Cutting edge topics in 2017

Lee A Learman, MD, PhD

ACOG conference attendees who want a glimpse of current and trending issues in the specialty will want to attend the session “Cutting Edge Topics in Ob-Gyn” on Monday, May 8 at 1 pm in the Convention Center Ballroom 6C.

As in past years, the session offers overviews by various academic societies in different subspecialties that highlight evolving and emerging evidence of interest to practicing clinicians. Chesney Thompson, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, will moderate presentations by:

·      Alfred Abuhamad, MD, President

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM)

·      Lee A Learman, MD, PhD, President

Society for Academic Specialists in General Obstetrics and Gynecology (SASGOG)

The Kathryn M and Thomas F Purdon, MD, Generalist Session

·      Ricard J Paulson, MD, President

American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)

Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Session

·      Laurel Rice, MD, President

Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO)

·      Halina Zyczynski, MD, President

American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS)

Research and emerging evidence related to counselling patients about ovarian reserve testing and about uterine transplantation, and the advantages and disadvantages of pre-implantation genetic screening of embryos will be the focus of the ASRM segment. Among the emerging evidence Dr Paulson will describe are data published in 2014 showing that letrozole is more effective than clomid as treatment for infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (POS) and data on preimplantation genetic testing that provides evidence on when it is potentially useful, when it is unnecessary, and in whom it is not worthwhile. Worldwide and US experience with uterus transplantation and the challenges and risks to the donor also will be discussed.

Representing the perspective of academic specialists, Dr Learman will talk about 10 research findings in 4 main areas of research: contraception, evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding, the impact of several treatments on sexual functioning, and surgical alternatives, including a discussion of comparative outcomes of different contraception methods. During the SASGOG segment, emerging data on Bartholin’s management and vasopressin concentration for myomectomy, and comparative long-term outcomes of uterine artery embolization (UEA) versus hysterectomy, and laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) plus morcellation versus abdominal hysterectomy AH) will be discussed.

Speaking to Contemporary OB/GYN, Dr Learman emphasized that the session’s goal is to provide the presidents of the organizations with the opportunity to highlight evolving and cutting-edge information most pertinent to the specialty and specialists in ob/gyn.

“The task of each organization is to convey what is most timely and important, what research is in progress, what research is on the horizon, and what new findings and issues have emerged in the past year to inform practice,” he said.