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Ob/gyns are having to devote significantly more time to medical genetics because of the field's increasing impact on clinical practice. The March of Dimes's new online genetics resource and continuing education program can help you respond to patients'needs with the most up-to-date, customized, and practical information

Considering how successful surgery is, how do you tell a young woman who's unable to have intercourse that she needs to learn to live with her pain? Even so, a surgical approach is only for carefully selected women--usually those with primary vestibulitis who have exhausted other treatment options.

While some hormonal contraceptives are clearly contraindicated in specific chronic disorders, others pose little or no threat for the same condition. To provide practical guidelines on the subject, two experts review the "WHO Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use."

Most lesbian patients hesitate to reveal their sexual orientation, even though you need that information to deliver targeted health care. Creating a nonjudgmental office environment can encourage trust and disclosure, helping you to better address their unique health needs.

Advances in bone assessment

Dual x-ray absorptiometry is still considered the gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis and monitoring therapy, but considerable scientific evidence supports the use of peripheral quantitative ultrasound in bone assessment.

Anthrax is an optimal biologic weapon because of its fatal course, if the infection is left untreated. Ob/gyns have a critical role to play in recognizing the infection, providing timely and appropriate treatment or prophylaxis, and monitoring patients for adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Women treated with OCs for menstrual disorders like dysmenorrhea and irregular bleeding may not want to put up with the withdrawal symptoms linked with the standard regimen's 7-day hormone-free interval. Extending active therapy and reducing hormone-free days can improve their quality of life.

A detailed look at the design and outcomes of the monkey trial on tibolone, by Drs. Tom Clarkson and Leon Speroff. Available only online in conjunction with the authors' article, "Is tibolone a viable alternative to HT?" in our August 2003 issue.

A large body of research suggests that tumors in hormone users are better-differentiated and of lower grade and stage, with better outcomes. The contrary findings from WHI may reflect the older age of the participants and a need to discontinue HT 2 weeks before mammography in women aged 65 and older with dense breasts.

Clinical experience in humans in many countries and studies in monkeys say yes. Tibolone offers the symptom relief and bone benefits of CEE with endometrial safety--without stimulating breast tissue or increasing the risk of CAD.

Before choosing the appropriate surgical procedure, a two-pronged approach--transvaginal ultrasonography and CA-125 assessment--is the best way to determine the benign or malignant nature of an ovarian mass.

Drug therapy isn't recommended for all women with osteopenia, a precursor to osteoporosis. Clinicians need to identify, early on, the patients with low bone mass at additional risk for future osteoporotic fractures.

Patients need an individualized approach, says this expert in pelvic reconstructive surgery. Many factors determine whether minimally invasive versus invasive surgery, or abdominal versus vaginal routes of repair are best.