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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?

Continuous infusion of the NSAID ketorolac, a powerful nonopioid analgesic, is a safe therapeutic option for the management of postoperative pain, concludes a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

The FDA recently approved oxybutynin transdermal (Oxytrol for Women) treatment for overactive bladder (OAB) in women aged 18 years and older. It is the first anticholinergic drug to be made available over the counter (OTC) for treatment of OAB, according to manufacturer Merck.

A 2-step immunotherapy and combination chemotherapy protocol is feasible for patients with advanced, recurrent ovarian cancer, according to the results of a small pilot study by University of Pennsylvania researchers. Published in OncoImmunology and supported by the National Cancer Institute, the report documented response in women whose tumors previously had failed to respond to bevacizumab and cyclophosphamide.

Rates of sexually transmitted infection (STI) are 7 times higher in women in the military than in those who are civilians. This alarming finding was published in an article that appeared in the November 2012 issue of the Journal of Women’s Health.

The symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome were most improved when patients used anticholinergic drugs either alone or in combination with bladder training exercises, according to the results of an intervention review and meta-analysis conducted by the Cochrane Incontinence Group.

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

Medicare spending on breast cancer screening exceeds $1 billion annually in the fee-for-service program, according to a recent study.

Looking at the legal issues surrounding a ruptured uterus, lack of a prompt diagnosis for placental abruption, uterine perforation during D&C, and what constitutes adequate fetal monitoring.

ACOG has recently updated their guidelines for preterm birth. One of the doctors on Contemporary OB/GYN's editorial board looks at what has changed in the past 12 years.

A look at why you need to determine whether twins are monochorionic or dichorionic.

More than half of postmenopausal women report low sexual desire. Hormonal and nonhormonal treatments vary in efficacy and continued studies are needed.

US obstetricians need to once again be concerned about maternal iodine deficiency.

Sobering statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal that in 2011, 54.6% of high-school girls who consumed alcohol reported binge drinking.

A randomized UK study of menorrhagia shows that the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) is more effective than standard medical treatment in reducing the adverse effect of the menstrual problem on women's quality of life.

First know the anatomy and the risk factors, but don't forget to screen for and recognize injury as well.

Certain herbal and complementary medicines may be a valuable treatment option for women with postmenopausal symptoms, according to a new review outlining the advantages and limitations of the available treatments of postmenopausal symptoms.

A prospective U.S. cohort study of nearly 10,000 African-American women published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology indicates that child abuse-particularly sexual abuse-is an independent risk factor for uterine leiomyomata (UL).

Researchers in Taiwan have found that women with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are at a high risk for end-stage renal disease. The risk was much greater for women who had preeclampsia or eclampsia than for those who had only gestational hypertension.

Researchers in Scotland have found that although women whose first pregnancies are complicated by postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) do not have reduced fertility, they do have an increased risk of PPH in later pregnancies. Notably, they also found that women who have cesarean sections at the time of PPH are less likely to conceive again. The study was published January 23 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Some may argue that the new ACOG, ACS and other cervical cancer screening guidelines will detect the majority of at-risk women. We should not be content with settling for identifying a majority of at risk women; rather, we should constantly reassess the availability of useful tests to see if we can improve reliability.

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

Nurse-delivered interventions that combined psychoeducation with supportive attention may help improve mood in patients in whom cancer has been newly diagnosed.

Today, the FDA approved Oxytrol for Women, a patch containing oxybutynin that treats overactive bladder, for over-the-counter sale to women ages 18 and older.

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.