Introduction A significant number of postmenopausal women suffer from distressing problems because of urogenital atrophy secondary to the decline in circulating estrogen levels. Treatment with topical hormones may provide relief in such women when used judiciously. Aim To study the effects of local estrogen with or without local testosterone on urogenital and sexual health in postmenopausal women. Methods Seventy-five postmenopausal women symptomatic for urogenital atrophy and sexual dysfunction were randomly divided into two study groups and one control group. The women in study group 1 received local estrogen cream; study group 2 received local estrogen and testosterone cream; the control group received nonhormonal lubricant KY gel for 12 weeks. The urogenital and sexuality score, along with the vaginal health index and the vaginal maturation index (VMI), was calculated at the beginning of therapy and 12 weeks later. Main Outcome Measures Changes in the urogenital and sexuality score along with vaginal health index and VMI. Results After 12 weeks of therapy, there was a significant improvement in all the four study parameters, which correlated well with the improvement in symptoms of urogenital atrophy and sexual dysfunction in both the study groups as compared with the control group. Improvement in sexuality score was greatest with combined estrogen–androgen therapy. There were no adverse effects and the therapies were well accepted without any compliance issue. Conclusion Local estrogen either alone or with androgen is highly effective in relieving symptoms of urogenital atrophy and in improving sexual function in symptomatic postmenopausal women.

BV is a risk factor for increased neonatal morbidity. More research is needed for designing appropriate screening and treatment guidelines for prevention of adverse outcomes associated with BV.

Maternal serum IL-6 can be used as a biomarker to predict preclinical asymptomatic infection in PPROM with good sensitivity and specificity.

Objectives: To find the incidence and clinical implications of peripartum hysterectomy in a tertiary care centre of India. Methods: A retrospective study of all cases of caesarean and postpartum hysterectomy between January 2006 and December 2011. Maternal characteristics, method of delivery, indications for hysterectomy and complications were reviewed. Results: The rate of peripartum hysterectomy was 0.47:1000 deliveries. Most were operative deliveries. The main indications were placenta accreta (38.88%), massive atonic PPH (36.11%) and uterine rupture (22.22%). Half the hysterectomies were subtotal while the rest were total. Maternal morbidity was high and there were seven maternal deaths (19.44%). All deaths were in patients brought in a critical condition to the hospital after massive blood loss. Conclusion: Peripartum hysterectomy is potentially a life saving procedure but the mortality and morbidity is high, especially if performed late when the hemodynamic instability has already set in. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v4i1.6967 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences 4(2013) 5-9

A prospective observational study was conducted at Lady Hardinge Medical College and Smt. Sucheta Kriplani Hospital, India on 300 pregnant women with one previous caesarean section fulfilling the eligibility criteria for trial of labour, to study the predictive factors and the outcome of trial of labour. The data obtained were analysed according to mode and outcome of labour and was then subjected to statistical analysis. The success rate of trial of labour was found to be 53.6%. Favourable Bishop's score (p = 0.000), spontaneous onset of labour (p = 0.005) and history of previous delivery after caesarean (p = 0.007) were significantly associated with a successful outcome of trial of labour. Higher chances of vaginal delivery were found with breech as an indication of previous caesarean section, i.e. 67.1% as compared to 39% with non-progress of labour as an indication.