Background and Objective. Sexual health is an important part of a woman’s life and well-being. Female sexual dysfunction is a complicated problem, it is often underestimated in the healthcare process, and its management is complex. Giving women the opportunity to talk about sexual problems is a fundamental part of healthcare and may improve their quality of life. The aim of this study was to find out patients’ experience and attitudes toward the involvement of gynecologists addressing sexual issues, to disclose the main barriers to initiate a conversation, and to assess the prevalence of sexual disorders among patients in a gynecological clinic. Material and Methods. A questionnaire-based approach was used to survey 18- to 50-year-old voluntary patients in the gynecological clinic. The study population comprised 300 different gynecological (except oncologic) patients independently of reasons for being in the clinic. The duration of the study was 6 months. Results. Only one-third of the patients had ever been asked about their sexual life by a gynecologist, whilst the majority (80%) of the respondents reported they would like to be asked and discuss sexual issues. The patients mostly did not complain because of psychoemotional barriers, and shame was the main barrier for patients to talk about their problems. Sexual dysfunction was a frequent disorder among gynecological patients, reaching especially high levels in the arousal (46.41%) and lubrication (40.67%) domains. Conclusions. The assessment of sexual health is insufficient in gynecological care, and sexual history-taking and evaluation of sexual functions should be included in routine gynecological health assessments.

Increased excitotoxity in response to stressors leads to oxidative stress (OS) due to accumulation of excess reactive oxygen/nitrogen species. Neuronal membrane phospholipids are especially susceptible to oxidative damage, which alters signal transduction mechanisms. The Contingent of International Operations (CIO) has been subjected to various extreme stressors that could cause Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Former studies suggest that heterogeneity due to gender, race, age, nutritional condition and variable deployment factors and stressors produce challenges in studying these processes. The research aim was to assess OS levels in the PTSD risk group in CIO. In a prospective study, 143 participants who were Latvian CIO, regular personnel, males, Europeans, average age of 27.4, with the same tasks during the mission, were examined two months before and immediately after a six-month Peace Support Mission (PSM) in Afghanistan. PCL-M questionnaire, valid Latvian language “Military” version was used for PTSD evaluation. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation intensity and malondialdehyde (MDA) as OS indicators in blood were determined. Data were processed using SPSS 20.0. The MDA baseline was 2.5582 μM, which after PSM increased by 24.36% (3.1815 μM). The GPx baseline was 8061.98 U/L, which after PSM decreased by 9.35% (7308.31 U/L). The SOD baseline was 1449.20 U/gHB, which after PSM increased by 2.89% (1491.03 U/gHB). The PTSD symptom severity (total PCL-M score) baseline was 22.90 points, which after PSM increased by 14.45% (26.21 points). The PTSD Prevalence rate (PR) baseline was 0.0357, which after PSM increased by 147.06% (0.0882). We conclude that there is positive correlation between increase of OS, PTSD symptoms severity level, and PTSD PR in a group of patients with risk of PTSD - CIO. PTSD PR depends on MDA intensity and OS severity. OS and increased free radical level beyond excitotoxity, is a possible causal factor for clinical manifestation of PTSD

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IntroductionStudies from the beginning of 2020 show that symptoms of depression and anxiety are increasing among health care workers. It is important to assess the dynamics of health care workers mental health.ObjectivesTo assess the dynamic of symptoms of depression and anxiety among health care workers over a 3-month period during the COVID-19 pandemia in Latvia.Methods A longitudinal cohort study of symptoms of depression and anxiety in the population of physicians, physician assistants and nurses in Latvia during the COVID-19 pandemia. Symptoms of depression were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale, symptoms of anxiety were assessed using the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale, cut-off score for both scales was 10. Initial data was collected on April-May 2020 with a 3 month follow-up.. Data was analyzed using SPSS- Related-Samples McNemar test.Results348 physicians were initially included (women 83,9%, mean age 45,17±14,02) and 376 physicians assistants and nurses (women 88,2%, mean age 39,99±12,97). After the 3-month follow up 189 physicians (women 88,40%, mean age 45,01±13,57) and 141 physicians assistants and nurses were left (women 88,00%, mean age 39,96 ±12,59). During the 3 months symptoms of depression among physicians rose from 26,80% (n=94) to 27,5% (n=52), symptoms of anxiety from 17,70% (n=62) to 20,6% (n=39). Depression symptoms among physician assistants and nurses dropped from 25,50% (n=96) to 23,9% (n=34), symptoms of anxiety stayed almost the same 18,20% (n=68) to 18,30% (n=26). Symptoms of depression among physicians changed from 26,80% (n=94) to 27,5% (n=52), symptoms of anxiety from 17,70% (n=62) to 20,6% (n=39), changes were not statistically significant (p=0,281; p=0,725). Symptoms of depression among physician assistants and nurses changed from 25,50% (n=96) to 23,9% (n=34), symptoms of anxiety from 18,20% (n=68) to 18,30% (n=26), changes were not statistically significant (p=0,405; p=0,664).ConclusionsNo change in the dynamics of symptoms of depression and anxiety among health care workers over a 3-month period during the COVID-19 pandemia in Latvia was observed.