Effect of local estrogen therapy (LET) on urinary and sexual symptoms in premenopausal women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS).

The association between vulvodynia and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), a chronic, debilitating disease of unknown etiology, may involve sex hormone-dependent mechanisms regulating vulvo-vaginal health. We aimed to prospectively investigate the effects of 12 weeks of local estrogen therapy (LET) on urinary/bladder and sexual symptoms in premenopausal women with IC/BPS. Thirty-four women (mean age: 36.

Effects of combined hormonal contraception on health and wellbeing: women's knowledge in northern Italy.

Objectives: We investigated levels of knowledge of the effects of combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) on general/reproductive health and physical/psychosexual wellbeing.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two university hospitals in northern Italy. Healthy current-, past- and never CHC users (n = 545; age 18-44 years) completed a self-administered questionnaire.

Use of and attitudes towards emergency contraception: a survey of women in five European countries.

Objective: To identify knowledge of and attitudes towards emergency contraception (EC) in women from five European countries.

Methods: In an internet-based survey, sexually active women aged 16 to 46 years from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK were asked about their use of and opinions on EC.

Results: Overall, 7170 women completed the survey.

The CLOSER survey: impact of postmenopausal vaginal discomfort on relationships between women and their partners in Northern and Southern Europe.

Objectives: CLOSER investigated how postmenopausal vaginal atrophy ('vaginal discomfort') affects relationships between women and their partners.

Study Design: CLOSER involved postmenopausal women (55-65 years) with vaginal discomfort, and male partners of women with the condition.

Main Outcome Measures: Structured questionnaire collecting information on impact of vaginal discomfort and local oestrogen treatment on intimacy and relationships, and symptoms and impact of menopause.

Neuroendocrine aspects of migraine in women.

Migraine is a complex disabling disease influenced mainly by age and gender during the life span. Neuroendocrine events related to reproductive stages and to the menstrual cycle may cause significant change in the clinical pattern of migraine over time, as a consequence of failure in adaptation higher in women than in men. Indeed, the individual threshold of vulnerability to manifest migraine is modulated by hormonal fluctuations naturally occurring throughout the menstrual cycle and at the time of reproductive transitions.

Sexual function and distress in women treated for primary headaches in a tertiary university center.

Introduction: Primary headaches are common in women and impact on their quality of life and psychosocial functioning. Few data are available on sexuality in female headache sufferers.

Aim: An observational pilot study was conducted to assess sexual function and distress in women treated for primary headaches in a tertiary university center.

Pre-freeze bull sperm head morphometry related to post-thaw fertility.

Artificial insemination using cryopreserved semen is a common management tool of the contemporary livestock producer. The ability to determine post-thaw fertility from pre-freeze sperm function parameters would be of major benefit to producers. In this study computer-aided sperm head morphometry was used to determine whether there is any association between pre-freeze bull sperm head measurements and post-thaw non-return to oestrus rates.

Testicular and spermatozoan parameters in the pukeko (Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus).

The pukeko (Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus) is widespread in New Zealand, and is the closest living relative to the endangered takahe (Porphyrio mantelli), which has a relatively high rate of infertility. In this study, sperm collected from a number of pukeko was analysed in order to model the reproductive physiology of the male takahe. In addition, testicular parameters were measured.

Estradiol supplementation modulates neuroendocrine response to M-chlorophenylpiperazine in menstrual status migrainosus triggered by oral contraception-free interval.

Background: Migraine triggered by oral contraception (OC)-free interval is very common and may be extremely severe, long-lasting and poorly responsive to analgesics (status migrainosus). The serotoninergic (5-HT) system is crucially involved in pain threshold and it is sensitive to estradiol (E2). Therefore, we aimed to assess neuroendocrine correlates of OC status migrainosus in response to the direct central 5-HT agonist meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) and to test the effect of transdermal E2 supplementation of the OC-free interval.

Uterine contractile response to the graded infusion of oxytocin in guinea pigs near term.

Objective: Myometrial oxytocin binding characteristics do not change near term in guinea pigs. We tested the hypothesis that the uterine contractile response to oxytocin does not change near term.

Study Design: Chronically instrumented guinea pigs were given graded infusions of oxytocin (n = 19 animals) or saline solution (n = 4 animals) on days 58, 60, and 62 and then daily until delivery (term, 68 days).

Activity, synthesis, storage, and messenger RNA of cyclooxygenase in intrauterine tissues of guinea pigs near term and during labor.

Whether the reported gestation-dependent increase in cyclooxygenase activity in gestational tissues is due to an accumulation of cyclooxygenase in vivo or an increasing capacity to synthesize cyclooxygenase in vitro is unknown. In this study in guinea pigs, COX activity was estimated from the net production rates of prostaglandins E(2) and F(2alpha) in the presence of optimal substrate concentrations. Cyclooxygenase activity in amnion increased between 45 days of gestation and labor in microsomes (150-fold in relation to PGF(2alpha) production and 116-fold in relation to PGE(2) production) and in tissue explants (42-fold in relation to PGF(2alpha) production).

Oxytocin receptors in guinea pig myometrium near term and during labor.

Oxytocin receptors in myometrium of women, rats, and rabbits rise markedly before the onset of labor, suggesting a role in the initiation of labor. In guinea pigs, a previous study reported no such rise by one-point determination of oxytocin binding. The purpose of this study was to use a more rigorous method to determine whether the binding characteristics of myometrial oxytocin receptors change in relation to labor in guinea pigs.

Cost-effective one-step PCR amplification of cystic fibrosis delta F508 fragment in a single cell for preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

The combination of in vitro fertilization (IVF) with PCR technologies enables diagnosis of single gene defects for preimplantation genetic diagnosis. This has been accomplished by two-step nested PCR, or PEP-PCR followed by nested PCR processes. To improve the detection of single cell genetic defects, the lysate of a single lymphocyte, with or without cystic fibrosis DeltaF508 mutation (CFDeltaF508), was incubated in a higher ionic strength solution containing mercaptoethanol prior to the addition of primers to the denatured cellular DNA.

Effect of maternal infusion of adrenocorticotrophin1-24 (ACTH1-24) on parturition in guinea-pigs near term.

While the mechanism of onset of labour in guinea-pigs is unknown, it has been suggested that administration of adrenocorticotrophin1-24 (ACTH1-24) near term induces labour. In order to verify this finding, guinea-pigs were fitted with indwelling carotid and jugular vascular cannulae. ACTH1-24 (30 microg h(-1) for four hours, n = 9) or vehicle (n = 5) was infused intravenously on Day 64 (term is 68 days).

Endometrial lymphoid tissue in the timed endometrial biopsy: morphometric and immunohistochemical aspects.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to provide a morphometric profile of endometrial granulated lymphocytes and to investigate qualitative and quantitative differences in leukocyte subsets in precisely timed luteal phase endometrial biopsies.

Study Design: Endometrial biopsies were obtained from 24 normal fertile women at 4, 7, 10, and 13 days after the luteinizing hormone surge. Endometrial granulated lymphocytes were assessed morphometrically in 2 microns resin sections.

The endometrial biopsy as a predictive factor of pregnancy rate in women with unexplained infertility.

To investigate whether or not there is any relation between endometrial morphology and subsequent pregnancy rate, 47 couples with unexplained infertility were followed up for 3 years after they had had an endometrial biopsy. Each woman had an LH-timed endometrial biopsy performed in the luteal phase of the cycle. The biopsy was dated chronologically according to the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge and histologically using morphometric criteria.

Lectin binding of endometrium in women with unexplained infertility.

Objective: To investigate whether peri-implantation phase endometrium in women with unexplained infertility differs from the endometrium of normal fertile women.

Design: Assessment of the function of the endometrium by using endometrial biopsy specimens and lectin histochemistry.

Setting: Infertility Clinic, Jessop Hospital for Women, Sheffield, United Kingdom.

Detection of white blood cell populations in the ejaculates of fertile men.

Using a now established, reliable technique for detecting white blood cells in human semen, we have examined the ejaculates of a fertile group of men. We have also highlighted the need for strict recruitment criteria to be established to enable accurate comparisons to be drawn between different patient groups and results from different laboratories.

The placebo response of subfertile couples to attending a tertiary referral centre.

The objective of this study was to determine whether there was a placebo response to clinic attendance in couples with prolonged (greater than 4 years) subfertility. From 4 to 18 years of subfertility we observed a treatment independent cumulative conception rate of 22%, which was independent of the length of subfertility. Twenty-seven women conceived after 1 to 4 years' subfertility, and 30 conceived after greater than 4 years' subfertility.

The interaction of parameters of male and female fertility in couples with previously unexplained infertility.

A prospective study was undertaken of the relationship between semen variables, serial endocrine and follicular ultrasound measurements in one complete menstrual cycle, and the treatment-independent chance of conception for couples who were referred with unexplained infertility. For the 91 couples studied, the mean length of infertility was 70 months. A 100% follow-up rate was achieved.

Seminal peroxidase positive cells are not an adequate indicator of asymptomatic urethral genital infection.

The relationship between asymptomatic urethral infection and seminal white blood cells, as detected using the peroxidase enzyme system, was examined. Eighty-four semen donors were tested. Twenty-four (29%) were diagnosed as having an active urethral genital infection.