Profiles of testosterone and pre-androgens and sexual function in premenopausal women.

Background: There is inconsistent evidence as to the role of testosterone and pre-androgens in premenopausal female sexual function, and reported associations between blood concentrations of these hormones and female sexual function vary in strength.

Aim: To examine the patterns of testosterone and pre-androgen concentrations and variations in sexual function in premenopausal eumenorrheic women.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a sample of 588 premenopausal eumenorrheic women from the Grollo-Ruzzene Foundation Young Women's Health Study.

Recommended measurement instruments for genitourinary symptoms associated with menopause: the COMMA (Core outcomes in menopause) consortium.

Objective: The aim of the study is to identify appropriate definitions and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for each of the eight core outcomes previously selected for genitourinary symptoms associated with menopause: pain with sex, vulvovaginal dryness, vulvovaginal discomfort or irritation, discomfort or pain when urinating, change in most bothersome symptom, distress, bother or interference of genitourinary symptoms, satisfaction with treatment, and side effects.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to identify possible definitions and PROMs, including their measurement properties. Identified definitions and relevant PROMs with acceptable measurement properties were entered into an international consensus process involving 28 participants from 10 countries to achieve final recommendations for each core outcome.

Recommended measurement instruments for menopausal vasomotor symptoms: the COMMA (Core Outcomes in Menopause) consortium.

Objective: The aim of the study is to identify suitable definitions and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to assess each of the six core outcomes previously identified through the COMMA (Core Outcomes in Menopause) global consensus process relating to vasomotor symptoms: frequency, severity, distress/bother/interference, impact on sleep, satisfaction with treatment, and side effects.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify relevant definitions for the outcome of side-effects and PROMs with acceptable measurement properties for the remaining five core outcomes. The consensus process, involving 36 participants from 16 countries, was conducted to review definitions and PROMs and make final recommendations for the measurement of each core outcome.

Performance of artificial intelligence in 7533 consecutive prevalent screening mammograms from the BreastScreen Australia program.

Objectives: To assess the performance of an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm in the Australian mammography screening program which routinely uses two independent readers with arbitration of discordant results.

Methods: A total of 7533 prevalent round mammograms from 2017 were available for analysis. The AI program classified mammograms into deciles on the basis of breast cancer (BC) risk.

Dysmenorrhea, Workability, and Absenteeism in Australian Women.

This study determined the prevalence of bothersome menstrual symptoms and their association with workability in naturally menstruating women not using hormonal contraception. A representative sample of community-dwelling Australian women aged 18-39 years selected from two large national electronic databases responded to a survey on general health. This study focuses on self-reported dysmenorrhea and menstrual bleeding and their association with workability and absenteeism in working women, assessed by the Workability Index.

Associations between low sex hormone concentrations and depression in older women: An observational study.

Objective: We investigated whether low sex hormone concentrations are associated with depression in older women.

Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study of Australian women, aged at least 70 years, not taking medications modulating sex hormone levels. Associations between hormones, measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and depression were examined by logistic regression adjusted for potential confounders.

A brief intervention for improving alcohol literacy and reducing harmful alcohol use by women attending a breast screening service: a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of a brief alcohol intervention for improving awareness of alcohol as a breast cancer risk factor, improving alcohol literacy, and reducing alcohol consumption by women attending routine breast screening.

Design: Single-site, double-blinded randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Maroondah BreastScreen (Eastern Health, Melbourne), part of the national breast cancer screening program.

The impact of endometriosis on work ability in young Australian women.

Background: Whereas symptomatic endometriosis may affect work performance, the impact of endometriosis in the general community is not known.

Aims: The associations between endometriosis and each of sick leave and work ability, were investigated in a large sample of non-healthcare seeking women.

Materials And Methods: This community-based, cross-sectional study recruited 6986 women, aged 18-39 years, from three eastern states of Australia between 11 November 2016 and 21 July 2017.

The association between sex hormones and the change in brain-predicted age difference in older women.

Objective: The role of circulating sex hormones on structural brain ageing is yet to be established. This study explored whether concentrations of circulating sex hormones in older women are associated with the baseline and longitudinal changes in structural brain ageing, defined by the brain-predicted age difference (brain-PAD).

Design: Prospective cohort study using data from NEURO and Sex Hormones in Older Women; substudies of the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly clinical trial.

Endogenous dehydroepiandrosterone and depression in postmenopausal women: a systematic review of observational studies.

Importance: The associations between endogenous dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), and depression in older women are uncertain. However, DHEA supplements are widely available over the counter in some countries, and some people may be taking DHEA with the hope of positive mood effects.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to investigate the association between endogenous DHEA/DHEAS blood concentrations and depression/depressive symptoms in community-dwelling postmenopausal women.

Endogenous testosterone concentrations and muscle mass, strength and performance in women, a systematic review of observational studies.

Objective: To explore the associations between endogenous testosterone blood concentrations and muscle mass, strength and performance in community dwelling women. DESIGN, PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Online databases, including Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science, were searched for observational studies, with at least 100 female participants, reporting associations between endogenous testosterone blood concentrations and muscle mass, strength and performance. The findings were synthesized in a narrative review.

The association between testosterone and depression in postmenopausal women: A systematic review of observational studies.

Objective: The contribution of testosterone to depression in older women is uncertain. This review was conducted to investigate the association between endogenous testosterone blood concentrations and depression in postmenopausal women.

Methods: We searched Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases for observational studies with at least 100 community-dwelling participants.

Associations between blood sex steroid concentrations and risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in healthy older women in Australia: a prospective cohort substudy of the ASPREE trial.

Background: Blood testosterone concentrations in women decline during the reproductive years and reach a nadir in the seventh decade, after which concentrations increase and are restored to those of reproductive-aged women early in the eighth decade. We aimed to establish the association between the concentration of testosterone in the blood and risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality in healthy older women.

Methods: SHOW was a prospective cohort substudy of the longitudinal randomised ASPREE trial.

Substituting serum anti-Müllerian hormone for polycystic ovary morphology increases the number of women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Study Question: Can serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) replace polycystic ovary morphology (PCOM) determined by ultrasound as a diagnostic component of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?

Summary Answer: Despite good correlations between serum AMH and PCOM, the use of a high serum AMH as a proxy for PCOM resulted in the reclassification of PCOS in 5% of study participants, with the main effect being more women identified, although some women previously classified as having PCOS were no longer classified as such.

What Is Known Already: AMH has been proposed as an alternative to PCOM as a diagnostic component of PCOS. Previous studies are limited by poorly defining PCOS, use of infertile women as comparators, measurement of hormones by immunoassay that lack precision in the female range, low-resolution ovarian ultrasound and inconsistent handling and storage of serum samples.

Factors involved in treatment decision making for women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ: A qualitative study.

Whilst some of the diversity in management of women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) may be explained by tumour characteristics, the role of patient preference and the factors underlying those preferences have been less frequently examined. We have used a descriptive qualitative study to explore treatment decisions for a group of Australian women diagnosed with DCIS through mammographic screening. Semi-structured telephone interviews were performed with 16 women diagnosed with DCIS between January 2012 and December 2018, recruited through the LifePool dataset (a subset of BreastScreen participants who have agreed to participate in research).

Testosterone and androstenedione are positively associated with anti-Müllerian hormone in premenopausal women.

Objective: To document associations between anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and circulating androgens in nonhealthcare-seeking premenopausal women.

Design: Community-based, cross-sectional study.

Setting: Eastern states of Australia.

A core outcome set for genitourinary symptoms associated with menopause: the COMMA (Core Outcomes in Menopause) global initiative.

Objective: Genitourinary symptoms, such as vaginal dryness and pain with sex, are commonly experienced by postmenopausal women. Comparing treatments for these genitourinary symptoms are restricted by the use of different outcome measures in clinical trials and the omission of outcomes, which may be relevant to women. The aim of this project was to develop a Core Outcome Set (COS) to be reported in clinical trials of treatments for genitourinary symptoms associated with menopause.

A core outcome set for vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause: the COMMA (Core Outcomes in Menopause) global initiative.

Objective: Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) (hot flashes and night sweats) affect most women over the menopause transition. Comparing the safety and effectiveness of treatments for vasomotor symptoms is limited by the use of inconsistent outcome measures, and uncertainty as to which outcomes are most important to symptomatic women. To address this, we have developed a Core Outcome Set (COS) for use in clinical trials of treatments for VMS.

Use of community-based reference ranges to estimate the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome by the recognised diagnostic criteria, a cross-sectional study.

Study Question: Does the application of reference ranges for sex steroids and the modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mFG) scale established in the community from which the study sample was drawn, combined with the most conservative polycystic ovary morphology (PCOM) criteria to the recognised diagnostic criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) improve the certainty of diagnosis of PCOS in non-healthcare-seeking women?

Summary Answer: Despite application of the stringent definitions of the elements used to diagnose PCOS in a non-healthcare seeking community-based sample, the risk of diagnostic uncertainty remains.

What Is Known Already: There is heterogeneity in prevalence estimates for PCOS due, in part, to lack of standardisation of the elements comprising the recognised National Institutes of Health (NIH), Rotterdam and Androgen Excess Society (AE-PCOS) diagnostic criteria. The AE-PCOS Society proposed refinements to the definitions of biochemical androgen excess and PCOM that can now be incorporated into these sets of diagnostic criteria to estimate PCOS prevalence.