Weekly review: Potential of menstrual blood diagnostics, spontaneous abortion care, and more

Thank you for visiting the Contemporary OB/GYN website. Take a look at some of our top stories from the past week (Monday, May 18, to Friday, May 22, 2026) and click on each link to read and watch anything you may have missed.

Yana Aznavour, MD, PhD, on a non-invasive menstrual blood diagnostic platform for endometriosis

A novel, noninvasive diagnostic platform using at-home menstrual blood collection is being developed to help reduce delays in endometriosis diagnosis by leveraging molecular biomarkers reflective of endometrial biology. Early research suggests this approach could provide a more accessible and patient-centered alternative to current diagnostic methods, with the potential to enable earlier detection and more targeted clinical decision-making.

Yana Aznavour, MD, PhD, an obstetrician-gynecologist and founder and CEO of Endometrics, joined us to discuss the platform. Click here to watch.

Post-Dobbs policies shift spontaneous abortion care management

A recent study in JAMA Women’s Health found that state-level abortion bans following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision were associated with shifts in miscarriage management, including reduced use of evidence-based medication regimens and increased reliance on expectant approaches. These changes suggest that evolving abortion policies may be influencing clinical care patterns for pregnancy loss, with potential implications for patient outcomes.

Click here to read more and for full study details.

Alicia J Palmieri, DO, on care prior to a urogynecologist referral for pelvic floor, SUI

At the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting, Alicia J Palmieri, DO emphasized that many patients referred for pelvic floor conditions have not yet initiated first-line therapies, highlighting an opportunity for generalists to begin conservative management prior to specialist referral. Early use of interventions such as pelvic floor physical therapy and behavioral modifications may improve care efficiency and expand treatment pathways for conditions like stress urinary incontinence, which now include a broader range of minimally invasive and office-based options beyond traditional surgery.

Click here to watch.

Gestational diabetes: Intrapartum glucose control and associated neonatal outcomes

A secondary analysis published in Pregnancy found that maintaining intrapartum glucose levels within a defined target range was associated with improved neonatal outcomes among patients with gestational diabetes mellitus. Reduced time in range during labor was linked to higher rates of complications such as hypoglycemia and NICU admission, underscoring the potential clinical importance of glycemic control during delivery and the emerging role of continuous glucose monitoring in guiding real-time management.

Click here for full study details.

Mifepristone via telehealth, mail order can continue amid lawsuit, Supreme Court says

On May 14, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States issued an order allowing continued access to mifepristone via mail and telehealth while ongoing litigation proceeds in lower courts, temporarily blocking a prior appellate ruling that would have reinstated in-person dispensing requirements. The decision maintains the current distribution framework as legal challenges—stemming from a lawsuit filed by Louisiana against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—continue to unfold, with the potential for the case to return to the high court.

View our full recap of the recent battle over mail and telehealth access to mifepristone.

Marcela C. Smid, MD explains early postpartum care and reduced acute visits in perinatal SUD

At the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting, Marcela C. Smid, MD reported that early postpartum follow-up within 8 weeks was associated with significantly reduced acute care utilization among individuals with substance use disorder, whereas participation in an integrated perinatal addiction clinic was not. The findings suggest that timely postpartum engagement may play a more critical role than care model alone in lowering rates of hospitalization and emergency department use during the postpartum period.

Click here to watch.