjects (27%). The 36-month cumulative proportion of subjects free from endometrioma recurrence was 94% in the always users compared with 51% in the never users (P < .001); adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.10 (95% CI, 0.04-0.24)., Conclusion: Regular postoperative use of OCP effectively prevents endometrioma recurrence.

Objective: To investigate if an asymmetry exists in the lateral distribution of obstructed hemivagina and renal agenesis in women with uterus didelphys., Design: All English-language medical papers on uterus didelphys, obstructed hemivagina, and associated renal agenesis published from 1980 to 2005 and identified by Embase, Medline, and Pubmed database searches were retrieved. In addition, 41 institutional cases are described. We considered articles in which the presence of a uterus didelphys, obstructed hemivagina, and renal agenesis was assessed as well as the affected side. Data were stratified based on surgical confirmation or imaging evidence of the specific müllerian anomaly. Two authors abstracted data independently on standardized forms, and the combined frequency of right- and left-side malformation subtype was computed., Result(s): Thirty-six reports including 138 subjects were selected. Unilateral hemato- or pyocolpos was on the right side in 91 patients (66%). Among the 125 cases with surgical demonstration of the müllerian malformation subtype, 81 (65%) had the anomaly on the right side. In the institutional series, lesions were on the right side in 25 cases (61%). Combining the above figures, the observed proportion of right-sided anomalies (116/179) was 65% (95% CI 57% to 72%)., Conclusion(s): Left-right asymmetry may be induced before organogenesis, establishing differences in morphogenesis on the left and right sides of the embryo.

We performed a MEDLINE and EMBASE search to identify all studies published in the English language literature on the use of progestogens for the treatment of endometriosis. The aim of our review was to clarify the biological rationale for treatment and define the drugs that can be used. It has been demonstrated that progestogens may prevent implantation and growth of regurgitated endometrium by inhibiting the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and angiogenesis, and they have several anti-inflammatory in vitro and in vivo effects that may reduce the inflammatory state generated by the metabolic activity of the ectopic endometrium. Oral contraceptives increase the abnormally low apoptotic activity of the endometrium of patients with endometriosis. Moreover, anovulation, decidualization, amenorrhoea and the establishment of a steady estrogen-progestogen milieu contribute to disease quiescence. Progestogens are able to control pain symptoms in approximately three out of four women with endometriosi. Different compounds can be administered by the oral, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intravaginal or intrauterine route, each with specific advantages or disadvantages. Medical treatment plays a role in the therapeutic strategy only if administered over a prolonged period of time. Given their good tolerability, minor metabolic effects and low cost, progestogens must therefore be considered drugs of choice and are currently the only safe and economic alternative to surgery. However, their contraceptive effectiveness limits their use to women who do not wish to have children in the short-term.

Objective: This study was undertaken to ascertain whether the incidence of pregnancy is increased and time-to-conception is reduced in infertile women with rectovaginal endometriosis undergoing conservative surgery compared with those on expectant management., Study Design: A total of 105 infertile women under the age of 40 years with rectovaginal endometriosis and no other associated major infertility factor underwent first-line conservative surgery at laparotomy or expectant management according to a shared decision-making approach., Results: Among the 44 women who had resection of rectovaginal endometriosis, 15 became pregnant, compared with 22 of the 61 women who choose expectant management (24-month cumulative probabilities, 44.9% and 46.8%, respectively; log-rank test, chi2(1) = 0.75; P = .38). One major and 9 minor postoperative complications occurred. Significant differences in pain-free survival time in favor of the surgery group were observed for dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and dyschezia., Conclusion: Conservative surgery for rectovaginal endometriosis in infertile women does not modify the reproductive prognosis although it does increase pain-free survival time.

Epidemiological studies of adenomyosis are difficult to interpret because the diagnostic criteria vary so widely that the disease may be easily over-diagnosed. This would severely hamper any attempt to define incidence and prevalence of the condition and the related risk factors, and would limit the possibility of clarifying to what extent adenomyosis contributes to clinical symptoms. There is a need for stringent and widely accepted diagnostic criteria in order to define not only the presence of adenomyosis but also depth of penetration and degree of spread of foci. Moreover, the evidence available on epidemiological characteristics of women with adenomyosis is greatly biased by the type of population studied, i.e. women undergoing hysterectomy. Therefore, a consensus on non-surgical diagnostic criteria at transvaginal ultrasonography and MRI is indispensable and urgently needed in order to be able to conduct epidemiological studies in women younger than those evaluated until now.

"Deep endometriosis" includes rectovaginal lesions as well as infiltrative forms that involve vital structures such as bowel, ureters, and bladder. The available evidence suggests the same pathogenesis for deep infiltrating vesical and rectovaginal endometriosis (i.e., intraperitoneal seeding of regurgitated endometrial cells, which collect and implant in the most dependent portions of the peritoneal cavity and the anterior and posterior cul-de-sac, and trigger an inflammatory process leading to adhesion of contiguous organs with creation of false peritoneal bottoms). According to anatomic, surgical, and pathologic findings, deep endometriotic lesions seem to originate intraperitoneally rather than extraperitoneally. Also the lateral asymmetry in the occurrence of ureteral endometriosis is compatible with the menstrual reflux theory and with the anatomic differences of the left and right hemipelvis. Peritoneal, ovarian, and deep endometriosis may be diverse manifestations of a disease with a single origin (i.e., regurgitated endometrium). Based on different pathogenetic hypotheses, several schemes have been proposed to classify deep endometriosis, but further data are needed to demonstrate their validity and reliability. Drugs induce temporary quiescence of active deep lesions and may be useful in selected circumstances. Progestins should be considered as first-line medical treatment for temporary pain relief. However, in most cases of severely infiltrating disease, surgery is the final solution. Great importance must be given to complete and balanced counseling, as awareness of the real possibilities of different treatments will enhance the patient's collaboration.