Perceptions and experiences of women with premature ovarian insufficiency about sexual health and reproductive health

Abstract

Background Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a condition with impaired ovarian function that occurred in women before the age of 40. Considering that women with POI are in reproductive age and their fertility and sexual life are afflicted by this disorder directly, the present study aimed to investigate perception and experience of women with POI of sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Methods This is a qualitative that was implemented based on the conventional content analysis approach. The data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews with 16 women having POI, based on purposeful sampling and continued until data saturation. The participants were women with POI that referred to the three infertility center in Tehran, Iran. The audio recorded data were transcribed verbatim and then analyzed using conventional content analysis based on the method proposed by Zhang and Wildmouth. Results After content analysis of the interviews with a focus on the perception and experience of women with POI of SRH, four main categories emerged i.e. endangerment of women's health, psychological agitation, disruption of social life and disturbance in sexual life. Conclusion POI affects different aspects of women SRH (women physical, psychological, social and sexual heath). Therefore, knowledge of patients' concerns by health professionals is helpful to improve service delivery and increasing the effectiveness of treatment interventions by a comprehensive health care attitude.

Primary Ovarian Insufficiency: A Case of the Cart before the Horse

“…More research is needed on how these women can optimize fertility [26]. Furthermore, women with Overt POI have significant needs regarding the emotional burdens of the disorder in need of more research and more effective care delivery and guidance on lifestyle factors [27,28]. Efforts by My28Days.org are in progress to empower women with Overt POI and create a patient advocacy group that is essential to innovative research and higher healthcare standards [3,22].…”

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency, an important cause of early menopause: Review of the literature with clinical case reports

“…[9] Cuando la deficiencia estrogénica se instaura aparecen la sudoración nocturna, sofocos, taquicardia, sequedad vaginal, dispareunia, infecciones urogenitales recurrentes, los cuales son síntomas característicos de la etapa menopaúsica, y si no se establece tratamiento se predispone a la osteoporosis y enfermedades cardiovasculares [21,22] Además, existen síntomas tanto a nivel psicológico como emocional (labilidad, irritabilidad, o trastornos del sueño), ya que se producen cambios en el sistema nervioso central como la alteración de las concentraciones de neurotransmisores como son la norepinefrina, dopamina, serotonina, y de neuropéptidos y neuroesteroides [23]. Otros síntomas pueden ser trastornos alimentarios, peso bajo, dolor abdominal, debilidad, piel hiperpigmentada, que sugieren una insuficiencia adrenal [2] y considerar también el impacto de la deficiencia de andrógenos, sobre el humor, actividad sexual y energía [24], lo que trae repercusiones significativas en la economía, calidad de vida, sexualidad y estado psicológico de las pacientes [4,25].…”