Judith M. Orvos, ELS

Every year, nearly all of the 6 million women who get pregnant in the US will take medication while they are pregnant or breastfeeding, but this population often is excluded from clinical research. PLUS: Do contemporary hormonal contraceptives reduce ovarian cancer risk? ALSO: Are breastfeeding intentions associated with infant health?

Babies born preterm are known to be at risk of alterations in brain structure and connectivity, but new research shows exposure to breastmilk may have cognitive benefits. PLUS: What’s behind postpartum opioid prescribing patterns? ALSO: How valuable is a second opinion for breast cancer diagnosis?

Women with silicone breast implants may be at increased risk for several rare adverse events, according to the first comprehensive study of long-term outcomes since the implants were reapproved. PLUS: Does delayed childbearing contribute to rates of multiple birth? ALSO: Does prenatal pollution exposure impact a newborn’s thyroid function?

A new report shows that over a 10-year period in the United States, rates of severe maternal morbidity increased and age, race, and income, all played a role in disparities in specific related trends. PLUS: How are most women informed of a breast cancer diagnosis? ALSO: Does gestational diabetes signal long-term risk for mothers and their children?

The first-ever guidelines for perimenopausal depression have been developed by The North American Menopause Society and the National Network on Depression Centers Women and Mood Disorders Task Group. PLUS: Are female sterilization rates and cognitive disability linked? ALSO: How does delivery mode in twin pregnancies impact maternal morbidity rates?

Physicians are looking for ways to reduce unnecessary prescribing of opioids and dispensing after vaginal delivery may represent a source of over-prescription, according to a recently published study. PLUS: Can marijuana pass into mother's milk? ALSO: How do race and ethnicity impact HPV vaccine completion rates?

A study that tested the hypothesis that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is linked with autism may inform new interventions for PCOS and autism. PLUS: Does smoking exposure deter breastfeeding? ALSO: Does race play a role in maternal outcomes for older women?

A national poll suggests that most adults with children favor some type of state support for pregnant teens. But how strongly someone feels about that and whether the help comes with caveats may be influenced by the person’s gender.

Internet addiction often is linked with depression but a new study suggests that there is a way to use the technology to help encourage teens with postpartum depression to get treatment.

Findings from a recent study illustrate why you should be talking with your pregnant patients about their consumption of fatty acids.

Release of results from the ARRIVE trial has provided answers to some concerns about 39-week induction while leading to some questions about the participants and the implication of the findings for clinical practice. PLUS: CDC updates on Zika virus. Also: FDA warns about tests for rupture of membranes

To fight the opioid epidemic, ob/gyns, like all physicians, are looking for ways to help prevent substance use disorders and enhanced recovery programs (ERAS) could play a role. PLUS: Are EDs screening adolescents with PID for HIV, syphilis? ALSO: Results of a new retrospective study show that a woman’s race may impact how likely she is to have a myomectomy-and alarmingly, whether the procedure is likely to result in morbidity.

Incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) continues to increase in women during pregnancy and the puerperium. Data from a new study point to underlying factors contributing to that trend. PLUS: Results of a large population-based study of POP procedures provide new insights into what factors other than the material may play a role in the adverse surgical outcomes.

The manufacturer of a device for permanent birth control that reportedly causes serious adverse events has decided to cease selling it at the end of the year. PLUS: Does smoking cessation really = weight gain? Also: Is prenatal depression more common today? 

Ob/gyns and other women’s health providers can help save Title X for their patients and their voices need to be heard on Capitol Hill. That was the clear message from speakers at a recent media event in Washington, DC.

Research point to risk as well as benefits of extended adjuvant tamoxifen for ER-positive BCa. PLUS: Should breast cancer screening be risk-based? ALSO: Side effects of cross-sex hormones in transwomen.

A study by investigators from New England suggests that a mother’s diet during pregnancy and lactation may have an impact on the microbiome in her infant’s gut. PLUS: Are prenatal vitamin D levels tied to adverse pregnancy outcomes? ALSO: Results of a survey-based study of attending surgeons shows that they play a major role in whether women with breast cancer receive genetic testing.

An analysis by Danish investigators published in JAMA shows that taking oral fluconazole during pregnancy is associated with a significant increased risk of spontaneous abortion. Plus: What persuades parents to vaccinate for HPV? Also: Does prenatal exposure to lithium increase risk of congenital malformations?

A recent study compared pretreatment with mifepristone followed by treatment with misoprostol against treating with misoprostol alone for the management of  first-trimester pregnancy loss. Plus: Are patients less satisfied with MDs who reduce opioids? Also: Does infant exposure to hypertensive disorders or pregnancy affect neurodevelopment?

Results of a study by Canadian researchers suggest that exposure to low and medium doses of cranberry juice may have potential to reduce physician visits and costs for women who have a history of recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI).

According to research recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine, chemotherapy is not more beneficial than treatment with hormone therapy alone for women with certain types of breast cancer. Plus: Do abortions cause depression? Also: Public comments are being solicited on a new systematic review from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on unhealthy alcohol use in adults aged 18 and older, including pregnant women.

The first birth from a groundbreaking trial of in utero stem cell transplantation suggests that fetal therapy may be a viable new option for alpha thalassemia (ATM). Plus: Why do vasomotor symptoms bother some women long after menopause? Also: Does CPAP improve sexual QOL in women with sleep apnea?

Results of a UK study show that while intrauterine infection may contribute to preterm birth (PTB), a reproducible “preterm placental microbiome” does not exist. Plus: Depression in the male partner of couples being treated for infertility was linked to lower pregnancy chances, according to results of a recent study.

Prenatal exposure to tobacco and marijuana can affect infant size and behavior, according to a recently published study. Plus: Is HT-NIPT cost-effective for guiding postpartum use of anti-D? Also: A recent study shows that lesbian and bisexual (LB) women have a greater likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) than their heterosexual counterparts.

A small study shows that treatment with CO2 laser induces histological changes in the epithelium and lamina propria that may result in improvement in symptoms associated with vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA).

A recent study shows that mothers exposed to moderate to high levels of caffeine during pregnancy may give birth to infants that gain excess weight in early childhood. Plus: How does ART affect risk of stillbirth? Also: A study found that obese African-American women have significantly lower energy expenditure per kilogram of mass compared to obese white women with similar energy intake and physical activity levels.

Results of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) suggest that over-the-counter moisturizer may be just as effective as vaginal estrogen tablets for treatment of vulvovaginal symptoms (VVS) in postmenopausal women. Plus: Does a Mediterranean diet help protect bones in postmenopausal women? Also: Metformin, an oral diabetes medication, seems to reduce the likelihood of late miscarriage and premature birth in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), according to results of a multicenter study.

Failure of liquid nitrogen storage tanks at two major infertility centers has led to a review of procedures at those and other similar facilities by them and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Plus: Does MHT affect cardiovascular health? Also: Hirsutism treatment and diagnosis updated.