BMJ open

INTRODUCTION: One potential stressor that can affect preimplantation and postimplantation embryonic growth after in vitro fertilisation (IVF) is the pH of the human embryo culture medium, but no evidence exists to indicate which pH level is…

OBJECTIVE: To determine how the representation of women's health has changed in clinical studies over the course of 70 years. DESIGN: Observational study of 71 866 research articles published between 1948 and 2018 in The BMJ. MAIN OUTCOME…

INTRODUCTION: Although acupuncture has been recommended for alleviating cancer pain by clinical guidelines, the level of the supporting evidence needs to be improved. A pragmatic randomised controlled trial (pRCT) in a hospital setting woul…

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between tea drinking and dysmenorrhoea among women of reproductive age. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study based on Shanghai Birth Cohort Study. SETTING: Two preconceptional care clinics in Shanghai…

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a major risk factor for low-grade endometrial cancer. The surgical management of patients with obesity is challenging, and they may face unique barriers to accessing care. We completed a qualitative study to understand…

PURPOSE: To establish a cohort that enables identification of genomic factors that influence human health and empower increased blood donor health and safe blood transfusions. Human health is complex and involves several factors, a major on…

INTRODUCTION: A review of international and Australian school-based resources suggests that teaching of the ovulatory-menstrual (OM) cycle is predominantly couched in biology. A whole-person framework that integrates spiritual, intellectual…

OBJECTIVES: To identify predictors of disease among a few factors commonly associated with endometriosis and if successful, to combine these to develop a prediction model to aid primary care physicians in early identification of women at hi…

INTRODUCTION: BRCA1/2 gene mutations increase risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer and may have implications for reproductive health. Indirect biomarkers of the ovarian primordial follicle pool (anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)) and one small s…

OBJECTIVES: Endometriosis is a gynaecological disease most commonly causing severe and chronic pelvic pain as well as an impaired quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate if and how endometriosis affects choices regarding p…

OBJECTIVE: To examine the factors associated with receiving surgery for heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) in England and Wales. DESIGN: National cohort study. SETTING: National Health Service hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Women with HMB aged 18-…

OBJECTIVES: Sex differences in respiratory physiology and predilection for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been documented, suggesting that female sex hormones may influence pathogenesis. We investigated whether…

INTRODUCTION: Hysterectomy is the most common major gynaecological procedure in women and minimally invasive approaches should be used wherever possible; total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) is one such surgical approach which allows remov…

ObjectivesTo explore why and how fertility patients decide to allow (or deny) the use of personal data held in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority registry for linkage and research.DesignA qualitative study was conducted using …

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence, costs and trends (2010-2014) for 21 low-value inpatient procedures in a privately insured Australian patient cohort. DESIGN: We developed indicators for 21 low-value procedures from evidence-based list…

OBJECTIVES: To explore the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea (PD), the characteristics of PD and self-care strategies for managing PD among Chinese college girls. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Changsha, China. PARTICIPANTS: A …

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate age-dependent productivity loss caused by menstruation-related symptoms, measured in absenteeism (time away from work or school) and presenteeism (productivity loss while present at work or school). METHODS: Design/s…

INTRODUCTION: Routine histopathological examination following appendicectomy and cholecystectomy has significant financial implications and comprises a substantial portion of the pathologists' workload, while the incidence of unexpected pat…

OBJECTIVE: To examine temporal trend in maternal mortality/severe morbidity associated with hospitalisation due to ectopic pregnancy. DESIGN: A population-based observational study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: All women hospitalised for ect…

OBJECTIVE: To inform feasibility and design of a future randomised controlled trial (RCT) using brain functional MRI (fMRI) to determine the mechanism of action of gabapentin in managing chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women. DESIGN: Mechanis…

INTRODUCTION: Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas with high risk of developing multiorgan failure and death. There are no effective pharmacological interventions used in current clinical practice. Maintaining fluid…

OBJECTIVES: To define the prevalence of severe chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and its clinical characteristics in a geographically defined area of Northern England. To understand the feasibility of a community-b…

OBJECTIVES: Pregnancy, menses and menopause are related to fluctuations in endogenous sex hormones in women, which cumulatively may alter cardiac electrical conduction. Therefore, we sought to study the association between number of pregnan…

INTRODUCTION: Female sex steroid hormones have been implicated in sex-related differences in the development and clinical outcomes of asthma. The role of exogenous sex steroids, however, remains unclear. Our recent systematic review highlig…

INTRODUCTION: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) affects more than 1 million UK women with associated healthcare costs of £158 million annually. Current evidence supporting interventions when no underlying pathology is identified is very limited and…