The effects of pregnancy on sexuality were studied in 158 pregnant women. They were surveyed by questionnaire about sociodemographic variables and sexual behaviour. Dyspareunia was common in our study group during pregnancy. Pregnancy had a negative effect on orgasmic quality. Dyspareunia and orgasmic quality influenced coital frequency. Coital frequency declined as the month of the pregnancy increased. Pregnancy is a potent influence on sexuality irrespective of an individual's conditioning.

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The objective of the study was to determine the changes in the plasma activities of protein C and protein S that occur during normal pregnancy In this prospective cross-sectional study, plasma activities of protein C and protein S were measured in 32 normal pregnant women in the first, second and third trimester and 6 weeks after delivery There was a significant fall in protein C and protein S activities during normal pregnancy compared with the post-puerperal period. The activities of protein C and protein S also gradually decreased throughout pregnancy (p < 0.01). Increasing plasma volume during normal pregnancy and its dilutional effect might play some role in the low activities of protein S observed. The normal falls in protein S and protein C activities make it difficult to diagnose protein S and C deficiency during pregnancy. Based on our findings, if a woman has a thromboembolic event during pregnancy, testing for a definitive diagnosis of protein C or protein S deficiency or functional failure should be delayed until at least 6 weeks postpartum.

In premenopausal women ovaries are the major sites of estrogen production, while in postmenopausal women estrogen is produced by aromatization of ovarian and adrenal androgens in extragonadal sites, mostly in adipose tissue. Aromatase is a cytochrome P450 hemoprotein-containing enzyme complex that catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the conversion of androstenedione and testosterone to estrone and estradiol (E2). Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have been developed primarily for use in either natural or surgical postmenopausal patients. In premenopausal women, the ovary can overcome the estrogen blockade by reflex increments of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), so AIs must be combined with a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist to prevent the reflex LH and FSH increments. In advanced hormone-dependent breast cancer treatment, AIs have been shown to be superior to tamoxifen. Preliminary evidence also suggests superiority in the adjuvant, neoadjuvant settings and also for breast cancer prevention. AIs have been used in infertility and can increase ovulation rate. Reducing FSH dose, estrogen levels, improving response to FSH, implantation rates, and developing multiple follicles that can be used in in vitro maturation procedures are potential areas that AIs might be used in in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), besides simple ovulation induction. AIs are reported to be successful in treatment of endometriosis, an estrogen-dependent process. The use of AIs in gynecomastia, puberte precox, leiomyoma uteri, some estrogen-dependent cancers (ovarian), endometrial cancer and male infertility are reported; some of the results are promising but more clinical trials are needed. AIs are predicted to become the gold standard in the treatment of estrogen-dependent diseases in reproductive medicine in the near future.