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In the new millennium, exclusive breastfeeding plays an important role in national and international policies. The effects of mother-infant skin-to-skin contact (SSC) after birth has been investigated in several studies. Given that there has been no overall estimate of this effects, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of mother-infant SSC on the rate of exclusive breastfeeding through a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. In the present study, the databases of Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, SID, Magiran, IranDoc, and Google Scholar were searched to identify randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effects of mother-infant SSC immediately after birth on the rate of exclusive breastfeeding. The risk of bias and strength of evidence were examined according to the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool and the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach, respectively. The data analysis was performed using Stata software. To assess the publication bias and heterogeneity, Egger’s and Begg’s tests and I2 were used, respectively. In addition, the fixed effects model was employed to perform the meta-analysis. The heterogeneity of the factor of effects in the studies was determined as 16.2% (p

Background and Aim: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is one of the most common gynecologic problems among the women of childbearing age. Considering the adverse effects of chemical therapies, we performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of honey and yogurt on vaginal candidiasis. Material and Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis we searched databases of PubMed, ISI Web of science, Scopus, Cochrane, SID, Magiran ,Irandoc , Google Scholar, using the following sets of keywords: (Vulvovaginal candidiasis, Genital vulvovaginal Candidiasis, Candidiasis, genital vulvovaginal, Candida albicans, Monilial vaginitis, Vaginal yeast infections, Yeast infections, Vaginal, Genital candidiasis, Vulvovaginal moniliasis), (Treatment, Azole, Antifungal agents, Antifungal fungicides, Therapeutic fungicides, clotrimazole, clotrimazole),(honey, Bee-honey),yogurt,(controlled trial, clinical trial) and their Persian equivalent .Data were analyzed by Stata software. Heterogeneity was assessed by chi-square and I2 index and we used the random effects models to pool the data. Results: Heterogeneity analysis showed no heterogeneity between the results of studies in regard to complaints of itching, redness and vaginal inflammation and vaginal discharge caused by candida vulvovaginitis. After comparing honey & yogurt group with control group we found (95% CI: 0.09-0.99, p = 0.002, OR = 0.22) for clinical symptom of pruritus and (95% CI: 0.11-0.87; p = 0.026, OR=0.95) for clinical symptoms of redness and inflammation of vulva and vagina and and (95% CI: 0.13-0.82, OR = 0.32, p= 0.018) for vaginal discharge, which were statistically significant. Conclusion: The results of meta-analysis showed that the effect of honey and yogurt on vaginal candidiasis was statistically significant. Therefore, honey and yogurt can be used as an alternative treatment or in addition to the chemical antifungal drugs in the treatment of vaginal candidiasis. Keywords: Honey, Yogurt, Vaginal candidiasis, Systematic review, Meta- analysis

Breast-feeding initiation within the first half hour after birth is one of the World Health Organization recommendations. However, in most hospitals, mother-infant contact and breast-feeding initiation are delayed due to routine mother and infant care. This study aimed to determine the effect of mother-infant skin to skin contact (SSC) immediately after birth on the success rate and duration of the first breast-feeding.In this review, databases of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Google Scholar, SID and Magiran and reference sections of relevant articles were searched for both Persian and English randomized clinical trials from 2000 to December 2017, using the keywords of “(Breast-feeding OR Lactation) AND (mother-infant SSC OR KMC) AND (breast-feeding success OR breast-feeding duration)”. A total of nine trials were ultimately included. Data analysis was performed with Comprehensive Meta-analysis (CMA) software version 2.In total 597 participants were assigned to the intervention group and 553 participants were assigned to the comparison group. Quantitative analysis Based on mean differences or odds ratio showed that Mother-Infant SSC had a significantly positive effect on success in first breast-feeding (MD:1.90, 95%; CI 0.958–2.856; p = 0.00, OR: 2.771 95%; CI 1.587–4.838; p = 0.00) and first breast-feeding duration (MD:26.627 95%; CI 1.070–52.184; p = 0.041).Mother-infant SSC after birth has beneficial effects on breast-feeding and can increase the success rate and duration of the first lactation. Therefore, the results of this study can be used by healthcare providers in evidence-based decision-making about ways to increase breast-feeding rates. Keywords: Mother-infant skin to skin contact, Breast feeding, Meta-analysis, Systematic review

Background: Obesity is a chronic disease and threatening factors of public health. Obese people have negative body image, and low self-confidence can lead to sexual dysfunction. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between obesity and sexual function in women referred to health centers of Birjand in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 126 married women who were selected via a multi-stage sampling method from Birjand Health centers in 2014. The participants were categorized into three groups according to BMI (normal (BMI: 18.5 - 24.9), overweight (BMI: 25 - 29.9), and obese (BMI ≥ 30)). Then, demographic and female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaires were completed in the groups by the self-administrative method. For data analysis, STATA version 14.1 software was used in this study. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics tests, and multiple linear regression models. The significance level was considered 0.05. Results: The study showed a significant difference between the three groups in total score of sexual function (P < 0.001). In addition, a statistically significant difference was observed in desire, arousal lubrication, orgasm, and sexual satisfaction scores between the groups (P < 0.001). The results of the regression model showed that the sexual function score of obese people was lower by 15.87 units than normal people. Moreover, the sexual function score of overweight people was 4.67 units lower than normal people. Also, the variables of age, salary, duration of marriage, and the age at first pregnancy are effective factors in female sexual function (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Obesity can affect female sexual function. Therefore, efforts to promote sexual function in obese women are considered as one of the most important topics in women’s health care. This requires more attention to identifying various aspects of sexual life and finding effective ways to promote and improve these persons’ sexual function.

Objective. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of Tribulus Terrestris (TT) in male fertility problems, the studied variables being semen parameters and erectile function. Methods. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, all relevant articles were searched in the relevant databases, including ISI Web of science, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, SID, Magiran, IranDoc and Google Scholar, using the keywords which included (Tribulus Terrestris OR Puncture Vine OR Protodioscin) AND (sperm parameters OR Sperm Counts) AND (Oligozo-ospermia OR Azoospermia OR Erectile dysfunction OR Male Sexual Impotence OR Infertility). Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane Collaboration’s tool. The data were analyzed using STATA software version 11. To examine the heterogeneity, I2 index and Q test were used and the fixed effects model was applied to pool standardized mean differences (SMDs). Results. A total of 10 articles were included in this study, some of which revealed that TT administration improved a number of semen parameters, such as sperm concentration, motility, liquefaction time, and normal acrosome reactions. However, some other studies did not report statistically significant differences in relation to other semen parameters, such as sperm morphology and ejaculate volume. The quantitative analysis showed a statistically significant effect of TT on erectile function (SMD: 0.54; interval confidence 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.78; P < 0.001; heterogeneity: I2 = 0%, p = 0.98, the fixed effects model; 2 trials). Conclusions. The findings of the present study indicated that TT improved some sperm parameters and also had a benefi-cial effect on erectile function. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution, due to the small sample size and some methodological differences among the studies. There-fore, further trials are still required to confirm these findings. © 2020, EDRA S.p.A. All rights reserved.

Background: Psychological interventions such as counseling for infertile patients seem to increase pregnancy rate. Objective: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine if counseling improves pregnancy rate among infertile patients. Thus, randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of counseling on pregnancy rate in infertile patients undergoing ART were pooled in a meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: The databases of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and Persian databases including SID, Iran Medex, and Magiran were searched from 1997 to July 2016 to identify relevant articles. Included studies were trials on infertile patients (women or couples) receiving counseling independent of actual medical treatment. The outcome measure was pregnancy rate. Out of 620 relevant published trials, a total of nine RCTs were ultimately reviewed systematically and included in a meta-analysis to measure the efficacy of counseling on pregnancy rate. Odds ratio and Risk difference were calculated for pregnancy rate. All statistical analyses were done by Comprehensive Meta-analysis Version 2. Results: Nine RCTs involving 1079 infertile women/couples were included in the study. The findings from RCTs indicated significant effect of counseling on pregnancy rate so that there was a positive impact of counseling on pregnancy rate (OR= 3.852; 95% CI: 2.492-5.956; p=0.00) and (RD= 0.282; 95%; CI: 0.208-0.355; p=0.00). Conclusion: Counseling was found to improve patients’ chances of becoming pregnant. So counseling represents an attractive treatment option, in particular, for infertile patients who are not receiving medical treatments