Contemporary OB/GYN week in review: maternal attachment, opioid use, and more

This week at Contemporary OB/GYN®, we covered topics ranging from the link between fetal movement and maternal attachment to reduced chemical exposure in ingredient-aware product selection. Click the links below to read anything you might have missed from Monday, September 22, to Friday, September 26, 2025.

Helena Rutherford, PhD, highlights fetal movement's link to maternal attachment

A recent study led by Helena Rutherford, PhD, associate professor in the Child Study Center at Yale School of Medicine, highlights the important role of fetal movement in shaping maternal-fetal attachment during pregnancy, with implications for both clinical practice and long-term child development.

The study measured fetal movement objectively using Doppler technology over a 30-minute session, focusing on the frequency and duration of activity. Researchers found that mothers whose fetuses were more active reported stronger emotional attachment to their unborn child. Notably, these results align with prior studies that relied on mothers’ subjective reports of fetal movement, but the new approach adds rigor by incorporating an objective, quantitative measure. Even after adjusting for factors such as parity and knowledge of fetal sex, the association remained strong, reinforcing the reliability of the findings.

Emma N. Cleary explains opioid use is not linked to offspring ADHD or autism

As explained in an interview with Contemporary OB/GYN by Emma N. Cleary, PhD candidate at Indiana University Bloomington, pain management during pregnancy is an important clinical consideration, and opioids are sometimes prescribed when other treatments are insufficient. However, because opioids cross the placenta, there have been concerns about potential long-term impacts on child development.

Previous observational studies have suggested potential associations between prenatal opioid exposure and increased risks for neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly with higher levels of exposure. To address limitations of earlier research, Cleary and her team designed their study to account for key sources of confounding and bias, including genetic and environmental factors that may influence both the likelihood of opioid prescribing and the risk for developmental disorders.

Using Swedish population data, they applied several analytic approaches and consistently found no substantial increase in risk for ASD or ADHD with typical levels of prenatal opioid prescribing. While high-dose or long-term exposures were not well represented in their sample, the findings provide reassurance for patients and clinicians regarding low to moderate opioid use during pregnancy.

How safer personal care product selection can reduce chemical exposure

In an interview with Contemporary OB/GYN, Lariah M. Edwards, PhD, associate research scientist at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, discussed how selective product choices can reduce exposure to harmful ingredients commonly found in cosmetics and toiletries.

Edwards explained that although regulatory protections are still insufficient, individual consumers can take steps to lower their personal exposures. Choosing products labeled “fragrance-free” or specifically marketed as free from phthalates, parabens, and related compounds can make a measurable difference. In fact, her team’s research found that women who intentionally avoided these ingredients showed lower levels of the chemicals in their bodies, providing clear evidence that consumer choices can reduce internal exposure.

OASIS-3 highlights safety and efficacy of elinzanetant against VMS

The OASIS-3 trial, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, has highlighted the efficacy of elinzanetant for significantly reducing vasomotor symptoms (VMS) such as hot flashes and night sweats in postmenopausal women.

Results of the international clinical trial indicated a 73% reduction in the frequency and severity of VMS by week 12. Additionally, reduced sleep disturbances and improved quality of life were reported in participants taking elinzanetant. There were no adverse liver or bone density outcomes linked to the investigational drug.

“The disruptive nature of these bothersome hot flashes, particularly when they are more severe, can significantly affect women’s daily lives, both at work and at home, underscoring the urgent need for effective non-hormonal treatments,” said JoAnn V. Pinkerton, MD, director of midlife health at UVA Health.

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AI uses mammograms to accurately predict women’s heart disease risk

Investigators have published data in the journal Heart indicating efficacy for an AI algorithm using only routine mammogram images and age to assess major cardiovascular disease risk in women.

Equal efficacy to modern risk scores using age and clinical factors was highlighted for the algorithm. Based on this data, investigators suggested cardiovascular risk assessment through routine mammograms may be an effective, cost-effective solution by relying on existing health infrastructure.

“In contrast with what is commonly thought, breast cancer causes only about 10% of the total deaths globally compared with those resulting from cardiovascular disease,” wrote investigators. “Mammography may therefore represent a 'touch point' for raising awareness about cardiovascular risk and disease in women.”

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