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The first birth from a groundbreaking trial of in utero stem cell transplantation suggests that fetal therapy may be a viable new option for alpha thalassemia (ATM). Plus: Why do vasomotor symptoms bother some women long after menopause? Also: Does CPAP improve sexual QOL in women with sleep apnea?

Results of a UK study show that while intrauterine infection may contribute to preterm birth (PTB), a reproducible “preterm placental microbiome” does not exist. Plus: Depression in the male partner of couples being treated for infertility was linked to lower pregnancy chances, according to results of a recent study.

Prenatal exposure to tobacco and marijuana can affect infant size and behavior, according to a recently published study. Plus: Is HT-NIPT cost-effective for guiding postpartum use of anti-D? Also: A recent study shows that lesbian and bisexual (LB) women have a greater likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) than their heterosexual counterparts.

Understanding the psychological underpinnings of sexual motivation can be helpful in improving the sexual and relationship well-being of couples affected by vulvodynia, according to recent research.

A small study shows that treatment with CO2 laser induces histological changes in the epithelium and lamina propria that may result in improvement in symptoms associated with vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA).

A recent study shows that mothers exposed to moderate to high levels of caffeine during pregnancy may give birth to infants that gain excess weight in early childhood. Plus: How does ART affect risk of stillbirth? Also: A study found that obese African-American women have significantly lower energy expenditure per kilogram of mass compared to obese white women with similar energy intake and physical activity levels.

Maternal chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is associated with a 16% increase in risk of preterm birth (PTB), with substantial heterogeneity, according to an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

The fetal fibronectin (fFN) test alone had a sensitivity of 66.7% and a specificity of 97.2% in predicting spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) in symptomatic twin pregnancies, according to a small pilot study of 40 women.

In the United States, 1% to 2.5% of pregnant women are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), which carries an approximately 5% risk of transmission from mother to infant. HCV can be transmitted to an infant in utero or during the peripartum period.

Providers should be discussing Zika with their patients and educating them about preventive strategies as well as offering screening and testing to relevant populations of pregnant women.

Since hormonal contraception was introduced in the 1960s, the risks and benefits of the drugs have been the subject of considerable, and at times acrimonious, debate.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are among the leading contributors to maternal mortality worldwide. This review describes hypertension-related maternal mortality in the United States and key strategies to improve outcomes.

A study from Belgium has found that women with typical symptoms of urinary tract infection (UTI) may still be infected with the uropathogen Escherichia coli despite a negative culture result.

Shoulder dystocia is a known complication of vaginal delivery that can be extremely challenging to manage, mostly because it is unpredictable and unpreventable. Hence, shoulder dystocia needs to be remedied with the maneuvers that the obstetrician is already trained in, according to a presentation at the 2018 Annual ACOG Meeting in Austin.

Results of a recent extended study of prolapse surgery  showed that in 60% of women, two common procedures failed within 5 years, but patients still reported a higher quality of life than before the surgery. Plus: ACOG has released a revised Committee Opinion to emphasize the idea of the “fourth trimester” in an attempt to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality numbers. Also: A recent study suggests that entering menopause later in life may be associated with a small boost in memory performance years later.