Postpartum contraception: A matter of guidelines.

The postpartum period is the perfect time to access family planning services. WHO guidelines contraindicate combined hormonal contraceptives postpartum in breastfeeding patients between 6 weeks and 6 months after delivery (Medical Eligibility Criteria category 3). On the contrary, the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines do not contraindicate their use in women who breastfeed from 6 weeks to 6 months postpartum.

Drospirenone 4 mg in a 24 + 4 regimen in women with contraindications to oestrogen use for contraception: bleeding patterns according to previous menstrual characteristics.

Purpose: A new POP consisting of 4 mg drospirenone (DRSP) for 24 days with a 4-day hormone-free interval was developed to improve bleeding predictability during POP use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on bleeding patterns during use of this oral contraceptive (OC) in comparison with previous menstrual cycles before the start of OC use.

Methods: This is a pilot, prospective trial.

BRCA mutation carriers' perception about benefits and risks associated with combined hormonal contraceptives use.

Objective: To evaluate the actual perceptions about combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) use in BRCA mutation carriers in comparison to women from the general population.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational study involving two Italian referral centres for hereditary cancers. An identical questionnaire investigating how CHC use could affect the risk of developing some types of cancer, specific diseases, and symptoms was administered to 85 BRCA mutation carriers and 85 healthy women without this genetic mutation (control group).

Vitamin D and green tea extracts for the treatment of uterine fibroids in late reproductive life: a pilot, prospective, daily-diary based study.

Objective: The beneficial effects of Vitamin D (VD) and Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol of green tea, on the growth of uterine fibroids (UF) were previously described and . We have decided to investigate their simultaneous administration in women with UFs in late reproductive life.

Methods: >40 years old  = 16 premenopausal women with intramural (IM) or subserosal (SS) UF of ≥3 cm or several UFs of different sizes, even smaller but with a total diameter ≥3 cm but <10 cm, without further concomitant organic causes of abnormal uterine bleeding, treated with EGCG 300 mg, Vitamin B6 10 mg and VD 50 µg/day for 90 days.

The use of different doses levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS): real-world data from a multicenter Italian study.

Purpose: Current research fails to adequately inform about the differential use of available levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine systems (LNG-IUSs) in real life. Aim of our study was to compare the characteristics, satisfaction, continuation rates, and adverse effects between users of the high-dose LNG-IUS (52 mg) and of the low dose LNG-IUS (13.5 mg and 19.

Attitudes of women towards products containing hormones (hormonal contraceptives or hormone therapy): what changes from pre to postmenopause?

Introduction: To evaluate the actual perceptions of hormonal contraceptives (HC) in women of reproductive age in comparison with similar concerns of postmenopausal women in relation to hormone therapy (HT).

Materials And Methods: A questionnaire-based study was conducted in a population of 370 women, 198 (53.5%) premenopausal and 172 (46.

BRCA mutation carriers' perceptions on postmenopausal hormone therapy: An Italian study.

Objective: To evaluate the actual perceptions of postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) in BRCA mutation carriers (BRCAmc) in comparison with women from the general population.

Methods: Questionnaire-based study of 83 BRCAmc and a control group of 89 women without a genetic mutation. Perceptions were evaluated by specific questions and Likert scales (-5-+5).

The paradigm of norgestimate: a third-generation testosterone-derivative progestin with a peripheral anti-androgenic activity and the lowest risk of venous thromboembolism.

Introduction: Norgestimate (NGM) is a testosterone derivative with peculiar receptor activities.

Areas Covered: This is a narrative review of the available data on the pharmacotherapy of NGM in combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) in terms of contraceptive efficacy, venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk, safety, tolerability and bleeding patterns. A comprehensive literature review was conducted in August 2020 using PubMed with the keyword 'norgestimate'.

Contemporary prescriptions pattern of different dose levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine systems in an Italian service for family planning.

Objective: Current research informations fail to adequately inform about when levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) 52 mg is used instead of other lower dose LNG-IUSs (13.5 and 19.5 mg) and other long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) in clinical practice.

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on admission to gynecological emergency departments: Results from a multicenter Italian study.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on admissions to gynecological emergency departments (ED) of three Italian university hospitals with different rates of COVID-19 incidence.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the gynecological EDs of Modena (Emilia-Romagna), Sassari and Cagliari (Sardinia) regarding all admissions to gynecological EDs during November 1 to 30, 2019, and March 11 to April 9, 2020 (lockdown period).

Results: A total of 691 women (mean age 38.

The reduction of CA 125 serum levels in BRCA 1/2 mutation carriers after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy is only partially associated with surgery: a prospective cohort, other biomarker controlled, study.

Objectives: A significant reduction in CA 125 postoperative serum levels was observed after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) in BRCA mutation carriers. In contrast to previous studies, where control groups were absent, we conducted a prospective study including also a screening only group (RSSO refusal) and a group having previously undergone RRSO.

Methods: Consecutive BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers, not hysterectomised, >35 years old and with completed childbearing, were recruited.

Surface roughness of different contraceptive vaginal rings: evaluation by scanning electron microscope (SEM).

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the compositions of the ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) membrane of two different contraceptive vaginal rings could influence the surface roughness, which is associated with the possible accumulation of vaginal biomass on the rings during use. We measured and compared the surface roughness of unused vaginal rings, NuvaRing and Ornibel, using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and dedicated software that can convert SEM images into 3D models. Average roughness (), average quadratic roughness () and mean height of the irregularities at 10 points () were calculated.

Hereditary ovarian cancers: state of the art.

The identification of a mutation in ovarian cancer (OC) predisposition genes plays a crucial role in the management of cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. In healthy carriers, the detection of a specific mutation might justify more intensive and personalised surveillance programmes, chemopreventive measures, and prophylactic surgeries. Moreover, the identification of a mutation in affected OC patients might provide fundamental knowledge of the tumour pathogenesis, thus guiding treatment choices.

Outcomes of ALK positive lung cancer patients treated with crizotinib or second-generation ALK inhibitor: a monoinstitutional experience.

Rearrangement in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene is one of the oncogenic drivers in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Several ALK inhibitors (ALKis) have been developed and have demonstrated their efficacy, however the best treatment strategy for ALK positive NSCLC patients has yet to be determined. Our retrospective study has investigated the outcome of 40 ALK-rearranged NSCLC patients treated with two different sequential strategies in our Institute; a "classical group", treated with crizotinib followed by second or third generation ALKis, and the "experimental group", treated upfront with a second generation ALK inhibitor.