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Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the clinical and uterine cervix characteristics of patients displaying vaginal discharge with positive results for Mycoplasma sp. and/or Ureaplasma spp., Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study involving women aged 18-45 years was conducted. Microbiological assessments included Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma cultures, as well as human papillomavirus hybrid capture using ecto and endocervix swabs. All tests were two-tailed, and significance was set at p<0.05., Results: Among 324 women, Ureaplasma prevalence was 17.9%, and Mycoplasma prevalence was 3.1%. The Ureaplasma-positive group exhibited a higher frequency of urinary tract infections (39.1 vs. 19%, p=0.002) and human papillomavirus (39.7 vs. 12.8%, p≤0.001) compared with controls. The Mycoplasma-positive group showed a higher frequency of non-contraceptive use compared with controls (66.2 vs. 30.0%, p=0.036). Abnormal colposcopic findings were more prevalent in the Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma-positive group than in controls (positive: 65% vs. control: 35%, p=0.001). Pap smear findings did not differ between the groups., Conclusion: Ureaplasma spp. was associated with urinary tract infections and human papillomavirus, while the presence of Mycoplasma sp. was linked to reduced contraceptive use. When analyzing both pathogens together, a higher frequency of abnormal colposcopic findings was observed, with no difference in cytological findings in the positive group.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought negative consequences such as social isolation and limited access to health services, especially for older adults. The objective was to evaluate effects of an online exercise training program and physical fitness and health-related variables on Brazilian older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and secondarily to assess the feasibility and application of an online program. A study was developed with twenty older adults who participated in a 9-month online exercise program. The physical fitness, depressive symptoms, concern about falling, and quality of life were assessed pre- and post-intervention. One-way repeated measures ANOVA and effect size was used. The feasibility was proven by the adherence to the program, in addition to the absence of identification of adverse effects. The results showed that physical fitness was improved (upper limb strength) or maintained (lower limb strength, lower and upper limb flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness), as well as for most of the health-related variables (depressive symptoms, concern about falling, and quality of life domains). The study was developed in the first COVID-19 lockdown in Brazil, but positive and important results were obtained. This research supports the feasibility of the online exercise training program and provides a basis for an online exercise program for older adults.

Background: The Lederman Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire (PSEQ) is used to assess psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and maternity. The PSEQ is a tool used in various countries and has been translated into Portuguese; however, it needs to be validated in Brazil. This study aimed to analyze the validity and reliability of the PSEQ in Brazilian pregnant women., Method: This methodological validity study investigated internal consistency and reliability using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficients. Construct validity was assessed using Pearson's correlation between domains and confirmatory factor analysis. To assess concurrent validity, Pearson's correlation between the different domains of the PSEQ and Prenatal Psychosocial Profile-Portuguese Version (PPP-VP) was determined. The level of significance was set at 5%., Results: This study included 399 pregnant women in the northeastern region of Brazil. The internal consistency and reliability of the total PSEQ score were high (Cronbach's alpha = 0.89; intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.95). Validity analysis showed positive and significant correlations between all PSEQ domains, ranging from 0.14 to 0.56. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated the following values of goodness of fit: RMSEA = 0.05, SRMR = 0.08, CFI = 0.61, χ 2 /df = 1.77. The discriminant and concurrent validities of the PSEQ were confirmed., Conclusions: The Portuguese version of the PSEQ has adequate psychometric properties and is a valid and reliable tool to evaluate psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy in Brazilian pregnant women.

Objective: To verify whether pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) associated with game therapy (GT) can potentiate improvements in PFM pressure, urinary loss, and perception of improvement in women with mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). Materials and Methods: A randomized and blinded trial was conducted with 32 women aged between 45 to 70 years presenting diagnosis of MUI. They were randomly divided into two groups: PFMT group and PFMT+GT group. Interventions occurred twice a week during 8 weeks. Primary outcome was PFM pressure, assessed by manometry, and secondary outcomes were 1-hour pad-test, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), and patients global impression of improvement for incontinence (PGI-I). Two-way analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey analysis were performed. Results: Initially, no significant difference between groups was found in variables of age, body mass index, educational level, marital status, gynecological and obstetric variables, life habits, and sexual activity. Besides, at baseline clinical variables also showed similar results between groups for PFM pressure, 1-hour pad-test, and ICIQ-SF. Time-group interaction did not present statistically significant differences for PFM pressure ( P  = 0.56), 1-hour pad-test ( P  = 0.75), and ICIQ-SF ( P  = 0.30) in intergroup analysis. All women reported being "much better or better," considering the comparison of urinary complaints in the beginning and end of treatment. Conclusion: There were no statistically significant differences between groups for PFM pressure, 1-hour pad-test, and ICIQ-SF. However, both treatments proved to be effective for MUI symptoms. Perception of improvement was highly improved, according to women's report.

Objective: To assess the influence of the copper IUD and LNG-IUS on liquid-based cytology results (cellular atypia, reactive alterations, and microbiology)., Study Design: This cross-sectional study was performed between January 2012 and December 2017 in the Northeast of Brazil. Three study groups, the LNG-IUS group (n = 1179), copper IUD group (n = 519), and a control group of women not using contraception (n = 14,616) were compared. To facilitate this analysis, the LNG-IUS and IUD groups were further divided into less and more than two years of use., Results: The mean age of the LNG-IUS and IUD groups was around 36 years and the control group was about 35 years (p = ns). The meantime between dispositive placement and examination was 19 ± 16 months for the LNG-IUS and 17 ± 15 months for the IUD. The frequency of epithelial atypia revealed upon cytological analysis did not differ between the groups. However, inflammatory infiltrates were significantly more frequent in the LNG-IUS and IUD (OR IUD = 1.32; OR LNG-IUS = 1.79) groups relative to control. Candida and cytolysis were more frequent in the LNG-IUS group (OR = 4.73 and 2.41, respectively) compared to both other groups. Bacterial vaginosis andActinomyces sp occurred more frequently in the IUD group (OR = 1.39 and 3352.55, respectively) compared to both other groups. Bacterial vaginosis was more common when using an IUD for more than two years than for less than two years (OR = 2.55). The Actinomyces morphotype was also observed at greater frequency after two years of IUD use than before (OR = 5.35)., Conclusions: The LNG-IUS and copper IUD do not affect the incidence of cellular atypia but do interfere with the microbiota over time. Specifically, the copper IUD is associated with bacterial vaginosis andActinomyces sp infection while the LNG-IUS is associated with candidiasis and cytolysis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no declarations of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Composition of the vaginal microbiome is strongly related to a woman's reproductive health and risk of sexually transmitted infections. Ethnoracial, behavioral, and environmental factors can influence microbiome. The Brazilian population is unique in terms of miscegenation of ethnic groups and behavioral characteristics across different regions. We aimed to characterize the vaginal microbiome of women from 5 geographical regions of Brazil., Methods: We sequenced V3-V4 regions of 16S rRNA gene in vaginal samples of 609 reproductive-aged women. We performed logistic regression analyses to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between sociodemographic and behavioral factors with Lactobacillus-depleted microbiome (community state type [CST] IV)., Results: Vaginal samples were grouped into 5 CST: CST I (L. crispatus predominant, 30.5%), CST II (L. gasseri predominant, 4.4%), CST III (Lactobacillus iners predominant, 36.5%), CST IV (Lactobacillus-depleted, 27.4%), and CST V (L. jensenii predominant, 1.2%). Several factors were independently associated with CST IV, such as smoking (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.02-3.18), number of partners (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.20-3.70), and vaginal douching (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.34-3.74). A protective effect was observed for milk/dairy intake (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.27-0.82) and sitz bathing (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.19-0.98)., Conclusions: Nearly two thirds of Brazilian women may be at an increased risk for adverse outcomes associated with a vaginal microbiota characterized by the depletion of Lactobacillus or dominance by L. iners, whose protective role has been widely questioned. Several factors related to sexual behavior and intimate hygiene were associated with CST IV.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between atypical squamous cells (ASC) and inflammatory infiltrate and vaginal microbiota using cervical liquid-based cytological (SurePath®) and high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) tests., Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a 6-year database from a laboratory in Fortaleza (Brazil). Files from 1,346 ASC cases were divided into subgroups and results concerning inflammation and vaginal microorganisms diagnosed by cytology were compared with HR-HPV test results., Results: An absence of specific microorganisms (ASM) was the most frequent finding (ASC of undetermined significance, ASC-US = 74%; ASC - cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, ASC-H = 68%), followed by bacterial vaginosis (ASC-US = 20%; ASC- H = 25%) and Candida spp. (ASC-US = 6%; ASC-H = 5%). Leukocyte infiltrate was present in 71% of ASC-US and 85% of ASC-H (p = 0.0040), and in these specific cases HR-HPV tests were positive for 65 and 64%, respectively. A positive HR-HPV test was relatively more frequent when a specific microorganism was present, and Candida spp. was associated with HR-HPV-positive results (p = 0.0156), while an ASM was associated with negative HR-HPV results (p = 0.0370)., Conclusion: ASC-US is associated with an absence of inflammation or vaginosis, while ASC-H smears are associated with Trichomonas vaginalis and inflammatory infiltrate. A positive HR-HPV is associated with Candida spp. in ASC cytology., (© 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of sexual and reproductive health theme insertion in the undergraduate medical curriculum at a Brazilian public university., Methods: We developed an instrument for cognitive assessment in sexual and reproductive health based on the subjects addressed in the optional curriculum component Reproductive Health, resulting in an objective multiple choice test containing 27 items. The selected topics were: human, sexual and reproductive rights (HSRR), sexuality, institutional violence, gender, sexual violence, conception, contraception, abortion/legal interruption of pregnancy, maternal mortality and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) - HIV/AIDS. The subjects were grouped into three dimensions of knowledge: HSRR, legal/institutional and biomedical. Two multivariate models were adjusted in the analysis of covariance., Results: The study included 183 students, 127 of the group who took the elective curriculum course reproductive health (RH Group) and 56 who did not (Non-RH Group). Ninety-six students (52.5%) were males and 87 (47.5%) were females. Mean age was 24.7±1.9 years for the RH Group and 24.4±2.6 for the Non-RH Group. The average performance of the SR Group was higher than that of Non-RH subjects regarding the following subjects: HSRR, sexuality, institutional violence, sexual violence, abortion/legal interruption, and STDs - HIV/AIDS. There was no gender difference in performance, except for the theme maternal mortality, in which males scored worse than females (6.9±0.2 and 7.8±0.2, respectively; p<0.05)., Conclusions: The participation of students in the elective curriculum component Reproductive Health was associated with better performance in some dimensions of cognitive assessment, suggesting a positive impact of this initiative on general medical education.

Background: The progression of the cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) is associated with many cofactors, and nutritional aspects are gradually assuming an important role in understanding the physiopathogenesis., Objective: To assess the serum levels of retinol in women from a poor region of Brazil with a histological diagnosis of cervical high-grade SIL (HSIL)., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 62 women aged 14-48 years who had a cervical biopsy and were treated at the Federal University of Ceara in Fortaleza, Brazil. Serum retinol levels were measured in peripheral blood by a spectrophotometry technique. Values were categorized as subnormal (<20 µg/dl) or normal (≥20 µg/dl). Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association between serum levels of retinol and HSIL for a confidence interval of 95%., Results: Twenty-six out of 62 women (42%) had a negative histopathological result for SIL and 36 (58%) were diagnosed with SIL (20 low SIL and 16 high SIL). The level of retinol was more frequently low in women with HSIL, but there was no statistical significance [p = 0.409, OR: 2.26 (0.33-15.59)]., Conclusion: There was no association between high SIL and low levels of retinol in peripheral blood., (© 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objective: To assess the determinants of sexual dysfunction among middle-aged women., Methods: In a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study of middle-aged women (aged 40-65 years) attending a public healthcare facility in Natal, Brazil, data on sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics were collected between May and October 2011. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Blatt-Kupperman Menopausal Index (BKMI), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and WHO quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bref) were used to collect data, which were analyzed by relative frequency and percentage of variables, followed by Pearson χ(2) test and logistic regression analysis., Results: Among 370 study participants, 67% exhibited sexual dysfunction (FSFI ≤ 26.55). Women who were in the oldest age group (56-65 years) (P<0.001), were divorced or separated (P<0.001), were sedentary (P=0.006), had undergone a hysterectomy (P=0.016), had strong climacteric symptoms (P<0.001), or had low quality of life (P<0.001) had a significantly higher incidence of sexual dysfunction. Logistic regression showed that the eldest group of women (55-65 years) (95% CI, 3.4-15.7; P<0.001), with the strongest climacteric manifestations (95% CI, 3.4-15.7; P<0.001) and lowest quality of life (95% CI, 3.2-13.8; P<0.001), were most likely to develop sexual dysfunction., Conclusion: Sexual dysfunction was found to be substantially influenced by sociodemographic, biologic, and behavioral variables., (Copyright © 2012 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the influence of physical activity on climacteric symptoms among middle-aged women in Brazil., Methods: A population-based sample of women aged 40-65 years was recruited from Natal, Brazil. Enrollment took place in basic health units in each health district of the city from June to September 2011. Data were collected while women waited for routine appointments at the health units. Climacteric symptoms were assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale and the Blatt-Kupperman Menopausal Index. The level of physical activity was assessed via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. It was classified as low, moderate, or vigorous., Results: The mean age of the 370 participants was 49.8 ± 8.1 years. They were predominantly white (72.7%), married (61.6%), non-smokers (93.5%), and had undergone high-school education (70.5%). All domains of climacteric symptoms were significantly affected by physical activity: psychological (P<0.001); somatovegetative (P<0.001); and urogenital (P=0.008). Significant differences were found between the IPAQ groups of physical activity and the Blatt-Kupperman Menopausal Index for the following symptoms: hot flashes (P<0.001); paresthesia (P=0.022); insomnia (P<0.001); impatience (P<0.001); depression (P<0.001); vertigo (P<0.001); fatigue (P<0.001); arthralgia/myalgia (P<0.001); and palpitation (P<0.001)., Conclusion: Physical activity improved climacteric symptoms among middle-aged women in Brazil., (Copyright © 2012 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Urogenital infections are extremely prevalent during pregnancy and are an important cause of premature labor. However, the prevalence of urogenital infections during childbirth is not well known. Objective. Identify urogenital infections present at the beginning of labor in both full-term and preterm pregnancies. Study Design. Ninety-four women were admitted to the inpatient maternity clinic of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). In total, 49 women in preterm labor and 45 women in full-term labor were included in the study, and samples of urinary, vaginal, and perianal material were collected for microbiological analysis. Results. The prevalences of general infections in the preterm labor group and the full-term labor group were 49.0% and 53.3% (P = 0.8300), respectively. Urogenital infections in the preterm and full-term labor groups included urinary tract infection in 36.7% and 22.2% of women, vaginal candidiasis in 20.4% and 28.9% of women, bacterial vaginosis in 34.7% and 28.9% of women, and group B streptococcus in 6.1% and 15.6% of women, respectively. Conclusions. Urogenital infections were prevalent in women in preterm labor and full-term labor; however, significant differences between the groups were not observed.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the risk of anal squamous intraepithelial lesions (ASILs) in immunocompetent women with genital squamous intraepithelial lesions (GSILs)., Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study that included 260 immunocompetent women divided into 2 study groups: 1 group included 184 women diagnosed with GSIL by genital colposcopy and biopsy, and the other included 76 controls. All subjects were submitted to anoscopy followed by a biopsy if pertinent., Results: Of 184 GSIL women, 32 (17.4%) had ASIL (P<.001). The risk of ASIL was 13.1 times greater for GSIL women when there were 3 or 4 genital sites involved. All cases of high-grade ASIL were found in women with cervical GSILs. Among risk factors, anal intercourse without a condom demonstrated an important association with ASIL (prevalence ratio adjusted for age=2.6)., Conclusion: There seems to be a strong association between ASIL and multicentric GSIL. Another factor related to ASIL was the practice of unprotected anal intercourse., (Copyright © 2011. Published by Mosby, Inc.)

Objective: To evaluate associations between polymorphisms in the gene coding for mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and the diagnosis of acute or recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis, Methods: Women at two outpatient clinics in Brazil filled out a questionnaire and were examined for the presence of vulvovaginal candidiasis or bacterial vaginosis. A buccal swab was blindly tested for codons 54 and 57 MBL2 gene polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction and endonuclease digestion., Results: A total of 177 women were enrolled. Vulvovaginal candidiasis was identified in 78 (44.1%) women, 33 (18.6%) had bacterial vaginosis, and 66 (37.3%) were normal controls. Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis was present in 50 (64.1%) of the women with vulvovaginal candidiasis; 20 (60.6%) of the bacterial vaginosis patients had recurrent disease. Vulvovaginal candidiasis was associated with white race (P=.007), bacterial vaginosis was associated with nonwhite race (P=.05), and both were associated with a history of allergy (P< or =.02) and having sexual intercourse at least three times a week (P<.001). Carriage of the variant MBL2 codon 54 allele B was more frequent in women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (25.0%) than in the women with acute vulvovaginal candidiasis (17.9%) or controls (10.6%) (P=.004). Allele B was also more prevalent in women with recurrent bacterial vaginosis (22.5%) than in those with acute bacterial vaginosis (0%) (P=.009). The MBL2 codon 57 polymorphism was infrequent and not associated with vulvovaginal candidiasis or bacterial vaginosis., Conclusion: The incidence of vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis differs by ethnicity in Brazilian women. The MBL2 codon 54 gene polymorphism is associated with both recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and recurrent bacterial vaginosis.

Aim: To investigate the association between chronic periodontitis (CP) and pre-maturity in a group of Brazilian pregnant women from the State of São Paulo., Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty-four women were investigated consecutively in a cross-sectional study, between December 2003 and May 2005. Sixty-eight women had pre-term labour (PTL) and 56 had term labour. A periodontal examination was carried out to identify the presence of CP. Statistical analysis used the Fisher's exact test or chi(2) for the discrete variables and the Mann-Whitney test for the non-parametric variables. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated with a 95% confidence interval (CI), to evaluate the relation between CP and pre-maturity., Results: Periodontal indicators, such as clinical attachment loss (p<0.0001) and bleeding on probing (p=0.012), were observed more in the PTL group. The presence of CP increased the risk for PTL (OR: 4.7, 95% CI: 1.9-11.9), pre-term birth (PTB; OR: 4.9, 95% CI: 1.9-12.8) and low birth weight (<2500 g; OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.3-13.3). The pregnant women with PTL presented low levels of schooling (p=0.029) and the lowest number of pre-natal appointments (p=0.0001) when compared with those with term labour., Conclusion: CP is strongly associated with PTL, PTB and low birth weight in a group of Brazilian pregnant women. These data point to the necessity of regularly investigating CP during pregnancy.

Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases worldwide. We determined the frequency of HPV in the oral cavity of women with and without genital HPV lesions., Material and Methods: All patients were seen at the Department of Gynecology, Women's Health Center and the State University of Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil and submitted to a general physical and gynecological examination plus an evaluation of the oral cavity. Detailed histories investigated their sexual practices. HPV in the oral cavity was determined by polymerase chain reaction using consensus primers in 70 women presenting with histopathology-confirmed clinical HPV lesions in the genital region and 70 women negative by gynecological, colposcopic and cytological examination for clinical or subclinical HPV lesions., Results: Oral HPV was detected in 29 (20.7%) of the subjects. Among the positive women, 26 (89.7%) were also positive for genital HPV as opposed to only 3 (2.7%) who were genital HPV-negative (p < 0.0001). The overall prevalence of HPV in the oral cavity of patients with and without genital HPV was 37.1 and 4.3%, respectively, (p < 0.0001). The presence of oral HPV was unrelated to the practice of fellatio (22% versus 19%)., Conclusion: Patients with HPV genital infection have a greater frequency of HPV in their oral mucosa.