Pregnancy and Birth

New drugs, new research, new guidelines… there’s a lot for ob/gyns to look forward to in the coming year. Here, the leaders of seven ob/gyn societies share the most interesting, important, exciting things on their radar for 2013.

From ASRM’s removal of the ‘experimental’ label from the procedure of oocyte cryopreservation, to discoveries into the complex genetic processes involved in ovarian cancer, 2012 was another important year in ob/gyn research. Here, the leaders of seven major ob/gyn societies reflect on the most exciting research of the last year.

An independent panel convened by the NIH has concluded that the name “polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)” causes confusion and is a barrier to progress in the realms of both research and effective patient care.

This middle aged lady had a history of pelvic pain. She was previously diagnosed with a suspected fibroid. What’s your diagnosis based on these uterine images?

In lower-segment cesarean deliveries, blunt dissection of the uterine incision is associated with less blood loss than sharp dissection, according to the findings of a recent systematic review and meta-analysis.

What is your diagnosis based on these 3rd trimester fetal images?

Both vaginal progesterone and cervical cerclage can effectively prevent preterm birth in women at risk for spontaneous preterm birth, according to the results of an adjusted indirect meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Women should wait 12 to 18 months after weight-loss surgery before trying to become pregnant, according to an evidence-based literature review.

After a cesarean delivery, closing the incision with staples, compared with sutures, is associated with significantly more composite wound morbidity, according to the results of a new randomized controlled trial.

A study published online by the British Medical Journal has shown that women who undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) are at increased risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) during the first trimester.

In high-risk women, a regimen of aspirin cannot prevent preeclampsia but may reduce the incidence of the condition, reported researchers in Finland.

Evaluation of a patient’s lipid profile before prescribing a combined oral contraceptive could be justified by the high prevalence of dyslipidemia, concludes a new study.

This image of an early pregnancy shows a very obvious pathology. What is your diagnosis?

Iodine declining levels are declining in the United States, and there are potential negative health implications associated with iodine deficiency.

The advice that many overweight and obese women are receiving on gestational weight gain (GWG) from their providers is insufficient and often inappropriate, concludes a small study conducted at Penn State College of Medicine.

After an episiotomy or a second-degree tear, continuous suturing techniques, compared with interrupted suturing methods, for perineal closure are associated with less short-term pain, less need for analgesia, and less need for suture removal, according to an intervention review conducted by the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group.

Cell free DNA testing using the plasma of pregnant women is a noninvasive prenatal test that has tremendous potential as a screening tool for fetal aneuploidy.

Is epidural analgesia or combined spinal-epidural (CSE) analgesia better for pain management in labor?

This 32-week pregnancy has history of passage of fluid through the vagina. Images are shown below. What do you opine?

Researchers have identified an enzyme that is overexpressed in women with preeclampsia, possibly contributing to the development of this condition, according to a new study conducted in Germany.

Levels of exposure that are defined as 'safe' by the official limits, are actually having non-trivial adverse effects, according to new reports.

What do you make of this not-uncommon uterine problem? The patient is a middle aged woman with pelvic pain.

Women who are born prematurely have a significantly increased risk of having pregnancy complications later in life, according to the results a population-based cohort study.

For women undergoing fertility treatments, the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors use may decrease pregnancy rates and increase miscarriage rates.