Insomnia in Postmenopausal Women: How to Approach and Treat It?

Insomnia is one of the major complaints of menopausal women with advancing age and may be complexly related to a variety of causes. However, there is still a lack of standards on the general approach and treatment for insomnia in menopausal women. The aim of this review is to summarize recent pathogenic theories of sleep disturbance in the menopausal period and discuss the approach and management of insomnia in postmenopausal women.

The Associations of Vitamin D with Ovarian Reserve Markers and Depression: A Narrative Literature Review.

Since the identification of vitamin D receptors in both the female reproductive tract and the central nervous system, further data have shown that vitamin D is involved in the processes of reproductive and mental health. This paper reviews current research on the associations of vitamin D with ovarian reserve markers and depression and discusses the potential role of vitamin D in their relationships. There have been numerous studies reporting that vitamin D was significantly related to ovarian reserve markers and depression in basic or clinical research, but some observational and interventional clinical studies have shown inconsistent results.

Correlation between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Depression among Korean Women with Secondary Amenorrhea: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

Vitamin D deficiency is considered a major public health problem worldwide and has been reported as having an association with depression. However, studies on the association between vitamin D deficiency and depressive symptoms in secondary amenorrhea (SA) patients are still scarce. This study examined the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and depressive symptoms among Korean women with SA.

Serum vitamin D levels and ovarian reserve markers in secondary amenorrhea patients: Is there a link?

Objective: To investigate whether serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level is associated with ovarian reserve markers in secondary amenorrhea (SA) patients.

Methods: Sixty-three women diagnosed with SA were recruited during 12 months from the initiation of this prospective observational study. Serum 25(OH)D levels, serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels and antral follicle count (AFC) were estimated in study participants and ovarian reserve markers were compared between participants with vitamin D deficiency and those with normal vitamin D levels.

Pulmonary embolism in a healthy woman using the oral contraceptives containing desogestrel.

Venous thromboembolism is well known as one of the rare but serious adverse effects of combined oral contraceptives (COCs). The COCs with third and fourth generation progestogens were found to have higher risk of venous thrombosis than those with second generation progestogens. We present a case of pulmonary embolism in a 23-year-old nulligravid woman who was using COCs containing the third generation progestogen (desogestrel).

Comparison of cervical lengths using transabdominal and transvaginal sonography in midpregnancy.

Objectives: Cervical length assessment is helpful to predict and prevent preterm birth. However, transvaginal sonography is not easy to perform. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship and discrepancies between cervical lengths measured by transabdominal and transvaginal sonography in midpregnancy.

Fertility preservation in female cancer patients.

With improved survival rates among cancer patients, fertility preservation is now being recognized as an issue of great importance. There are currently several methods of fertility preservation available in female cancer patients and the options and techniques via assisted reproduction and cryopreservation are increasing, but some are still experimental and continues to be evaluated. The established means of preserving fertility include embryo cryopreservation, gonadal shielding during radiation therapy, ovarian transposition, conservative gynecologic surgery such as radical trachelectomy, donor embryos/oocytes, gestational surrogacy, and adoption.

Association between serum estradiol level and coronary artery calcification in postmenopausal women.

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate whether coronary artery calcification is associated with serum estradiol (E2) level in postmenopausal women.

Methods: We performed a multidetector CT scan of the heart and measured the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) in 436 postmenopausal women who did not take postmenopausal hormone therapy. Women were divided into two groups according to the CACS (≥100 or <100).

Etiologic characterization of recurrent miscarriages in Koreans.

Objective: To investigate recurrent miscarriages in Koreans in terms of causative factors and the prognosis for subsequent successful pregnancies in primary and secondary recurrent miscarriages cases.

Study Design: The study retrospectively examined the clinical records of 222 recurrent miscarriage cases that were presented at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, from July 1989 to June 2008. The cases were classified according to the cause and pregnancy rates after the primary and secondary abortions were compared using the chi2 test.

Comparison of GnRH antagonist protocol with or without oral contraceptive pill pretreatment and GnRH agonist low-dose long protocol in low responders undergoing IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

This prospective randomized study was performed to compare the efficacy of GnRH antagonist multiple-dose protocol (MDP) with or without oral contraceptive pill (OCP) pretreatment and GnRH agonist low-dose long protocol (LP) in 82 patients undergoing IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). GnRH antagonist MDP with OCP pretreatment was at least as effective as GnRH agonist low-dose LP in low responders, and can benefit the low responders by reducing the amount of FSH and the number of days of stimulation required for follicular maturation.

Effects of pioglitazone on ovarian stromal blood flow, ovarian stimulation, and in vitro fertilization outcome in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the effects of pioglitazone on ovarian stimulation, in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome, and intraovarian stromal blood flow in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

Setting: University-affiliated infertility clinic.