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The paper discusses over questions and hidden requests of andrological and sexological help in the general medical consultation of the elderly; the most frequent specific andrological symptoms and the pertinent sexological implication; the conscious and unconscious ambivalence present in the acceptance of therapy; ongoing risks, in case of inappropriate or inadequate evaluation of the therapeutic request.

Individual, marital or familiar problems, life circumstances, lack of libido, anxiety or sex identity fragility or immaturity may determine or make worse the erectile deficit. A thorough diagnostic work up is essential for the prognosis and the choice of the more fitting therapy. Emotional and cognitive understanding of the psychogenic background of the symptom is combined with behavioral therapy based on modern principles of neuroriabilitation.

The Authors compare E2 and Progesterone plasma levels in the luteal phase of twelve normally menstruating women whose basal body temperature curves were biphasic and in which breast micronodularity and mastodynia were present, with those of ten breast disease-free controls. The significant difference (p less than 0.001) found in Progesterone levels gives strength to the opinion that Progesterone supply therapy can effectively improve both mastodynia and the clinical picture objectively documented.

The Authors, on the basis of the literature and their own experience, propose a diagnostic schedule for detection of breast disease based on integrated thermography, diaphanoscopy, echography and mammography.

Plasma prolactin was measured by radioimmunoassay during the luteal phase in 22 patients affected by moderate or severe mastodynia and results were compared to those of 43 control subjects. No consistent changes were seen during the course of the luteal phase in either group. No significant differences were noted between the prolactin levels of the two groups. No association was found between moderate or severe mastodynia and variations of plasma prolactin levels.

Eleven eumenorrhoic patients presenting galactorrhea were subjected to a three-month Bromoergocryptin therapy (2.5 mg/os/die). Prolactin Circadian Rhythm, performed on all patients, showed four hyper and seven normoprolactinemic cases. The mammary condition was studied, before and after treatment, through clinical examination, mammary cytology and thermography. Hyperprolactinemic patients responded positively to the therapy, showing subjective, clinical and thermographic improvement. Conversely, normoprolactinemic patients, though showing a noteworthy improvement of symptomatology and galactorrhea, did not respond equally well from the objective and thermographic points of view.

Prostaglandin F2 alpha, in doses varying from 1 to 5 mg was injected transabdominally, transvaginally or intraabdominally (during caesarean section) into the myometrium in ten patients affected by metrorrhagias not responsive to conventional uterotonic drugs. In all cases but one the result was excellent. Important side effects were observed in only one patient, because of the inadvertent intravascular injection of 5 mg Prostaglandin into the endocervix. An adequate treatment of this patient brought her to complete recovery in a short time. According to our experience, the intramyometrial injection of PGF2 alpha, in doses varying from 1 to 2 mg, is a simple, safe and effective method in the control of severe hemorrhage due to uterine atony not responding to conventional treatment.

20 women, matched for age, site of primary tumor, histotype and stage, have been selected among patients affected with vulvar carcinoma for a study comparing classic radical vulvectomy vs "non mutilant" radical surgery. Detailed results actually available are discussed, showing that "non mutilant" technique gives results comparable to classic radical vulvectomy in terms of survival and recurrence rate; with minor functional and aesthetic damage, minor side effects and shorter post operative course.

The Authors report their personal observations of nipple discharge in gynecologic patients admitted to the Obstetric and Gynecologic Department of Padua University or applying to the Senologic Diagnostic- or Endocrinology-Departments of the same. After dividing breast secretions into two groups - the neuroendocrine and the strictly mammary ones - the Authors discuss their etiopathogenesis, incidence, and clinical significance (mainly as to their possible association to breast malignancies), and present their personal results. At the end, a careful examination of all nipple discharges is recommended, which should include, besides cytological evaluation, a complete assessment of the neuroendocrine function and a watchful investigation of local breast conditions.

The current impossibility of establishing a definite causal relationship between the administration of antineoplastic drugs before and/or during pregnancy and possible modifications of the gestational attitude in the treated women is discussed after a review of the Literature. The data till now reported are often deficient as far as concerns the evaluation of either the fetal, perinatal and post-natal parameters and the past and current reproductive performance of the patients on study. The need for strict methodology in the study and report of feto-maternal parameters to provide a comprehensive answer to the questions raised by the use of antineoplastic drugs before and/or during pregnancy is discussed in detail.