Anastasia Bothou

By Panagiotis Tsikouras, Theodora-Eleftheria Deftereou, Anna Chalkidou, Xanthoula Anthoulaki, Anastasia Bothou, Bachar Manav, Zacharoula Koukouli, Stefanos Zervoudis, George Iatrakis and Georgios Galazios

Adolescence is the transitional period between childhood and adulthood. Depending on female gonads’ function and on hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis activation, results in teenager’s body growth, in secondary sex characteristics’ development and finally in their reproductive potential. In adolescence, the negative feedback of gonadal steroids on gonadotropins is disturbed. Teenagers presenting with dysfunctional bleedings are usually suspected of hemorrhagic ovarian cysts or endometriosis and require gynecologic examination, evaluation, and hormone therapy. It is of great importance both for teenagers and their parents to understand that hormone therapy is the first line treatment for bleeding disorders in these ages. A detailed medical history is necessary to determine the appropriate treatment plan. Primary care includes the detection of adolescents with acute or chronic pelvic pain that may be associated with endometriosis or other pathologies like mullerian duct abnormalities, imperforate hymen, ovarian teratomas, ovarian torsion, and vaginal absence or atresia. Mullerian duct abnormalities are associated with increased rates of unexplained infertility, spontaneous abortions, and pathological conditions of pregnancy. Specialists, should help teenagers in getting familiar to their bodies, to their sexuality, inform them about the sexually transmitted diseases, and safety options including vaccination and guide them in contraception issues.

Part of the book: Family Planning

By Panagiotis Tsikouras, Xanthoula Anthoulaki, Theodora Deftereou, Anastasia Bothou, Anna Chalkidou, Fotis Gasparos, Georgia Saradi, Dimitrios Tzeferakos, Elefterios Chatzimichael, Georgios Iatrakis, Stefanos Zervoudis and Georgios Galazios

The cancer of the vulva is a rare disease with a positive association to poor developing countries. However, the incidence of vulvar cancer in situ nearly doubled in the last two decades and remained relatively stable. The main reason for this increased incidence of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) in women younger than 45 years is due to changes in sexual behavior, first intercourse at early age, multiple sexual partners, and sexually transmitted diseases that were increasing progressively. Furthermore, it is strongly associated with smoking and the increased incidence of HPV infection. The occurrence of early symptoms of VIN-like pruritus vulvae, pain, and lichen sclerosus led to early diagnosis to perform the adequate treatment. VIN tends to appear multifocal, while most invasive cancers are unilateral located and appeared with well-circumscribed lesions.

Part of the book: Depigmentation

By Panagiotis Tsikouras, Theodora Deftereou, Xanthoula Anthoulaki, Anastasia Bothou, Anna Chalkidou, Anna Christoforidou, Elefterios Chatzimichael, Fotini Gaitatzi, Ioannis Tsirkas, Arsou Chalil Bourazan, Eirini Bampageorgaka, Georgios Iatrakis, Stefanos Zervoudis, Werner Rath and Georgios Galazios

Thromboembolic disease during pregnancy is a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality involving venous or arterial thrombosis and possible clinical manifestations like clinical symptoms of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and hyperhomocysteinemia. For diminishing the prevalence of thromboembolic disease, the early identification of pregnant women with various risk factors for thrombosis without clinical symptoms is of great importance. However, the optimal management for asymptomatic pregnant women who have inherited thrombophilia is uncertain and recognized only due to pregnancy complications such as recurrent pregnancy loss and preeclampsia. The clinical approach to thromboembolism is the same in pregnant women with or without thrombophilia. Based on family history, clinical symptoms should begin with simple reliable inexpensive laboratory tests like prothrombin time and activated thromboplastin time to test the status. Early diagnosis and appropriate use of thromboprophylaxis lead to increasing better maternal and perinatal outcomes. Conclusively, it is important to recognize these patients in order to prevent all pregnancy complications.

Part of the book: Embolic Disease

By Panagiotis Tsikouras, Theodora Deftereou, Xanthoula Anthoulaki, Anastasia Bothou, Anna Chalkidou, Fotini Gaitatzi, Ioannis Tsirkas, Arsou Chalil Bourazan, Eirini Bampageorgaka, George Stanulov, Elefterios Chatzimichael, Spyridon Michalopoulos, Panagiotis Petsidis, Georgios Iatrakis, Stefanos Zervoudis, Maria Lambropoulou, Werner Rath and Georgios Galazios

The miscarriages’ investigation should include a familiar history, gynecological examination and a full laboratory testing including hormonal control, as well as karyotype, maternal immune control and thrombophilia testing. If the physician suspects the cause of abortions is chromosomal due to heredity, a special blood test (karyotype) for the pair is recommended. Chromosomal abnormalities are the most common reason for first trimester abortions, and are impossible to be prevented. Based on the above data, abortion and the subsequent possible infertility should not be considered as a personal failure for the woman and the treating physician. Nowadays, medical advancement provides many options combined with psychological support can actually reduce the miscarriages’ risk.

Part of the book: Induced Abortion and Spontaneous Early Pregnancy Loss

By Panagiotis Tsikouras, Xanthoula Anthoulaki, Theodora Deftereou, Anna Chalkidou, Anastasia Bothou, Fotini Gaitatzi, Eleftherios Chatzimichael, Selma Gyroglou, Arsou Chalil Bourazan, George Stanulov, Spyridon Michalopoulos, John Tsirkas, Irene Babageogaka, Werner Rath, Georg-Friedrich Von Tempelhoff, Stefanos Zervoudis, Georgios Iatrakis, Georgios Galazios and Nikolaos Nikolettos

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limbs is a serious condition that can lead to pulmonary embolism (PE) in about 15–24% of cases. If it is not diagnosed/treated timely, nearly 15% of these PE are lethal. The relationship between travel and staying in the same position for a long time is well-known since World War II. Generally, it is more frequent in air flights. It is also associated with the economic downturn in airplanes because passengers have limited space and have greater difficulty of moving. It is estimated that approximately 1–6% of long-haul passengers arrive at their destination with a clot in their veins, but most DVT are asymptomatic.

Part of the book: Tourism

By Panagiotis Tsikouras, Anastasia Bothou, Xanthoula Anthoulaki, Anna Chalkidou, Spyridon Michalopoulos, Nistikoulis George, Ioannis Tsirkas, Fotini Gaitatzi, Selma Gyroglou, Irene Babageorgaka, Natalia Sachnova, Michael Koutsogiannis, Apostolos Lazarou, Arsou Chalil Bouratzan, Theopi Nalbanti, Panagiotis Peitsidis, Konstantinos Nikolettos, George Dragoutsos, Thedosia Vogaitzaki, Stefanos Zervoudis, George Iatrakis, Werner Rath, Nikolaos Nikolettos and Vasileios Souftas

Uterine fibroids have remarkably heterogeneous clinical characteristics with unknown exact etiology. The treatment of fibroids should be individualized based on their size, location, growth rate, the symptoms that they cause, the desire to have children and the age of the woman. Embolization is currently the most advanced non-surgical technique. The majority of women report satisfactory post-treatment results like shorter hospitalization period and recovery time in comparison to hysterectomy and improvement or complete remission of clinical symptoms. Complications include amenorrhea (in the majority of cases: recurrence after three months) and infections that are generally treated with antibiotics. The results from most clinical studies and our published experience indicate that embolization improves pelvic symptoms related to uterine fibroids. Collaborative efforts between gynecologists and interventional radiologists are necessary in order to optimize the safety and efficacy of this procedure. In the future, embolization could be generally recommended as treatment option for women who desire future fertility/pregnancy.

Part of the book: Fibroids

By Panagiotis Tsikouras, Anna Chalkidou, Anastasia Bothou, Angeliki Gerede, Xanthoula Anthoulaki, Spyridon Michalopoulos, Ioannis Tsirkas, Fotini Gaitatzi, Irene Babageorgaka, Apostolos Lazarou, Natalia Sachnova, Michael Koutsogiannis, Konstantinos Nikolettos, Theopi Nalbanti, Eythimios Demosthenous, Georgios Dragoutsos, Ifigenia Apostolou, Alexios Alexiou, Panagiotis Petsidis, Stefanos Zervoudis, George Iatrakis, Werner Rath, George Galazios and Nikolaos Nikolettos

Twin pregnancies are categorized according to three factors, zygosity, chorionicity and amnionicity. Dizygotic twins are always dichorionic and diamniotic, where each twin has its own chorionic and amniotic sac. Monozygotic twins account for 1/3 of twin pregnancies and show higher morbidity and mortality. In monozygotic twins, chorionicity and amnionicity are determined by the time of zygote division. Chorionicity and amnionicity determine the risks of twin pregnancy. Morbitidies are shown notable decreasing tendency depending on improving of high risk obstetric and neonatal care, however is still discussed the optimum labour management in twin pregnancies Vaginal delivery in twin pregnancies is possible when both have cephalic presentation and in the late weeks of pregnancy during which the risks of prematurity are minimized. The aim of this review was the assessment and evaluation the impact of the labour modus and timing of termination of twin pregnancies due to rise of their occurrence based on scientific aspects of the new published literature on perinatal outcome.

Part of the book: Current Topics in Caesarean Section

By Panagiotis Tsikouras, Christina Tsiggalou, Anastasia Bothou, Aggeliki Gerede, Ifigenia Apostolou, Fotini Gaitatzi, Anna Chalkidou, Xanthoula Anthoulaki, Spyridon Michalopoulos, Georgios Dragoutsos, Ioannis Tsirkas, Irini Babageorgaka, Theopi Nalbanti, Natalia Sachnova, Alexios Alexiou, Konstantinos Nikolettos, Christos Tsalikidis, Stefanos Zervoudis, Panagiotis Peitsidis and Nikolaos Nikolettos

Antiphospholipid syndrome which is also known as APS is an autoimmune disease which represents an acquired form of thrombophilia. The etiology of APS remains unknown. This disorder occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks some of the normal human proteins and manifests itself as recurrent arterial or venous thrombosis and it could emerge after abortions or in recurrent pregnancy loss. In APS, the body produces the wrong antibodies against phospholipid-binding proteins, that is present in the blood and plays an important role in coagulation. Antibodies are specific proteins that usually target and neutralize the body’s invaders, such as viruses and bacteria. When antibodies attack phospholipid-binding proteins, blood clots abnormally. Specifically, it could cause blood clots in veins or arteries leading to stroke and various pregnancy complications such as: endometrial death, miscarriage, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction and prematurity. APS is divided into primary and secondary, which is associated with autoimmune diseases and more often with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), while antibodies against cardiolipin are detected in many other conditions (infections, malignancies, drugs, etc.). The symptoms of APS, in addition to arterial and/or venous thrombosis and pregnancy complications, are multisystemic and the differential diagnosis of the primary APS from the secondary, in the context of SLE, is of particular clinical interest and is subject of this literature review.

Part of the book: Inflammation in the 21st Century

By Panagiotis Tsikouras, Triada Charmanidou, Stefani Filiou, Georgios Iatrakis, Anastasia Bothou, Efthimios Oikonomou, Dimitrios Kyriakou, Aise Chatzi Ismail Mouchterem, Alexios Alexiou, Konstantinos Nikolettos, Nektaria Kritsotaki, Theopi Nalbanti and Nikolaos Nikolettos

Prematurity nowadays has taken on significant dimensions. It is a complex medical issue with socio-economic consequences. The estimation of cervical length, assessed during the second trimester of pregnancy, using transvaginal ultrasound, may help to reduce rates of prematurity. By predicting the risk of preterm birth and identifying women who are at high risk of preterm birth, certain practices could be implemented, such as the use of progesterone or cerclage placement. Nonetheless, it remains unsolved the question of certain strategies, such as the use of progesterone in pregnant women with shortened cervical lengths. This work examines the relationship of cervical length during pregnancy to the perinatal outcome.

Part of the book: Childbirth

By Panagiotis Tsikouras, Xanthi Anthoulaki, Efthimios Oikonomou, Anastasia Bothou, Konstantinos Nikolettos, Alexios Alexiou, Dimitrios Kyriakou, Theopi Nalbanti, Sonia Kotanidou, Nektaria Kritsotaki, Natalia Sahnova, Aise Chatzi Ismail, Vlasios Spanakis, Georgios Iatrakis and Nikolaos Nikolettos

The human vaginal microbiota is an important component of the defense system to fight microbial and viral infections. During pregnancy, a significant decrease in overall diversity is observed in the vaginal flora, and there is an increase in stability as the composition of the vaginal flora changes gradually. These alterations are linked to a decrease in vaginal pH and an augmentation in vaginal secretions. The composition of the vaginal microbiome changes according to gestational age, with its composition in advanced weeks of pregnancy resembling that of nonpregnant women. There is supporting evidence for the existence of differences in the neonate’s microbiome between those born via C-section and those delivered vaginally. The evidence suggests that this difference is a result of the changes that occur in the mother’s microbiome, particularly in the vagina. The vaginal microbiome serves as a crucial barrier between the external environment and the intra-amniotic cavity. The vaginal microbiome appears to play a significant role as an additional defense mechanism of the mother and, consequently, the fetus. Any abnormalities in this microbiome can potentially impact the pregnancy and perinatal outcome.

Part of the book: Childbirth