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...

Those who're pregnant or trying to conceive are surrounded by a long list of dos and don'ts, but most of them are myths. Do you really believe that the missionary position can increase your chances of getting pregnant? Well, women trying to conceive are often surrounded by such questions as there are so many urban myths and wives tales that make it difficult to know whether a person is doing the right thing, the wrong thing or simply wasting time.

Now, Heidi Murkoff has just released the latest in her popular What to Expect series, titled What to Expect Before You're Expecting. The book is aimed at women who are trying to conceive, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. More...

Pregorexia is a term used to describe a situation in which a pregnant woman becomes preoccupied with controlling her weight gain through extreme dieting and exercise. While pregorexia is possible — and could harm a baby's health — it's rare. In fact, research shows that far more women gain too much, rather than too little, weight during pregnancy.

No matter what the scale says, however, some women do excessively worry about their weight gain and experience body image issues during pregnancy. The risk of pregorexia may be higher for women who have a history of eating disorders and those who have a weak social support system. 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...

The good news is that stretch marks can be prevent during pregnancy but the bad news is that if the problem is an inheritance passed on to you by your family, then the prevention of stretch marks is a bit doubtful.

The stretch marks generally appear in the ninth month of pregnancy because it is the time your skin is stretched to the maximum extent. Weight gain, weight loss, sudden growth are some of the major changes which cause these stretch marks. Whatever the reason be, these look ugly and specially for a today women, stretch marks seems to a curse. It not only looks ugly but also speaks of your age. 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...