Contemporary OB/GYN week in review: breast cancer screening, UUI management, and more

Thank you for visiting the Contemporary OB/GYN® website. Take a look at some of our top stories from last week (Monday, March 03, 2025 - Friday, March 07, 2025), and click each link to read and watch anything you may have missed.

Anietie Aliu, PhD, discusses how to improve breast cancer screening disparities

In a recent interview with Contemporary OB/GYN, Anietie Aliu, PhD, from the University of Surrey, highlighted a study evaluating racial disparities in breast cancer screening and how these issues might be alleviated.

The study reviewed various research articles to identify barriers that Black women face in accessing breast cancer screening and examined the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving screening rates. The key barriers identified included concerns about the reliability of test results, fear of false positives and false negatives, and low awareness about breast cancer, particularly among women born outside the United Kingdom. Many of these women did not perceive breast cancer as a personal risk, partly because of lower incidence rates in their countries of origin.

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Jannah Thompson, MD, highlights battery free device for UUI management

In a recent interview with Contemporary OB/GYN, Jannah Thompson, MD, FPMRS, from Trinity Health Urogynecology, discussed a study evaluating the efficacy of the new Spera sacral neuromodulation (pSNM) system in treating women with urgency urinary incontinence (UUI).

UUI is a condition where individuals experience sudden, uncontrollable urges to urinate, often resulting in leakage before reaching the bathroom. This condition significantly affects quality of life, leading to issues such as depression, anxiety, and social isolation. In the United States, approximately 1 in 5 women suffer from UUI, making it a widespread health concern.

Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) has been used as a treatment since 1997, with continuous technological advancements. The Spera pSNM system was designed to improve patient experience by offering a battery-free alternative to traditional SNM devices. This system consists of a mini percutaneous lead implanted near the sacral nerve, which stimulates the bladder nerve to reduce leakage episodes. Unlike conventional devices with batteries, this system requires external stimulation for 2 hours a day using a small, hands-free, and discreet wearable disc.

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Ipek Ensari, PhD, highlights improved mental health in chronic pelvic pain from physical activity

In a recent interview with Contemporary OB/GYN, Ipek Ensari, PhD, professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, highlighted a study indicating improved mental health among chronic pelvic pain patients performing moderate physical activity.

Chronic pelvic pain disorders, such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, and fibroids, have been shown to significantly affect mental health, leading to increased anxiety and depressive symptoms among affected individuals. The study compared the mental health of women with chronic pelvic pain conditions to those without such conditions, finding that women with these disorders experienced a decline in overall mental well-being compared to their peers.

Physical activity has been identified as a potential intervention to help alleviate the negative mental health impacts of chronic pelvic pain. The study suggests that engaging in regular, moderate to vigorous physical activity such as a brisk walk can improve mental well-being.

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Racial disparities in out-of-pocket maternity costs reported

The out-of-pocket cost paid for maternity care is often increased among Black, Asian, and Hispanic patients with private insurance vs their White counterparts, according to a recent study published in JAMA Health Forum.

Significant differences were reported during pregnancy, with Black patients on average paying 74% more than White patients for recommended prenatal care services. In comparison, Hispanic patients paid 51% more and Asian patients 4% more.

“We found that out-of-pocket costs were highest for Black people overall through pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum,” said lead study author Rebecca Gourevitch, PhD, professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

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Sexual function screening recommended in postpartum women with PTSD

Screening for distressing changes in sexual function should be performed in women reporting posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms postpartum, according to a recent study presented at the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health 2025 Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia from February 27 to March 2, 2025.

“Postpartum PTSD is under-studied and under-treated,” wrote investigators. “Untreated perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (including PTSD) are associated with poorer health outcomes for both mother and child(ren), poorer quality of life, and impairments in relationship functioning.”

A significant correlation with sexual distress was reported for PTSD symptoms (r = 0.27, p < .05), but not with SFQMIS (r = .14, p = .253). Higher PTSD scores were reported among women above the cutoff point for sexual distress, at 17.53 vs 9.19 among those below the cutoff point.

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