Background: This systematic review has the following aims: (1) to identify measurement tools used globally by healthcare providers to diagnose PCOS in women at elevated risk; (2) to assess the comprehensiveness of these tools regarding mental health and chronic pain; (3) to list strategies for validating, disseminating, and implementing these tools; and (4) to provide future recommendations for experts in healthcare settings. Methods: This review utilized the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and the Arksey and O’Malley York methodology. Studies were sourced from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases, with inclusion criteria focusing on peer-reviewed articles addressing PCOS diagnosis and associated comorbidities. Data extraction and analysis followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) recommendations. Results: A total of 63 studies met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicate that current screening tools for PCOS often lack comprehensive integration of mental health and chronic pain assessments. Tools like the PCOSQ and its updated version, PCOSQ-50, inadequately address pain-related symptoms, highlighting a gap in holistic patient evaluation. This review identified significant associations between PCOS and mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, emphasizing the need for mental health screenings as part of PCOS management. Conclusions: There is a critical need for validated PCOS screening tools that encompass both physical and psychological aspects of the condition. Educating healthcare providers on the cultural and social determinants influencing PCOS can improve diagnosis and patient outcomes. Future research should focus on developing holistic screening tools and culturally relevant educational resources, aiming to enhance the overall quality of life for women with PCOS.
The purpose of this scoping review is to identify major social determinants of health and barriers affecting access to mental health services in pregnant and postpartum women in the United States. It will also examine the scope of existing evidence-based interventions and dissemination and implementation strategies that were developed and implemented to increase accessibility to mental health treatment in high-risk pregnant and postpartum women. The Arksey and O’Malley Framework guided the review process, along with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) recommendations for the extraction, analysis, and presentation of results in scoping reviews. Additionally, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-SCR) was used as a reference checklist. A total of 21 studies were used for analysis that were published between 2015 and 2025. An examination of social determinants of health (SDOH) influencing factors of mental health determined that those related to neighborhood and built environment had the highest rates. Using the socioecological model, individual barriers exhibited the highest frequency, with the most common themes to these barriers across all studies being language barriers, cultural barriers, and stigma-related challenges, followed by financial and childcare challenges and transportation challenges. Major findings included important evidence that therapeutic relationships with pregnant women who are depressed can be developed and that telehealth interventions improved access for women living in rural areas. Recommendations from this review will inform evidence-based interventions to address the gap in accessibility and affordability of mental health services in US pregnant and postpartum women residing in underserved communities.
The purpose of this scoping review was to highlight major outcomes resulting from prenatal screening educational interventions in the U.S., identify limita
Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide, with a particularly high incidence in women. Although many are cured of their malignancy, treatment options can present with significant long-term complications for the patient. Lymphedema is the accumulation of protein-rich fluid that occurs following a disturbance to the lymphatic system. Secondary lymphedema to the arm often results following breast surgery or axillary lymph node dissection, although risk and exacerbating factors include radiation and medical chemotherapy, both in the short- and long-term intervals. Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) develops secondary to treatment-related lymphatic injury, commonly involving the axillary lymphatic system, with clinical manifestations that may affect the ipsilateral arm, hand, breast, chest wall, and axilla. This article serves as an updated and comprehensive review of the available peer-reviewed literature regarding the pathophysiology, incidence, predictive/risk factors, clinical features, diagnostic strategies, comparative accuracy and utility of early detection and surveillance approaches, preventive strategies, and guidelines-based conservative/surgical/emerging management approaches for BCRL. The purpose of this review is to apprise healthcare professionals with the latest understanding of optimal care and counseling patients regarding BCRL.
12 December 2025 in Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics