Browse Obstetrics/Gynecology Articles by Topic

A New Treatment for Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis?

Recurrent bacterial vaginosis is a problem that affects many women, with an estimated 50% of women developing a recurrence within 12 months of treatment. The authors of this study tested the efficacy of a novel product, Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05 (Lactin-V), in reducing bacterial vaginosis recurrence in this phase 2b clinical trial.

STI Testing Kits Are a Useful Tool During Pandemic

The authors of a recent study show it is feasible for providers to send patients at-home testing kits for sexually transmitted infections and expect a majority to be returned with samples.

Researchers Study Rate of Sexually Transmitted Infections During COVID-19 Pandemic

The United States has seen increasing rates of sexually transmitted infections for the past six years, but it is not yet clear if the trend has continued in 2020.

Spacing Childbirth Is Better for Women’s and Children’s Health

Women’s health benefits from waiting at least two years after a live birth before the next pregnancy. The results of a recent study reveal that women are more likely to space out childbearing after participating in a two-year intervention that includes providing women with access to family planning counselors, free transportation to a high-quality family planning clinic, referrals for services, consultations, and financial reimbursement for family planning services.

Barriers Inhibit Abortion Training for New Doctors

Although access to training in medical and surgical abortion has improved over the decades, barriers still prevent some new physicians from obtaining the training, according to the authors of a recent study.

State, Federal Regulations on Abortion Increase COVID-19 Risk for Patients

The authors of a recent study quantified the number of medically unnecessary clinical visits for abortion services. They found that more than 31,000 in-person clinic visits would be averted each month if four medically unnecessary state and federal policies were repealed and if 70% of patients received no-test telemedicine abortions.

Reproductive Health Groups Petition Supreme Court to Stop Trump Rule

Essential Access Health and other family planning advocacy organizations petitioned the Supreme Court to review a Court of Appeals decision that upholds the Trump administration’s Title X regulations and gag rule. Because of the changes, the number of Title X sites in California dropped from 366 to 238.

Pandemic Affects Reproductive Health, Highlighting Disparities

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed hardships on women seeking contraceptives and abortion care worldwide. It has been particularly deleterious to vulnerable populations. A shadow pandemic has developed of reproductive health disparities and more barriers to contraception.

Study of Epidural Analgesia Stirs Controversy

Several groups stand in strong opposition to a group of researchers’ recent conclusion about possible connection to autism risk.

Understanding the Utility of Hemoglobin A1c in Diagnosing Gestational Diabetes in Early Pregnancy

In this retrospective cohort study of 243 pregnant women who had combined hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and a two-step oral glucose tolerance testing at less than 21 weeks of gestation, median values of HbA1c were higher in women with gestational diabetes compared to nondiabetics (5.8% compared to 5.3%; P < 0.001). The predictive probability of using HbA1c in diagnosing diabetes in early pregnancy was high compared to two-step testing (area under the curve, 0.8), with an optimal diagnostic threshold of 5.6%. Although a HbA1c level of > 6.5% is diagnostic of early gestational diabetes, a lower diagnostic threshold might be justified during pregnancy.