Sildenafil Cream for Women? “New” Data (June 18, 2024)

Podcast Fam, on March 27, 2024 our episode was called "Balloon for PROM: Yea or Nay". Although mechanical cervical balloons for induction were the focus, we also discussed which medication is better (based on published data) for labor induction after PROM. Well, in this episode, we pick up from March with ANOTHER NEW STUDY released today (June 25, 2024) in AJOG MFM. This RCT builds on the evidence that going straight to Pitocin (despite an unfavorable cervix) is the way to go after PROM. Although there are study design limitations, this is reassuring- and validating- information. Listen in for the "I TOLD YOU SO DANCE", and for details.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issue in the United States, affecting nearly 1 in 5 adults, or 40 million people. Another 19 million adults – 8% of the population – has depression. Prenatal mood disturbances are known to affect the fetal brain, and endocrine system. Left amygdalar volumes were smaller in newborns whose mothers had high psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic, a small cross-sectional study suggested. Infants of mothers with elevated maternal distress during the pandemic had median reductions in white matter, right hippocampal, and left amygdala volumes compared with neonates whose mothers had low distress levels, this is according to research from the Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C. This was published in JAMA Network Open on June 20, 2024 and is making the medical headlines. This is fascinating data. BUT, this is NOT new news. In this episode, we will review the concerning effect that maternal mood and stress has on the developing fetal brain, and how maternal stress may even be leading to changes in the child’s puberty! Listen in for details.

Respect for patient autonomy is a fundamental part of the clinician-patient relationship and discussion of healthcare interventions. Some patients decline transfusion of blood products, either for religious or non-religious reasons, but most frequently as part of the Jehovah’s Witness faith. Acceptance of, and decision-making, surrounding blood products and human blood derived medications is complex, however, and some patients who decline certain blood products may still accept other interventions. Because childbirth can be associated with excess blood loss and need for resuscitation, it is important before delivery to clearly delineate which blood products will be accepted or declined, realizing that the patient can change her preferences at any time. One way proposed to address blood loss at cesarean section is the use is intraoperative cell saver (IOCS) for autologous infusion (re-infusion of blood). Is it appropriate to use cell savers to collect and re-infuse blood during a C-section? Does ACOG mention this as an option? And what about the use of erythropoietin antepartum to increase RBC capacity? These questions are the focus of this episode.

"HSDD" as a diagnosis has been gone for some time. According to the ACOG, the DSM-V defines the combined entity of female sexual interest/arousal disorder as a complete lack of or a substantial decrease in at least three of the following symptoms for at least six months: interest in sexual activity and sexual or erotic thoughts or fantasies. This is the most common sexual dysfunction in women, affecting an estimated 5.4–13.6% of women, based on who you read. It is most prevalent in women between the ages of 40–60 and in women who have undergone surgical menopause. Now, a new publication from the Green Journal (June 18, 2024) provides a potential “new”therapeutic option for women, although the data for this actually first came out June of 2023. Can topical sildenafil help with Female Sexual Arousal Disorder? There is already an over the counter cream like this!Let’s take a look at this June 2024 RCT. PLUS, we will also briefly discuss the EROS device for female sexual arousal.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, and pre-eclampsia, are increasingly common in the United States, complicating close to 15% of births, and the incidence is continuing to rise! On this show we have addressed medical management of urgent hypertension in pregnancy and in the immediate postpartum interval. This topic continues to EVOLVE, with a brand new study which has gained a lot of medical news attention. This new study was published in JAMA CARDIOLOGY on June 12, 2024 and is helping redefine the "BP cut off" for medication use in the pp interval. AND...this is evolving within the ACOG as well! We have LOTS of late breaking news to cover here....so listen in!

At time of post cesarean discharge, most providers prescribe a fixed number of opioid tablets. However, past data has shown that most patients don't use all the opioids they are prescribed. This leads to an excess of opioids in the community, which can ultimately lead to misuse and diversion. In this episode, we will highlight a new publication from the Green Journal (Obstet Gynecol) exemplifying an adoptable strategy using a individualized opioid prescribing protocol (IOPP). While this was published ahead of print on June 10, 2024, the concept of IOPP is not "new" at all. Listen in for details.

Podcast Family, this episode has 2 parts: 1. First, a "non-medical" little life lesson that I heard recently which I will share with you...I hope it ENCOURAGES you, and 2. The MEDICAL part, which comes from Paul- one of our podcast family members. Paul had a GREAT question regarding the data covered in our immediate PAST episode on TOLAC....listen in for details!

After a primary CS, the decision to undergo trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) or schedule a repeat cesarean birth is one in which a patient’s values and preferences should be prioritized in a process of shared decision making. Some clinicians elect to utilize a TOLAC calculator as part of the shared decision-making process, while others use a more generalized counseling approach. Once TOLAC is decided upon, which is better: elective induction at 39 weeks, or expected management? Does elective induction at 39 weeks increase the rate of uterine rupture compared to expected management? Older observation data has suggested that very thing. In this episode, we will review a brand new publication from the AJOG (released on June 7, 2024) that provides valuable information in counseling patients on either IOL or expectant care at 39+ weeks for TOLAC.

Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (HDNB) was first identified over a century ago, and presents as unexpected bleeding, often with gastrointestinal hemorrhage, ecchymosis and, in many cases, intracranial hemorrhage. In newborns, HDNB is typically caused by vitamin K deficiency as neonates are innately deficient in vitamin K secondary to very little vitamin K transferred through the placenta to fetuses in utero, limited liver storage of vitamin K, and low amounts of vitamin K in breast milk. IM administration of vitamin K for prevention of vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) has been a standard of care since the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended it in 1961. Despite the success of prevention of VKDB with vitamin K administration, the incidence of VKDB appears to be on the rise. This increase in incidence of VKDB is attributable to parental refusal as well as lowered efficacy of alternate methods of administration. Can parents decline this injection for their babies? In this episode, we will review IM Vit K neonatal administration and discuss the controversial data regarding Vit K oral supplementation.

Proving that our podcast tagline, “Medicine Moves Fast” is true… this episode highlights something that is, once again, 🔥🔥🔥 Off the Press! on June 4, 2024, the ACOG released a new Practice Update regarding the determination of paternal and fetal RBC genotyping in pregnancies affected by alloimmunization. This builds upon and updates PB #192 from 2018. There are 3 big areas of change here… And we will highlight each one!