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A group of leading clinicians who are familiar with the new transdermal contraceptive discuss how and why its use as a first-line option can make a dent in unintended pregnancy rates.

In January the March of Dimes launched a 5-year, $75 million national campaign targeting the complex problem of prematurity. Since we don't know what causes approximately half of all spontaneous preterm births, impacting prematurity is a formidable challenge. Obstetrical providers have a pivotal role in meeting this challenge.

Childbearing is no longer precluded for eligible women with stage IB cervical cancer who undergo this procedure. At some institutions, this alternative has already become standard of care.

Many adolescents and young adult women experience physical or sexual violence perpetrated by someone close. Knowledge of risk factors and sequelae associated with interpersonal violence and of screening methods to detect it can help the ob/gyn identify potential victims of assault. Careful management and referral of victims is critical and anticipatory guidance also is advised.

While experts continue to debate the exact causes of PCOS, there's little doubt that insulin resistance plays an important role in its pathophysiology. In the first installment of our series on PCOS, two authorities offer a detailed yet practical discussion on how to evaluate insulin sensitivity.

For emergency C/S and vaginal hyserectomy, the benefits of prophylactic antibiotics are clear-cut. In contrast, studies evaluating prophylaxis for elective C/S and abdominal hysterectomy are harder to interpret. The authors review the evidence.

Two women in their late 20s present to you with histories of abdominal swelling, vomiting, and diarrhea. In both cases, CT scan reveals ascites. Is this ovarian cancer. . .or something else? You make the diagnosis.

To promote breastfeeding after a mother returns to work, clinicians need to make knowledgeable recommendations about which breast pump to use and provide guidelines to ensure proper milk storage.

This is the second in a bimonthly series aimed at educating physicians on the pertinent aspects of litigation. Each case study will provide analysis of an actual ob/gyn lawsuit defended by the New York firm of Aaronson, Rappaport, Feinstein & Deutsch, LLP.

SMFM's Practice Committee reviews the scientific evidence on antenatal steroids and offers its recommendations on rescue and repeat courses of treatment.

To prevent pernatal infection, the latest CDC recommendtions emphasize the need for universal culture-based screening for pregnant women.

Although controversial, delivery is usually recommended for all women with severe preeclampsia--regardless of gestational age. But premature delivery can pose a major threat to the periviable fetus. When is it appropriate to expectantly manage severe preeclampsia?

Despite national progress towards ensuring that more pregnant women receive early prenatal care, many birth outcomes are not improving.

Part 3: Diseases characterized by genital ulcers.

Cardiac disease is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality during pregnancy. And because symptoms may mimic those of pregnancy, the diagnosis can be missed. Two experts tell how to minimize common complications.

Will heparin prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes among women with thrombophilia? Can patients prone to clotting safely take OCs and HRT? The author's concluding article addresses these and related treatment issues.

No. The better question may be whether the cesarean rate is too low.

Yes. It could be lower but it is difficult to know whether it really should be lower.

The second excerpt for the new guidelines outlines the latest federal recommendations for detecting HIV infection and counseling patients who contract the disease.

While cervical incompetence is an important contributor to many preterm births before 28 weeks, cerclage is not always the appropriate remedy. Candidates should be selected with care and the procedure contemplated only after consideration of benefits and risks to both mother and fetus and in-depth patient counseling.

Ob/gyns can better identify patients prone to deep vein thrombosis and fetal loss by learning more about this group of disorders.