Top in women’s health: Drugs that affect breastmilk; gestational diabetes therapy options

According to a cross-sectional study, mothers who took antidepressants or anti-inflammatory medications had lower levels of protein and fat in their breastmilk, but additional research is needed to confirm these findings.

Compared with healthy mothers, mean protein levels were 15% to 21% lower in samples collected from mothers exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, steroids and other anti-inflammatory medications.

“While these findings do not support any change to breastfeeding recommendations or increased follow up for exposed, healthy full-term infants, the maternal medications and milk macronutrient content could be considered as a contributing factor for poor growth, especially in vulnerable infants such as infants born preterm or small for gestational age,” Essi Whaites Heinonen, MD, PhD, neonatologist in the department of clinical science, intervention and technology in the division of pediatrics at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, told Healio.

Future studies are needed to understand if these changes are caused by the medication itself or a coexisting factor. It was the top story in women’s health last week.

In another top story, research showed that insulin for gestational diabetes was associated with lower rates of maternal hypoglycemia and large for gestational age in infants compared metformin plus glyburide.

Read these and more top stories in women’s health below:

Lower protein, fat levels in breastmilk exposed to antidepressant, anti-inflammatory drugs

Mothers taking antidepressants or anti-inflammatory medications had lower protein and fat levels in breastmilk, which may cause health risks for infants, but researchers noted that more studies are needed to confirm the findings. Read more.

Insulin optimal for gestational diabetes management vs. oral therapies

Treatment with metformin plus glyburide was not noninferior to insulin alone in preventing large for gestational age infants born from pregnant women with gestational diabetes, according to trial results published in JAMA. Read more.

Obstetric outcomes worse for hospitals with low-volume operative vaginal deliveries

Hospitals with a low volume of operative vaginal deliveries were more likely to have higher proportions of adverse perinatal outcomes, including newborns with shoulder dystocia, subgaleal hemorrhage and NICU admission, data show. Read more.

More young adults seek tubal sterilizations, vasectomies after Dobbs

Tubal sterilizations increased by 70% and vasectomies rose by 95% among young adults during the initial months after the release of the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, according to an analysis of national claims data. Read more.

Online screening tool, genetic education improve gynecologic cancer risk assessment

Incorporating digital screening tools and patient education into obstetrics and gynecology care may improve hereditary cancer risk assessment and genetic testing completion, according to study results published in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Read more.