Medscape Ob/Gyn & Women's Health Headlines

Older Women With Visual Field Loss Have Higher Risk for Fractures

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:55:04 EST

Binocular visual field loss is a risk factor for fractures in older women, according to a report in the October issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Longer Second-Stage Labor Is Worse for Mothers Than for Newborns

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:55:04 EST

Prolonged second-stage labor increases the risk of adverse effects for mothers but generally not for their newborns, according to two reports in the October issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone Levels Predict Response to Ovarian Stimulation

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:26:37 EST

Circulating basal anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels help predict excessive and poor ovarian response in women undergoing ovarian stimulation with exogenous gonadotrophins for in vitro fertilization, results of a prospective study confirm.

Hormone Replacement Beneficial in Younger Postmenopausal Women

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:26:37 EST

Pooled data from controlled trials involving more than 16,000 women indicate that hormone replacement therapy reduces mortality in younger postmenopausal women, researchers report in the November issue of The American Journal of Medicine.

Enoxaparin Favored for Heart Valve Patients During Pregnancy

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:26:37 EST

Enoxaparin treatment during pregnancy in women with mechanical heart valves prevents valve thrombosis and leads to better fetal outcomes than warfarin, researchers report in the November issue of BJOG.

Drugs Routinely Given in Labor Reduce Breastfeeding Rates

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:26:37 EST

Several drugs often given during labor reduce breastfeeding rates, say researchers from the UK in the November BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Endocrine Treatment of Transsexual Persons: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline...F1000 Ranking: "Changes Clinical Practice"

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:28:53 EST

The authors propose this practice guideline based upon a consensus process with the committees of different endocrine societies.

WHO Steps Up Efforts to Assist Countries "Overwhelmed" by H1N1 Flu

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:34:37 EST

H1N1 influenza is surging across Europe and Asia, and the number of patients seeking treatment has overwhelmed clinics and hospitals in Ukraine, Mongolia, and Afghanistan.

The Medscape Cancer Survivorship Survey

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:23:39 EST

In his latest video blog, Dr. Maurie Markman encourages viewers to participate in the Medscape survey for healthcare providers that discusses cancer survivor care.

Sexual Transmission Blamed for High HBV Infection Rate

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:33:45 EST

Horizontal transmission, probably by sexual contact, appears to be to blame for perpetuating the high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in pregnant women here, according to local researchers presenting at the 5th Asia Pacific Congress in Maternal Fetal Medicine.

NHS Has "Taken Eye off the Ball" on Infections

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:11:50 EST

The NHS has lost sight of tackling the majority of hospital-acquired infections as it chases targets to reduce cases of two of the most high profile infections, an influential parliamentary committee said on Tuesday.

Risk of Pre-Eclampsia Recurrence May Be Overestimated

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:11:50 EST

The chance of a repeat of severe de novo pre-eclampsia in singleton pregnancies may be less than previously reported, according to findings in a cohort of Canadian women.

New Guidelines on H1N1 Influenza Urge Quicker Use of Antivirals

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:52:12 EST

Updated WHO treatment guidelines for H1N1 influenza urge clinicians to administer antiviral medications as soon as possible for patients in at-risk groups with flu-like symptoms.

Chronic Pain May Persist for Years After Breast Cancer Surgery

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:46:24 EST

Nearly half of all breast cancer patients reported having persistent pain following surgery, even after several years, according to a large Danish study.

SGR Repair Bill Failure Could Cool Physician Support for Healthcare Reform

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:23:13 EST

Organized medicine is anticipating a vote on a bill that would rewrite Medicare's controversial sustainable growth rate formula for physician reimbursement, which would avert a 21.2% pay cut for 2010.

XMRV: The Missing Link in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:16:11 EST

In this video blog, Paul G. Auwaerter, MD, MBA, describes a newly published report of a potential link between a recently discovered virus and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Joint Pain Associated With Aromatase Inhibitors in Patients With Breast Cancer

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:15:09 EST

In her latest video blog, Dr. Kathy Miller comments on a new study examining the incidence of arthralgia associated with aromatase inhibitor therapy in patients with breast cancer.

Anxiety Is a Predictor of Death in Middle-aged Women

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:08:34 EST

In his latest Medscape Psychiatry Minute, Dr. Peter Yellowlees talks about the association between anxiety and mortality in women at midlife.

FOXL2 Mutation Associated With Adult Ovarian Granulosa Cell Tumors

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:07:04 EST

Dr. Maurie Markman comments on a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine highlighting the role of a mutation in FOXL2 in the development and/or progression of granulosa cell tumors.

Landmark Partial Breast Irradiation Trial Needs "Unsuitable" Patients

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:37:22 EST

The description of certain breast cancer patients as "unsuitable" for partial irradiation in a recent consensus statement might be hampering enrollment to a landmark trial.