Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a condition characterized by psychological, physical and behavioural symptoms occurring in the luteal phase of the normal menstrual cycle but resolves shortly after menstruation. Around 40% of women experience symptoms of PMS and of these 5–8% suffer from severe PMS including premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a debilitating condition with severe emotional and physical symptoms and functional impairment. Premenstrual syndrome is effectively related to hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle, supported by the absence of PMS prior to puberty, during pregnancy, and after the menopause. Diagnosis is aided by reviewing symptoms in the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP) questionnaire. Management is centred around lifestyle modifications, cognitive behavioural therapy and pharmacological treatment. This article is a review of the clinical impact of premenstrual syndrome and its management strategies.
{"title":"The clinical impact and management of premenstrual syndrome","authors":"Supriya Preman Thazhath Pullayikudi, Akanksha Sood","doi":"10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.11.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.11.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a condition characterized by psychological, physical and behavioural symptoms occurring in the luteal phase of the normal menstrual cycle but resolves shortly after menstruation. Around 40% of women experience symptoms of PMS and of these 5–8% suffer from severe PMS including premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a debilitating condition with severe emotional and physical symptoms and functional impairment. Premenstrual syndrome is effectively related to hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle, supported by the absence of PMS prior to puberty, during pregnancy, and after the menopause. Diagnosis is aided by reviewing symptoms in the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP) questionnaire. Management is centred around lifestyle modifications, cognitive behavioural therapy and pharmacological treatment. This article is a review of the clinical impact of premenstrual syndrome and its management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53410,"journal":{"name":"Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine","volume":"35 2","pages":"Pages 27-31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143176881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.11.002
Huda MEM Ahmed, Kate F Walker
The average age of women at childbirth in industrialised nations has been increasing steadily for approximately 30 years. Women aged 35 years or over have an increased risk of gestational hypertensive disease, gestational diabetes, placenta praevia, placental abruption, perinatal death, preterm labour, fetal macrosomia and fetal growth restriction. The risk of trisomy 21, 18 and 13, and other sex chromosome aberrations (e.g. Klinefelter syndrome) increases significantly with maternal age, especially in women aged 35 years and older but there is no age-related association with an increased risk of triploidy or monosomy X. Unsurprisingly, rates of obstetric intervention are higher among older women. Of particular concern is the increased risk of antepartum stillbirth at term in women of advanced maternal age. In all maternal age groups, the risk of stillbirth is higher among nulliparous women than among multiparous women. Women of advanced maternal age (>40 years) should be offered low dose aspirin (in the presence of an additional risk factor for pre-eclampsia) and offered serial ultrasounds for fetal growth and wellbeing; given the increased risk of antepartum stillbirth, induction of labour from 39 weeks’ gestation should be discussed with the woman. In very advanced maternal age (≥45 years of age), women who conceived via in vitro fertilization are significantly at increased risk of preterm delivery and adverse maternal outcomes compared to those who conceive naturally.
{"title":"Evidence-based management of women of advanced maternal age","authors":"Huda MEM Ahmed, Kate F Walker","doi":"10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.11.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.11.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The average age of women at childbirth in industrialised nations has been increasing steadily for approximately 30 years. Women aged 35 years or over have an increased risk of gestational hypertensive disease, gestational diabetes, placenta praevia, placental abruption, perinatal death, preterm labour, fetal macrosomia and fetal growth restriction. The risk of trisomy 21, 18 and 13, and other sex chromosome aberrations (e.g. Klinefelter syndrome) increases significantly with maternal age, especially in women aged 35 years and older but there is no age-related association with an increased risk of triploidy or monosomy X. Unsurprisingly, rates of obstetric intervention are higher among older women. Of particular concern is the increased risk of antepartum stillbirth at term in women of advanced maternal age. In all maternal age groups, the risk of stillbirth is higher among nulliparous women than among multiparous women. Women of advanced maternal age (>40 years) should be offered low dose aspirin (in the presence of an additional risk factor for pre-eclampsia) and offered serial ultrasounds for fetal growth and wellbeing; given the increased risk of antepartum stillbirth, induction of labour from 39 weeks’ gestation should be discussed with the woman. In very advanced maternal age (≥45 years of age), women who conceived via <em>in vitro</em> fertilization are significantly at increased risk of preterm delivery and adverse maternal outcomes compared to those who conceive naturally.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53410,"journal":{"name":"Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine","volume":"35 2","pages":"Pages 32-36"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143176879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.11.004
Kathy Parsons, Matthew Parsons
Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) occur in around 6.1% of first vaginal births and around 5–7% of subsequent vaginal births. The multidisciplinary OASI clinic plays a vital role in the postnatal, and subsequent antenatal, management of women with a history of OASI. This review will outline the recommended best practice for the outpatient postnatal management of women who have sustained a recent OASI and also the current guidance on mode of birth recommendations in a subsequent pregnancy after an OASI. It will explore the evidence supporting current practice recommendations to facilitate clinicians leading mode of birth discussions for women with a previous OASI.
{"title":"The obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) clinic: postnatal and subsequent antenatal management of women with a history of obstetric anal sphincter injury","authors":"Kathy Parsons, Matthew Parsons","doi":"10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.11.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.11.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) occur in around 6.1% of first vaginal births and around 5–7% of subsequent vaginal births. The multidisciplinary OASI clinic plays a vital role in the postnatal, and subsequent antenatal, management of women with a history of OASI. This review will outline the recommended best practice for the outpatient postnatal management of women who have sustained a recent OASI and also the current guidance on mode of birth recommendations in a subsequent pregnancy after an OASI. It will explore the evidence supporting current practice recommendations to facilitate clinicians leading mode of birth discussions for women with a previous OASI.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53410,"journal":{"name":"Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine","volume":"35 2","pages":"Pages 45-52"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143177137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.11.003
Cathrine Holland
The incidence of endometrial cancer in the UK has risen steeply since the 1990s. Survival has improved significantly over several decades but outcomes for 25% of women remain poor. Surgery is the initial treatment approach in most cases. Sentinel node surgery has largely replaced systematic lymphadenectomy for surgical staging in apparent early-stage disease. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are used to reduce recurrence, and for upfront primary treatment in selected cases. Different endometrial cancer sub-types have different aetiologies, histological and molecular characteristics and prognoses. Molecular classification of tumours is now indicated in all patients treated for endometrial cancer. Molecular characterization has important implications for treatment options, both at initial presentation and any subsequent recurrence, including access to new immunotherapy treatments. In addition, “mainstreaming” of genetic testing in those at risk of Lynch syndrome, will improve identification of at-risk families and help prevent future endometrial, ovarian and bowel cancers.
{"title":"Endometrial cancer: an update on diagnosis, treatment and the role of molecular profiling","authors":"Cathrine Holland","doi":"10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.11.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.11.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The incidence of endometrial cancer in the UK has risen steeply since the 1990s. Survival has improved significantly over several decades but outcomes for 25% of women remain poor. Surgery is the initial treatment approach in most cases. Sentinel node surgery has largely replaced systematic lymphadenectomy for surgical staging in apparent early-stage disease. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are used to reduce recurrence, and for upfront primary treatment in selected cases. Different endometrial cancer sub-types have different aetiologies, histological and molecular characteristics and prognoses. Molecular classification of tumours is now indicated in all patients treated for endometrial cancer. Molecular characterization has important implications for treatment options, both at initial presentation and any subsequent recurrence, including access to new immunotherapy treatments. In addition, “mainstreaming” of genetic testing in those at risk of Lynch syndrome, will improve identification of at-risk families and help prevent future endometrial, ovarian and bowel cancers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53410,"journal":{"name":"Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine","volume":"35 2","pages":"Pages 37-44"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143176878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.10.001
Ee Thong Lim, Nikolaos Tsampras
Modern lifestyle has led to an increased number of surgical patients having comorbidities, often related to increased perioperative morbidity and mortality. Early recognition of risk factors and optimization of the patients can improve outcomes. The continuous trend of minimal access procedures in gynaecology and the application of enhanced recovery programmes have improved clinical and cost effectiveness. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, surgical waiting lists in Gynaecology have grown to levels not seen in a decade. Day case surgery has been promoted to reduce the pressure on hospitals and improve the patient experience. National and global organizations, as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centre for the Perioperative Care (CPOC) and the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Society (ERAS), are producing guidance, promoting knowledge, understanding and research regarding optimal perioperative care. In this review we summarize the current evidence and discuss its applications in modern gynaecology practice.
{"title":"Modern considerations in perioperative care in gynaecology","authors":"Ee Thong Lim, Nikolaos Tsampras","doi":"10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.10.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.10.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Modern lifestyle has led to an increased number of surgical patients having comorbidities, often related to increased perioperative morbidity and mortality. Early recognition of risk factors and optimization of the patients can improve outcomes. The continuous trend of minimal access procedures in gynaecology and the application of enhanced recovery programmes have improved clinical and cost effectiveness. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, surgical waiting lists in Gynaecology have grown to levels not seen in a decade. Day case surgery has been promoted to reduce the pressure on hospitals and improve the patient experience. National and global organizations, as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centre for the Perioperative Care (CPOC) and the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Society (ERAS), are producing guidance, promoting knowledge, understanding and research regarding optimal perioperative care. In this review we summarize the current evidence and discuss its applications in modern gynaecology practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53410,"journal":{"name":"Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine","volume":"35 1","pages":"Pages 1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143165541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.10.002
Emily M Frier, Marie Anne Ledingham
Teenage pregnancy has major implications for the mother and child, their wider family, and at a societal and population level. Although teenage pregnancy rates have fallen substantially over the last 30 years, they remain higher in the UK relative to other countries in Western Europe, and a high proportion of teenage pregnancies are unplanned. Teenage pregnancy is associated with major health inequalities, including lower maternal socioeconomic status and education. Furthermore, there is a lack of guidance to inform the antenatal management of teenage mothers to optimize both short- and long-term outcomes for mother and child. This review article outlines the latest trends in teenage pregnancy in the UK, the risks of teenage pregnancy for the mother, fetus and child, and presents proposed antenatal management strategies to optimize outcomes of teenage pregnancies.
{"title":"Antenatal management of teenage pregnancy","authors":"Emily M Frier, Marie Anne Ledingham","doi":"10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.10.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.10.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Teenage pregnancy has major implications for the mother and child, their wider family, and at a societal and population level. Although teenage pregnancy rates have fallen substantially over the last 30 years, they remain higher in the UK relative to other countries in Western Europe, and a high proportion of teenage pregnancies are unplanned. Teenage pregnancy is associated with major health inequalities, including lower maternal socioeconomic status and education. Furthermore, there is a lack of guidance to inform the antenatal management of teenage mothers to optimize both short- and long-term outcomes for mother and child. This review article outlines the latest trends in teenage pregnancy in the UK, the risks of teenage pregnancy for the mother, fetus and child, and presents proposed antenatal management strategies to optimize outcomes of teenage pregnancies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53410,"journal":{"name":"Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine","volume":"35 1","pages":"Pages 8-14"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143165542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.10.004
Sharon Tay, Peter Kerecsenyi, Raj Mathur
As more women prioritize education, career growth, and personal milestones, family planning is increasingly postponed until later in life. Contributing factors such as advanced education, career ambitions, highly effective contraceptive methods, and finding life partners at later stages have led to a growing interest in fertility treatments for women over 50. However, pursuing pregnancy at this age comes with significant clinical and ethical challenges. Women over 50 face elevated risks of aneuploidy, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm delivery. These complications necessitate rigorous pre-treatment evaluations, enhanced monitoring protocols, and comprehensive care throughout pregnancy. Additionally, ethical concerns arise regarding the welfare of both mother and child, as well as the societal implications of offering fertility treatments to this demographic. This spotlight article explores the clinical risks, ethical considerations, and practical approaches to managing fertility treatment in women over 50.
{"title":"Fertility treatment in women over 50: clinical and ethical considerations","authors":"Sharon Tay, Peter Kerecsenyi, Raj Mathur","doi":"10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.10.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.10.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As more women prioritize education, career growth, and personal milestones, family planning is increasingly postponed until later in life. Contributing factors such as advanced education, career ambitions, highly effective contraceptive methods, and finding life partners at later stages have led to a growing interest in fertility treatments for women over 50. However, pursuing pregnancy at this age comes with significant clinical and ethical challenges. Women over 50 face elevated risks of aneuploidy, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm delivery. These complications necessitate rigorous pre-treatment evaluations, enhanced monitoring protocols, and comprehensive care throughout pregnancy. Additionally, ethical concerns arise regarding the welfare of both mother and child, as well as the societal implications of offering fertility treatments to this demographic. This spotlight article explores the clinical risks, ethical considerations, and practical approaches to managing fertility treatment in women over 50.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53410,"journal":{"name":"Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine","volume":"35 1","pages":"Pages 21-23"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143165544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.10.003
Navneet Kaur, Kenneth Ma
Benign ovarian cysts are a common gynaecological presentation. Up to 10% of women will have surgery for an ovarian cyst in their lifetime. When an adnexal mass is diagnosed, the differential diagnosis is wide and up to 10% may be non-ovarian in origin. The goal of management is to determine the underlying pathology and to risk stratify patients to guide further management. Transvaginal ultrasound scanning remains the imaging modality of choice and the use of simple rules as well as benign and malignant features should form the basis for diagnosis, with serum markers used as an adjunct. Cross-sectional imaging with other modalities including magnetic resonance imaging are useful in the management of indeterminate masses. Most ovarian cysts are benign in nature and most functional and simple cysts are likely to resolve spontaneously without intervention. This review will demonstrate four clinical scenarios with different underlying pathology and their management.
{"title":"Benign ovarian cysts in premenopausal women","authors":"Navneet Kaur, Kenneth Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.10.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ogrm.2024.10.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Benign ovarian cysts are a common gynaecological presentation. Up to 10% of women will have surgery for an ovarian cyst in their lifetime. When an adnexal mass is diagnosed, the differential diagnosis is wide and up to 10% may be non-ovarian in origin. The goal of management is to determine the underlying pathology and to risk stratify patients to guide further management. Transvaginal ultrasound scanning remains the imaging modality of choice and the use of simple rules as well as benign and malignant features should form the basis for diagnosis, with serum markers used as an adjunct. Cross-sectional imaging with other modalities including magnetic resonance imaging are useful in the management of indeterminate masses. Most ovarian cysts are benign in nature and most functional and simple cysts are likely to resolve spontaneously without intervention. This review will demonstrate four clinical scenarios with different underlying pathology and their management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":53410,"journal":{"name":"Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine","volume":"35 1","pages":"Pages 15-20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143165543","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}