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A recent study highlights worsened walking and motor skills in postmenopausal women with multiple sclerosis, shedding light on the need to determine hormone therapy benefits.

Study reports accelerated multiple sclerosis progression at menopause

A recent study highlights that leiomyoma recurrence and reintervention are common, with laparoscopic and abdominal myomectomy showing similar risks.

High reintervention rates observed after surgical myomectomy

A novel ultrasound-based diagnostic algorithm with 98.1% sensitivity enables accurate stratification of patients with mesenchymal uterine malignancies, paving the way for personalized care.

Diagnostic algorithm improves detection of uterine malignancies

Evidence-based guidelines stress the importance of timely diagnosis, collaborative care, and maternal-infant safety in addressing the rising incidence of hematological malignancies in pregnancy.

Multidisciplinary care found key to managing blood cancers during pregnancy

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A Psychedelic to Treat Postpartum Depression?

CMV: In the Know

RSV Roundtable

STIs

Supplement: Closing the Gap in Cervical Cancer Screening

Vaginismus: Managing a Misunderstood and Underdiagnosed Condition

Why vNOTES Make Sense for My Patients

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OBGYN.net Conference CoverageFIGO 2000 INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION of GYNECOLOGY & OBSTETRICS: Washington DC, USA

ST Waveform Analysis of Fetal ECG & Intrapartum Hypoxia

A 27-year-old woman presents with an 18-month history of vulvar irritation. She is otherwise healthy except for episodes of depression. She has tried multiple agents for her condition including topical steroids, Vagisil, antibiotics, and fluconazole. She used oral steroids but developed knee pain. Tacrolimus has not helped. A biopsy revealed lichen simplex chronicus. Immunofluorescent studies were negative.

A 27-year-old woman presents with an 18-month history of vulvar irritation. She has tried multiple agents for her condition including topical steroids, Vagisil, antibiotics, and fluconazole without relief. What's your diagnosis?

Vulvar irritation in a 27-year-old woman

Advancements from self-collection and extended genotyping

Cervical cancer screening

, Jeff Andrews, MD, FRCSC, vice president of Medical Affairs at BD Life Sciences, discussed advancements and challenges in cervical cancer screening. 

Andrews highlighted new screening options aimed at improving accessibility. One key innovation is FDA-approved self-collection in health care settings, typically done privately, such as in bathrooms at clinics or labs. There is ongoing work to introduce self-collection options for at-home use in the United States. Additionally, the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology is updating guidelines to incorporate extended genotyping and self-collection methods.

Andrews mentioned that the United States Preventive Services Task Force is revising its cervical cancer screening guidelines, emphasizing primary human papillomavirus (HPV) screening and including self-collection as a recommended approach. While these developments promise increased accessibility, Andrews noted that the United States lacks a national cancer screening program. Instead, cervical cancer screening is "opportunistic," meaning patients must seek it out or rely on their health care providers to initiate the conversation.

Additionally, Andrews stressed the importance of educating women about these advancements. He clarified that cervical screening aims to detect pre-cancerous conditions rather than cancer itself, enabling early treatment and prevention. HPV testing, particularly with extended genotyping, assesses the risk of pre-cancer rather than simply detecting the virus, according to Andrews.

The discussion concluded with Andrews expressing enthusiasm for the progress being made and emphasizing the need for clear communication about the benefits of extended genotyping and self-collection options. These advancements hold potential for increasing awareness, accessibility, and prevention efforts in cervical cancer care.

This video is part 2 of a 2-part series. Click 

Discover how FDA-approved self-collection and updated guidelines for cervical cancer screening are improving accessibility and empowering early prevention efforts.

Clinical

Self-collection and extended genotyping advance cervical cancer screening

Self-collection and barriers to adherence

, Dr. Jeff Andrews, MD, FRCSC, vice president of Medical Affairs at BD Life Sciences, discussed current trends in cervical cancer screening and mortality.

Andrews emphasized that while the introduction of the Pap test significantly reduced cervical cancer rates, recent data shows that incidence and mortality have plateaued or are not decreasing as expected, both globally and in the United States. One major factor contributing to this stagnation is the failure of many women to adhere to recommended screening guidelines. A key purpose of a recent survey by BD was to understand the barriers women face in accessing screening and to explore new technologies such as self-collection, which could help reach more women and potentially reduce cancer rates.

The BD cervical cancer awareness survey, conducted by Harris Polls across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Indonesia, revealed that many women are not getting screened according to guidelines. Notably, the survey's findings differed from previous surveys by emphasizing factors such as fear, discomfort, and inconvenience, in addition to lack of knowledge. These concerns were found to be common across all countries surveyed. The survey also suggested that self-collection, a method gaining traction in these countries, could address many of these barriers by offering a more comfortable and convenient option. Although many women were initially unfamiliar with self-collection, their response to the idea was overwhelmingly positive.

Another key finding was that while awareness of the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical cancer had increased in recent years, ranging from 57% to 66% depending on the country, a significant majority of women still believed the Pap test to be the most accurate screening method. In fact, between 88% and 95% of women were unaware that HPV testing, either alone or combined with cytology, is actually more accurate than the Pap test. Furthermore, a high percentage of women, ranging from 75% to 83% depending on the country, expressed a preference for a less invasive, more comfortable alternative to the traditional Pap test, with many supporting the idea of at-home self-collection.

Andrews noted that while the increased awareness of HPV was encouraging, there is still much work to be done. He was also surprised by the shift in survey findings, which revealed that factors such as fear, discomfort, and cost, rather than lack of knowledge alone, were significant barriers to screening. Despite these challenges, the survey results suggest strong support for more accessible and user-friendly screening options, such as self-collection.

This video is part 1 of a 2-part series. Click 

Jeff Andrews, MD, FRCSC, discusses troubling trends in cervical cancer mortality and how self-collection could address key barriers to screening, based on a recent BD survey conducted across 4 countries.

New trends in cervical cancer screening: Self-collection and barriers to adherence

In a recent interview ObGyn.net conducted for 

 on comprehensive care and cancer screenings at well-woman visits, the topic of stethoscopes came up. Ilene S. Gewirtz, MD, the interviewee, mentioned that she still carries a stethoscope and listens to her patients' heart and lungs at well-woman visits. She also said that she believes she's in the minority regarding this practice. We want to know if she's right.

POLL: Many women consider their OB/GYN their primary care provider. But like your primary care counterpart, do you carry a stethoscope?

Do OB/GYNs Carry Stethoscopes?

What is your diagnosis based on these images of the ovary?

Challenge your diagnostic skills with this image quiz: Is this ovarian lesion cystic in nature or something else?

Image IQ: Ovarian Cyst or Something Else?

Saying "obstetrician-gynecologist" is a mouthful for most people, and it's probably the most abbreviated specialty in medicine, both spoken and written. However, there doesn't seem to be a consensus on how to pronounce OB-GYN. First, is it the two-syllable "O-B" or the monosyllabic "Ob"? Second, is it "gin" or "gyne" (like "Lyme")? I wonder if you have a preference. I know I do.

Almost nobody says "obstetrician-gynecologist" when speaking about these specialist physicians. But what's the "correct" way to pronounce OB/GYN?

Karl Rosen

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