Background: the aim of this study was to perform an Italian telematics survey analysis on the changes in couples’ sex lives during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown. Methods: a multicenter cross sectional study was conducted on people sexually active and in stable relationships for at least 6 months. To evaluate male and female sexual dysfunctions, we used the international index of erectile function (IIEF-15) and the female sexual function index (FSFI), respectively; marital quality and stability were evaluated by the marital adjustment test (items 10–15); to evaluate the severity of anxiety symptoms, we used the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. The effects of the quarantine on couples’ relationships was assessed with questions created in-house. Results: we included 2149 participants. The sex lives improved for 49% of participants, particularly those in cohabitation; for 29% it deteriorated, while for 22% of participants it did not change. Women who responded that their sex lives deteriorated had no sexual dysfunction, but they had anxiety, tension, fear, and insomnia. Contrarily, men who reported deteriorating sex lives had erectile dysfunctions and orgasmic disorders. In both genders, being unemployed or smart working, or having sons were risk factors for worsening the couples’ sex lives. Conclusion: this study should encourage evaluation of the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the sex lives of couples.
1 February 2018 in European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Introduction: There is no specific recommendation for the management of asymptomatic vaginal mesh erosions post antiincontinence or prolapse surgery, but revision or excision may represent overtreatment. We hypothesize that asymptomatic vaginal exposures remain asymptomatic during follow-up and do not require any intervention. Methods: We evaluated a “no treatment” approach by prospectively following-up women with asymptomatic vaginal exposures after antiincontinence and pelvic organ prolapse surgery. After a 1-month course of vaginal oestrogen, they underwent the “wait and see” protocol. It consisted of no treatment. Women were followed-up every 3 months, for the first year and then every 6 months with history, clinical examination with measurement of size of the exposure, and the evaluation of possible infection signs or vaginal discharge. Results: Forty women were followed-up for a median of 33.52 months (range 8–48 months). All exposures were ≤1 cm (mean 6.5 ± 1.5 mm, range 4–10 mm), patients were asymptomatic and without pain. During the observation period, the size of the exposure did not change and all women remained asymptomatic. Discussion/Conclusion: No treatment seems to be required for asymptomatic and small vaginal mesh exposures after prolapse or incontinence surgery.
Introduction: Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is either Hunner lesion interstitial cystitis (HL IC) or non-Hunner lesion interstitial cystitis (N-HL IC), differing in the presence of HLs on cystoscopy. Cystoscopy is essential in diagnosing HL but are bladder biopsies useful in N-HL IC patients? Our objective was to assess bladder biopsy in patients with N-HL IC, evaluating whether the count of mast cells (MCs) and percentage of activated MCs could measure severity. Materials and Methods: This is a single-centre retrospective study. Inclusion criteria: diagnosis of BPS/IC by ESSIC definition; absence of HLs. Each patient had three bladder biopsies. Statistical analysis: χ2/Fischer’s exact test; Wilcoxon signed-ranks test/Mann-Whitney U test. Statistical significance: p < 0.05. Results: We separated 48 women into Group 1 with 50%. We compared the results of the O’Leary-Sant questionnaire between the two groups and did not find any correlation between the severity of the pathology and either the MC count in the detrusor or the percentage of activated MCs in the lamina propria or detrusor. Discussion/Conclusion: These findings cast doubt on the usefulness of bladder biopsy for the evaluation of severity in N-HL IC.
3 November 2025 in International Urogynecology Journal