Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder affecting ≈8% to 13% of women of reproductive age. PCOS has multifaceted effects that extend beyond reproductive health. Women with PCOS are at an elevated risk for various metabolic conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, as well as psychological challenges, such as anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life. This systematic review examined the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions, including dietary, exercise, and behavioral modifications, in improving reproductive outcomes, mental well-being, and quality of life in women with PCOS. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases, identifying observational and interventional studies published in English through December 2022. Studies were evaluated for methodological quality and categorized according to the type of lifestyle intervention and outcome measures. Results: Of the 24 studies reviewed, with 16 focusing on reproductive outcomes, 4 on quality of life, and 4 on combined outcomes, encompassing 1373 participants with the mean age in the included studies ranged from 21.7 to 36.5 years. Dietary modifications, either alone or in combination with exercise, resulted in significant improvements in reproductive health, including a 5% reduction in body weight (P < .001), increased menstrual regularity, higher pregnancy rates, and decreased testosterone levels (P < .01). Exercise interventions further contributed to positive outcomes; a 20-week exercise program improved ovulation rates by 49.1% and significantly reduced testosterone and free androgen indices (P < .001). In addition, structured exercise programs increased menstrual regularity by 60% and reduced body mass index and testosterone levels. Conclusion: This review underscores the efficacy of integrated lifestyle interventions, including dietary, exercise, and behavioral approaches, in improving reproductive health, psychological well-being, and quality of life in women with PCOS. These findings highlight the potential of comprehensive nonpharmacological management strategies to address the multifaceted health challenges posed by PCOS. Future research should prioritize long-term studies to assess sustained outcomes and examine personalized intervention strategies that account for the clinical diversity and heterogeneity of PCOS presentations.

The contraceptive use profile is poorly understood in some Gulf Arabian countries, including Saudi Arabia. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices related to contraceptive use among women of childbearing age in Jazan city, Saudi Arabia. An observational, analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among a random sample of 450 women in Jazan city. The data were obtained through personal interviews using a questionnaire that included questions on women’s level of knowledge about contraception methods, their attitudes towards contraception methods, and their practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics techniques using the SPSS program. The prevalence of ever having used contraceptives was significantly different according to age group, job status, children ever born, and the number of pregnancies (p < 0.05 for all). On the other hand, the prevalence of desire to use the contraceptives in the future was high, at 70.9%, with a 95% CI [66.5–74.9]. It differed significantly according to age group and job status (p < 0.05 for both). The most familiar and usable types of contraceptives were pills (36.3%) and intrauterine devices (24.4%). When asked their reasons for using contraceptives, 53.8% of participants cited child spacing and 21.8% improving child health. Logistic regression revealed that the use of contraception among women was more associated with the 20–34 age group [COR = 7.7, 95% CI = 4.4–13.5, p < 0.001] than the 15–24 age group. Having more than one pregnancy and having more than one child were also associated with increased use of contraceptive methods (p < 0.001 for both). These results indicate there is a high level of awareness about contraceptives, a positive attitude toward them, and good practices for the use of them among Saudi women in Jazan. More efforts are needed to improve women’s awareness for better utilization of the available services.

Medical students represent the future of the healthcare workforce. However, the demanding nature of medical education places them at an increased risk of mental health issues. Ensuring their mental well-being is crucial for maintaining a competent and compassionate healthcare system. This study aims to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress, along with barriers to accessing mental health services among medical students. A cross-sectional self-administered online survey conducted among medical students of Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, from September 2023 to March 2024. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted using International Business Machines Corporation Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 27.0.1 (Chicago). The study included 390 participants. Median scores for depression, anxiety, and stress were 14.00, 12.00, and 16.00, respectively, with interquartile ranges of 4.00 to 22.00, 4.00 to 20.00, and 6.00 to 24.00. Depression severity categories showed that 38.2% were normal, while 11.5%, 31.8%, 13.6%, and 4.9% experienced mild, moderate, severe, and extremely severe symptoms, respectively. Anxiety severity classifications revealed 37.4% as normal, with 6.2%, 17.4%, 10.0%, and 29.0% falling into mild, moderate, severe, and extremely severe categories, respectively. For stress, 49.2% were normal, while 11.0%, 16.7%, 14.1%, and 9.0% experienced mild, moderate, severe, and extremely severe levels, respectively. Barriers to accessing mental health care included a preference for self-management, confidentiality concerns, societal judgment, and fears of career-related repercussions. This study highlights a high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among medical students at Jazan University, with notable gender differences and symptom severity. Addressing barriers to mental health care, such as confidentiality concerns and societal stigma, is essential to improving service utilization and student well-being.

Telemedicine has transformed obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to synthesize evidence on the adoption, effectiveness, barriers, and technological innovations of telemedicine in OB/GYN across diverse healthcare settings. This scoping review synthesized 63 peer-reviewed studies (2010–2023) using PRISMA-ScR guidelines to map global applications, outcomes, and challenges. Key modalities included synchronous consultations, remote monitoring, AI-assisted triage, tele-supervision, and asynchronous communication. Results demonstrated improved access to routine care and mental health support, with outcomes for low-risk pregnancies comparable to in-person services. Adoption surged >500% during pandemic peaks, stabilizing at 9–12% of services in high-income countries. However, significant disparities persisted: 43% of rural Sub-Saharan clinics lacked stable internet, while socioeconomic, linguistic, and cultural barriers disproportionately affected vulnerable populations (e.g., non-English-speaking, transgender, and refugee patients). Providers reported utility but also screen fatigue (41–68%) and diagnostic uncertainty. Critical barriers included fragmented policies, reimbursement variability, data privacy concerns, and limited evidence from conflict-affected regions. Sustainable integration requires equity-centered design, robust policy frameworks, rigorous longitudinal evaluation, and ethically validated AI to address clinical complexity and systemic gaps.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious public health problem in many Middle Eastern countries. Mothers with PPD experience various extreme symptoms that affect their daily lives. This study aims to discover how common PPD is in the Jazan region, the most significant risk factors, and how likely depressed women are to seek help. An observational cross-sectional survey targeting a sample of 444 mothers in their first year after delivery using a pre-tested and validated EDPS standard tool to evaluate the prevalence of postpartum depression amongst them has been conducted. The data was collected and then analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the risk factors associated with PPD. The results indicate an extremely high prevalence of PPD in Jazan (75.7%). The prevalence of mothers having suicidal ideation was 6.3% quite often, 5.0% sometimes, and 7.9% hardly. Regarding the duration of depression symptoms, 34.78% were less than a month, 20.72% were less than six months, and 13.06% were less than one year. The study shows that the development of depression symptoms occurred within less than a week for 30.4% of the women. The most significant association with PPD was a lack of family support, which significantly increased the risk of PPD (OR = 5.9; p-value < 0.001). The mothers who had unexpected pregnancies had a risk of PPD (OR = 2.5; p-value < 0.001). Current research has revealed a high prevalence of postpartum depression among mothers in the Jazan region and that it is associated with different risk factors that increase the probability of PPD development. Pregnant women need to raise their awareness about PPD and learn how to avoid or deal with it.

Background: Given the increase in the rate of cesarean sections (CSs) globally and in Saudi Arabia, this study was conducted to assess the maternal and perinatal complications after repeat cesarean sections in the studied population. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the records of all women who underwent CSs between January and July 2023 in three hospitals in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. Results: Of the 268 women studied, 195 (72.7%) had a CS for the first or second time and 73 (27.3%) had two, three, or four previous CSs (repeat CS). The most common maternal intra-operative complications reported by the repeat CS group were intra-peritoneal adhesions (7.5%) and fused abdominal layers (7.1%) while the most common postoperative complications were the need for blood transfusion (22%) and UTIs (3%). The most common neonatal complications were a low Apgar score (19%), needing neonatal resuscitation (2.6%), and intensive care admission. In addition, 3.7% of mothers failed to initiate breastfeeding in the first 24 h. Conclusions: The frequent complications were intra-peritoneal adhesions, fused abdominal wall layers, blood transfusion, and postoperative infections which were overcome by the optimal hospital care. However, the frequent neonatal complications were a low Apgar score, needing neonatal resuscitation, and intensive care admission.