Highlights from the 25th Annual Premier Women’s Healthcare Conference

Nurse practitioners flocked to the event to learn the latest and greatest data and clinical pearls related to women’s health. From sessions on how to navigate vulvar dermatology to learning how to choose the right contraception for perimenopausal women, the conference had it all.
Contemporary OB/GYN® had the opportunity to attend the conference in person, covering a variety of ses-sions. What follows are some highlights from the conference.

How to navigate vulvar dermatology

It is important to know what is normal and what is abnormal when it comes to the vulva, especially when diagnosing and treating vulvovaginal diseases, according to Jean Marino, MSN, APRN-CNP, NCMP, IF, women’s health nurse practitioner at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, during her conference presentation on vulvar dermatology.¹

Marino diagramed the most common symptoms associated with conditions affecting the vulvovaginal area and presented a variety of cases depicting these symptoms and their treat-ment options. Takeaways from Marino’s session included the following:

• The disease is not ruled out if thebiopsy does not confirm what
  you expect.
• A thorough history and physical examthat includes hygiene and treatment are crucial.
• Potential negative body image and the patient’s sexual health are important to keep in mind.
• Vaginal estrogen is great, especially in menopause.
• Follow-ups are essential.

Choosing contraceptive options for perimenopausal women

In her presentation, Lois McGuire, MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC, NCMP, women’s health nurse practitioner at Mayo Clinic, discussed the risks of unintended pregnancy in perimenopausal women and explored each contraceptive option using the US Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2016.² McGuire outlined 4 key areas to consider when discussing contraceptive options with perimenopausal women: frequency of inter-course, desire or need for noncontraceptive benefits, completion of childbearing, and natural decline of fertility. She also talked about the disad-vantages of various contraceptive methods for perimenopausal women, beginning with combined hormonal contraceptives. Perimenopausal women using the pill, McGuire said, are significantly more likely to develop deep vein thrombosis than nonusers.

References

1. Marino J. Vulvar Dermatology. Presented at: 25th Annual Nurse Practitioners in Wom-en’s Health Premier Women’s Healthcare Conference. Houston, Texas. September 29 to October 2, 2022.
2. McGuire L. Perimenopausal Contracep-tion. 25th Annual Nurse Practitioners in Wom-en’s Health Premier Women’s Healthcare Conference. Houston, Texas. September 29 to October 2, 2022.