2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) is a serious acute infectious disease caused by novel coronavirus (SARS CoV-2) infection, with fever, dry cough and fatigue as the main symptoms. In recent years, studies have suggested that the male reproductive system can be directly invaded by novel coronavirus, with the testis as one of its target organs. Therefore, infection with novel coronavirus can cause the development and aggravation of such diseases as male erectile dysfunction, male infertility, prostatitis, etc. However, no consensus has been reached whether such impacts will be mitigated or remain after recovery from COVID-19, and few reports are available on the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 inducing male reproductive diseases based on the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine. This review systematically summarizes the impacts of SARS-CoV-2 on male reproductive health and the etiological principles in the perspective of both TCM and Western medicine.
Humans ; Male ; COVID-19/complications* ; Erectile Dysfunction/etiology* ; Infertility, Male/etiology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Reproductive Health ; SARS-CoV-2

Citrus, which has been consumed internationally for a long time, is widely used as a health food. Citrus and its active components exert significant effects on oxidative stress and lipid metabolism, which are closely associated with female reproductive health. Studies suggest that citrus-derived compounds may alleviate oxidative stress by activating signaling pathways such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and improve lipid metabolism through the activation of pathways such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα). This review focuses on the effects of Citrus on oxidative stress and lipid metabolism, aiming to provide new insights for promoting female reproductive health; however, further work is needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved and validate the therapeutic potential of Citrus's bioactive components in clinical settings.
Citrus/chemistry* ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Female ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects* ; Reproductive Health ; Animals ; Sirtuin 1/metabolism* ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; PPAR alpha/metabolism*

N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C), an emerging posttranscriptional RNA modification, plays a pivotal role in epigenetic regulation. Ac4C is detected not only in tRNA, rRNA, and mRNA, but also in miRNA, lncRNA, viral RNA, and even DNA. Functionally, ac4C stabilizes mRNA, enhances protein translation fidelity, and impacts various biological processes and diseases such as cancer, inflammation, immune regulation, neural diseases, osteogenic differentiation, cardiovascular diseases, viral infections, and replication. Current research primarily focuses on ac4C's roles in cancer progression and immunity, with emerging findings in gynecological diseases and reproduction. However, a comprehensive understanding of ac4C's implications in reproductive health is lacking. This review provides a historical perspective on ac4C's discovery and detection methods, elucidates its functions in reproductive development and gynecological disorders, and offers insights for further research in reproductive health. This review aims to pave the way for innovative therapeutic approaches and precise diagnostic tools tailored to this field.
Humans ; Reproductive Health ; Cytidine/genetics* ; Animals ; Female ; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; RNA/genetics*

BACKGROUND

While adolescent pregnancies in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines have declined over the past five years, young mothers remain at risk of repeat pregnancies, which continue to expose them and their children to health and socioeconomic risks in this vulnerable region.

This study aims to collect baseline information on mothers who experienced early pregnancy in Eastern Visayas and to identify significant differences in maternal characteristics based on type of residence and age. The findings will be used by a nongovernmental organization to plan and develop targeted interventions for this vulnerable population.

This study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design to collect data on mothers who experienced early pregnancy in four selected provinces of Eastern Visayas. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, an independent t-test, and the Mann-Whitney U test.

A total of 296 mothers participated in the survey. Among them, 80.1% were in high school during their first pregnancy, and 88.2% were unemployed at the time of the study. The youngest age at first pregnancy was 12 years. The participants' male partners were at least five years older (39.8%) and ten years older (11.1%). Significant differences were observed in the use of family planning method, number and status of pregnancies, and history of preterm labor.

Results suggest that adolescent pregnancy remains a public health concern in Eastern Visayas, particularly among lowincome teenagers with limited educational attainment, whose parents also had minimal education. The youngest reported age of pregnancy was 12 years. Therefore, efforts should focus on increasing access to family planning services, providing comprehensive reproductive health education, and enhancing maternal and child health services.

Introduction: Despite policy actions and strategic efforts for improving the reproductive and sexual health of adolescents by promoting the uptake of adolescent reproductive and sexual health (ARSH) services, the utilisation rate remains significantly low, especially in rural areas of India. This study aimed to assess the utilisation of these services by adolescents in rural West Bengal and its associated determinants. Methods: This mixed-method study was conducted from May to September 2021 in the Gosaba rural block of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Quantitative data were collected from 326 adolescents using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Qualitative data were collected via four focus group discussions among 30 adolescents and key-informant interviews among six healthcare workers. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Results: Ninety-six (29.4%) adolescents had utilised ARSH services at least once during adolescence. The factors associated with non-utilisation of ARSH services were younger age, female sex, increasing reproductive health stigma and decreasing parent–adolescent communication related to sexual health. Qualitative exploration revealed that unawareness regarding services, perceived lack of privacy and confidentiality at healthcare facilities and disruption of services post-emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic were some major barriers to ARSH service utilisation. Conclusion A multi-component strategy, including promotion of adolescent-friendly health clinics, community support interventions associated with motivation and counselling of parents regarding the importance of adolescent reproductive health, is needed to improve the utilisation of ARSH services. Necessary steps to correct the deficiencies at the facility level should also be prioritised.
Adolescent ; Reproductive Health Services ; Sexual Health ; Qualitative Research ; Rural Population

Objective: Despite the provision of local health policies promoting the utilization of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services of adolescents, SRH services utilization remains very low and little information is known concerning the factors which may influence adolescents' use of these SRH services. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of school-based SRH services utilization among secondary school students.

Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that used a self-administered questionnaire to gather data among students in one public secondary school in the City of Dasmariñas. A total of 24 sections from Grades 8 to 12 were randomly selected using stratified cluster sampling. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data using Epi Info version 7.3.2.1.

Results: Among 1,218 students who answered the questionnaire, 168 students (13.8%) utilized the SRH services in the Teen Health Kiosk (THK) during SY 2019-20. Students with favorable attitudes towards SRH issues (predisposing factor) were twice more likely to utilize the SRH services (Adjusted odds ratio, AOR 1.75, 95% CI 1.12-2.74) and those who have positive perceived accessibility on the SRH services (enabling factor) were 2.5 times more likely to utilize the SRH services (AOR 2.46, 95% CI 1.66 - 3.66).

Conclusion: Attitudes towards SRH issues and perceived accessibility to SRH services were found to be determinants of SRH services utilization in the THK of the selected public secondary school in the City of Dasmariñas. Even with the marked increase in the utilization of SRH services in the THK from 0.2% in SY 2018-19 to 13.8% in SY 2019-20, intensified efforts are still needed in order to target students' attitudes on SRH and accessibility of THK and the SRH services it offers to its clients. It is recommended that the existing THK Club be strengthened as this will play a significant role in changing the attitudes of students towards SRH issues, thus increasing the utilization of SRH services. Additionally, formulating an SRH policy at the school level targeting THK's accessibility will be helpful in increasing the utilization of school-based SRH services. For one, a policy mandating THK service providers to deliver services beyond school hours may be discussed such that it can also cater students who are attending the school during weekends (i.e. ALS students, Open High students). Likewise, policy makers in the City Schools Division Office including their top management and personnel from the Health and Nutrition Unit as well as school administrators must endeavor to provide a more conducive THK where privacy and confidentiality can be maintained at all times and clients can freely discuss SRH issues with the THK service provider. An initiative to provide a separately detached room for the THK is encouraged in order to provide a more suitable counselling area and to ensure privacy and confidentiality of student clients and their shared information.

reproductive health of women. Thus, we have focused to review the scientific evidence of a causal relationship between exposure to npEDCs and representative female reproductive issues such as menstrual cycle, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, polycystic ovarian syndrome and infertility/subfertility. Though not all studies indicated a positive correlation of npEDCs with female reproductive issues, the reviewed data illustrated that the majority of the available data strengthen the evidence of reproductive health-related actions of npEDCs. In future, recommendations should be made in order to reduce human exposure to npEDCs and to protect from steadily increasing reproductive health risks.]]>
Detergents ; Endocrine Disruptors ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Half-Life ; Humans ; Infertility ; Leiomyoma ; Menstrual Cycle ; Ovary ; Plastics ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; Reproductive Health ; Uterus

reproductive health. However, no previous studies have reported on pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium outcomes (PCPOs) in female firefighters.METHODS: The present study compared hospital admissions for PCPOs, based on 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) codes, among Korean female firefighters with those of the general Korean population. Standardized admission ratios (SARs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.RESULTS: The study population included 1,766 female firefighters. Total follow-up duration was 9,659 person-years. Compared to the general female population, the female firefighters' SARs were higher in all admissions for PCPOs (SAR, 1.92; 95% CI: 1.79–2.05); pregnancy and abortive outcomes (SAR, 1.56; 95% CI: 1.12–2.12); other maternal disorders predominantly related to pregnancy (SAR, 2.65; 95% CI: 1.99–3.46); maternal care related to the fetus, amniotic cavity, and possible delivery problems (SAR, 2.13; 95% CI: 1.74–2.57); labor and delivery complications (SAR, 1.55; 95% CI: 1.15–2.06); delivery (SAR, 1.94; 95% CI: 1.80–2.08); and complications predominantly related to puerperium (SAR, 4.68; 95% CI: 2.02–9.23).CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed high SARs in all and specific subcategories of PCPOs in female firefighters.]]>
Female ; Fetus ; Firefighters ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; International Classification of Diseases ; Korea ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Health

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the association among sexual double standard, dating violence recognition, and sexual assertiveness among Korean university students. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional survey study in January 2018, Korean university students (N = 322, years; 54.3% female) completed structured questionnaires with the double standard scale, dating violence recognition index, and sexual assertiveness index. The relationship among the variables was analyzed with Pearson's correlations and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: There were significant correlations among sexual double standard, dating violence recognition, and sexual assertiveness. Sexual double standard (β = .12, p = .043) was determined to influence dating violence recognition. In addition, gender (β = .63, p < .001) and sexual double standard (β = .11, p = .015) were determined to influence dating violence recognition; the explanatory power was 43%. CONCLUSION: These findings will serve as a basis for the development of education programs that help university students to establish appropriate sexual values and enjoy a healthy sex life.
Assertiveness ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education ; Humans ; Intimate Partner Violence ; Korea ; Reproductive Health ; Sexual Behavior ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To determine the role of metabolic syndrome (MetS) as a risk factor for acquired premature ejaculation (PE) after considering the various risk factors, such as lower urinary tract symptoms, erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, and prostatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2012 to January 2017, records of 1,029 men were analyzed. We performed multivariate analysis to identify risk factors for PE, including the covariate of age, marital status, International Prostate Symptom Score, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score, National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) score, serum testosterone levels, and all components of MetS. Acquired PE was defined as self-reported intravaginal ejaculation latency time ≤3 minutes, and MetS was diagnosed using the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. RESULTS: Of 1,029 men, 74 subjects (7.2%) had acquired PE and 111 (10.8%) had MetS. Multivariate analysis showed that the IIEF overall satisfaction score (odds ratio [OR]=0.67, p<0.001), NIH-CPSI pain score (OR=1.07, p=0.035), NIH-CPSI voiding score (OR=1.17, p=0.032), and presence of MetS (OR=2.20, p=0.022) were significantly correlated with the prevalence of acquired PE. In addition, the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire for Ejaculatory Dysfunction scores and ejaculation anxiety scores progressively decreased as the number of components of MetS increased. CONCLUSIONS: MetS may be an independent predisposing factor for the development of acquired PE. Effective prevention and treatment of MetS could also be important for the prevention and treatment of acquired PE.
Academies and Institutes ; Adult ; Anxiety ; Causality ; Cholesterol ; Education ; Ejaculation ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Marital Status ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity ; Premature Ejaculation ; Prevalence ; Prostate ; Prostatitis ; Reproductive Health ; Risk Factors ; Testosterone