PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of pelvic floor muscle exercise using electric stimulation and biofeedback on maximum pressure of vaginal contraction, vaginal contraction duration and sexual function in women who have had vaginal rejuvenation. METHODS: The research design was a non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design study. Participants in this study were women who had vaginal rejuvenation at C obstetrics and gynecology hospital. The 15 participants in the experimental group were given pelvic floor muscle exercise using electric stimulation and biofeedback and the 15 participants in the control group received self pelvic floor muscle exercise. RESULTS: For maximum pressure of vaginal contraction, the experimental group showed a statistically significant increase compared to than the control group (t=5.96, p<.001). For vaginal contraction duration, the experimental group also showed a statistically significant increase compared to the control group (t=3.23, p=.003). For women's sexual function, the experimental group showed a significant increase when compared to the control group in total sexual function scores (t=3.41, p=.002). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that pelvic floor muscle exercise with electric stimulation and biofeedback after vaginal rejuvenation is effective in strengthening vaginal contraction pressure, vaginal contraction and that it also positively functions to increase women's sexual function.
Adult ; Biofeedback, Psychology ; *Electric Stimulation ; *Exercise ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Contraction/physiology ; Pelvic Floor/*physiology ; Rejuvenation/*physiology ; Sexual Behavior/psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vagina/*physiology/surgery

Captured wild chipmunks which have been extensively used for leprosy research, were studied in our laboratory for the reproductive potentials. Histologically normal organs, which are involved in reproduction in both sexes, were observed. Functionally active viable sperms in sufficient amount were produced by the males, and were used for artificial inseminations. A state of normal reproductive physiology of the females was also confirmed by studies on histologic analysis of oogenesis in the ovaries and in cultured ovaries in vitro. Regularity in ovulation was also determined by vaginal epithelial cell examinations. Thus these animals appeared to be normal in terms of fecundity. It was considered that the inability of these animals to have successful breeding in the captured state was due to problems in fertility, especially in maintaining the pregnancy.
Animal ; Animals, Wild/physiology ; Breeding ; Estrus ; Female ; Fertility* ; In Vitro ; Insemination, Artificial/veterinary ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Rodentia/physiology* ; Sciuridae/physiology* ; Sperm Motility ; Vagina/cytology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure the knowledge. Attitude and the needs of sex education for college students in order to provide basic sex education information. METHOD: For this study, the questionnaires were given to 320 students in the H, D colleage of Daegu and collected during the period from August 25 to October 25, 2003. These results were analyzed statistically by means of frequency, percentage, t-test, chi-squire test. RESULT: Female students have a high score of sexual knowledge about genital physiology, sex physiology, V. D. and contraceptive. Both gender in sexual knowledge, male students correctly responded 86.4% form ejaculating sperm from the penis. Females on the other hand correctly responded 96% in the highest score to menstruation blood through out the vagina. Both gender male and female is wished to be co-education in sex education in college at a freshmen level. Sex education should be under by special lecture when education is in progress. Males student want to learn more about V.D. Females in the other hand want to learn a lot about contraceptive. CONCLUSION: In conclusion college sex education should be basic, knowledgeable and for the future of there on going marriage. It should be responsible in sex education, it should run under regular curriculum in college.
Curriculum ; Daegu ; Education ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Marriage ; Menstruation ; Penis ; Physiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sex Education* ; Sexuality* ; Spermatozoa ; Vagina

Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal ; microbiology ; Communicable Diseases ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Microbiota ; physiology ; Vagina ; microbiology ; Vaginitis ; microbiology ; Vaginosis, Bacterial ; microbiology

To assess the ability of the previously selected human vaginal isolates of Lactobacillus crispatus (L. crispatus) T79-3, T90-1 and Lactobacillus jensenii (L. jensenii) T118-3, T231-1 to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and block their adhesion to HeLa cells. The inhibitory bioactive substances produced by these Lactobacillus were also identified. Inhibitory substances interaction tests were carried out by using a streak-diffusion method on agar plates. Three types of interaction were performed to determine the inhibitory effect of Lactobacillus on adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus to HeLa cells: Exclusion Group (Lactobacillus and HeLa followed by pathogens), Competition Group (Lactobacillus, HeLa and pathogens together) and Displacement Group (pathogens and HeLa followed by the addition of Lactobacillus). The number of HeLa cells adhered to Staphylococcus aureus was quantified by bacteria colony counts on LB plate. The results showed that lactic acids produced by the Lactobacillus are the main substances that can inhibit Staphylococcus aureus growth and there is variation among the three types of interaction regarding the inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The effects of Lactobacillus on blocking the adhesion to HeLa cells were concentration dependent. All four Lactobacillus isolates displayed the ability to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus growth and block Staphylococcus aureus adherence to HeLa cells. Exclusion Group was the most effective, and T79-3 showed greater capacity to block Staphylococcus aureus adherence compared with the other three isolates. The present study suggests the potential ability of L. crispatus T79-3 as probiotic for the treatment and prevention of urogenital infections in women.
Bacterial Adhesion ; physiology ; Cell Wall ; chemistry ; Female ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Lactobacillus ; classification ; physiology ; Probiotics ; Staphylococcus aureus ; growth & development ; pathogenicity ; Vagina ; microbiology

PURPOSE: This study was done to determine whether muscle strength training programs have an impact on improving symptoms of urinary incontinence (UI) and physical function among elderly women with UI who reside in long-term care facilities. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants had to be over 65 years, score over 15 score on the mini-mental state examination, and be able to walk alone or with an assistant. Seventy residents were randomly allocated to either the training group (n=35) or control group (n=35). The program consisted of 50 minutes, twice a week for 8 weeks, and included Kegel's exercise, Thera-band training and indoor walking. Main outcomes were UI symptoms, peak vaginal pressure and physical functions measured with timed up and go test (TUG), one leg standing test (OLST), activities of daily living (ADL) and grip strength. Changes in outcome measurements were calculated from baseline to 4 weeks and to 8 weeks using repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: There were significant differences in peak vaginal pressure (p<.001), TUG (p<.001), OLST (p=.012) and grip strength (p<.001) in the interaction between groups and time. CONCLUSION: Future studies are suggested to confirm the effect of muscle strength training in long-term care facilities where elderly women with UI reside.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Long-Term Care ; Muscle Strength/*physiology ; Resistance Training ; Urinary Incontinence/pathology/*therapy ; Vagina/physiology ; Walking

We selected and characterized isolates of Lactobacillus crispatus (L. crispatus) for potential preventing infections of the female reproductive tract. We cultured vaginal swabs from healthy volunteers on de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar and identified the isolates at the species level by 16S rRNA sequence and genotyped the isolates of Lactobacillus by PCR amplification of repetitive bacterial DNA elements (rep-PCR). Furthermore, 10 L. crispatus strains were assessed for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and acid production. Overall 65 isolates were confirmed to be Lactobacillus by sequence analogy, among them 19 were L. crispatus, 17 were Lactobacillus jensenii and 12 were Lactobacillus fermentum. rep-PCR produced specie and strain-specific genomic fingerprints for the Lactobacillus isolates. The selected 10 L. crispatus isolates produced highly acidic environment after growth in MRS. The isolates T22-3 and T29-5 demonstrated high production of H2O2. This study indicated that there are individual differences with vaginal Lactobacillus colonization, and strain diversity within vaginal L. crispatus isolates, T22-3 and T29-5 might be candidates for restoring urogenital health environment in females.
Adult ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; metabolism ; Interspersed Repetitive Sequences ; Lactobacillus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Vagina ; microbiology

Sexual dysfunction affects both men and women, involving organic disorders, psychological problems, or both. Overall, the state of our knowledge is less advanced regarding female sexual physiology in comparison with male sexual function. Female sexual dysfunction has received little clinical and basic research attention and remains a largely untapped field in medicine. The epidemiology of female sexual dysfunction is poorly understood because relatively few studies have been done in community settings. In the United States, female sexual dysfunction has been estimated to affect 40% of women in the general population. Among the elderly, however, it has been reported that up to 87% of women complain of sexual dissatisfaction. Several studies have shown that the prevalence of female sexual arousal disorders correlates significantly with increasing age. These studies have shown that sexual arousal and frequency of coitus in the female decreases with increasing age. The pathophysiology of female sexual dysfunction appears more complex than that of males, involving multidimensional hormonal, neurological, vascular, psychological, and interpersonal aspects. Organic female sexual disorders may include a wide variety of vascular, neural, or neurovascular factors that lead to problems with libido, lubrication, and orgasm. However, the precise etiology and mechanistic pathways of age-related female sexual arousal disorders are yet to be determined. In the past two decades, some advances have been made in exploring the basic hemodynamics and neuroregulation of female sexual function and dysfunction in both animal models and in human studies. In this review, we summarize neural regulation of sexual function and neurological causes of sexual dysfunction in women.
Aged ; Arousal ; Clitoris ; Coitus ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Libido ; Lubrication ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Orgasm ; Physiology ; Prevalence ; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological ; United States ; Vagina

Sexual dysfunction affects both men and women, involving organic disorders, psychological problems, or both. Overall, the state of our knowledge is less advanced regarding female sexual physiology in comparison with male sexual function. Female sexual dysfunction has received little clinical and basic research attention and remains a largely untapped field in medicine. The epidemiology of female sexual dysfunction is poorly understood because relatively few studies have been done in community settings. In the United States, female sexual dysfunction has been estimated to affect 40% of women in the general population. Among the elderly, however, it has been reported that up to 87% of women complain of sexual dissatisfaction. Several studies have shown that the prevalence of female sexual arousal disorders correlates significantly with increasing age. These studies have shown that sexual arousal and frequency of coitus in the female decreases with increasing age. The pathophysiology of female sexual dysfunction appears more complex than that of males, involving multidimensional hormonal, neurological, vascular, psychological, and interpersonal aspects. Organic female sexual disorders may include a wide variety of vascular, neural, or neurovascular factors that lead to problems with libido, lubrication, and orgasm. However, the precise etiology and mechanistic pathways of age-related female sexual arousal disorders are yet to be determined. In the past two decades, some advances have been made in exploring the basic hemodynamics and neuroregulation of female sexual function and dysfunction in both animal models and in human studies. In this review, we summarize neural regulation of sexual function and neurological causes of sexual dysfunction in women.
Aged ; Arousal ; Clitoris ; Coitus ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Libido ; Lubrication ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Orgasm ; Physiology ; Prevalence ; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological ; United States ; Vagina

PURPOSE: Existing data supports a relationship between pelvic floor dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms. We developed a survival model of pelvic floor dysfunction in the rabbit and evaluated cystometric (CMG), electromyographic (EMG) and ambulatory voiding behavior. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve female adult virgin rabbits were housed in metabolic cages to record voiding and defecation. Anesthetized CMG/EMG was performed before and after treatment animals (n=9) received bilateral tetanizing needle stimulation to the pubococcygeous (PC) muscle and controls (n=3) sham needle placement. After 7 days all animals were subjected to tetanizing transvaginal stimulation and CMG/EMG. After 5 days a final CMG/EMG was performed. RESULTS: Of rabbits that underwent needle stimulation 7 of 9 (78%) demonstrated dysfunctional CMG micturition contractions versus 6 of 12 (50%) after transvaginal stimulation. Needle stimulation of the PC musculature resulted in significant changes in: basal CMG pressure, precontraction pressure change, contraction pressure, interval between contractions and postvoid residual; with time to 3rd contraction increased from 38 to 53 minutes (p=0.008 vs. prestimulation). Vaginal noxious stimulation resulted in significant changes in: basal CMG pressure and interval between contractions; with time to 3rd contraction increased from 37 to 46 minutes (p=0.008 vs. prestimulation). Changes in cage parameters were primarily seen after direct needle stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: In a majority of animals, tetanizing electrical stimulation of the rabbit pelvic floor resulted in voiding changes suggestive of pelvic floor dysfunction as characterized by a larger bladder capacity, longer interval between contractions and prolonged contraction duration.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dystonia/*etiology ; Electric Stimulation/adverse effects/methods ; Electromyography/methods ; Female ; Muscle Contraction/physiology ; Pelvic Floor/*physiopathology ; Pelvic Floor Disorders/*complications/physiopathology ; Rabbits ; Urinary Bladder/physiopathology ; Urinary Retention/*etiology ; Urination/physiology ; Urine ; Vagina/*physiopathology