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The aim of this study was to investigate the association between PMS (premenstrual syndrome)-related pain among young women following a particular type of diet during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was compared to the period before the pandemic. Furthermore, we aimed to determine whether the increase in the intensification of pain was correlated to their age, body weight, height and BMI, and whether there are differences in PMS-related pain between women who differ in their diet. A total of 181 young female Caucasian patients who met the criteria for PMS were involved in the study. Patients were divided according to the kind of diet they had followed during the last 12 months before the first medical evaluation. The rise in pain score was evaluated according to the Visual Analog Scale before and during the pandemic. Women following a non-vegetarian (“basic”) diet had a significantly higher body weight in comparison to those on a vegetarian diet. Furthermore, a significant difference was noted between the level of intensification of pain before and during the pandemic in women applying a basic diet, a vegetarian and an elimination diet. Before the pandemic, women from all groups felt weaker pain than during the pandemic. No significant difference in the intensification of pain during the pandemic was shown between women with various diets, nor was there a correlation between intensification of pain and the girl’s age, BMI, their body weight and also height for any of the diets applied.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer and genital warts and constitutes one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Cervical cancer is the only reproductive cancer that has a primary prevention programme through the introduction of HPV vaccinations. Even though the majority of European countries have nationally funded HPV vaccination programmes, in Poland these are exclusively local and scarcely funded. Moreover, the majority of local programmes are directed to females only. Meanwhile, Poland has one of the highest cervical cancer incidence rates among high income countries. The aim of this study was to measure HPV vaccination levels among final-year students in Poland and to establish the association between vaccination status and gender, region and level of sexual education received. This study is a part of the POLKA 18 Study, which used original self-reported paper-based questionnaires distributed in schools in six Polish regions. The study was conducted between April and December 2019. The obtained data were analysed in STATA 17. In total, 2701 fully completed questionnaires were collected. Over half of the respondents (58.2%) did not know their HPV vaccination status. Only 16.0% of the respondents replied that they have been vaccinated against HPV (18.2% of females and 14.5% of males). There was no direct association between vaccination status and access to ‘family life education’ classes. The vaccination level significantly differed among the different regions of Poland (p < 0.0001), with the Śląskie and Wielkopolskie regions achieving the highest rates. At least a quarter of adolescents after their sexual debut have not been vaccinated against HPV. Regions with immunization programmes introduced to their provincial capitals had higher vaccination rates. Our findings indicate the need for the introduction of state-funded vaccination programmes at the national level for the vaccination rate to increase, which will have the potential to decrease cervical cancer incidence in the country.

Inflammation within the genital organs in women is an important problem in gynaecology and venereology. Understanding the factors contributing to the inflammatory process and the role of defence mechanisms against their occurrence is important in terms of prevention and treatment. It is especially visible in paediatric gynaecology, where inflammatory diseases of the vulva, dermatoses, injuries and the effects of possible sexual harassment may overlap.

Background: The adaptation of conferences to virtual platforms has allowed more international colleagues and underrepresented members of the surgical workforce to access educational opportunities. With the purpose of addressing the gap in open-access gender equity education, the Gender Equity Initiative in Global Surgery (GEIGS) held its first general assembly in 2020 as a pathway to promote capacity building on this topic.Objectives: This article aims to report the organization and outcomes of the GEIGS general assembly as an example of opportunities to develop capacity on gender equity and diversity in global surgery using virtual platforms. Project Design and Implementation: The GEIGS General Assembly was a two-day event held on December 12th and December 20th, 2020. The project was led by an organizing committee, composed of 11 individuals of diverse backgrounds, who were divided into logistics, advocacy, and sessions teams. The assembly planning was facilitated through weekly meetings under the supervision of the GEIGS steering committee.Main Achievements: GEIGS piloted a virtual global-scale general assembly that encompassed small-group and international community building, interactive learning, and advocacy. In terms of regional representation, there were 199 attendees from 46 different countries. The event highlighted the need to promote inclusion of non-English speakers in the global surgery community, and sessions about intersectionality; equity, social justice, and diversity; and national surgical, obstetric, and anesthesia planning garnered the most participant engagement. Moreover, social media engagement mirrored an increased utilization of online platforms for educational, advocacy and promotional purposes, enhancing both scholarly dissemination and capacity building. Policy Implications: Engaging in global surgery demands identifying leaders who will build awareness, workforce diversity, and capacity. Our report demonstrates that the topic of gender equity has not held a prominent place in global surgery, and that this first intersectional conference was an initial step to align both agendas and debate the role of female and non-binary health workers in surgical, anesthesia and obstetric specialties in an international, socially engaging, and region-specific context.