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Background: Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCPs) are among the most commonly used forms of contraception, but they are associated with several health benefits and risks. This study aims to determine the gap in knowledge of the underlying health benefits and risks of OCPs among Lebanese women and to identify the factors that might influence their beliefs. Methods: A questionnaire was completed by 817 Lebanese women aged 18–64 years old and assessed sociodemographic details, medical information, contraceptive practices, knowledge of underlying health benefits and risks, and information needs related to OCPs. Results: Among the total participants, 41.5% of women reported using OCPs at some point in their lives yet 46.6% denied receiving information about their benefits and 48% denied receiving information about their risks. The mean total OCP knowledge score was 5.70 out of 25, the mean OCP risk knowledge score was 4.09 out of 15, and the mean OCP benefit knowledge score was 0.77 out of 6. Sociodemographic factors associated with greater total knowledge, risk knowledge and benefit knowledge included OCP usage, being a student, confidence in one's knowledge and satisfaction with one's information. Both the total and risk knowledge scores were found to be higher in women who found that receiving information related to OCPs was important. Finally, participants who lived in central governates had greater total knowledge scores, whereas those with higher levels of education and a family history of endometrial cancer demonstrated better benefit knowledge. Conclusions: This study highlighted the poor knowledge of health benefits and risks associated with OCP use among Lebanese women and the associated sociodemographic factors that might influence their beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ovarian epithelial cancers are among the most lethal women's cancers. There is no doubt about the preventive role of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) in development of ovarian cancers. But, there are limited numbers of studies to address the effect of these agents on the number of cortical inclusion cysts (CICs), their epithelial type and suppression of the metaplastic phenomenon by these pills. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of these agents in the prevention of these cyst formation and tubal metaplasia and also examine the mesenchymal-epithelial transition theory in this context by immunohistochemical methods. Methods: The representative section(s) of ovarian cortex from a total number of 201 consecutive total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral or unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy specimens were examined for mean number of CICs and their epithelial type between two groups of the patients. Group A included the patients who were on oral contraceptive pills for more than 5 years. All of the subjects with other contraceptive methods or a history of less than 5 years contraceptive pills usage were stratified in group B. Sections from 20 cases in which more than five inclusion cysts were found, were selected for IHC staining with calretinine and PAX8 as markers for mesothelium and mullerian epithelium respectively. Results: The mean age of the patients was 51.67 years with no significant differences between two groups. The mean number of cysts were 1.27 and 3.23 in group A and B respectively (P =0.0001). Similarly the mean number of CICs, lined by tubal epithelium, was significantly different between two groups (0.65 vs 2.65, P =0.0001). In IHC staining 123 out of 150 CICs (82%) were PAX+ while only 7 CICs (4.8%) showed positive reaction for calretinin irrespective of type of epithelium. Conclusion: Our findings showed that the use of OCP for more than five years in women, significantly prevents development of cortical inclusion cysts in the ovaries which lined by tubal (PAX8 positive) type epithelium. These findings may explain the alternative mechanism of oral contraceptive pills or long time use of progesterone in suppression of tubal type overgrowth and subsequently prevention of ovarian epithelial cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this meta-analysis is to assess the impact of LH supplementation in women undergoing in vitro fertilization/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) with gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol. No significant difference in outcomes between LH supplementation and r-FSH alone in women undergoing IVF/ICSI with GnRH antagonist protocol is currently present, and further studies are necessary for more solid conclusions on pregnancy likelihood to be drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endometriosis affects fertility negatively. The study aims to evaluate whether laparoscopic surgery combined with oral contraceptive or herbs were more effective than laparoscopic alone in improving fecundity and pelvic pain in women with minimal/mild endometriosis. Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in 156 infertile women with minimal/mild endometriosis. After laparoscopic surgery, patients were randomized to three groups: in Group A (n = 52) oral contraceptive (OC) was administered one pill a day, continuous for 63 days without intervals, in Group B (n = 52) OC was administered as above and then Dan’e mixture was added 30 g/day for the latter 30 days, and in control Group C (n = 52) patients tried to get pregnant after surgery without complementary treatment. The follow-up periods were 12 months in Group C and 14 months in complementary medical treatment Group A and B. The pregnant women were further followed up, and labor and pregnancy outcomes were assessed. Primary outcome was pregnancy rate (PR) and live birth rate (LBR). Secondary outcomes included changes of pelvic pain visual analog scale scores and side effects. Analyses were done as intention-to-treat. Results: The PR was 46.80% (73/156), and the LBR was 69.86% (51/73). Of the 73 pregnancies, 60 occurred within 12 months of follow-up and 7 of the remaining 13 patients underwent assisted reproductive technology for >1 year. No significant difference was observed in PR and LBR among the three groups. Patients given medical treatment (OCs or OCs plus herbal medicine) had significantly decreased pain scores compared with the laparoscopy alone group. Conclusions: Combination of laparoscopy with OCs or OCs and herbal medicine does not have more advantages than laparoscopy alone in improving fertility of women with minimal/mild endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) contraceptive use is associated with an increased risk for Chlamydia infection. However, prior studies inadequately account for potential differences in sexual behavior between users of DMPA and users of other contraceptive methods. In this study we compare sexual risk-taking behavior in women using DMPA to women using oral contraceptive pills (OCP) to assess risk of Chlamydia trachomatis infection., Methods: In this cross-sectional study of 630 reproductive-aged women seeking routine gynecologic care (449 OCP and 181 DMPA users) sexual risk-taking was evaluated by use of the Safe Sex Behavior Questionnaire, a validated measure of sexual behaviors and attitudes. All women were screened for Chlamydia . Logistic regression estimated the association of contraceptive choice, sexual behaviors, and Chlamydia infection., Results: Oral contraceptive pill users differed from DMPA users in age, race, marital status, education level, and pregnancy history ( p -values all <0.05). Oral contraceptive pill users had used their method of contraception for longer average duration ( p  < 0.01) and reported greater frequency of condom use ( p  < 0.01). Eleven (2.5%) OCP and 2 (1.1%) DMPA users had Chlamydia ( p  = NS)., Conclusions: Oral contraceptive pill and DMPA users differed with respect to both demographic factors and frequency of condom use. Odds of current Chlamydia infection did not differ between OCP and DMPA users when controlling for sexual risk-taking or demographic factors, though due to low Chlamydia rates in our population, this study was underpowered to detect this difference.