Contemporary OB/GYN week in review: Sexual health approach, IUD pain 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, February 17, 2025 - Friday, February 21, 2025), and click each link to read and watch anything you may have missed.

Efficacy found from biopsychosocial approach to women’s sexual health

In a recent interview with Contemporary OB/GYN, Somi Javaid, MD, FACOG, a board-certified OB-GYN and expert in menopause and sexual health, discussed the importance of a biopsychosocial approach in improving sexual health outcomes.

Javaid highlighted how sexual wellness is a crucial aspect of overall health, affecting mental well-being, confidence, relationships, and even physical health, particularly pelvic floor function. She explained that sexual health issues often contribute to anxiety, depression, and isolation, as many women feel alone in their struggles. Despite the prevalence of sexual health concerns, impacting nearly 43% of women, many patients experience dismissal from health care providers, leading them to feel invisible. Javaid shared examples of patients receiving inadequate advice, reinforcing the stigma and lack of proper medical attention given to women's sexual health.

Click here for the full video.

Dr. Bayer highlights pain management strategies for IUD placement

In a recent interview with Contemporary OB/GYN, Lisa Bayer, MD, MPH, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health and Science University, discussed pain management during intrauterine device (IUD) placement.

Bayer highlighted the challenges of managing IUD pain, citing the complexity of pelvic innervation, the absence of standardized national guidelines, and the evolving demographic of IUD users, including adolescents who tend to report higher pain levels. Increased media and social media coverage have further amplified concerns and fears surrounding IUD pain.

Bayer discussed a manuscript aimed at providing practical, evidence-based guidance to clinicians for reducing discomfort during IUD placement. Unlike existing research, which lacks synthesis into actionable clinical strategies, this article includes insights from generalist OB-GYNs, complex family planning specialists, family medicine practitioners, adolescent medicine specialists, and pediatricians. It takes a holistic and trauma-informed approach by addressing pre-procedure, placement, and post-placement care, ultimately striving to enhance patient experiences.

Click here for the full video.

Surge in out-of-state patients seeking abortion reported in Colorado

An increase in the rate abortions performed for out-of-state residents has been observed from 2020 to 2023 in Colorado, according to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open.

The rate of abortions rose to 30% in 2023, compared to 13% in 2020. Following implementation of the abortion legislation in Texas, a significant increase was reported in the rate of Texas residents traveling to Colorado to receive abortion care.

Similarly, second-trimester abortions increased among Colorado residents with a temporal match with the demand for procedures by Texas residents. The peak of this trend was observed 6 months after the Texas abortion legislation was implemented.

Click here for the full article.

Maternal hypertension and diabetes linked to worse offspring cardiovascular health

The risk of worse cardiovascular health (CVH) is significantly increased among offspring of mothers with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during pregnancy, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

HDP was reported in 10.4% of pregnant patients and GDM in 14.6%. Offspring had a median CVH score of 7 at follow-up, with less-than-ideal CVH indicated by at least 1 metric score in 54.5%. All ideal CVH metrics were reported in 46.5% of offspring not exposed to HDP, 38.8% exposed to HDP, 46.5% not exposed to GDM, and 39.7% exposed to GDM.

Adjusted relative risks of having offspring with less-than-ideal CVH at age 10 to 14 years were 1.14 in pregnant patients exposed to HDP and 1.10 in those exposed to GDM.Additionally, associations were stronger in patients with more severe adverse CVH metrics.

Click here for the full article.

Socioeconomic disadvantage in pregnancy linked to postpartum CVD risk

The risk of postpartum cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increased in women with neighborhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage in early pregnancy, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

A median 30-year predicted risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) of 2.3% was reported during the follow-up at 2 to 7 years postpartum, vs 5.5% for total CVD. These rates varied based on baseline comorbidities and individual-level social determinants of health.

The absolute risk percent of 30-year ASCVD was highest in T3 patients, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.19, 0.63 compared to T1 patients. Having a predicted risk of ASCVD of 10% or higher was also more common in T3 patients vs T1 patients, with an adjusted risk ratio (aRR) of 2.21. For total CVD of 10% or higher, the aRR was 1.35.

Click here for the full article.