Breast Health

COVID-19

Cervical Health 

Contraception

Curbside Consults

Dermatology

Drug Pipeline News

Endometriosis

Genetic Testing

Gynecologic Oncology

Gynecology

Fetal Imaging

Abnormal Obstetrical Ultrasound

Ultrasound

Women's Imaging

Breast Imaging

Women's Ultrasound

Imaging

Infertility

LARC

Legally Speaking

Life Transitions

Malpractice

Menopause

Mental Health

Noninvasive Prenatal Testing

Obstetrics

Opinion

Osteoporosis

Pediatrics

Practice Management

Pregnancy and Birth

Sexual Health

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Surgery

Technology

Urology

Uterine Fibroids

Vulvovaginal Disease

Well Woman

About

News

Media

Podcasts

Insights

Investigator Perspectives

Medical World News

Peer Exchange

Peers & Perspectives

Videos

Conferences

Conference Coverage

Conference Listing

Publications

Contemporary OB/GYN® Journal

Digital Supplements

CME/CE

Resources

Physician Fact Sheets

Interactive Tools

Supplements and Featured Publications

Subscribe

Partnerships

Sharon Erdrich, PhD, is a researching in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Sydney.

New research reveals a strong connection between poor oral health, oral microbiota, and heightened pain sensitivity in women with central sensitisation disorders.

Sharon Erdrich, PhD, highlights oral health's impact on chronic pain

Articles

Review some of the top stories from the Contemporary OB/GYN website over the last week, and catch up on anything you may have missed.

Contemporary OB/GYN week in review: Dense breasts, stroke risk, and more

A new study reveals that combined oral contraceptive use significantly increases the risk of cryptogenic stroke in women aged 18 to 49 years, highlighting the need for careful risk assessment.

Oral contraceptives triple stroke risk in young women

Fiona Gilbert, MA, MB, is a professor of radiology at the University of Cambridge.

Women with dense breast tissue face higher cancer risks and diagnostic challenges, but new research reveals contrast imaging may significantly improve early detection.

Fiona Gilbert, MA, MB, discusses breast cancer screening for dense breasts

Advertise

Contact Us

Job Board

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

Contemporary OB/GYN

Facebook

LinkedIn

RSS Feed

Spotlight

A Psychedelic to Treat Postpartum Depression?

CMV: In the Know

RSV Roundtable

STIs

Supplement: Closing the Gap in Cervical Cancer Screening

Vaginismus: Managing a Misunderstood and Underdiagnosed Condition

Why vNOTES Make Sense for My Patients

1rem

Authors

What is your diagnosis based on these images of the ovary?

Challenge your diagnostic skills with this image quiz: Is this ovarian lesion cystic in nature or something else?

Image IQ: Ovarian Cyst or Something Else?

Saying "obstetrician-gynecologist" is a mouthful for most people, and it's probably the most abbreviated specialty in medicine, both spoken and written. However, there doesn't seem to be a consensus on how to pronounce OB-GYN. First, is it the two-syllable "O-B" or the monosyllabic "Ob"? Second, is it "gin" or "gyne" (like "Lyme")? I wonder if you have a preference. I know I do.

Almost nobody says "obstetrician-gynecologist" when speaking about these specialist physicians. But what's the "correct" way to pronounce OB/GYN?

Is It Ob-Gin or Ob-Gyne?

Preterm birth and its complications are the largest contributors to infant death in the United States and internationally. How does the U.S. stack up? 

Put your knowledge to the test in honor of Prematurity Awareness Month. 

Quizzes

Clinical

Can you guess the U.S. preterm birth rate?

In the first season following the rollout of a novel maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, new data presented at the 2025 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting suggest that uptake of RSV immunization during pregnancy remains uneven and may be influenced by both systemic and educational factors.

The retrospective cohort study examined 1,059 pregnant individuals who delivered at a tertiary referral center between October 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024. During that period, pregnant patients between 32 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks’ gestation were eligible to receive the RSV vaccine, which protects infants against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)—a leading cause of infant hospitalization in the United States. Alternatively, families could choose neonatal monoclonal antibody treatment for their newborns.

Overall, 68.5% (n=725) of the patients received some form of RSV protection. Those who received the maternal RSV vaccine were significantly less likely to deliver preterm (defined as before 37 weeks’ gestation), with a rate of 9.9% compared to 17.8% in those who did not receive the vaccine (

However, the study found notable disparities. Patients with Medicaid insurance were significantly less likely to receive RSV protection compared with those holding commercial insurance (63.6% vs. 71.3%, 

=.037). Uptake of RSV protection also closely mirrored acceptance of other routine prenatal immunizations, such as Tdap, COVID-19, and influenza vaccines. Patients who declined RSV immunization were also more likely to have declined these other vaccinations, all with 

These findings come as many health care professionals still report limited confidence and inconsistent practices regarding RSV immunization discussions. According to a recent Contemporary OB/GYN survey of 72 health care providers, most of them practicing ob-gyns, only 19.05% said they were “extremely familiar” with RSV and its impact on infants. While 38.10% reported always discussing RSV immunization with their patients, a combined 40% said they did so only “sometimes,” “rarely,” or “never.”

Confidence in counseling was also variable: only 23.81% of respondents felt extremely confident in their ability to advise patients on RSV immunization. Nearly 1 in 4 respondents (23.81%) said they believed it is “extremely important” for pregnant patients to receive the RSV vaccine, while others noted moderate or low importance.

A recurring barrier to vaccine uptake was patient education. A majority of providers (61.90%) identified lack of awareness as the top obstacle, followed by safety concerns (54.76%), time constraints (23.81%), and questions about efficacy (14.29%). Many patients reportedly entered appointments with little to no prior knowledge about RSV; 38.10% of providers said that 0–20% of their patients were aware of RSV immunization options before discussion.

To support better patient communication, 85.71% of providers said educational brochures or pamphlets would help them improve counseling, while others cited the need for better online resources, association support, and more structured training.

Cost and insurance coverage also emerged as common discussion points. Several survey respondents highlighted insurance as a deciding factor in where and how patients could access the RSV vaccine—a dynamic reflected in the cohort study’s finding that commercial insurance was associated with higher protection rates.

Providers also weighed a number of factors when recommending RSV immunization, including vaccine efficacy, potential side effects, fetal safety, and personal anecdotes. One physician noted that many patients are more motivated to receive the RSV vaccine if they or someone they know has had a child severely affected by the virus.

Ultimately, both the clinical data and survey responses point to the importance of proactive, informed conversations in driving uptake of RSV protection. The authors concluded, "In the inaugural season of prenatal RSV vaccination, receipt of other routine prenatal vaccinations and commercial insurance support were associated with receipt of RSV protection. These data will inform ongoing system-wide quality improvement initiatives."

1. Boller MJ, Ward LR, Gibbins KJ, Valent AM, Bayer LL. Uptake of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Protection in the Inaugural Prenatal Vaccination Season: A Tertiary Referral Center Experience. Abstract. Presented at: 2025 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting. May 16-18, 2025. Minneapolis, Minnesota.

2. Krewson C. Practitioner attitudes toward RSV counseling revealed. Contemporary OB/GYN. September 30, 2024. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/practitioner-attitudes-toward-rsv-counseling-revealed

A new study presented at 2025 ACOG Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting found disparities between RSV uptake in pregnant patients. 

Early data show disparities in RSV vaccine uptake among pregnant patients

What is your diagnosis of this placental lesion in a late second trimester pregnancy?

Daily Dx: Placental Lesion

These are 3D ultrasound images of a 14-week fetus. What is your diagnosis?

occipital meningocele and umbilical hernia

Sharon Erdrich, PhD

Articles

Latest Updated Articles