And Gynecologists Research Articles

Benefits and limitations of clinical assessment of abnormal vaginal discharge etiology

Abnormal vaginal discharge (AVD) is a common syndrome. Its management is addressed in many evidence-based guidelines: International Union of Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUSTI) and WHO Guidelines for management of vaginal discharge (2018); American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) Practice Bulletin No. 215 «Vaginitis in non-pregnant patients» (2020); U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidelines for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (2021) etc. In December 2022, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine approved an adapted Clinical Guidelines and Standards of Medical Care “Abnormal vaginal discharge”.A special aspect of AVD management is frequent recurrence. Among the many hypotheses of the etiology of the recurrent course of vaginal infections the clinical aspect of difficulties of identifying all pathogens in case of mixed forms deserves special attention. Thus, there is need to presume the possibility of a mixed etiology of AVD or an atypical course of mono-infection at the stage of clinical examination.This review focuses on the role of vaginal discharge pH measuring both in the clinical stage of diagnosing the causes of AVD and in the interpreting laboratory results. Vaginal pH testing is an important component of the clinical stage in diagnostics of the AVD causes. This feasible and quick study allows objectifying the vaginal dysbiosis with a decrease in lactoflora and lactic acid value, which requires further laboratory diagnostics during the examination. Also it is an integral part of the Amsel criteria in the diagnostics of bacterial vaginosis, and vaginal health index to assess the degree of vaginal atrophy in menopause. Vaginal pH testing improves the diagnosis of difficult-to-detect infections and rare causes of AVD. Also, this method is useful for telemedicineto prevent unnecessary medical examinations, laboratory tests and self-treatment, or vice versa, to confirm the need for a specialist consultation.

Pregnant Prisoners in Shackles

Pregnant Prisoners in Shackles

Addressing the Maternal Mental Health Crisis Through a Novel Tech-Enabled Peer-to-Peer Driven Perinatal Collaborative Care Model

Addressing the Maternal Mental Health Crisis Through a Novel Tech-Enabled Peer-to-Peer Driven Perinatal Collaborative Care Model

Operationalizing risk-appropriate perinatal care in a rural US State: directions for policy and practice

BackgroundRisk-appropriate care improves outcomes by ensuring birthing people and infants receive care at a facility prepared to meet their needs. Perinatal regionalization has particular importance in rural areas where pregnant people might not live in a community with a birthing facility or specialty care. Limited research focuses on operationalizing risk-appropriate care in rural and remote settings. Through the implementation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Levels of Care Assessment Tool (LOCATe), this study assessed the system of risk-appropriate perinatal care in Montana.MethodsPrimary data was collected from Montana birthing facilities that participated in the CDC LOCATe version 9.2 (collected July 2021 – October 2021). Secondary data included 2021 Montana birth records. All birthing facilities in Montana received an invitation to complete LOCATe. LOCATe collects information on facility staffing, service delivery, drills, and facility-level statistics. We added additional questions on transport.ResultsNearly all (96%) birthing facilities in Montana completed LOCATe (N = 25). The CDC applied its LOCATe algorithm to assign each facility with a level of care that aligns directly with guidelines published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM). LOCATe-assessed levels for neonatal care ranged from Level I to Level III. Most (68%) facilities LOCATe-assessed at Level I or lower for maternal care. Close to half (40%) self-reported a higher-level of maternal care than their LOCATe-assessed level, indicating that many facilities believe they have greater capacity than outlined in their LOCATe-assessed level. The most common ACOG/SMFM requirements contributing to the maternal care discrepancies were the lack of obstetric ultrasound services and a physician anesthesiologist.ConclusionsThe Montana LOCATe results can drive broader conversations on the staffing and service requirements necessary to provide high-quality obstetric care in low-volume rural hospitals. Montana hospitals often rely on Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) for anesthesia services and telemedicine to access specialty providers. Integrating a rural health perspective into the national guidelines could enhance the utility of LOCATe to support state strategies to improve the provision of risk-appropriate care.

Prediction of Pregnancy-Associated Hypertension Using a Scoring System: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

This study aimed to develop an early pregnancy risk scoring model for pregnancy-associated hypertension (PAH) based on maternal pre-pregnancy characteristics, such as mean arterial pressure (MAP), pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) or neither. The perinatal databases of seven hospitals from January 2009 to December 2020 were randomly divided into a training set and a test set at a ratio of 70:30. The data of a total pregnant restricted population (women not taking aspirin during pregnancy) were analyzed separately. Three models (model 1, pre-pregnancy factors only; model 2, adding MAP; model 3, adding MAP and PAPP-A) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) risk factors model were compared. A total of 2840 (8.11%) and 1550 (3.3%) women subsequently developed PAH and preterm PAH, respectively. Performances of models 2 and 3 with areas under the curve (AUC) over 0.82 in both total population and restricted population were superior to those of model 1 (with AUCs of 0.75 and 0.748, respectively) and the ACOG risk model (with AUCs of 0.66 and 0.66) for predicting PAH and preterm PAH. The final scoring system with model 2 for predicting PAH and preterm PAH showed moderate to good performance (AUCs of 0.78 and 0.79, respectively) in the test set. "A risk scoring model for PAH and preterm PAH with pre-pregnancy factors and MAP showed moderate to high performances. Further prospective studies for validating this scoring model with biomarkers and uterine artery Doppler or without them might be required".

Treatment and Management of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum: ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 5.

To assess the evidence regarding safety and efficacy of psychiatric medications to treat mental health conditions during pregnancy and lactation. The conditions reviewed include depression, anxiety and anxiety-related disorders, bipolar disorder, and acute psychosis. For information on screening and diagnosis, refer to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Clinical Practice Guideline Number 4, "Screening and Diagnosis of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum" (1). Pregnant or postpartum individuals with mental health conditions with onset that may have predated the perinatal period or may have occurred for the first time in pregnancy or the first year postpartum or may have been exacerbated in that time. This guideline was developed using an a priori protocol in conjunction with a writing team consisting of one specialist in obstetrics and gynecology and one maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist appointed by the ACOG Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines-Obstetrics and two external subject matter experts. ACOG medical librarians completed a comprehensive literature search for primary literature within Cochrane Library, Cochrane Collaboration Registry of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, PubMed, and MEDLINE. Studies that moved forward to the full-text screening stage were assessed by two authors from the writing team based on standardized inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included studies underwent quality assessment, and a modified GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) evidence-to-decision framework was applied to interpret and translate the evidence into recommendation statements. This Clinical Practice Guideline includes recommendations on treatment and management of perinatal mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, and acute postpartum psychosis, with a focus on psychopharmacotherapy. Recommendations are classified by strength and evidence quality. Ungraded Good Practice Points are included to provide guidance when a formal recommendation could not be made because of inadequate or nonexistent evidence.

Screening and Diagnosis of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum: ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 4.

To review evidence on the current understanding of mental health conditions in pregnancy and postpartum, with a focus on mood and anxiety disorders, and to outline guidelines for screening and diagnosis that are consistent with best available scientific evidence. The conditions or symptoms reviewed include depression, anxiety and anxiety-related disorders, bipolar disorder, suicidality, and postpartum psychosis. For information on psychopharmacologic treatment and management, refer to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Clinical Practice Guideline Number 5, "Treatment and Management of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum" (1). Pregnant or postpartum individuals with mental health conditions. Onset of these conditions may have predated the perinatal period or may have occurred for the first time in pregnancy or the first year postpartum or may have been exacerbated in that time. This guideline was developed using an a priori protocol in conjunction with a writing team consisting of one specialist in obstetrics and gynecology and one maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist appointed by the ACOG Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines-Obstetrics and two external subject matter experts. ACOG medical librarians completed a comprehensive literature search for primary literature within Cochrane Library, Cochrane Collaboration Registry of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, PubMed, and MEDLINE. Studies that moved forward to the full-text screening stage were assessed by two authors from the writing team based on standardized inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included studies underwent quality assessment, and a modified GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) evidence-to-decision framework was applied to interpret and translate the evidence into recommendation statements. This Clinical Practice Guideline includes recommendations on the screening and diagnosis of perinatal mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, acute postpartum psychosis, and the symptom of suicidality. Recommendations are classified by strength and evidence quality. Ungraded Good Practice Points are included to provide guidance when a formal recommendation could not be made because of inadequate or nonexistent evidence.

The Effectiveness of using Letrozole prior Tomisoprostol Versus Misoprostol alone for Successful Induction of missed Abortion: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of medical abortion induction when Letrozole and misoprostol are combined vs when misoprostol is used alone. Methods: It was intended for 150 women to participate in a randomized controlled experiment. They were split into two groups at random, each with 75 people. While the control group (misoprostol alone group) only got misoprostol, the case group (letrozole group) received pretreatment letrozole 12.5mg for two days. According to American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommendations based on gestational Age, misoprostol was administered to both groups in the following dosages: 800mg sublingually in a single dose during the first trimester and 400mg sublingually every 3 hours for up to 5 doses during the second trimester. Results: 137 women in all, 69 of whom received Letrozole and 68 of whom received misoprostol alone. Complete abortions were recorded in 96 instances (70.07%), 51 of which were associated with Letrozole (73.9%) and 45(66.2%) with misoprostol alone (P=0.32). However, the case and control groups had corresponding mean expulsion start times of 7.51.8 hours and 8.31.5 hours. This suggests that the case group had an ejection that began much sooner (P=0.003). Conclusion: The current study found that a combination of misoprostol with Letrozole did not lead to a significantly higher rate of complete abortion if compared with misoprostol alone among women with missed abortion up to 20 weeks gestation. It only significantly shortened the interval to the initiation of expulsion.

(065) Let’s Talk about Sex: Resident Run Didactic Curriculum

Abstract Introduction The Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) includes sexual health learning objectives as part of the core education for Ob/Gyn training. Residents are expected to gain understanding of normal sexual function as well as common areas of sexual dysfunction. Unfortunately, several studies have demonstrated a lack of knowledge in this area by Ob/Gyn residents and that educational didactic programs are not standardized on this topic. In 2010, over 90% of post graduate year (PGY)3 and PGY4 residents reported attending fewer than 5 didactic activities on sexual function/dysfunction, with only 50% feeling able to perform a targeted physical exam. Over the past decade, there has not been substantial improvement in this subject matter. In a 2021 survey evaluating the sexual health CREOG objectives showed that more than half of Ob/Gyn residents were not able to describe the disorders of sexual function or list common medications that effect sexual function. This is not isolated to the US, with studies in other countries including Singapore and Brazil, showing residents lack formal training and residents want increased didactic time focused on sexual health. Objective Our hypothesis was that at our institution the baseline knowledge of sexual dysfunction among Ob/Gyn residents would be low. The primary objective was formulating a needs assessment through implementation of a pre/post survey with a curriculum component. The secondary objective was to determine what areas of sexual medicine are most commonly areas of confusion or where residents lack comfort in regard to patient care. Methods The resident-designed curriculum was built with collaboration from a pelvic floor physical therapist. The journal club format was based on American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Practice Bulletins, the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH) clinical pearls, and the North American Menopausal Society (NAMS) position statements. The pelvic floor physical therapy component focused on pelvic pain, perinatal considerations, and incontinence. The WCG IRB deemed this study exempt. After the pre-curriculum assessment was used to identify knowledge gaps, a month of one-hour weekly sexual health sessions were implemented followed by a post-curriculum survey. Results Due to small sample size, (N=14) there was no way to establish significance in our results. In general, areas that residents were weak and the curriculum focused on were: 1) Pelvic floor/vulvar/vestibular disorders. 2) Genitourinary syndrome of menopause and vasomotor symptoms of menopause. 3) Sexual medicine disorders (hypoactive sexual desire disorder, female sexual arousal disorder, persistent genital arousal disorder, female orgasm disorders, genitopelvic pain penetration dysfunction). Conclusions The baseline knowledge of sexual dysfunction and menopausal concerns among Ob/Gyn residents was low. However, implementation of a structured curriculum after a formal needs assessment improved comfort with these topics. Now that the baseline curriculum is designed it is imperative to expand to further residency programs (in Ob/Gyn as well as other specialties) to disseminate the knowledge to providers in training who require competency in sexual health concerns. Disclosure No

Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling for Multiple Oral Administration Labetalol in Pregnant Women.

Labetalol has an irreplaceable role in treating Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), a common disease during pregnancy with a prevalence of 5.2-8.2%. However, there were big differences in dosage regimens between various guidelines. A physiologically-based pharmacokinetics (PBPK) model was established and validated to evaluate the existing oral dosage regimens, and to compare the difference in plasma concentration between pregnant and non-pregnant women. First, non-pregnant woman models with specific plasma clearance or enzymatic metabolism (UGT1A1, UGT2B7, CYP2C19) were established and validated. For CYP2C19, slow, intermediate, and rapid metabolic phenotypes were considered. Then, a pregnant model with proper structure and parameters adjustment was established and validated against the multiple oral administration data. The predicted labetalol exposure captured the experimental data well. The following simulations with criteria lowering 15mmHg blood pressure (corresponding to around 108ng/ml plasma labetalol) found that the maximum daily dosage in the Chinese guideline may be insufficient for some severe HDP patients. Moreover, similar predicted steady-state trough plasma concentration was found between the maximum daily dosage in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guideline, 800mg Q8h and a regimen of 200mg Q6h. Simulations comparing non-pregnant and pregnant women found that the difference in labetalol exposure highly depended on the CYP2C19 metabolic phenotype. In summary, this work initially established a PBPK model for multiple oral administration of labetalol for pregnant women. This PBPK model may lead to personalized labetalol medication in the future.

Are There Video Characteristics That Improve the Accuracy and Quality of Ob-Gyn Procedural Videos? [ID: 1376966

INTRODUCTION: YouTube has emerged as a common resource used by ob-gyn residents to learn procedural skills. There has not been any research conducted that examines the relationship between video characteristics and the quality and accuracy of ob-gyn procedural videos. The purpose of this study was to assess whether YouTube video metrics, including number of likes, views, channel subscribers, geographic location, and organizational affiliations, can be used to gauge the quality and accuracy of ob-gyn procedural videos. METHODS: Using American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) surgical curriculum topics, we conducted a search query into YouTube and sorted by relevance. Screening criteria were used to exclude videos. We then recorded video characteristics and scored the videos using the Laparoscopic Surgery Video Educational Guidelines (LAP-VEGaS) video assessment tool for quality. Additionally, we scored videos for accuracy by comparing them to the ACOG Surgical Curriculum in Obstetrics and Gynecology (SCOG) checklist. RESULTS: Of the 306 videos analyzed, number of likes, views, channel subscribers, and geographic location were not of high quality with LAP-VEGaS scores less than 11. The number of likes, views, and channel subscribers were not significantly associated with LAP-VEGaS or SCOG accuracy. There was a significant difference in LAP-VEGaS score and SCOG accuracy with international health care organization/specialty society with P values of .004 and .001, respectively. CONCLUSION: Of the characteristics studied, number of likes, views, and channel subscribers, and geographic location did not have a statistically significant difference in accuracy of educational value. Only association with international health care organizations/specialty societies was significantly associated with an increased LAP-VEGaS, indicating increased quality of video and increased percent accuracy by ACOG standards.

Evaluating Ob-Gyn Resident Beliefs Toward COVID-19 Vaccine and Its Safety and Efficacy in Pregnancy: A National Survey [ID: 1375473

INTRODUCTION: Vaccination beliefs vary across the United States. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recently published formal recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy. Outlooks regarding maternal vaccination among obstetrician–gynecologists have important implications for maternal morbidity and mortality. Resident perception of COVID-19 vaccination has yet to be studied. Our national survey sought to evaluate ob-gyn resident views regarding COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy in pregnancy. METHODS: In April 2022, a national survey was sent to all Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited obstetrics and gynecology residency programs in the United States. Responses were obtained and descriptive analysis was performed. Institutional review board approval was obtained. RESULTS: The majority of ob-gyn residents believed that pregnant patients should be vaccinated against COVID-19 (96.1%, n=73). In the outpatient setting, most resident physicians reported that they strongly recommend the COVID-19 vaccine to pregnant patients (89.5%, n=68). The majority of respondents believed the COVID-19 vaccine is effective in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality (98.7%, n=75). Of that subgroup, a minority of respondents felt the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy is unknown (10.7%, n=8). Geographic distribution of respondents, as defined by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Census designations, were as follows: Midwest (34.3%, n=26); Northeast (40.8%, n=31); South (10.5%, n=8); West (14.4%, n=11). CONCLUSION: The majority of ob-gyn residents believed the COVID-19 vaccine to be effective in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. Although a minority were uncertain regarding its safety profile, they continued to recommend vaccination per ACOG guidelines. While descriptive responses were homogenous, a paucity of respondents from the South and West regions made geographic distribution uneven.

Do Clinicians Appropriately Screen for Thyroid Disease in Pregnancy Using Targeted Screening Guidelines? A Real-World Retrospective Study [ID: 1368322

INTRODUCTION: Universal screening for thyroid disease in pregnancy is not currently recommended. Guidelines support targeted screening of high-risk individuals. Prior studies have provided some evidence to the cost-effectiveness of universal screening. We aim to evaluate adherence to targeted screening criteria as well as outcome differences between screened and unscreened patients. METHODS: All patients presenting for new obstetrical visits in 2020 were reviewed. Institutional review board approval was obtained for this study. Risk factors meeting thyroid screening criteria based on American Thyroid Association (ATA) and/or American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines, and pregnancy outcomes were extracted. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between patients meeting ATA and/or ACOG criteria who did or did not receive screening via thyroid function testing (TFT). RESULTS: One thousand twenty-five records were included. 87/198 patients meeting ACOG criteria for screening (43.9%) and 108/826 patients meeting ATA criteria (13.1%) had TFT. Patients meeting ATA criteria who underwent TFT had higher live-birth rates and lower miscarriage rates compared to unscreened patients meeting ATA criteria, 92.6% versus 83.26% (P=.006) and 4.63% versus 12.41% (P=.009), respectively. No difference was found between patients meeting ACOG criteria who did or did not receive TFT. No differences were observed in preterm delivery rates. CONCLUSION: In a real-world study of obstetrical practice, less than 50% of patients were appropriately screened for thyroid disease in pregnancy. ATA criteria identified threefold more patients for screening compared to ACOG criteria. Those screened appropriately per ATA criteria had higher live-birth rates and lower miscarriage rates compared to unscreened patients meeting ATA criteria.

Abortion Policy Positions of Federal Legislators Who Received Support From the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2012-2022

This cross-sectional study analyzes the abortion policy positions of legislators financially supported by Ob-GynPAC, a political action committee funded by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), between 2012 and 2022.

Policies Affecting Pregnant Women with Substance Use Disorder

Policies Affecting Pregnant Women with Substance Use Disorder

Hubungan Tingkat Stres dengan Sindrom Pramenstruasi pada Mahasiswi Fakultas Kedokteran Angkatan 2021 Universitas Tarumanagara

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is physical and non-physical symptoms experienced by women of the reproductive age two to fourteen days before menstruation. One of the factors can cause PMS is stress. Objective: To determined the correlation between stress and premenstrual syndrome among year 2021 Faculty of Medicine students at University of Tarumanagara. Methods: This research was an observational analytic study with a cross-sectional research design. The stress variable was measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) questionnaire and the premenstrual syndrome variable was measured based on prospective questionnaire by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The number of respondents obtained was 138 and the chi-square test was analyzed as a hypothesis test. Results: There were 56 (62,2%) respondents classified as having stress and experienced PMS, while 15 (31,3%) respondents not having stress experienced PMS. The 34 (37,8%) respondents were classified as being stressed but not experiencing PMS, and 33 (68,8%) respondents were not stressed and not experiencing PMS. The affective and somatic symptoms most often experienced irritability (77,54%) and joint or muscle pain (49,28%). There was a significant relationship between stress and premenstrual syndrome with p-value = 0,001 (p-value <0,05). Conclusion: There is a statistically significant relationship between stress and PMS (p<0,05). Affective symptoms were felt more than the somatic ones.Keywords: DASS-21, diagnostic criteria of PMS, premenstrual syndrome, stress

Changing Practices in the Surgical Management of Adnexal Torsion: An Analysis of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database.

To evaluate trends in the surgical management of adnexal torsion and to evaluate these trends with respect to the updated American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines. We performed a retrospective cohort study using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Women who underwent surgery for adnexal torsion between 2008 and 2020 were identified on the basis of International Classification of Diseases codes. Surgeries were grouped as either ovarian conservation or oophorectomy with the use of Current Procedural Terminology codes. Patients were also grouped into year cohorts with respect to the publication of the updated ACOG guidelines (2008-2016 compared with 2017-2020). Multivariable logistic regression, weighted by cases per year, was used to assess differences between groups. Of the 1,791 surgeries performed for adnexal torsion, 542 (30.3%) involved ovarian conservation and 1,249 (69.7%) involved oophorectomy. Older age, higher body mass index, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, anemia, and diagnosis of hypertension were significantly associated with oophorectomy. There was no significant difference in the proportion of oophorectomies performed before 2017 compared with after 2017 (71.9% vs 69.1%, odds ratio [OR] 0.89, 95% CI 0.69-1.16; adjusted OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.71-1.25). A significant decrease in proportion of oophorectomies performed each year was identified over the entire study period (-1.6%/y, P =.02, 95% CI -3.0% to -0.22%); however, the rates did not differ before and after 2017 (interaction P =.16). There was a modest decrease in the proportion of oophorectomies for adnexal torsion performed per year over the study period. However, oophorectomy is still commonly performed for adnexal torsion, despite updated guidelines from ACOG recommending ovarian conservation.

Co-occurrence of depression, anxiety, and perinatal posttraumatic stress in postpartum persons

BackgroundThe study aim was to describe the incidence of depression, anxiety, perinatal-post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and their co-occurrences in the early postpartum period in a low-resource OB/GYN clinic serving majority Medicaid-eligible persons. We hypothesized that postpartum persons screening positive for depression will have an increased risk of a positive screen for anxiety and perinatal PTSD.MethodsA retrospective study of postpartum persons receiving care in Baton Rouge, Louisiana was conducted using responses abstracted from the electronic medical record (EMR) of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD7), and Perinatal Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire-II (PPQII). Categorical distributions were compared using Fisher exact tests, while t-tests were used to compare continuous covariates. Multivariable logistic regression was used to predict anxiety (GAD7) and perinatal PTSD (PPQII) scores while adjusting for potential confounders, as well as to predict continuous PPQII and GAD7 based on continuous PHQ9 scores.ResultsThere were 613 birthing persons 4–12 weeks postpartum that completed mental health screening (PHQ9, GAD7, and PPQII) between November 2020 and June 2022 as part of routine postpartum care in the clinic. The incidence of screening positive for symptoms of depression (PHQ9 > 4) was 25.4% (n = 156), while the incidence of positive screening for symptoms of anxiety (GAD7 > 4) and perinatal PTSD (PPQII ge 19) were 23.0% (n = 141) and 5.1% (n = 31) respectively. Postpartum patients with mild anxiety or more (i.e. GAD7 > 4) had 26 times higher odds of screening positive for symptoms of depression (PHQ9 > 4) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 26.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] 15.29–46.92; p < 0.001). Postpartum persons with a PPQII score indicating symptoms of perinatal PTSD (PPQII ge 19) had 44 times higher odds of screening positive for symptoms of depression (PHQ > 4) (aOR 44.14; 95%CI 5.07–5856.17; p < 0.001).ConclusionsDepression, anxiety, and perinatal PTSD are each independent risk factors for each other. To comply with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommendations, providers should universally screen postpartum persons with validated screening tools for mood disturbances. However, if a complete full mood assessment is not feasible, this study provides evidence to support screening patients for depression, and if the patient screens positive, prompt additional screening for anxiety and perinatal PTSD.

Effect of 17-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate on Interleukin-6 and Tumor necrosis factor-alpha in expectantly managed early-onset preeclampsia

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of 17 hydroxy progesterone (17-OHPC) on interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in expectantly managed early-onset preeclampsia (PE). A randomized open-label controlled study included women who were diagnosed as early-onset PE if they assigned to expectant management according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) 2013 criteria for diagnosis of severity of PE. Patients were randomized into Group A (40 patients) received 17-OHPC 250 mg intra-muscular at admission and every 7 days thereafter and Group B (40 patients) was given the usual conservative measures of early-onset PE as a control group. Blood samples were obtained from all participants for measurements of TNF-α and IL-6 levels at admission and repeated at termination of pregnancy. The primary outcome was the mean difference between TNF-α and IL-6 levels before and after treatment in both groups. TNF-α and IL-6 levels at admission were not different between the two groups. However, there was a significant difference concerning these inflammatory biomarkers within the same group at admission and at termination (p < 0.001), with significant decline of IL-6 and TNF-α level in the 17-OHPC treated group and significant rise of IL-6 and TNF-α in the control group. There was a strong positive correlation between systolic blood pressure (SBP) at admission and TNF-α level (r= 0.867, p=0.017), and moderately positive significant correlation between diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at admission and TNF-α (r=0.610, p < 0.001). There was a mild positive significant correlation between IL-6 levels and SBP (r= 0.231, p=0.039), and DBP (r= 0.203, p= 0.041) at admission. In conclusion, 17-OHPC has no effect in improving maternal or neonatal outcomes in conservatively managed early onset PE, although it alters the inflammatory markers levels (IL-6 and TNF-α) that could improve the pathogenesis of PE.

Patient perspectives on noninvasive prenatal testing among black women in the United States: a scoping review

Advances in reproductive health technologies such as noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) are changing the landscape of prenatal care and maternal health. NIPT, made clinically available in the United States (US) in 2011, is a screening test that utilizes cell-free DNA (cfDNA) to detect for aneuploidies and genetic characteristics in fetal DNA. In September 2020, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommended NIPT for all pregnant patients regardless of age or risk factors. We examined peer-reviewed, empirical studies published from January 2011 to February 2022, assessing NIPT studies with patient perspectives in the US and what is known about how empirical studies include Black women. Our scoping review draws from PubMed (with advanced MeSH search options) and Scopus databases for advanced scoping review, with 33 articles meeting our criteria. Empirical studies on NIPT show patient perceptions range across five themes: 1) accuracy / safety, 2) return of results, 3) patient knowledge, 4) informed consent, and 5) perceptions among minoritized groups (with perceptions of race and gender as a social demographic intersection). Additionally, among the 15 studies that included that Black woman in their study sample, none measured the perceptions of Black women with genetic conditions. Bridging this knowledge gap is critical because NIPT is becoming increasingly accessible across the nation and is being developed to screen for additional genetic conditions, such as sickle cell disease. Ultimately, NIPT researchers need to go to greater lengths to examine the patient perspectives of Black women with and without genetic conditions.