Contemporary OB/GYN week in review: vaping, influenza vaccination, and more

Thank you for visiting the Contemporary OB/GYN® website. Take a look at some of our top stories from last week (Monday, July 07, 2025 - Friday, July 11, 2025), and click each link to read and watch anything you may have missed.

Michael Ussher, PhD, highlights the benefits of vaping over smoking in pregnancy

In a recent interview with Contemporary OB/GYN, Michael Ussher, PhD, professor at City St George's, University of London, discussed the serious adverse outcomes associated with smoking during pregnancy and explored potential alternatives such as vaping.

Smoking during pregnancy is identified as one of the leading causes of preventable adverse outcomes in the developed world. Ussher outlined a range of complications linked to maternal smoking, including miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and low birth weight.

Ussher also addressed the topic of vaping as a possible harm-reduction strategy for pregnant smokers. Vaping eliminates the harmful combustion byproducts found in traditional tobacco smoke. Although both smoking and vaping involve nicotine, there is no strong evidence in humans that nicotine alone causes harm in pregnancy. However, he cautioned that some unknown toxins in e-cigarette vapor may still pose risks.

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Ousseny Zerbo, PhD, highlights benefits of influenza vaccination during pregnancy

In a recent interview with Contemporary OB/GYN, Ousseny Zerbo, PhD, research scientist at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, discussed the serious consequences of influenza infection during pregnancy and emphasized the importance of prenatal flu vaccination.

Influenza poses heightened risks for pregnant individuals because of physiological and immunological changes that occur during pregnancy. These changes make pregnant women more susceptible to severe flu complications, including hospitalization. Furthermore, contracting influenza while pregnant can lead to adverse outcomes such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and even miscarriage, underscoring the need for preventive measures such as vaccination.

Zerbo explained that one of the key benefits of flu vaccination during pregnancy is the transfer of protective antibodies from the mother to the fetus through the placenta. This passive immunity protects the newborn during the critical first 6 months of life—a period when infants are too young to receive the flu vaccine themselves but are still highly vulnerable to influenza-related complications.

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Study finds cervical cancer risk high in women aged over 65 years

The risk of cervical cancer because of human papillomavirus (HPV) remains increased in women aged at least 65 years, according to a recent study published in Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinical Medicine.

Currently, guidelines suggest that women aged 65 years and older no longer need to receive regular cervical cancer screening if their prior pap tests were normal. However, the data highlighted a rising incidence of cervical cancer in this age group, indicating a need for updated policies.

“These data indicate that women [aged 65 and above] are a high-risk group for cervical cancer incidence and mortality, necessitating urgent attention from countries worldwide,” wrote investigators.

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Pregnancy complications linked to long-term stroke risk

The odds of future stroke are increased in women with complications during pregnancy, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal on June 24, 2025.

Over 2 million women were included in the analysis across a period of over 40 years. Those presenting with diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy, preterm delivery, or a baby with a low birth rate had higher rates of stroke in the following decades.

“Up to one-third of all pregnancies are affected by one of these complications. However, the long-term cardiovascular risks for these women remain poorly understood and so are often not considered in their routine clinical care,” said Casey Crump, MD, PhD, MS, MPH, professor at UTHealth.

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Endometriosis linked to higher pregnancy rates vs other infertility causes

Pregnancy rates are 4 times higher in patients with endometriosis vs those with other causes of infertility, according to a recent study presented at the 41st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

The trial included over 4 million women in England across 30 years, providing hope for endometriosis patients with plans to conceive. Lucky Saraswat, PhD, senior lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, hypothesized that increased awareness about endometriosis may lead women to seek fertility care sooner, increasing the odds of a successful pregnancy.

“Endometriosis can vary in how it affects fertility,” said Saraswat. “Women with milder forms may retain good reproductive potential, especially if the condition is diagnosed and managed early. There’s also moderate-quality evidence suggesting that laparoscopic surgery can improve pregnancy rates in some with endometriosis.”

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