Beyond the discomfort: understanding and managing sexual pain in women, a comprehensive case-based discussion.

Introduction: Sexual pain has a profound impact on individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and affects women more often than men. It adversely affects both sexual function and interpersonal relationships. Despite its prevalence, sexual pain in women often remains unaddressed and untreated.

Counseling Women About Sexual Health Effects of Contraceptives.

Choosing a contraceptive method is a pivotal decision for patients, whereas health care professionals (HCPs) face challenges in providing suitable recommendations. Adverse sexual effects often lead to dissatisfaction and discontinuation of contraceptives, underscoring the importance of thorough counseling and shared decision making between HCPs and patients. This article aims to investigate the relationship between contraceptive methods and female sexual function through a comprehensive review of available literature, emphasizing the importance of considering sexual health in contraceptive prescription and management.

Factors Influencing Patient Confidence in Screening Mammography.

Background: We aimed to assess factors associated with patients' confidence in the ability of screening mammography to detect breast cancer.

Methods: Data were analyzed from a cross-sectional, prospective survey conducted in 2017 of women without a breast cancer history who were undergoing screening mammography at our institution.

Results: In total, 390 women completed the survey questions relevant to this study.

Cervical cancer screening in menopause: when is it safe to exit?

Importance And Objective: Despite a decreasing incidence of cervical cancer in North America overall, disparities in screening and cervical cancer rates persist, especially in the postmenopausal age group.

Methods: We reviewed the literature regarding cervical cancer screening considerations for postmenopausal persons, with a focus on cervical cancer in postmenopausal persons, existing guidelines, screening methods, and gaps in care.

Discussion And Conclusion: Postmenopausal persons are an important population at risk because age 65 years in the United States and up to 70 years in some parts of Canada is a milestone for screening cessation if the criteria are met.

Human Trafficking Education: A Pilot Study of Integration into Medical School Curriculum.

Objectives: Few medical schools incorporate formal education on human trafficking (HT) and sex trafficking (ST) into their curriculum. Our objective was to develop, implement, and evaluate education on HT and ST in the first-year medical student curriculum.

Methods: The curriculum included a standardized patient (SP) experience and lecture.

Prevalence, Impact, and Diagnostic Challenges of Benign Breast Disease: A Narrative Review.

Benign breast diseases, which are commonly seen in clinical practice, have various clinical presentations and implications, as well as management strategies. This article describes common benign breast lesions, presentations of these lesions, and typical radiographic and histologic findings. Also included in this review are the most recent data and guideline-based recommendations for the management of benign breast diseases at diagnosis, including surgical referral, medical management, and ongoing surveillance.

Primary Care Delivery Perceptions and Their Associations with Physician and Patient Gender.

Introduction: We aim to survey patients' opinions on perceived differences in patient care delivered by male and female physicians.

Methods: Patients of primary care practices at Mayo Clinic, Arizona completed a survey sent through the electronic health record. The survey evaluated opinion regarding their primary care physician (PCP)'s overall healthcare provision capabilities and any perceived differences based on gender.

Acute Liver Failure: Biomarkers Evaluated by the Acute Liver Failure Study Group.

There has been a growing interest in identifying prognostic biomarkers that alone or with available prognostic models (King's College Criteria, KCC; MELD and ALFSG Prognostic Index) would improve prognosis in acute liver failure (ALF) patients being assessed for liver transplantation. The Acute Liver Failure Study Group (ALFSG) has evaluated 15 potential prognostic biomarkers: serum AFP; apoptosis-associated proteins; serum actin-free Gc-globulin; serum glycodeoxycholic acid; sRAGE/RAGE ligands; plasma osteopontin; circulating MBL, M-, L-, H-ficolin and CL-1; plasma galectin-9; serum FABP1; serum Lct2; miRNAs; factor V; thrombocytopenia, and sCD163. The ALFSG also has reported on 4 susceptibility biomarkers: keratins 8 and 18 (K8/K18) gene variants; polymorphisms of genes encoding putative APAP-metabolizing enzymes ( UGT1A1 , UGT 1A0 , UGT 2B15 , SULT1A1 , CYP2E1 , and CYP3A5 ) as well as CD44 and BHMT1 ; single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes associated with human behavior, rs2282018 in the arginine vasopressin ( AVP ) gene and rs11174811 in the AVP receptor 1A gene.

Sexual Health after a Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Addressing a Forgotten Aspect of Survivorship.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. The life expectancy after a breast cancer diagnosis is improving steadily, leaving many more persons with the long-term consequences of treatment. Sexual problems are a common concern for breast cancer survivors yet remain overlooked in both the clinical setting and the research literature.

Association Between Lifestyle Changes, Mammographic Breast Density, and Breast Cancer.

In screening for breast cancer (BC), mammographic breast density (MBD) is a powerful risk factor that increases breast carcinogenesis and synergistically reduces the sensitivity of mammography. It also reduces specificity of lesion identification, leading to recalls, additional testing, and delayed and later-stage diagnoses, which result in increased health care costs. These findings provide the foundation for dense breast notification laws and lead to the increase in patient and provider interest in MBD.

Changing US trends in contraceptive choices.

Long-acting reversible contraceptives (ie, intrauterine devices and the etonogestrel subdermal implant) have become increasingly popular methods of contraception because of their convenience and safety profile. At the same time, the use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, one of the most prescribed contraceptives in the United States since its approval in 1992, is on the wane. The history and pros and cons of these contraceptive methods are reviewed.

Influence of Menopausal Hormone Therapy on the Breast: Counseling Your Patients Before You Prescribe.

Menopausal hormone therapy (HT) aims to improve a woman's quality of life by treating bothersome menopausal symptoms associated with low estrogen levels. Although HT is prescribed to millions of women worldwide, its breast-related adverse effects have always been a concern. Some of the common adverse effects of HT are breast fullness, increased breast density, and increased breast cancer (BC) risk.

Supplemental Cancer Screening for Women With Dense Breasts: Guidance for Health Care Professionals.

Mammography is the standard for breast cancer screening. The sensitivity of mammography in identifying breast cancer, however, is reduced for women with dense breasts. Thirty-eight states have passed laws requiring that all women be notified of breast tissue density results in their mammogram report.

Identifying women with increased risk of breast cancer and implementing risk-reducing strategies and supplemental imaging.

Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cancer in women, affecting 1 in 8 women in the United States (12.5%) in their lifetime. However, some women have a higher lifetime risk of BC because of genetic and lifestyle factors, mammographic breast density, and reproductive and hormonal factors.