Letrozole an effective alternative to clomiphene
January 1st 2007The aromatase inhibitor letrozole produces the same number of mature preovulatory follicles and results in a similar pregnancy rate as clomiphene citrate in women with unexplained fertility undergoing gonadotropin-stimulated controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles combined with intrauterine insemination (IUI) therapy. That's the conclusion of a new randomized, blinded trial conducted in Mexico.
Are breast cancer survivors at risk for stroke?
January 1st 2007Long-term survivors of breast cancer are at a slightly decreased risk of stroke or transient ischemic attacks, with the exception of those who received hormone therapy or had hypertension or high cholesterol, according to the results of a study published in the Dec. 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Postmenopausal breast cancer risk lower with exercise
January 1st 2007Postmenopausal women who report high levels of physical activity are at reduced risk of developing breast cancer, especially estrogen receptor-positive/progesterone receptor-negative tumors (ER+/PR-), than women who are less active, according to data from the Iowa Women's Health Study published in the Dec. 11/25 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Fall in US teen pregnancies mostly due to contraception
January 1st 2007The dramatic decline in teenage pregnancy rates in the United States since 1991 is largely due to improved contraceptive use with a decline in sexual activity playing a relatively small role, according to study findings published online Nov. 30 in the American Journal of Public Health.
Frequency of uterine contractions doesn't predict preterm birth for twins
January 1st 2007Uterine contraction frequency does not predict spontaneous preterm birth occurring before 35 weeks among women pregnant with twins, according to the results of a new study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
UAE linked to pregnancy risks, incuding preterm and CD
December 1st 2006Women who have undergone uterine artery embolization (UAE) to treat fibroids have a significantly higher risk of delivery by cesarean section as well as an increase in preterm delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, miscarriage, and lower pregnancy rates compared to the general obstetric population, according to study findings published in the November issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
History of PTD signals risk at same gestational age in subsequent pregnancy
December 1st 2006Women who have had either a spontaneous or medically indicated preterm delivery (PTD) have a risk of recurrence of either condition with the next pregnancy, which suggests they may have common causes, according to a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Oh, by the way...Can I ski while Im pregnant?
December 1st 2006Michelle, a 31-year-old G1P0, is in for a routine second-trimester prenatal visit at 18 weeks. During the visit, she mentions that her family is gearing up for their winter vacation. As you are walking out the door, she says, "Oh, by the way... can I ski?"
Improving survival in twin-twin transfusion syndrome
December 1st 2006Although serial amnioreduction is still widely used to treat this dangerous condition, a recent randomized trial found that when compared to amnioreduction at 15 to 26 weeks, overall perinatal survival is higher with laser ablation, which tries to reverse the disease process.
Legally Speaking: The GBS defense that wasn't
December 1st 2006Because of the potential jury verdict exposure, infant brain injury cases attract litigation even when the plaintiff's arguments are not scientifically or biologically plausible. It's often more expedient to settle such an action even when there is no negligence because juries can allocate extraordinary awards simply out of sympathy for the child's plight and the perceived cost of medical care and supervision.
Which aromatase inhibitors provide survival benefits?
December 1st 2006Only third-generation aromatase inhibitors (AIs) and inactivators-not earlier agents-significantly increase survival over standard hormonal treatments in women with advanced breast cancer, according to the findings of a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction for hot flashes
December 1st 2006Because previous studies have suggested that higher levels of stress and lower coping abilities are associated with more frequent and/or severe hot flashes, researchers from Massachusetts conducted a pilot study of 15 women to determine if participation in a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program would have any effect on hot flashes and menopause-related quality of life.
Infertility risk higher after ulcerative colitis surgery
December 1st 2006Women with severe ulcerative colitis who undergo colectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) are about three times more likely to experience infertility than women treated with medical management, according to study findings published in the November issue of Gut.