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Background: While the effects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and infertility on women's health have often been discussed, not many studies have assessed the other complications of infertility. One of these complications is female sexual dysfunction (FSD), a range of psychosexual disorders. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of FSD in PCOS and its comparison with other causes of infertility. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, two questionnaires were filled out by two groups (60 people each) of infertile patients, due to PCOS and other causes, referred to Arash Women's Hospital from December 2018 to 2019. The data was analyzed in SPSS software to evaluate the frequency of FSD in the whole study population and each group separately as well as its relationship with age, history of pregnancy, the literacy level of the patient or spouse, body mass index (BMI), infertility duration, hirsutism, and acne. Results: The frequency of FSD in the study group had a significant inverse relationship with the women's level of education (P=0.044), although no such correlation was found with age, pregnancy history, spouse's literacy level, BMI, duration of infertility, acne, and hirsutism. In the comparison group, there was a significant relationship between the duration of infertility and FSD (P=0.002). The prevalence of FSD in the study and comparison groups was 43.1 and 52%, respectively. The prevalence of FSD sub-domains in all categories, except for pain, was higher in the study group. PCOS, compared to other groups, presented at a relatively younger age. Conclusion: In the PCOS group, patients with lower education levels were more likely to suffer from FSD. This suggests the effect of education and awareness on the sexual performance of these people. No significant difference in FSD experience was found between PCOS and other groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although several studies have investigated the clinical outcomes of assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) and male reproductive performance during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, few well-designed studies have focused on female reproductive performance after a recent mild to moderate COVID-19 infection. Methods: This cohort study of 75 participants was performed at Arash Women's Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The 35 participants in the exposed group were women with infertility who visited the hospital from October 2021 to February 2022 and were prospectively followed. The 40 participants in the non-exposed matched group were selected retrospectively from hospital patients who underwent ART before the COVID-19 pandemic. Study variables were compared between the non-exposed and exposed groups. Results: The exposed group had a non-significantly smaller total of retrieved oocytes and fewer mature oocytes than the non-exposed group (p=0.26, p=0.10). The numbers of total and transferred embryos were also lower in the exposed group, but these results were not statistically significant (p=0.27, p=0.77). The rate of spontaneous abortion was higher in the exposed group (43% vs, 11%), and the ongoing pregnancy rate was lower (57% vs, 89%); however, these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Recent mild to moderate COVID-19 infection seems to have no detrimental effects on female reproductive performance and embryo transfer outcomes; however, considering the small sample size of the present study, the statistically insignificant differences in the exposed group—namely, fewer embryos, fewer retrieved oocytes, a lower ongoing pregnancy rate, and a higher spontaneous abortion rate—might be important from a clinical standpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes after ethanol sclerotherapy (EST) in poor responder patients with endometriomas. Methods: In this before-after clinical trial, the outcomes of ART of 31 poor responders with endometriomas were evaluated after EST between July 2023 to March 2024. These patients had undergone ART at least in one cycle before and did not respond well. Recurrence rate, antral follicle count (AFC), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and relief of symptoms including dysmenorrhea and abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) were evaluated before the procedure. Follow-up assessments were conducted two and six weeks after the procedure for evaluating the complications. Fisher’s exact test, chi-square test, and paired sample t-test were used for statistical analysis using SPSS 24. Results: In this study, the levels of AFC and AMH increased significantly after endometrioma stripping therapy (p<0.05). Additionally, the number of embryos obtained increased significantly, indicating potential improvement in oocyte quality. There was a significant reduction in pelvic pain scores (p=0.001), as well as a notable decrease in dysmenorrhea (p=0.02) and dyspareunia (p=0.001). Moreover, 16.12% of patients reported recovery from intermenstrual bleeding. However, no significant difference was observed in the amount of gonadotropin used (p=0.56). Conclusion: EST is an appropriate and safe procedure before ART for poor responders who have endometriomas and can be a replacement for surgery among selected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is the most prevalent and debilitating disease with great impact on societies. Evidence suggests Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) plays an important role in pathophysiology of depression. Depression is associated with altered synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis. BDNF is the main regulatory protein that affects neuronal plasticity in the hippocampus. A wealth of evidence shows decreased levels of BDNF in depressed patients. Important literature demonstrated that BDNF-TrkB signaling plays a key role in therapeutic action of antidepressants. Numerous studies have reported anti-depressant effects on serum/plasma levels of BDNF and neuroplasticity which may be related to improvement of depressive symptoms. Most of the evidence suggested increased levels of BDNF after antidepressant treatment. This review will summarize recent findings on the association between BDNF, neuroplasticity, and antidepressant response in depression. Also, we will review recent studies that evaluate the association between postpartum depression as a subtype of depression and BDNF levels in postpar-tum women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: One of the traditional aphrodisiacs used in various cultures is Crocus sativus, commonly called saffron. Previous studies have pointed to the possible applicability of saffron for sexual dysfunction in both men and women. This study investigates the effects of saffron capsules on female sexual dysfunction. Materials and Methods: This study was a parallel-group, doubleblind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Participants, who were married women between 18 and 55 years of age suffering from severe sexual dysfunction, were randomized to receive either 15 mg Crocus sativus capsules twice daily or placebo. The treatment continued for 6 weeks, and patients were evaluated every 2 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in the female sexual function index score. Other outcomes included the female sexual function index sub-domains. Results: Seventy-four patients were equally randomized to each group, and 34 in each group completed the trial. Participants in both groups experienced improved total scores at each visit. However, a repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that time  treatment differed between groups in favor of the saffron group (p=0.050). During the 6th week follow-up, the saffron group had a 62% score improvement from baseline. Desire, lubrication, and satisfaction were female sexual function index domains in which saffron demonstrated superiority over placebo. The adverse event profile was similar for the groups, and no participant discontinued treatment. Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that saffron might be a safe and effective option to ameliorate female sexual dysfunction. Further robust research is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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