Oxidative stress has been implicated in many diseases, including reproductive and pregnancy disorders, from subfertility to maternal vascular disease or preterm labour. There is, however, discrepancy within the standardized markers of oxidative stress in obstetrics and gynaecology in clinical studies. This review aims to present the scope of markers used between 2012 and 2022 to describe oxidative stress with regard to reproduction, pregnancy, and pregnancy-related issues. Despite the abundance of evidence, there is no consensus on the set of standardised markers of oxidative stress which poses a challenge to achieve universal consensus in order to appropriately triangulate the results.

Background: Dysmenorrhea, characterised by painful menstrual cramps, is a pressing issue among adolescent girls globally. It significantly impacts their quality of life and has been associated with increased mental health issues and engagement in risky behaviours like smoking. In Poland, there is limited research on menstrual health, emphasising the need for a study to understand dysmenorrhea experiences and their impact on young menstruating individuals. Methods: This research project investigated the effects of dysmenorrhea on quality of life and school attendance, as well as its associations with non-communicable diseases, including mental health among adolescent girls in Poland. Additionally, the study examined risk factors for non-communicable disease development, including high-risk health behaviours and exposure to violence. The study utilised a cross-sectional design, administering self-reported questionnaires in high schools and vocational schools in six voivodeships (regions) in Poland. The analysis was performed using the R language in the Rstudio environment. p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A significant percentage of respondents experienced heavy menstruation, irregularity, and pain. Adolescents with dysmenorrhea reported higher rates of school absenteeism, mental health issues (such as anxiety and panic attacks), and a higher likelihood of engagement in risk behaviours like smoking and illicit drug use. The study also identified associations between dysmenorrhea and experiences of violence, including sexual abuse and intimate partner violence, as well as links to self-harm and suicidal ideation. Conclusions: These findings contribute to understanding dysmenorrhea among Polish adolescent girls, emphasising the need for tailored interventions and support services. The study underscores the necessity of addressing menstrual health comprehensively, considering its impact on various aspects of young women’s lives and promoting their overall well-being.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer and genital warts and constitutes one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Cervical cancer is the only reproductive cancer that has a primary prevention programme through the introduction of HPV vaccinations. Even though the majority of European countries have nationally funded HPV vaccination programmes, in Poland these are exclusively local and scarcely funded. Moreover, the majority of local programmes are directed to females only. Meanwhile, Poland has one of the highest cervical cancer incidence rates among high income countries. The aim of this study was to measure HPV vaccination levels among final-year students in Poland and to establish the association between vaccination status and gender, region and level of sexual education received. This study is a part of the POLKA 18 Study, which used original self-reported paper-based questionnaires distributed in schools in six Polish regions. The study was conducted between April and December 2019. The obtained data were analysed in STATA 17. In total, 2701 fully completed questionnaires were collected. Over half of the respondents (58.2%) did not know their HPV vaccination status. Only 16.0% of the respondents replied that they have been vaccinated against HPV (18.2% of females and 14.5% of males). There was no direct association between vaccination status and access to ‘family life education’ classes. The vaccination level significantly differed among the different regions of Poland (p < 0.0001), with the Śląskie and Wielkopolskie regions achieving the highest rates. At least a quarter of adolescents after their sexual debut have not been vaccinated against HPV. Regions with immunization programmes introduced to their provincial capitals had higher vaccination rates. Our findings indicate the need for the introduction of state-funded vaccination programmes at the national level for the vaccination rate to increase, which will have the potential to decrease cervical cancer incidence in the country.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) among Polish adolescents and explore its associations with mental health outcomes, lifestyle factors, and risk behaviours. Additionally, it seeks to examine the impact of PMS on quality of life, contributing to the foundation for initiatives that enhance adolescent menstrual health. Methods: This research is part of the POLKA 18 study, a youth-led cross-sectional survey conducted between April and December 2019. Final-year high school students were surveyed using paper-based, self-reported questionnaires. Statistical analysis was performed using the R programming language in RStudio, with a significance threshold of p-value < 0.05. Results: A total of 1545 valid responses were analysed. PMS was reported by 33.9% of respondents, with over 80% experiencing premenstrual symptoms. Adolescents with negative mental health outcomes, such as self-harm or suicidal ideation, were significantly more likely to report PMS (p ≤ 0.001). PMS was also strongly associated with anxiety and panic attacks (p < 0.001). Risk behaviours, including smoking (p = 0.006), illicit substance use (p < 0.01), and increased alcohol consumption in the past 30 days (p < 0.001), were more prevalent among adolescents with PMS. Furthermore, respondents with PMS reported poorer school performance (p = 0.002), higher stress levels (p < 0.001), and a more negative perception of their overall health (p < 0.001) compared to peers without PMS. Conclusions: PMS is significantly associated with mental health issues, engagement in risky behaviours, higher stress, and diminished self-perceived health and academic performance. These findings highlight the need for further research and the development of targeted interventions to improve adolescent menstrual health.

Background/Objectives: Pediatric and adolescent gynaecology addresses the distinct developmental needs of the reproductive systems of young patients. Diagnosing and treating gynaecological issues in this age group are challenging due to overlapping symptoms and the developmental stage. This study aimed to identify common gynecological issues based on retrospective analysis of medical documentation from the Developmental Gynecology and Sexology Laboratory of the Gynecology Clinic, Department of Gynecology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences (UMP) from the years 2012–2023. Methods: The study involved 4942 patients under 18 years old. Medical records from the years 2012–2023 were analyzed, focusing on the most frequent diagnoses. Statistical analyses were performed using StatSoft STATISTICA PL 10 software, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Results: The most frequent diagnosis was pelvic pain syndrome (77.8%), followed by androgenization syndromes (13.2%). While the number of admissions remained stable over the years (r = 0.131, p > 0.05), there was a significant increase in the percentage of androgenization syndromes (p = 0.0040) and a decrease in pelvic pain syndrome cases (p = 0.0018). Other conditions such as eating disorders and psychosexual issues were also prevalent, highlighting the need for a multidisciplinary approach. Conclusions: The analysis indicates a shift in adolescent gynaecological diagnoses over time, with pelvic pain syndrome decreasing and androgenization syndromes increasing. The findings underline the importance of specialised, multidisciplinary care and further research to adapt diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to the changing landscape of pediatric gynaecology.

Background: Abortion is one of the most common medical procedures worldwide. Despite this, access to abortion on demand remains restricted in many countries, including Poland. As a result, many women resort to undergoing the procedure without medical supervision, putting themselves at risk of serious health consequences such as drug poisoning, excessive bleeding, and hypovolemia. Unfortunately, some abortions also lead to severe infections. Objective: This study aims to qualitatively identify key themes in abortion forums to analyze the issues faced by individuals. The forums were then quantitatively analyzed to determine which problems were most prevalent. Methods: The most popular abortion forums were identified. A preliminary thematic analysis was conducted for the qualitative phase, followed by a manual quantitative analysis. Two independent researchers reviewed forum posts, categorizing them into specific themes. Results: An analysis of 13,397 responses from 370 threads across 4 forums revealed “Abortion Process Progression” as the most discussed theme, highlighting a strong demand for information, emotional support, and medical guidance. The highest percentage of threads (162/886, 18.3%) focused on the need for mental support and the desire to have someone in contact during the abortion process. Concerns about the effectiveness of the termination also emerged as a significant topic, accounting for 83 of the 886 (9.4%) discussions. “Emotional and Psychological Aspects” and “Medical and Pharmacological Aspects” were also significant, highlighting the need for holistic care. Anxiety and fear related to the process were frequently discussed, accounting for 60 of the 886 (6.8%) responses. The issue of isolation and lack of support was also a common topic, appearing in 30 of the 886 (3.4%) threads. Notably, “Social and Ethical Perception” accounted for only 13 of the 886 (1.5%) responses and appeared in just 13 threads. Conclusions: This study highlights the critical need for information and support for women navigating abortion, particularly in regions where access is restricted. It emphasizes the importance of addressing the multifaceted challenges women face and calls for policy changes and strengthened support networks to improve the health and rights of women, as well as all those seeking gynecological care in abortion contexts. Further research is encouraged to refine and expand support strategies.