Prevalence of and risk factors associated with sexual health issues in primiparous women at 6 and 12 months postpartum; a longitudinal prospective cohort study (the MAMMI study)

ObjectiveSexuality is an important aspect of human identity and contributes significantly to the quality of life in women as well as in men. Impairment in sexual health after vaginal delivery is a major concern for many women. We aimed to examine the association between degree of perineal tear and sexual function 12 months postpartum.DesignA prospective cohort studySettingFour Danish hospitals between July 2015 and January 2019ParticipantsA total of 554 primiparous women: 191 with no/labia/first-degree tears, 189 with second-degree tears and 174 with third-degree/fourth-degree tears. Baseline data were obtained 2 weeks postpartum by a questionnaire and a clinical examination. Sexual function was evaluated 12 months postpartum by an electronic questionnaire (Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire (PISQ-12)) and a clinical examination.Primary outcome measuresTotal PISQ-12 score and dyspareuniaResultsEpisiotomy was performed in 54 cases and 95 women had an operative vaginal delivery. The proportion of women with dyspareunia was 25%, 38% and 53% of women with no/labia/first-degree, second-degree or third-degree/fourth-degree tears, respectively.Compared with women with no/labia/first-degree tears, women with second-degree or third-degree/fourth-degree tears had a higher risk of dyspareunia (adjusted relative risk (aRR) 2.05; 95% CI 1.51 to 2.78 and aRR 2.09; 95% CI 1.55 to 2.81, respectively). Women with third-degree/fourth-degree tears had a higher mean PISQ-12 score (12.2) than women with no/labia/first-degree tears (10.4).ConclusionsImpairment of sexual health is common among primiparous women after vaginal delivery. At 12 months postpartum, more than half of the women with a third-degree/fourth-degree tear experienced dyspareunia. Women delivering with no/labia/first-degree tears reported the best outcomes overall. Thus, it is important to minimise the extent of perineal trauma and to counsel about sexuality during and after pregnancy.

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Risk Factors for Relapse of Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-associated Vasculitis in Japan: A Nationwide, Prospective Cohort Study

The Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.3899/jrheum.170508 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 45 (4) ◽

pp. 521-528 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Akinori Hara ◽

Takashi Wada ◽

Ken-ei Sada ◽

Koichi Amano ◽

Hiroaki Dobashi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Maintenance Therapy ◽

Prospective Cohort Study ◽

Induction Therapy ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Oral Prednisolone ◽

Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody ◽

Remission Induction ◽

Factors Associated

Objective.The aim was to elucidate the prognosis and risk factors associated with relapse during longterm remission maintenance therapy for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).Methods.Patients with newly diagnosed AAV (n = 156) were registered in the Remission Induction Therapy in Japanese patients with ANCA-associated Vasculitides (RemIT-JAV) study, and among them, 83 patients who achieved remission were enrolled and followed up for 24 additional months in our nationwide, prospective cohort study (Co-RemIT-JAV; registration number UMIN 000006373). Patterns of maintenance therapy, effectiveness, and safety were evaluated from months 25 to 48 after the RemIT-JAV. The primary outcome measure was the rate of relapse. Secondary outcome measures included overall and renal survival, risk factors associated with relapse, and incidence rates of serious infections.Results.The patients comprised 35 men and 48 women aged 65.3 ± 12.6 years. Between months 25 and 48, the survival rate was 95% (79/83). Causes of death included 1 thyroid cancer, 1 infection, and 2 unknown reasons. Four patients had developed endstage renal disease (ESRD) by Month 24; 1 developed ESRD beyond Month 25. The relapse rate was 24% (20/83) from months 25 to 48. Multivariable analysis revealed that oral prednisolone ≤ 2.5 mg/day at Month 24 was a significant risk factor for relapse between months 25 and 48 (HR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.1–8.5).Conclusion.One-quarter of patients with AAV relapsed during maintenance therapy, and relapse was associated with the dose of oral prednisolone 24 months after the initiation of remission induction therapy in Japan.

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