Contemporary OB/GYN week in review: breast cancer prevention, uUTI trial, and more

Thank you for visiting the Contemporary OB/GYN® website. Take a look at some of our top stories from last week (Monday, June 23, 2025 - Friday, June 27, 2025), and click each link to read and watch anything you may have missed.

Neal Barnard, MD, FACC, highlights AMA's new breast cancer prevention guidelines

In a recent interview with Contemporary OB/GYN, Neal Barnard, MD, FACC, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, addressed current trends, disparities, and preventive strategies in breast cancer care.

A key concern remains the persistent racial disparities. Although Black women are 5% less likely to develop breast cancer than white women, they face a 38% higher mortality risk. Additionally, overall breast cancer incidence rates are gradually increasing, highlighting the need for more proactive and preventive approaches.

Barnard discussed a new policy from the American Medical Association (AMA) aimed at reducing breast cancer risk through lifestyle changes. The AMA encourages clinicians to educate patients and promote 4 main strategies: adopting a plant-based diet, engaging in regular physical activity, minimizing or avoiding alcohol, and maintaining a healthy body weight.

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Oral sulopenem demonstrates non-inferiority to amoxicillin/clavulanate in phase 3 uUTI trial

Oral sulopenem (ORLYNVAH; Iterum Therapeutics), a new penem antibiotic, was found to be non-inferior to amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin) for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (uUTIs) in adult women, according to findings from the phase 3 REASSURE trial (NCT05584657) recently published in NEJM Evidence.^1,2

n the microbiologically modified intent-to-treat (mMITT) population, comprising participants with baseline urine cultures showing ≥105 CFU/mL of an Enterobacterales uropathogen such as Escherichia coli or Klebsiella species, overall success was achieved in 60.9% of patients treated with sulopenem and in 55.6% of those treated with amoxicillin/clavulanate. The between-group difference of 5.4 percentage points (95% CI, –0.8 to 11.5) met the criteria for noninferiority.

Among patients with a baseline uropathogen susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanate, success was observed in 61.7% of sulopenem recipients compared with 55.0% for amoxicillin/clavulanate (difference, 6.7 percentage points; 95% CI, 0.3 to 13.0), indicating statistical superiority for sulopenem in this subgroup.

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New test identifies hereditary cancer presence with high accuracy

A test has been developed to assess patients for the presence of a hereditary genetic mutation linked to multiple forms of cancer such as breast and ovarian cancer, according to a recent study from the University of Copenhagen and Rigshospitalet.
The test identified the gene BRCA2, a significant gene in breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. Maria Rossing, MD, PhD, clinical research associate professor at Rigshospitalet, believes this method of testing may save lives if implemented in a clinical setting.

“If we know a patient has a pathogenic mutation, we can intervene before the cancer has a chance to develop. For those already affected by the disease, we can treat them faster and more precisely. In the long run, this will save lives,” said Rossing.

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ADHD linked to higher risk of premenstrual dysphoric disorder

The risk of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) may be increased in patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a recent study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

The results indicated an over 3-fold higher risk of PMDD among women with ADHD vs those without ADHD, with further increases reported in women with ADHD alongside anxiety or depression. This highlighted potential benefits of PMDD screening among women with ADHD.

“Our findings emphasize the need to consider issues affecting adult women with ADHD, and more specifically how females with ADHD may be at higher risk for experiencing PMDD,” said Jessica Agnew-Blais, PhD, senior lecturer at Queen Mary University of London.

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Prenatal mycotoxin exposure linked to lower birthweight

Adverse impacts on placental function leading to increased odds of lower birthweight may occur following prenatal exposure to mycotoxins, according to a recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives.

Mycotoxins are damaging substances produced by mold and include zearalenone (ZEN), which has estrogen-like activity. By mimicking estrogen, investigators hypothesized that ZEN, also known as mycoestrogen, may disrupt vital biological processes associated with pregnancy, such as gestation.

“Our findings emphasize the need for greater awareness of mycoestrogen exposure and its potential impact on maternal and fetal health,” said Zorimar Rivera-Núñez, PhD, assistant professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health and lead author. “This research underscores the importance of considering genetic factors when evaluating environmental exposures and their health effects.”

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