Imaging and tracing the pattern of adult ovarian angiogenesis implies a strategy against female reproductive aging

Unique model of adult ovarian angiogenesis implies a strategy to extend female reproductive life span.

Dietary Approaches to Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health

Over the course of the reproductive life span, it is common for women to experience one or more of the most common gynecologic conditions, including sexual dysfunction, polycystic ovary syndrome, fibroids, endometriosis, and infertility. Although current management guidelines often turn to the established pharmaceutical approaches for each of these diagnoses, the scientific literature also supports an evidence-based approach rooted in the paradigm of food as medicine. Achieving healthy dietary patterns is a core goal of lifestyle medicine, and a plant-forward approach akin to the Mediterranean diet holds great promise for improving many chronic gynecologic diseases. Furthermore, creating an optimal preconception environment from a nutritional standpoint may facilitate epigenetic signaling, thus improving the health of future generations. This state-of-the-art review explores the literature connecting diet with sexual and reproductive health in premenopausal women.

“Since I’m a little bit more mature”: contraception and the arc of time for women in midlife

Background Contraceptive methods have rapidly evolved over the past several decades, but little research has explored how women interact with contraception over time. Exploring contraceptive beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes of women in midlife can reveal much about how lived experience affects contraceptive decisions and reproductive health choices. Methods Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 women between the ages of 40 and 55 who had not reached menopause and did not have a permanent method of sterilization. Data were coded using qualitative descriptive methods. Results Three major themes were identified: 1) journey toward empowerment; 2) finding the right fit: evolution over time; and 3) anticipating a transition. Past experiences with or fear of side effects and hormones were common reasons to change or avoid certain contraceptive methods. Most participants were happy with their contraceptive method; however, those who were unhappy were more likely to vocalize fatigue at continuing to need contraception as menopause approached. Conclusion Approaching contraceptive counseling from a place that considers the journey with contraception over a reproductive life span will help identify how beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes of women affect their contraceptive practices and choices.

Concept of Granthi with reference to uterine fibroid: An Ayurveda review

Uterine fibroids are the commonest benign tumor of the uterus and also the commonest benign solid tumor in the female. It can cause significant morbidity in women of a reproductive life span. The exact cause of uterine fibroid is unknown. Prevalence of uterine fibroid 5 -20 % of women in the reproductive age group. It can cause significant morbidity in women of a reproductive life span. Not all fibroids cause symptoms. 50% of women are asymptomatic. Fibroids mainly cause symptoms like menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea and cause pressure symptoms on adjacent viscera i. e. bladder, uterus, rectum which affects the everyday activities of women. In Ayurveda all gynecological disease explained under the term yonivyapad. It can be explained as the anatomical and functional abnormalities of the female reproductive system. In Ayurveda granthi can be correlated with the uterine fibroid. In modern science uterine fibroid treats medically, surgically. But it is challenging to establish a satisfactory conservatory medical treatment to date. so in Ayurveda the main purpose is the management of granthi by samprapti vighatan by use of medicine.

Bridge Integrator 2, a New Specific Target for Improving Reproductive Life Span through RPS6 and NNT

Female ovary is the earliest degenerated organ and it faces distinct medical disadvantages that impair primordial follicle reserve and oocyte quality. Herein, we found that bridge integrator 2 (Bin2) was predominant within mouse ovaries and oocytes, and global-knockout of Bin2 improved both female fertility and oocyte quality with healthy physiology in mice. Ovarian quantitative proteomics and phosphomics showed that Bin2 knockout specifically decreased only p-RPS6 of mTOR pathway; meanwhile, it increased nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT), the free-radical detoxifier, over 6-fold. Mechanically, phosphorylation at Thr423 & Ser424 translocated membrane Bin2 into cytoplasm to phosphorylate RPS6, while p-RPS6 bound 42-95 bp NNT UTR to inhibit NNT translation. We then synthesized a peptide (BPP) to mimic Bin2 inhibition, and found that 3-week BPP injection improved primordial follicle reserve and oocyte quality in aging or chemotherapeutics-treated mice. In all, Bin2 inhibition improve both primordial follicle reserve and oocyte quality without discernible side effects.

Uncertainty in fertility intentions from a life course perspective: Which life course markers matter?

Objective: The aim of this study is to extend our knowledge about uncertainty in fertility intentions from a life course perspective. We want to find out if life course markers such as economic circumstances, relationship status, family size, and the so-called “biological clock” (getting older) influence uncertainty in fertility intentions. Uncertainty in fertility intentions is the state in which individuals are not sure whether they will have (more) children. Background: Determining what drives uncertainty in fertility intentions may lead to a better understanding of fertility decision-making and its outcomes. Method: We use German panel data (German Family Panel, pairfam) for three birth cohorts (1971-73, 1981-83, 1991-93), and employ multinomial fixed-effects logit models as well as bivariate analyses based on waves 1 to 11. Results: Uncertainty in fertility intentions is volatile across an individual’s life course, serving as a transitional phase between certainly intending and not intending to have any (more) children. Approaching the end of the reproductive life span (getting older), separating from a partner, having two or more children, and, for men, subjective economic fears increase the odds of being uncertain. Conclusion: By showing that uncertainty in fertility intentions is a volatile concept and that relevant life course markers shape this volatility, we provide new insights into the process of fertility decision-making.