Gynecology/Obstetrics News

Cost, discomfort with self-administration and privacy concerns are potential barriers to increasing the use of STI self-tests among adolescents and young adults, according to a study.

Women who resided in historically redlined communities in California that experienced displacement or gentrification were at greater risk for severe maternal morbidity compared with women living in advantaged neighborhoods, data show.

Ovarian cancer care costs are considerable, varying by care phase, age and geographic region, with the highest costs observed at initiation of and end-of-life care, researchers reported in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Vaginal estrogen, vaginal dehydroepiandrosterone, oral ospemifene and vaginal moisturizers result in short-term improvements in vaginal atrophy symptoms, known as genitourinary syndrome of menopause, but more long-term data are needed.

At-home first-dose misoprostol administration increased the proportion of women completing medical abortion after 12 weeks’ gestation through outpatient care with a favorable safety profile, according to findings published in The Lancet.

Cesarean deliveries declined statewide in California from 2015 to 2019 after efforts to support vaginal birth, including a marked reduction in cesarean deliveries before labor and those due to obstructed labor, researchers reported.

In the U.S., birth and general fertility rates dropped while the percentage of women receiving no prenatal care rose from 2022 to 2023, according to a recent CDC birth trends report.

Labor duration was independently associated with risks for adverse maternal outcomes, specifically intraamniotic infection, during second-trimester medication abortion, according to study results published in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

At 12 weeks, vaginal hyaluronic acid and vaginal estrogen were associated with similar benefits in the treatment of atrophic vaginitis, known as genitourinary syndrome of menopause, according to results of a pilot trial.

The CDC recently issued updated guidance regarding the provision of medications for IUD placement, stating that lidocaine “might be useful” for reducing patient pain and that misoprostol is no longer recommended for routine use.