Browse Obstetrics/Gynecology Articles by Topic

Smoking Cessation and Preterm Birth

A study using Ohio state birth data showed that women who stopped smoking by the end of the first trimester had the same rates of preterm birth as nonsmokers. Women who stopped in the second trimester had preterm birth rates similar to those who smoked all the way through pregnancy.

New Prescription Drug Labeling for Pregnant and Nursing Women

The FDA has updated the requirements for the pregnancy and lactation sections of drug labeling to allow pregnant women and their healthcare providers to be better informed about the risks and benefits of medications while pregnant or nursing. This article discusses the new Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule that went into effect in June 2015 and is being phased in over the next three to five years.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommends Against Genital Herpes Screening

The CDC estimates that about one in six U.S. residents ages 14-49 has genital herpes.¹ In new draft guidance, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against using current blood tests to screen for genital herpes in people with no signs or symptoms of infection, including adolescents and adults, as well as pregnant women.²

The Trajectories of Vasomotor Symptoms Eyed Across the Menopausal Transition

Most women will get hot flashes or night sweats at some point during menopause. Research indicates 42% to 79% of women experience vasomotor symptoms (VMSs) during the menopausal transition.^1-4 Just-published findings show that women fit into four distinct groups when it comes to having hot flashes and night sweats, which offers potential ramifications for therapy and prevention of future health conditions, according to research led by the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh.⁵

Counsel on Convenience and Effectiveness Of Immediate Postpartum LARC

Unplanned pregnancies can happen in the postpartum period. Data indicate 40-57% of women report having unprotected intercourse before the routine six-week postpartum visit.^1,2 The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has just issued a new committee opinion on the use of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) in the postpartum period to help stem such pregnancies.³

Combined Hormonal Contraception and Migraine — Add Clinical Information to Your Practice

What do you know when it comes to prescribing combined hormonal methods for women with migraines? A new two-part Association of Reproductive Health Professionals webinar series, “Migraines & the Female Patient,” offers information on the epidemiology of migraines and how to counsel affected women on their contraceptive options.

Get the Latest Guidance on Zika Virus In the Family Planning Setting

Clinicians can get up to speed on the latest strategies for Zika virus prevention, as well as implement the latest guidance surrounding Zika in the family planning setting, with new webinars hosted by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the CDC.

Updates Issued for US MEC, SPR — What Do the Changes Mean?

Time to update your practice. The U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2016 (US MEC 2016) and the U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2016 (US SPR 2016) have new information.^1,2

PCOS and Hormonal Contraception: A Tale of Two Syndromes?

Emerging evidence supports that two metabolic phenotypes exist among women with PCOS. For metabolically healthy PCOS patients, managing menstrual symptoms, anovulation and androgen excess with COCs provides a simple and well-tolerated treatment regimen. In contrast, PCOS patients with metabolic syndrome are at high risk for type 2 diabetes, and COC use may contribute to hyperinsulinemia, adverse lipid changes, and endothelial changes associated with adverse cardiovascular risk. The use of a levonorgestrel intrauterine device combined with spironolactone (to manage hyperandrogenism) and metformin (to manage hyperinsulinism) may offer advantages to metabolically unhealthy PCOS patients.

Oligohydramnios: How to Best Diagnose It and What It Really Means

A multicenter randomized, clinical trial involving large numbers of patients has shown that using the maximal vertical pocket instead of the amniotic fluid index to detect oligohydramnios more than halves the amount of inductions for the diagnosis of oligohydramnios without affecting the overall outcome.