The Enigma of Endo and Early Birth

According to the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE; 2024), women who are S/P scheduled CS and recovering well, who are afebrile, and do not have complications, should be discharged early (after 24 h) and followed at home because this is not related to the readmission of the baby or mother. However, the first 24 hours after a C-section can be challenging, with many of the same challenges as a vaginal delivery PLUS the usual post-surgical issues: The mother will be adjusting to new parenthood, attempting breastfeeding, and fielding visitors; the incision will be sore, and pain may increase as anesthesia wears off. Is this postop plan coming to the USA? A soon to be published systematic review and meta-analysis (Dec 2024) in the AJOG MFM seems to favor that. Is this the new progression of the postop ERAS protocol? Listen in for details.

Welcome Back to another episode of "You ask, We Answer"! As Abrysvo (RSV vaccine) now has some time on the market, some women may find themselves with a subsequent pregnancy after first receiving the injection in the prior pregnancy. Is another RSV vaccine recommended with each pregnancy, like TDap? The answer to that question depends on where you live. We will discuss in this episode. PLUS, have you heard of CLITOXIN? Its a little botulinum toxin injected into the clitoris for "enhanced sexual response". Is that evidence-based? Is there data for that?! Listen in for details.

Ultrasound assessment of placental volume has been proposed as an important aspect of prenatal care. It involves measuring the size and volume of the placenta, which may provide critical information regarding fetal health and development. Abnormal placental volume can be associated with various complications such as FGR, preeclampsia, and other pregnancy-related conditions. Some advocates suggests the volume and vascularity of the first trimester placenta may be linked to the most devasting adverse pregnancy outcomes which is stillbirth. Social Media posts have been advocating and endorsing the measurement of placental volume antenatally as a stillbirth prevention strategy. Is this evidence-based? It’s very controversial. Nonetheless, we have principles from the AIUM. ISUOG, ACOG, and SMFM to guide us here. Listen in for details.

Stroke is also a leading cause of adult-onset disability; among individuals who survive 6 months, almost half are dependent in at least 1 activity of daily living. In October 2024, the AHA/ASA released their 2024 Primary Prevention of Stroke guidance. This document has a striking focus on women's health, namely adverse pregnancy outcomes and certain gynecological conditions (Endometriosis, POI, PCOS). Listen in for details.

Several observational studies have suggested that women with endometriosis have a slightly increased risk for preterm birth. The cause seems to be related to factors associated with pathogenesis of endometriosis, such as inflammation, reactive oxygen species, progesterone resistance, and alterations in the junctional zone of uterus leading to the shallow invasion of the placenta and to preterm birth. But is this association firmly established? It is actually more an enigma than solid evidence. In October 2024, a new cohort study in Fertility Sterility is questioning this relationship. These results are a contrast to the findings of a meta-analysis published in January 2022, which itself conflicted with results of a French observational study published the following month, February 2022. It’s the perpetual problem and enigma of whether endometriosis is associated with PTB, or not! Listen in for details.

In November's Green Journal, Drs Amy Valent and Linda Barbour will publish their Clinical Expert Series (CES) on insulin management in GDM and Type 2 DM in pregnancy. This is a FANTASTIC document and is our subject matter in this episode. Here, we will give clinical pearls for insulin initiation in pregnancy based on 3 regimens (NPH/Reg; NPH/RAAs; Basal-Bolus) and their initiation in an easy to follow format. Congratulations to Drs Valent and Barbour on a wonderful CES.

The relationship between hormonal birth control and sexual orientation has been a topic on social media channels and threads; it is a discussion of controversy. It is essential to clarify that the hormonal birth control pill itself does not determine or change an individual's sexual orientation. While there is evidence to suggest that hormonal birth control can influence sexual desire and partner preferences, there is insufficient data to support the idea that it can change a person's sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is a complex interplay of biological, environmental, and social factors, and current scientific consensus does not support the idea that hormonal contraceptives influence one's sexual orientation. Where did this concept come from? Are there large-scale studies which address this? Listen in for details.

Early pregnancy failure (EPF), pregnancy loss in the first trimester, is a common pregnancy complication, with 15 to 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies ending in the first trimester. It is not uncommon for women with one or more cesarean sections, or myomectomies, to present with EPF. Options for treatment of early pregnancy failure include expectant management, surgical management (D&C), or medical management with medications such as misoprostol (miso). However, the limited information available regarding miso with EPF in those with prior uterine surgery may complicate the counseling of these women. What does the ACOG say about misoprostol use in the first trimester for these patients? Is misoprostol safe for EPF in women with 2 prior cesareans? In this episode, we will explore the data for miso use in these cases with a focus on the first trimester, but also review the data for miso use in the early second trimester in those with a scarred uterus.

The SMFM, ACOG and RCOG all recommend screening for Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS) in women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL). However, once identified, there has been controversy historically regarding the best TIME to initiate low dose aspirin and prophylactic LMWH. The main controversy regarding this is whether to begin treatment before a confirmed pregnancy, right after a positive pregnancy test, or only after an ultrasound confirms a viable fetus; with some studies suggesting potential benefits from starting earlier, while others debate the optimal timing due to lack of conclusive evidence and potential risks associated with early anticoagulation. Nonetheless, we DO HAVE current guidance here to make an evidence-based plan of care for these patients. In this episode, we will summarize a recent Clinical Expert Series from the ACOG (May 2024) and the RCOG (June 2023). PLUS, we will highlight some persistent controversies surrounding APS and RPL.

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS): Yep, this is definitely an issue and has been in recent print. This was just covered in an expert commentary in J Gastroenterology in May 2024, and CMS was featured as a JAMA Patient Page on October 10, 2024 in JAMA Network. PLUS, we actually covered this back in Feb 10th, 2020! Yep…M-O-R-E information just keeps coming, including a new study in the OCT 2024 Green Journal, which shows that rates of THC in pregnancy are still increasing. This study, again from THIS MONTH, tells us that the prevalence of prenatal cannabis use increased from 5.5% in 2012 to 9.0% in 2022 among pregnant individuals, at least according to the database from Northern California ( Kaiser Permanente Northern California). In this episode, we will update our previous discussion on CHS (from back in 2020) based on these new publications.