Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Valve dysfunction ups adverse outcomes risk in pregnant women with BPVs

24 Nov 2022

Structural valve dysfunction (SVD) has occurred in nearly one in four young women with bioprosthetic heart valves (BPVs) at the first antenatal visit, and this may have harmful effects in pregnancy outcomes, reports a study. Specifically, SVD of left-sided BPVs is associated with high rates of adverse events (AEs).

Coffee intake lowers risk of endometrial cancer

23 Nov 2022

Women who love to drink coffee will have more reason to do so following a study that reports an association between coffee consumption and a reduced risk of endometrial cancer, particularly among those with higher body mass index (BMI).

Long-term relugolix combo helps with heavy periods, anaemia in women with uterine fibroids

Jairia Dela Cruz, 16 Nov 2022

Treatment with relugolix combination for up to 52 weeks yields sustained reductions in heavy menstrual bleeding as well as subsequent increases in iron stores in women with uterine leiomyomas, as shown in a study.

Botox improves sexual function in women with provoked vestibulodynia

16 Nov 2022

Injections of botulinum toxin A (BTA) in women with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) does not appear to reduce dyspareunia or pain at tampon use when compared with placebo at 12 months’ follow-up, reports a recent study. However, women on BTA have attempted intercourse more often and have better sexual function than those on placebo.

Trabectedin fails to improve survival outcomes in recurrent ovarian cancer

Pretreatment sarcopenic assessments help predict gynaecologic cancer outcomes

15 Nov 2022

Pretreatment sarcopenia appears to worsen survival in patients with gynaecologic cancers, such as ovarian (OC), endometrial (EC), and cervical (CC), reports a study. Including this assessment into cancer management may help improve prognosis.

Management of recurrent implantation failure during the COVID-19 pandemic

Dr. Ameet Patki, Dr. Prakash Mayandi, 22 Mar 2022

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) refers to the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after three in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts with at least four good-quality embryos. RIF leaves couples frustrated and desperate for answers and is challenging for clinicians to handle, compounded by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Two experts, Dr Ameet Patki, Medical Director of Fertility Associates Mumbai and Hon Assoc Prof at KJ Somaiya Medical College & Hospital, India, and Dr Prakash Mayandi, Metro IVF Fertility Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, weigh in with their views on managing RIF during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The changing treatment landscape for premenopausal women with advanced breast cancer: Focus on ribociclib

Dr. Wong Seng Weng, Dr. Lee Guek Eng, 19 Mar 2021

In Singapore, advanced breast cancer (aBC) is the leading cause of cancer death in women 30–49 years of age. For premenopausal women diagnosed with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative BC, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors provide new hope. Currently, ribociclib is the only CDK4/6 inhibitor studied in the first-line setting for premenopausal women with HR+/HER2- aBC, in the phase III MONALEESA-7 trial. Two experts, Dr Wong Seng Weng, Medical Director & Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Cancer Centre, Paragon Medical & Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, and Dr Lee Guek Eng, Senior Consultant & Specialist in Medical Oncology at Icon Cancer Centre and Program Director of the Young Women Cancer Program, weigh in with their views on managing premenopausal women with aBC.

Expert consensus: Patient profile should guide antihistamine choice in primary care setting

10 Dec 2019

Oral H₁-antihistamines are the initial treatment of choice for allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic urticaria in the primary care setting. However, in a diverse population of patients with AR and urticaria, primary care physicians are faced with the challenge of prescribing the best therapy amid a wide armamentarium of antihistamines available.

Does frozen embryo transfer up hypertension risk during pregnancy?

Roshini Claire Anthony, 25 Sep 2022

The risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) is increased following assisted reproductive technology (ART) using frozen embryo transfer (FET) compared with after fresh embryo transfer or natural conception, according to results of a study presented at ESHRE 2022.

Probiotic supplement has no effect on vaginal microbiome in women undergoing IVF

Roshini Claire Anthony, 04 Sep 2022

A 10-day course of probiotics containing two strains of lactobacilli does not appear to improve vaginal microbiome quality in women planning to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF), according to results of a recent study presented at ESHRE 2022.

Live birth after breast cancer may improve overall survival

Roshini Claire Anthony, 22 Aug 2022

Women who become pregnant and have a live birth following a diagnosis of breast cancer may have better overall survival (OS) outcomes than those without live births post-cancer, according to a study presented at ESHRE 2022.

Short GnRH antagonist protocol in ART may reduce ovarian hyperstimulation risk

Roshini Claire Anthony, 15 Aug 2022

A large systematic review and meta-analysis of women undergoing assisted reproduction has shown that the use of short gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocols, compared with long GnRH agonist protocols, during controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) may reduce the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) while having no major impact on live birth rates.

Relugolix-CT benefit for endometriosis-associated pain sustained through week 104

Elaine Soliven, 12 Aug 2022

Long-term combination therapy with relugolix plus oestradiol and norethindrone (relugolix-CT) shows sustained reductions in dysmenorrhoea and non-menstrual pelvic pain (NMPP) for up to 2 years in premenopausal women with endometriosis, according to the SPIRIT extension* study presented at ESHRE 2022.

Similar asthma outcomes, but higher allergy rates, in ART-conceived children

Elaine Soliven, 11 Aug 2022

Children conceived through assisted reproductive technology (ART) showed similar asthma outcomes but had a higher risk of allergies and slightly altered lung function compared with those who were born after spontaneous conception, according to a study presented at ESHRE 2022.

Expectant mums’ use of dolutegravir safe for babies

Jairia Dela Cruz, 04 Aug 2022

Treatment with dolutegravir during pregnancy does not appear to pose an excess risk of adverse birth outcomes, according to two studies presented at the 24th International AIDS Conference in Montreal, Canada.