Introduction The ovary is an organ with a functional capacity limited in time, normally ending around the age of 50, when most women experience natural menopause. The reason for this phenomenon is the depletion of the cellular structures that guarantee the two main functions of the ovary, reproductive and hormonal. These structures, called follicles, are […]
Introduction Violence against women (VAW) is a pressing global issue that poses a number of significant health risks. Although we currently lack precise data regarding the number of women who have been victims of violence, it is a pervasive social problem, with at least one in four women reaching menopause estimated to have experienced violence […]
In Luxembourg, since April 1st, 2023, all means of medical contraception have been fully covered by health insurance for all women. In 2024, according to the European Contraception Policy Atlas, Luxembourg has been declared the best-performing country in terms of online information, funding and counselling. According to mainstream medias, with free contraception for all, Luxembourg […]
Introduction After over three decades of experience in birth control methods and both medical and surgical pregnancy terminations, I am questioning the scientific representation of human reproductive health. The term “abortion” refers to the expulsion of a fetus from the uterus before it has reached the stage of viability [1]. In human beings, viability occurs usually about the 20th […]
Introduction The transition to motherhood and breastfeeding is a vulnerable period in a woman’s life cycle [1], with likely changes in relational and sexual patterns that may affect the couple’s relationship and sexual health [2]. During breastfeeding, there are h changes, including prolactin, estrogen, testosterone and oxytocin that lead to a decrease in desire and […]
Introduction In Singapore, measles is an uncommon infection that shares many overlapping clinical features with dengue fever, a viral illness endemic to tropical regions such as Singapore [1]. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk of a global measles outbreak, due to the disruption to measles vaccinations. It is important to raise awareness that the […]
Introduction Congenital lung malformations are historically rare clinical entities detected in approximately 1 in 10,000 to 35,000 live births [1], with an incidence that tends to increase with, current estimates ranging between 1 in 2,500 to 1 in 8,000 live births [2,3]. They include congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM), previously known as congenital cystic adenomatoid […]
Introduction Aicardi-Goutières syndrome is a rare, genetic, early-onset and progressive encephalopathy [1,2]. This disorder results in severe intellectual and physical impairment with microcephaly, dystonia and spasticity [2-5]. Other clinical features include hepatosplenomegaly, chilblains or sterile pyrexias [1-6]. The main findings in neuroimaging are intracranial calcifications of the basal ganglia, white matter changes and cerebral atrophy […]
Introduction Maternal re-admission after childbirth is considered an indicator of the maternal morbidity and quality of care provided by healthcare. This significantly affects the mother-infant bonding and adds to the cost of maternity care. Several studies [1-5] have been undertaken to identify reasons and risk factors for maternal re-admission and various recommendations have been proposed. […]
Introduction Gender dysphoria in transgender people in many cases requires the initiation of safe and effective hormone treatment to develop the physical characteristics of their affirmed gender [1]. Transmasculine people (individuals who identify as men or on the masculine spectrum and were assigned female sex at birth, AFAB) initiate testosterone therapy to achieve the secondary […]
Introduction Tuberculosis is a granulomatous, caseous necrotizing inflammatory disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis [1]. Globally, tuberculosis is the leading infectious cause of death amongst adults [2]. Pulmonary tuberculosis is the most common type. Signs and symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis typically include, but are not limited to, dry cough, hemoptysis, fever, shortness of breath, weight loss […]
Introduction Steroid cell tumors are generally unilateral, benign and account for less than 0.1% of all ovarian tumors. Steroid cell tumors have 3 subtypes according to cellular origin: stromal luteoma arising from ovarian stroma, Leydig cell tumor arising from Leydig cells in the hilus, and steroid cell tumor (not otherwise specified, NOS) when the lineage […]
Introduction Ovarian benign tumours are a widespread disease of the women’s reproductive system. There is no consensus on the definition of giant ovarian tumours (GOT), but most authors use the term to refer to masses with a maximum diameter of 15-20 centimetres or cysts reaching above the umbilicus [1]. In recent years, these giant neoformations […]
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) proposed the following definition of chronic pelvic pain: “Non-cyclical pain of at least 6 months duration located in the anatomical pelvis, lumbosacral area, buttocks, abdominal wall anterior or infraumbilical, severe enough to cause functional disability or seek medical attention.” This ailment is currently of utmost importance, first, […]
Introduction During my undergrad in Earth Science, now some 30 years ago, I enrolled in one of the most memorable courses of my life: Sociology (Technology & Society). Since that time, I have remained fascinated with the intersection of science and society. So, over the past few months, it has become abundantly clear to me […]
Introduction Over the last decade, studies on sexuality have reported a crisis of desire and a decrease in sexual activity, particularly among young individuals [1]. This can be attributed to the immediacy of experiences that the contemporary generation lives through, which is largely influenced by the prevalence of the internet. The cyberspace has played a […]
Introduction Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) refers to the development of diminished ovarian function in women before the age of 40, mainly in the form of abnormal menstruation (amenorrhea, scanty or frequent periods), elevated gonadotropin levels (FSH >25 IU/L) and fluctuating decreases in estrogen levels [1]. The etiology of POI is complex, with medical factors being […]
Introduction In 2020, breast cancer became the most commonly diagnosed cancer type in the world with more than 2.26 million new cases and almost 685,000 deaths worldwide, being the most common cause of cancer death in women, and the fifth overall [1]. For breast cancer patients, chemotherapy (CT) is typically administered after surgery to prevent […]
Introduction With improvement in ultrasound and molecular technology in prenatal diagnosis, more accurate fetal evaluation and genetic options are becoming available for the identification of rare monogenic disorders like Kabuki syndrome (KS). KS (OMIM # 147920) is a rare congenital polymalformative disorder occuring in 1/32,000 live births [1], caused by a pathogenic variant in the […]
Introduction Cardiomyopathies of many types, including peripartum, hypertensive, dilated, tako-tsubo disease, toxic cardiomyopathies, and storage illnesses, can occur during or after pregnancy. The diagnostic criteria for peripartum cardiomyopathy listed in the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2018 Guidelines [1] rely on an echocardiographic determined left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 45% in patients with […]