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Hold the Hormones — At Least for Chronic Condition Prevention

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reissued a statement on hormone replacement therapy for the prevention of chronic conditions that reiterates its D recommendation from 2012. It recommends physicians do not prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to prevent medical conditions, but leave the question of using HRT for treatment of menopausal symptoms unanswered.

The Debate Continues on Salpingectomy

The role of routine salpingectomy during vaginal hysterectomy is controversial.

Intrauterine Device String Checks: Are They Necessary?

Two-thirds of women complied with the recommendation for a six-week follow-up visit after intrauterine device (IUD) insertion. Among these women, 19.8% had their IUD removed in the first year compared to 12.6% among women who did not attend the follow-up visit. The majority of removals occurred outside the six-week follow-up period.

Does Hysterosalpingography With Oil-based Contrast Increase Fertility?

A multicenter, randomized trial in the Netherlands documented higher rates of ongoing pregnancy and live births among infertile women who underwent hysterosalpingography with oil-based contrast compared to those who underwent the procedure with water-based contrast.

Breast Cancer and Hormonal Contraception: New Information or Sensationalism?

Highly publicized results from the Danish database demonstrate an increase in the risk of breast cancer associated with current use of hormonal contraception. Consistent with prior research, the risk is small, confined to current users, and disappears following discontinuation.

FDA Actions

In this section: Agency approves new diabetes treatment, green lights medicine for treatment of shock, gives the go ahead to a follow-on version of insulin lispro injection, launches a new website to assist with antibiotic selection, and removes a boxed warning from long-acting beta-agonists in combination with inhaled corticosteroids regarding asthma-related death.

No Association Between Vitamin D, Calcium Supplements and Fracture Prevention in Older Adults

There were no significant associations between calcium, vitamin D, or combined calcium and vitamin D supplements or the incidence of nonvertebral, vertebral, or total fractures. The results were consistent regardless of the dose of vitamin D or calcium, sex, fracture history, dietary calcium intake, or baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration.

Is There a Connection Between Breast Cancer and Hormonal Contraceptives?

In a recent study, the authors concluded that while the risk is small, there was a higher risk of breast cancer among women who currently or recently used contemporary hormonal contraceptives than among women who had never used hormonal contraceptives.

The Sticky Wicket of Androgen Receptor Modulators

In a recent investigation, less than half the products tested contained the amount of active product claimed on the label, almost 20% contained none of the claimed active component, and some contained substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Addressing Insomnia

If cognitive behavioral therapy is insufficient to remedy insomnia, sedative-hypnotic agents must be added sometimes. Consultation with a sleep expert for refractory cases, or for cases requiring more sustained use of medications, is fully appropriate.