Browse Obstetrics/Gynecology Articles by Topic

2016 USPSTF Update: Recommendations for and Effectiveness of Screening Mammography

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently released updates to the 2009 recommendations on breast cancer screening. Additional studies published since the last review strengthen the conclusion that mammography screening results in a reduction in the risk of death from breast cancer.

Azithromycin remains effective in treatment of urogenital chlamydia, study data suggest

Results of a new study, conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Los Angeles-based University of Southern California, and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, confirm that azithromycin remains effective in the treatment of urogenital chlamydia.¹

Snapshot from National HIV Prevention Conference: Strides have been made, yet hurdles remain

The December 2015 National HIV Prevention Conference saw exciting developments announced by the CDC and partners, including new data on trends and disparities in the U.S. HIV epidemic.

New option for vaginal discomfort after menopause

Results of a recent Phase III trial suggest that intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone could provide women who cannot or do not wish to use intravaginal estrogen with an effective vaginal alternative for easing vaginal symptoms and pain with sex after meno-pause.¹ The drug, under development as Intrarosa by Endoceutics, a North American biopharma company, is under review by the FDA.

Supreme Court cases loom large in 2016

The most consequential reproductive health-related drama in Congress in 2016 most likely played out in January.

Elevated testosterone levels might increase risk of uterine fibroids

Women who have high levels of both testosterone and estrogen in midlife might face a greater risk of developing benign uterine fibroids than women with low levels of the hormones, results of a new study indicate.¹

Antifungal drug tied to miscarriage risk

In a retrospective analysis of 1.4 million pregnancies in Denmark, use of the oral antifungal medication fluconazole during pregnancy was tied to a significantly increased risk of spontaneous abortion associated with fluconazole exposure (HR, 1.48; 95%CI, 1.23-1.77), compared with risk among unexposed women and women who used a topical antifungal during pregnancy. Until more data on the association are available, cautious prescribing of fluconazole in pregnancy might be advisable. Although the risk of stillbirth wasn’t significantly increased, this outcome should be investigated further.¹

Could premenstrual syndrome be a flag for future risk of hypertension?

Results of a new study indicate that women with moderate-to-severe PMS had a 40% higher risk of developing high blood pressure during the following 20 years compared to women experiencing few menstrual symptoms.¹

Push is on to increase postpartum use of LARC

Your next patient is a young mother of two, and her youngest child is less than a year old. While she was using combined oral contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, her busy schedule compromised compliance. The lab results are in: The pregnancy test is positive.

Is There a Link Between Miscarriage and Future Cardiovascular Disease?

In this Scottish retrospective cohort study of 60,000 women, two or more miscarriages were found to increase the risk of future ischemic heart disease by two- to three-fold.