Gynecology Blog

Once a sluggish category for clinical innovation, gynecology is drawing new venture-backed companies eager to build upon the lead created by first-generation companies operating in minimally-invasive endometrial ablation and female sterilization. First generation companies had the difficult task of creating paths to early adopters of minimally invasive procedures. These now exist, and the clinical specialty appears to be also evolving in ways that encourage the growth of in-office procedures. 

Preterm birth-meaning the birth of a baby before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy-is a serious health problem in the United States and the leading cause of newborn death. Babies who survive an early birth may face lifetime health challenges, such as breathing problems, vision and hearing problems, cerebral palsy and learning disabilities. Preterm birth is also estimated to cost the nation more than $26 billion per year in direct and indirect costs.

Though some medical conditions or problems may require an early delivery, preterm birth is often spontaneous. While the causes often are unknown, experts say first knowing if you're at risk and being familiar with the warning signs are key factors in helping to prevent this serious and potentially life-altering situation. More...

High-risk pregnancies are more likely in women who have difficulty getting pregnant, with or without help from hi-tech fertility treatments, new research finds.

The risks should be considered during pregnancy care of "subfertile" women and when analyzing the potential hazards of fertility-assisting technologies, Australian researchers conclude in a report published in the journal Fertility and Sterility. More...

Pregnant women are advised to create a hospitable environment for their developing baby by eating right, taking prenatal vitamins and abstaining from alcohol. Some doctors say stress reduction — or help coping with extreme circumstances — should be added to the list.

A new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology finds that stressful circumstances early in pregnancy can lead to underweight babies or premature births. Chinese researchers studied 1,800 pregnant women and surveyed them on their emotional health and traumatic events such as death, divorce and job loss. More...

Nausea in pregnant women during the second and third trimesters can be a sign of flu, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.

"People don't necessarily think of influenza when you include the symptoms of nausea or vomiting, but our study showed that they are common with influenza in pregnancy," said Dr. Vanessa Rogers, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and lead author of the study, which appears in the May edition of Obstetrics and Gynecology. More...

An Alberta gynecologist convicted of sexually assaulting four of his patients while they were receiving vaginal examinations had an appeal dismissed this week. Carl Christopher Nqumayo was convicted in February 2009 of four counts of sexual assault against patients while he was an obstetrician/gynecologist at the Thickwood Heights Family Medical Clinic. Nqumayo was found guilty of using his fingers to make an in-and-out motion in patients’ vaginas during examinations that went beyond the consent given to a doctor during an exam. More...

Pregnant women in New York City were hard hit by the first wave of the H1N1 pandemic flu, researchers said. Expectant mothers were seven times more likely to be admitted to hospital if they contracted the flu than were nonpregnant women of reproductive age, according to CDC's Andreea Creanga, MD, PhD, and colleagues.

They were also seven times more likely to have severe disease -- defined by death or admission to intensive care -- Creanga and colleagues wrote in the April Obstetrics & Gynecology. The report is the second in five days to demonstrate that pregnant women are at greater risk for severe H1N1 flu. More...

Weight gain during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, could increase women’s risk of developing diabetes later in their pregnancy, according to a new study. The study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research appears online in the current issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The three-year study of 1,145 pregnant women from an ethnically diverse population found that women who gained more weight than is recommended by the Institute of Medicine had a 50 per cent increased risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus, also known as GDM. More...

A new US study suggests that acupuncture specifically designed for depression may reduce symptoms during pregnancy: although the study was small, the researchers say it is the first of its kind and hope that it raises awareness about depression in pregnancy and helps patients and doctors consider an alternative to antidepressants. More...

Pregnancy and the postpartum period are peak times for women to experience depression, and routine screening for the condition should be a priority, say the authors of an opinion paper issued today in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.

An estimated 14% to 23% of pregnant women experience depression, while 5% to 25% will have postpartum depression. The illness carries serious repercussions for both mother and baby, noted the authors of the paper. More...