OBJECTIVE: Endometriosis is a common gynecological disorder caused by ectopic implantation of endometrial glandular and stromal cells outside the uterine cavity. Among several types of endometriosis, endometrioma is the only subtype that could be determined preoperatively using pelvic ultrasonography, and guidelines recommend pathologic confirmation of endometrioma greater than 3 cm in diameter. However, although surgery is performed in cases of endometrioma, endometrioma has a high cumulative rate of recurrence. Therefore, because determining the possibility of recurrence before performance of initial surgery is important, we examined preoperative factors associated with recurrent endometrioma. METHODS: This was a retrospective, comparative study including 236 patients who visited the outpatient clinic between January 2009 and December 2011. Patients who were pathologically diagnosed with endometrioma were included in this study. They were followed up postoperatively and were divided into two groups according to presence of recurrent endometrioma. RESULTS: We examined associations between baseline factors and recurrent endometrioma. In multivariate analysis, dysmenorrhea and cyst septation were statistically significant after adjusting with age, parity, surgical staging and postoperative management. We examined cumulative recurrence free survival within cases of recurrent endometriosis, based on the presence of inner cyst septation. The cumulative recurrence free survival was lower in cases with septation. CONCLUSION: Our study found that recurrent endometrioma is more likely in patients with inner cyst septation and the recurrence occurred within a shorter duration of time than in patients without inner cyst septation on preoperative ultrasonography. Therefore intensive caution and postoperative long term medical therapy would be appropriate in patients with inner cyst septation on preoperative ultrasonography before undergoing primary surgery for endometrioma.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Dysmenorrhea ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Parity ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Stromal Cells ; Ultrasonography

Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy is rare and occurs in approximately 3 in 10,000 pregnancies. It rarely complicates pregnancy, and can occur during any trimester, however over half (52%) of cases occur during the third trimester and during the post-partum period. Gallstones are the most common cause of acute pancreatitis. On the other hand, acute pancreatitis caused by hypertriglyceridemia due to increase of estrogen during the gestational period is very unusual, but complication carries a higher risk of morbidity and mortality for both the mother and the fetus. We experienced a case of pregnant woman who died of acute exacerbation of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis at 23 weeks of gestation. We report on progress and management of this case along with literature reviews.
Estrogens ; Female ; Fetus ; Gallstones ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Maternal Death* ; Mortality ; Mothers ; Pancreatitis* ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women

OBJECTIVES: Menopause is a natural aging process causing estrogen deficiency, accelerating atherogenic processes including dyslipidemia. Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction is also high in postmenopausal women, and it is known to elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therefore, we are to study on the associations in between serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and prevalence of CVD in postmenopausal women who have normal thyroid function. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 247 Korean postmenopausal women who visited the health promotion center from January, 2007 to December, 2009. Postmenopausal women with normal serum TSH were included in the study. Coronary atherosclerosis was assessed by 64-row multidetector computed tomography. RESULTS: In multiple linear regression analysis, serum TSH was associated with serum triglyceride (TG) (β = 0.146, P = 0.023). In multiple logistic regression analysis, increasing age and serum TSH were associated with an increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis in euthyroid postmenopausal women (odds ratio [OR] = 1.107 [1.024-1.197], P = 0.011 and OR = 1.303 [1.024-1.658], P = 0.031, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: It revealed that significant predictor of serum TSH was serum TG, and increasing age and TSH were found to have associations with an increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis in euthyroid postmenopausal women. Screening and assessing risks for CVD in healthy postmenopausal women would be helpful before atherosclerosis develops.
Aging ; Atherosclerosis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Dyslipidemias ; Estrogens ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Menopause ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Postmenopause ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyrotropin* ; Triglycerides

Purpose: Hysteroscopy can be used both to diagnose and to treat intrauterine pathologies. It is well known that hysteroscopy helps to improve reproductive outcomes by treating intrauterine pathologies. However, it is uncertain whether hysteroscopy is helpful in the absence of intrauterine pathologies. This study aimed to confirm whether hysteroscopy improves the reproductive outcomes of infertile women without intrauterine pathologies. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of 11 studies retrieved from Ovid-MEDLINE, Ovid-Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Two independent investigators extracted the data and used risk-of-bias tools (RoB 2.0 and ROBINS-I) to assess their quality. Results: Diagnostic hysteroscopy prior to in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was associated with a higher clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR) than non-hysteroscopy in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) (odds ratio, 1.79 and 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.40–2.30 and 1.08–1.97 for CPR and LBR, respectively) while hysteroscopy prior to first IVF was ineffective. The overall meta-analysis of LBR showed statistically significant findings for RIF, but a subgroup analysis showed effects only in prospective cohorts (odds ratio, 1.40 and 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.86–1.56 and 1.04–2.07 for randomized controlled trials and prospective cohorts, respectively). Therefore, the LBR should be interpreted carefully and further research is needed. Conclusion Although further research is warranted, hysteroscopy may be considered as a diagnostic and treatment option for infertile women who have experienced RIF regardless of intrauterine pathologies. This finding enables nurses to educate and support infertile women with RIF prior to IVF/ICSI.

Purpose: Hysteroscopy can be used both to diagnose and to treat intrauterine pathologies. It is well known that hysteroscopy helps to improve reproductive outcomes by treating intrauterine pathologies. However, it is uncertain whether hysteroscopy is helpful in the absence of intrauterine pathologies. This study aimed to confirm whether hysteroscopy improves the reproductive outcomes of infertile women without intrauterine pathologies. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of 11 studies retrieved from Ovid-MEDLINE, Ovid-Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Two independent investigators extracted the data and used risk-of-bias tools (RoB 2.0 and ROBINS-I) to assess their quality. Results: Diagnostic hysteroscopy prior to in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was associated with a higher clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR) than non-hysteroscopy in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) (odds ratio, 1.79 and 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.40–2.30 and 1.08–1.97 for CPR and LBR, respectively) while hysteroscopy prior to first IVF was ineffective. The overall meta-analysis of LBR showed statistically significant findings for RIF, but a subgroup analysis showed effects only in prospective cohorts (odds ratio, 1.40 and 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.86–1.56 and 1.04–2.07 for randomized controlled trials and prospective cohorts, respectively). Therefore, the LBR should be interpreted carefully and further research is needed. Conclusion Although further research is warranted, hysteroscopy may be considered as a diagnostic and treatment option for infertile women who have experienced RIF regardless of intrauterine pathologies. This finding enables nurses to educate and support infertile women with RIF prior to IVF/ICSI.

OBJECTIVE: Gynecologic oncologists are uncertain about the safety of tibolone application in cervical adenocarcinoma (AC) patients. This study examined the possible adverse effects of tibolone on the survival of cervical AC patients. METHODS: Medical records of 70 cervical AC patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages IA to IB were reviewed. A bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed in all patients, and survival outcomes between tibolone users (n=38) and non-users (n=32) were compared. RESULTS: A comparison of the tibolone users with non-users revealed similar clinicopathological variables. Progression-free survival (P=0.34) and overall survival (P=0.22) were similar in the users and non-users. The risks of progression (hazard ratio [HR], 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.46–6.37; P=0.43) and death (HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.06–45.66; P=0.79) were also similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Tibolone has no adverse effect on the survival of cervical AC patients and can be administered safely to this population. These findings may be helpful in improving the quality of life of cervical AC patients.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Obstetrics ; Prognosis ; Quality of Life ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of each component of the revised American Fertility Society (rAFS) classification system for the first recurrence of endometriosis after conservative laparoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As this was a retrospective cohort study, data were collected by reviewing medical records. A total of 379 women ages 18 to 49 years were included. Women who underwent conservative laparoscopy with histologic confirmation of endometriosis at Gangnam Severance Hospital between March 2003 and May 2010 were included. Individual components of the rAFS classification system as well as preoperative serum CA-125 levels were retrospectively analyzed to assess their prognostic values for recurrence of endometriosis. RESULTS: Of 379 patients, 80 (21.2%) were found to have recurrence of endometriosis. The median duration of follow-up was 19.0 months, and the mean age at the time of surgery was 31.8+/-6.7 years. In endometriosis of advanced stage, younger age at the time of surgery, bilateral ovarian cysts at the time of diagnosis, a rAFS ovarian adhesion score >24, and complete cul-de-sac obliteration were independent risk factors of poor outcomes, and a rAFS ovarian adhesion score >24 had the highest risk of recurrence [hazard ratio=2.948 (95% CI: 1.116-7.789), p=0.029]. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that of the rAFS adnexal adhesion scores, the ovarian adhesion score rather than the tubal adhesion score was associated with a significantly increased risk of recurrent endometriosis. The preoperative serum CA-125 level may be also a significant prognostic factor for recurrence, as known. However, it seemed to only have borderline significance in affecting recurrence in the current study.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cohort Studies ; Endometriosis/*classification/*surgery ; Female ; Fertility ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Laparoscopy/*methods ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; *Tissue Adhesions ; Treatment Outcome ; United States

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of minimal stimulation using discretely administered gonadotropin combined with clomiphene citrate (CC) or letrozole (LTZ) for intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 257 IUI cycles from 158 infertile couples were assessed. A CC dose of 100 mg/day (n=126 cycles) or a LTZ dose of 5 mg/day (n=131 cycles) was administered on days 3-5 of the menstrual cycle for 5 days. Each group received human menopausal gonadotropin at a dose of 150 IU by two or three alternative day: CC combined with alternate-day regimen for 2 or 3 days (CC+300, n=37; CC+450, n=89) and LTZ combined with alternate-day regimen for 2 or 3 days (LTZ+300, n=36; LTZ+450, n=95). RESULTS: The clinical pregnancy rate was comparable between the CC and LTZ groups (18.3% vs. 13.0%, p=0.243). The clinical pregnancy rate also showed no significant difference among the 4 groups (21.6% vs. 16.9% vs. 11.1% vs. 12.6%, p=0.507). The multiple pregnancy rate was significantly higher in LTZ compared to CC group (37.5% vs. 8.7%, p=0.028) and in the LTZ+450 compared to CC+450 group (50% vs. 13.3%, p=0.038). Overall, there were 15 cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), with the prevalence being significantly lower in the LTZ compared to CC group (1.5% vs. 10.3%, p=0.003). OHSS was more prevalent in the CC+450 compared to the LTZ+450 group (12.4% vs. 1.1%, p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that minimal stimulation using two alternate-day gonadotropin with LTZ decreases the development of OHSS and multiple pregnancies, while maintaining comparable pregnancy rates in IUI cycles.
Adult ; Aromatase Inhibitors/administration & dosage ; Clomiphene/*administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drug Combinations ; Female ; Fertility Agents, Female/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gonadotropins/*administration & dosage ; Humans ; Infertility, Female/*drug therapy ; Insemination, Artificial/*statistics & numerical data ; Nitriles/*administration & dosage ; Ovulation Induction/methods/*statistics & numerical data ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Triazoles/*administration & dosage

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of minimal stimulation using discretely administered gonadotropin combined with clomiphene citrate (CC) or letrozole (LTZ) for intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 257 IUI cycles from 158 infertile couples were assessed. A CC dose of 100 mg/day (n=126 cycles) or a LTZ dose of 5 mg/day (n=131 cycles) was administered on days 3-5 of the menstrual cycle for 5 days. Each group received human menopausal gonadotropin at a dose of 150 IU by two or three alternative day: CC combined with alternate-day regimen for 2 or 3 days (CC+300, n=37; CC+450, n=89) and LTZ combined with alternate-day regimen for 2 or 3 days (LTZ+300, n=36; LTZ+450, n=95). RESULTS: The clinical pregnancy rate was comparable between the CC and LTZ groups (18.3% vs. 13.0%, p=0.243). The clinical pregnancy rate also showed no significant difference among the 4 groups (21.6% vs. 16.9% vs. 11.1% vs. 12.6%, p=0.507). The multiple pregnancy rate was significantly higher in LTZ compared to CC group (37.5% vs. 8.7%, p=0.028) and in the LTZ+450 compared to CC+450 group (50% vs. 13.3%, p=0.038). Overall, there were 15 cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), with the prevalence being significantly lower in the LTZ compared to CC group (1.5% vs. 10.3%, p=0.003). OHSS was more prevalent in the CC+450 compared to the LTZ+450 group (12.4% vs. 1.1%, p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that minimal stimulation using two alternate-day gonadotropin with LTZ decreases the development of OHSS and multiple pregnancies, while maintaining comparable pregnancy rates in IUI cycles.
Adult ; Aromatase Inhibitors/administration & dosage ; Clomiphene/*administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drug Combinations ; Female ; Fertility Agents, Female/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gonadotropins/*administration & dosage ; Humans ; Infertility, Female/*drug therapy ; Insemination, Artificial/*statistics & numerical data ; Nitriles/*administration & dosage ; Ovulation Induction/methods/*statistics & numerical data ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Triazoles/*administration & dosage

Purpose: This study examined the current status of counseling services provided by the Korea Counseling Center for Fertility and Depression, analyzing the characteristics of peripartum women and baby-rearing mothers and establishing guidelines for providing psychological support, and suggesting measures for improving the system. Methods: Data on 3,660 peripartum women & their spouses and baby-rearing mothers counseled through the service over the last 4 years were collected and a demographic analysis was conducted. By analyzing the clinical information of 216 peripartum women and 219 baby-rearing mothers who have registered with the Center and received routine counseling services, factors affecting depression were identified. Finally, a paired sample t-test was conducted to verify the effect of counseling services. Results: An overall 20.4% of pregnant women & their spouses were screened for high risk for depression, of whom 27.3% received registered counseling services; further, 26.2% of baby-rearing parents were at high-risk group for depression, of whom 25% received registered counseling services. Results of a logistic regression analysis suggested that, for peripartum women, level of education and conflicts with partner and family were the crucial factors predicting moderate or severe depression. For baby-rearing mothers, obstetric history of spontaneous abortion was the crucial predicting factor. Conclusion For the early detection and prevention of peripartum depression, screening tests that start from early pregnancy should be routinely administered. Further, continuous management—covering the periods before and after childbirth—should be provided by establishing organic ties between domestic projects.