Gynecology Blog

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...

Taiwan Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology Chairman Tsai Hong-te said yesterday women in the first three months of pregnancy should not receive the swine flu vaccine. Women more than three months pregnant should take the advice of their doctor when deciding whether to get vaccinated, Tsai said.

Tsai, who held a press conference at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), complained that his previous comments on the vaccine had been misreported by the media. He was referring to a report in the latest edition of Next Magazine quoting him saying that pregnant women should not take the vaccine and that the CDC should reconsider its vaccination program, especially for pregnant women, noting that the vaccine could have a negative effect on pregnant women and their babies. More...

Gynecology is the surgical specialty dealing with the health of the female reproductive system. A hysterectomy is an example of a commonly performed gynecologic surgery. Many gynecologists are also trained in obstetrics, the specialty that deals with the time before, during and after childbirth.