Gynecology Blog

Planned home births are associated with a tripling of the newborn mortality rate compared with planned hospital deliveries, yet planned home births are also linked to reduced preterm birth and low birth weight, according to a new study.

Research conducted by Joseph R. Wax, MD, and colleagues, from the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Maine Medical Center in Portland,  shows that the overall newborn death rate was almost twice as high in planned home vs. planned hospital births, and was almost tripled among those newborns  in planned home births without any congenital abnormalities. More...

They skulk at the entrances of maternity hospitals every day - pregnant women puffing on filthy gaspers. Some of them look guilty, averting their eyes when people stare. It's a pathetic and sad sight.

Others are more defiant, inhaling the toxic smoke as if their lives depend on it. But one thing's for sure. Pregnant women who smoke make me feel sick and mildly depressed.

Seeing an expectant woman in her dressing gown and slippers suck on a smoke is beyond pathetic when it's impossible to escape the gruesome images of the dangers of cigarettes. So, I'm all for the British plan to test every pregnant woman for smoking. More...

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...

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...

Doctors no longer advise women to eat for two during their pregnancies as new research shows that overeating during this time can impact the health of their babies adversely.

Only a pregnant woman knows what it's like to be told repeatedly by both her mother and mother-in-law to eat "enough for two." It turns out that this advice may be wrong after all: New studies have shown that a high calorie diet could affect the gender, and more importantly, the health of the baby. According to this study, the high fat, high carbohydrate diet of pregnant mice impacted almost 2,000 genes in the developing offspring, including those involved in kidney function and smell.  More...