[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to analyze the pelvic floor muscle (PFM) activity after vaginal birth, and the effect of parity on PFM strength and quality of life (QoL) in women with urinary incontinence. [Subjects and Methods] Patients (n=241) who gave birth vaginally and experienced urinary incontinence were divided into three groups: group 1 consisted of women having 1–3 children, group 2 consisted of women having 4–6 children, and group 3 consisted of women having more than 6 children. All patients underwent detailed examination of the PFM. The Turkish version of the self-administered Incontinence Quality of Life Instrument (I-QoL) questionnaire was used to evaluate the effects of stress urinary incontinence on participants’ QoL. [Results] Comparison of PFM strengths showed a significant intergroup difference. Group 1 showed significantly higher PFM strength scores than those of groups 2 and 3. I-QoL scores related to stress incontinence showed a significant intergroup difference. As number of deliveries increased, quality of life decreased. Comparison of PFM strengths and I-QoL scores related to stress incontinence showed a significant intergroup difference. [Conclusion] Increasing the awareness of PFM training in women will reduce potential postpartum incontinence due to a weak PFM strength; and will increase quality of life.

Although many pregnant women have been infected by coronavirus, the presence of intrauterine vertical transmission has not been conclusively reported yet. What prevents this highly contagious virus from reaching the fetus? Is it only the presence of a strong placental barrier, or is it the natural absence of the some receptor that the viruses use for transmission? We, therefore, need to comprehensively understand the mechanism of action of the mammalian epithelial barriers located in two different organs with functional similarity. The barriers selected as potential targets by SARS-CoV-2 are the alveolo-capillary barrier (ACB), and the syncytio-capillary barrier (SCB). Caveolae are omega-shaped structures located on the cell membrane. They consist of caveolin-1 protein (Cav-1) and are involved in the internalisation of some viruses. By activating leukocytes and nuclear factor-κB, Cav-1 initiates inflammatory reactions. The presence of more than one Cav-1 binding sites on coronavirus is an important finding supporting the possible relationship between SARS-CoV-2-mediated lung injury. While the ACB cells express Cav-1 there is no caveolin expression in syncytiotrophoblasts. In this short review, we will try to explain our hypothesis that the lack of caveolin expression in the SCB is one of the most important physiological mechanisms that prevents vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Since the physiological Cav-1 deficiency appears to prevent acute cell damage treatment algorithms could potentially be developed to block this pathway in the non-pregnant population affected by SARS-CoV-2.

The choroidal thickness decreased significantly in the mid-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in young, healthy women. These findings emphasize the importance of the menstrual phase in the interpretation of choroidal thickness measurements in women of reproductive age.

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Background: Analyzing expression patterns of receptivity genes is a minimally invasive diagnostic method to identify the underlying cause of subfertility in women with uterine fibroid with a history of implantation failure or recurrent pregnancy loss. This updated systematic review was designed to determine the molecular and genetic changes in the endometrium of women with fibroid and how myomctomy affect the outcome of spontaneous or assisted conception treatment. We also discussed the extent to which we should consider the effects of fibroids on endometrial receptivity when deciding whether or not to perform myomectomy. Methods: A total of 184 articles reached as a result of PubMed research and meeting the selection criteria, were evaluated. Of these, 28 full text articles on uterine leiomyoma and endometrium, leiomyoma and receptivity, fibroid and implantation, myomectomy and implantation, fibroid and genes, fibroid surgery and receptivity, fibroid and uterine peristalsis, fibroid and immune cell were evaluated. Results: The endometrium of subfertile women with fibroid appears to have a disease specific pattern according to the type of the fibroid. The response of the endometrium to a fibroid may vary depending on whether the fibroid is close or far from it. Leiomyomas that contribute to subfertility must be near to or in contact with the endometrium, as is the case for Types 0, 1 and 2 leiomyomas. The proximity to the endometrial cavity makes the effect of fibroid on the endometrium more pronounced. While Type 3 fibroid causes subfertility similar to submucosal fibroids, the subfertility-producing effects of Type 4 fibroids have not been clearly clarified. However, the fact that the fibroid is far from the cavity should not mean that it has no effect on the endometrium. The mechanical stress created by a Type 4 fibroid that is not connected to the endometrium may be converted into biological signal and disrupt receptivity. Data on whether myomectomy restores impaired receptivity are mostly based on clinical observations, and studies evaluating endometrial receptivity before and after myomectomy are very few. Conclusions: Analysis of receptivity genes in subfertile women with fibroid may assist the clinician in deciding whether or not to perform myomectomy. If it is determined whether fibroids affect receptivity other than their mechanical effects, the indications for myomectomy may expand or narrow.