A variety of clinical and nonclinical variables--including induction of labor, use of cervical ripening agents, private health insurance, and local practice guidelines--influence whether women who have had a cesarean delivery go on to delivery vaginally in subsequent pregnancies. Who has successful VBAC? Click here to learn more.
Fewer than 4% of United States hospitals offer the full range of support mothers need to breastfeed successfully, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For CDC's list of steps that hospitals can take to strengthen breastfeeding support, click here.
OC-related drop in bone density varies with age, hormone dose Oral contraceptives (OCs) may decrease bone density, but the effect, which is small and appears only after about 2 years of use, depends on the age of the user and the hormone dose in the pill, a new study reports. Click here to read more about the long-term health impacts of OC use in young women.
Women who use long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), especially intrauterine devices (IUDs), are significantly less likely have a repeat abortion, New Zealand researchers report. Read the researchers' findings on contraception use in women who have had abortions.
As operative laparoscopy becomes more widely accepted, new techniques are being developed and more surgeons are utilizing this type of surgery in practice. Naturally, complication rates are also expected to rise.