OBJECTIVE: According to an analysis of data from the Korean Red Cross in 2007, the blood deficiency rate in Korea is approximately 22%, which is the highest level worldwide. To overcome a deficiency in the blood supply, we performed education about directed blood donation and transfusion. METHODS: We provided education about direct blood donation and transfusion to 64 high-risk pregnancies of all deliveries in our hospital between March 2008 and September 2008. After providing education, we administered a questionnaire about the recognition of direct blood donation and transfusion. We surveyed 50 cases of our obstetricians, gynecologists, and nurses about satisfaction of directed blood donation. RESULTS: The mean age was 31.5+/-4.4 years (range, 24~42 years; median, 30 years), the mean gravidity was 2.3+/-1.5, and the mean gestational age was 37.4+/-2.9 weeks. Eleven gravidas performed direct blood donation, and six women received direct blood donations. Thirteen units of directed blood donations remained after transfer to other patients. After providing education, we administered a questionnaire to gravidas, doctors and nurses; 52.8% and 71.0% were generally satisfied based on questions about recognition of direct blood donation, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrates that education about direct blood donation is cost effective and helpful in supplying blood in high-risk pregnancies.
Blood Donors ; Blood Transfusion ; Compliance ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Gravidity ; Humans ; Korea ; Pregnancy, High-Risk ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Red Cross

OBJECTIVE: To assess the level and accuracy of understanding of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among female public health personnel in Chonbuk province. METHODS: Nine hundred ninety-one female public health personnel were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing HPV awareness and specific knowledge about the virus. The questionnaire contained 11 demographic informations and nine true-false questions on knowledge about HPV infection. RESULTS: Questionnaires were completed by 546 women, of whom 145 (37.6%) had heard of HPV. Married women (P=0.019), those with a history of candida, genital warts (P<0.001), or an abnormal smear result (P=0.001), annually visitor for a Pap smear (P=0.023) were more likely to have heard of human papilloma virus. Medical doctor (38.6%) was the most common source of hearing of HPV. Overall percentage of knowledge among those who had heard of HPV was 56.3%. Responses indicated than more than 70% had up-to-date knowledge about several issues: HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer, HPV is sexually transmitted, The pill protects against HPV, and Men can carry HPV. Fewer than 50% knowledge of HPV infection were as follows: HPV viruses are divided to low-risk and high-risk type, HPV infections persist forever, condoms protect against HPV. CONCLUSION: In this well educated samples, awareness of HPV infection was poor. And also, knowledge about HPV infection was relatively low. We recommend that more educational effort is needed for improving women's knowledge and awareness of HPV infection.
Candida ; Condoms ; Condylomata Acuminata ; Female ; Hearing ; Humans ; Male ; Papilloma ; Papillomavirus Infections ; Public Health ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Viruses

OBJECTIVE: Myoma is the most frequent benign tumor in women's pelvic cavity. Myoma causes a lot of symptoms that degrade the life quality of the patients. If the patient with leiomyoma does not require the treatment, regular follow-up is recommended. However, there is no definite method to predict the clinical outcome of leiomyoma patients. So we evaluate if the hormone receptors and vascular viability can predict the clinical outcomes in leiomyoma patients. METHODS: We perform the leiomyoma biopsy and ultrasonogram in leiomyoma patients who are symptomatic, premenopaused, and unnecessary to receive treatment. The patients were grouped into two as the results of progesterone receptor status of leiomyoma ; strong positive (> or = 75% positive to progesterone receptor), trace and negative (<25% positive to progesterone receptor). Also, we evaluates the vascular state and the resistance index (RI) of feeding arteries of myoma with doppler ultrasonogram. The severities of clinical symptoms are interpreted by using Uterine fibroid symptom and health-related quality of life questionnaire (UFS-QOL). RESULTS: After 8 months, the strong positive group shows the greater increasement of myoma volume than the trace and negative group. Also, the patient's symptoms and scores of life-quality decrease in strong positive group. In contrast, the trace and negative group show the improvement in clinical symptoms and life-quality. CONCLUSION: As a result, we concluded the status of hormonal receptor and feeding arteries can predict the clinical change of leiomyoma.
Arteries ; Biopsy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Myoma ; Progesterone ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Receptors, Progesterone

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to estimate socioeconomic burden of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) during the reproductive life span using current definitions and prevalence or incidence data. METHODS: Questionnaires were given to 8,588 reproductive women reviewed at Ewha Womans University Mokdong hospital. The PCOS affected approximately 10.4% of reproductive-aged women (11 million women in Korea, prevalence rate according to 1990 National Institutes of Health PCOS diagnosis criteria). We tied general societal cost data for the different health consequences to reproductive-age PCOS costs, using prevalence data. RESULTS: We estimated the mean annual cost of the initial evaluation to be 76 hundred million won, that of hormonally treating menstrual dysfunction, providing infertility care, diagnosis/treatment of endometrial hyperplasia, GDM, type 2 DM, and hypertension to be 280 billion won. The total annual socioeconomic cost of evaluating and providing care to reproductive-aged PCOS women in Korea is 350 billion won. CONCLUSION: Because the cost of the diagnostic evaluation accounted for a relatively minor part of the total socioeconomic costs, more widespread screening for PCOS appears be a cost-effective strategy, leading to earlier diagnosis and intervention and possibly the amelioration and prevention of serious sequelae.
Endometrial Hyperplasia ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to assess agreements among screening tests, to estimate prevalence, and to identify related factors with postpartum depression. METHODS: For 323 women at 7 days postpartum, self-administered questionnaires were given including postpartum depression screening test such as EPDS, QIDS-SR16, BDI and questionnaires for their demographic and psycho-social information. Obstetric information were collected from medical records. Simultaneous positive cases in EPDS and BDI were defined as gold standard and used to estimate the prevalence of postpartum depression and agreements between 3 kind of screening test and gold standard. Related factors of postpartum depression were analysed by using SPSS. RESULTS: The prevalence of postpartum depression was 19.8% and the Kappa indices were 0.711 in BDI, 0.803 in EPDS, and 0.395 in QIDS-SR16. Feeding method, smoking history, antenatal anxiety/depression symptoms, residence status, marital satisfaction, relationship with husband's parents, and postpartum care method in univariate analysis and premature delivery (odds ratio: 2.9), formulated feeding (odds ratio: 3.8), marital dissatisfaction (odds ratio: 4.3), professional husband's occupation (odds ratio: 4.4), and antenatal anxiety/ depression symptoms (odds ratio: 4.4) in the logistic regression analysis were significantly related to postpartum depression (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous test of BDI and EPDS was effective to evaluate postpartum depression prevalence at 1-week postpartum and highly agree with EPDS. Significant related factors were defined and further prospective community-based studies are warranted.
Depression ; Depression, Postpartum ; Feeding Methods ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Marital Status ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Occupations ; Parents ; Postnatal Care ; Postpartum Period ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Smoke ; Smoking

OBJECTIVE: To examine the incidence of the depressive symptoms during pregnancy and the socio-demographic and obstetric factors associated with depression. METHODS: Two hundred five women who had received antenatal care at Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital from March 2008 to May 2008 completed the questionnaire related to socio-demographic characteristics and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Statistics were performed using chi-square test and Fisher's extract test (SPSS 12.0). Results were considered statistically significant for P-values<0.05. RESULTS: Of 205 pregnant women, the mean score of EPDS was 7.3+/-4.2.54 of 205 women (26.5%) scored more than 10 point which is the cutoff value to define depressive symptoms. The incidences of depressive symptoms were not significantly different by the trimester (25.7% vs. 29.0% vs. 25.0%, P<0.844). There were no significant socio-geographic factors associated with depressive symptoms. In cases of unexpected pregnancies, the incidence of depressive symptoms was significantly high (34.6% vs. 21.0%, P=0.036), and the women who have problems of previous pregnancies scored significantly higher EPDS (56.3% vs. 23.8%, P=0.014). CONCLUSION: This study was the first report about the depression symptoms during pregnancy. Based on this study, we have to focus on and manage depression symptoms related to pregnancy.
Depression ; Depression, Postpartum ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Surveys and Questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of folic acid and vitamin B12 in the etiology of endometrial cancer, we performed a case-control study comparing oral intakes of folic acid, vitamin B12 and serum levels of folate and vitamin B12 in 48 endometrial cancer patients and 563 controls. METHODS: From August 2005 to August 2006, 48 histologically diagnosed endometrial cancer patients and 563 controls were enrolled in the study. Informations about dietary intake of folic acid, vitamin B12 were obtained by semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQFFQ) and serum levels of folate and vitamin B12 were measured. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were assessed with logistic regression and adjusted for energy, age, smoking status, alcohol consumption status, BMI, menopause, oral contraceptive use. RESULTS: Endometrial cancer risk was not significantly associated with intakes of folic acid and vitamin B12. After assessing tertile subgroup levels of folic acid intake, multivariate OR of 2nd tertile subgroup was 0.71 (95% CI: 0.36~1.6) and multivariate OR of 3rd tertile subgroup was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.45~1.9). And according to tertile subgroup levels of vitamin B12 intake, multivariate OR of 2nd tertile subgroup was 1.17 (95% CI: 0.57~2.39) and multivariate OR of 3rd tertile subgroup was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.43~2.05). However, serum folate and vitamin B12 levels were significantly associated with a reduction of endometrial cancer risk as a result of multivariate OR 0.42 (95% CI: 0.22~0.78) and 0.32 (95% CI: 0.15~0.68) by logistic regression. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that dietary intakes of folic acid and vitamin B12 are not significantly related to the risk of endometrial cancer. But we could confirm reduction of endometrial cancer risk in higher serum folate and higher serum vitamin B12 subgroup.
Alcohol Drinking ; Case-Control Studies ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Menopause ; Odds Ratio ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vitamin B 12 ; Vitamins

OBJECTIVE: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a disease with specific psychologic and physical symptoms on luteal phase. Its incidence is variable in 20~80%, but its cause is not definitely proved. Because progesterone and estrogen affect the balance of the body mineral, the alteration of progestorone and estrogen in the patients with PMS may effect the imbalance of tissue mineral, that can induce the specific symptoms of PMS. This study examines the relationship between symptoms of PMS and mineral count by tissue mineral test. METHODS: Women who volunteered for the tissue mineral test completed MMDQ questionnaire and checked blood test for Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cu, Zn. The tissue mineral test used the hair not treated within 3 weeks and not washed within 3 hours. The hair was send to TEI for the analysis. We used SPSS (14.0) for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The MMDQ score of the normal Mg group is significantly higher than the high Mg group (22.5+/-17.8 vs. 13.9+/-11.1), and the behavioral disorder score of the normal Na group is significantly lower than the low Na group (2.2+/-1.7 vs. 3.4+/-2.2). The MMDQ score of the normal Cu group is significantly lower than abnormal group (15.7+/-11.9 vs. 24.9+/-16.9). CONCLUSIONS: Total score of MMDQ showed difference according to magnesium and copper concentrations in tissue, and scores of behavioral disorder was affected by sodium concentration of tissue. Additional study about cause and effect relationship is required.
Copper ; Estrogens ; Female ; Hair ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Incidence ; Luteal Phase ; Magnesium ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; Progesterone ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Sodium

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effectiveness of transvaginal radiofrequency myolysis of the patients with leiomyomas and the patients with adenomyosis which have similar clinical symptoms. METHODS: From May 2005 to May 2006 at Eulji university hospital, 108 women who were diagnosed of leiomyoma and adenomyosis had undergone transvaginal radiofrequency myolysis. Before and after the procedure size, number of uterine myomas, location and the volume of the leiomyomas and adenomyosis were measured by ultrasound. And on every visit after the procedure improvement of the symptom was checked by questionnaire of the symptom and life quality. Using Wilcoxon signed ranked test, the statistical significance was proved and the P value lower than 0.05 was judged to be significant. RESULTS: 76 women with leiomyoma who had undergone transvaginal radiofrequency myolysis, were followed up 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 9 months after the procedure. The average maximal diameter of the myoma was decreased by 14.6%, 23.3%, 30.6%, 33.6% respectively, and the average volume was decreased by 35.7%, 53.3%, 67.3%, 72.2% respectively. 32 women with adenomyosis who had undergone transvaginal radiofrequency myolysis were followed up, at the same period after the procedure. The average maximal diameter of the adenomyosis was decreased by 8.9%, 13.6%, 14.6%, 11.9% respectively, and the average volume was decreased by 22.6%, 30.0%, 32.3%, 28.4% respectively. Before and after the procedure the symptom score was 62.3, 52.2, 40.6, 32.6, 28.6 respectively, and the quality of life score was 68.9, 78.1, 82.9, 85.7, 87.3 respectively in the leiomyoma group. In the adenomyosis group, before and after the procedure the symptom score was 77.7, 37.6, 30.6, 54.4, 67.5 respectively, and the quality of life score was 48.1, 76.5, 85.5, 66.5, 55.1 respectively. CONCLUSION: Transvaginal radiofrequent myolysis had benefits in conserving the uterus, and was less invasive, and had great effect on the reducing the size of the leiomyoma and improving the symptoms, and also returning to normal life pattern was earlier. But in women with adenomyosis the symptoms were worsened after approximately 6 to 9 months after the procedure. Therefore additional research and follow-up is required and a strict criterion is needed.
Adenomyosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Myoma ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Uterus

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical features of myoma, treatment options, patient preference and to identify the clinical features which affect the management of myoma. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed medical records of 577 patients who were diagnosed as uterine myoma on ultrasound exam between January 2006 and December 2006. Patients' characteristics, treatment methods and questionnaires for patient preference were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age was 42.3 years and 90.8% of the patients were premenopausal status. Common symptoms were pain (58.6%), bleeding (51.3%) and compression symptom (30.2%). In our study, 183 of 577 patients (31.7%) planned to have regular follow-up without treatment. Non-hormonal medical treatment was used in 27.1% and hormonal treatment was used in 41.9% of the patients. One hundred eighty-two patients underwent surgical treatment, including myomectomy (57.1%), subtotal hysterectomy (19.8%) and total hysterectomy (23.1%). Among the patients who underwent surgery, 50.6% of patients (88/174) had surgery due to compression symptom, 42.6% (126/296) due to bleeding, and 34.6% (117/338) due to pain. According to the 100 patients who answered the questionnaires, 78 patients preferred medical therapy initially, but 22 patients chose surgical treatment. When the patient was asked to choose between myomectomy and hysterectomy, 94 patients wanted myomectomy, but only 6 patients chose hysterectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Many patients diagnosed as myoma prefer medical treatment initially. Medical treatment for myoma may be considered as the first line treatment for pain and bleeding symptoms before proceeding to surgical treatment.
Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Medical Records ; Myoma ; Patient Preference ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Retrospective Studies