Archives of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

In order to implement the knowledge of cancer to monitor its evolution and setting, in the last decade, new minimally invasive and repeatable samples collection have been developed such as liquid biopsy. Cancer biomarkers originating from tumors can represent the molecular status of the tumor or its metastases which release them directly into body fluids or indirectly due to disruption of tumor/metastatic tissue. These biomarkers are detectable in liquid biopsy.

There are many exciting developments in the field of midlife women’s health which explain how menopause symptoms, particularly hot flashes, may be an important vital sign and predictor of future health status. Additionally, in the therapeutic realm, there is a new class of medications that affect the thermoregulatory channels in the brain that control vasomotor symptoms (VMS). This development may unlock treatment options for women who cannot tolerate or cannot safely take hormone therapy.

A national perinatal survey in France in 2016 showed that 12.2% of women have instrumentally assisted vaginal births with vacuum extraction used in 49.8% of cases, making it the most frequently used form of obstetrical assistance. The 2006 initial concept of the Icup^® vacuum extractor was based on the development of a single-use device with a partially deformable cup to avoid any fetal scalp injury. 

Advanced ultrasound offers an important diagnostic clinical tool for the specialty of Obstetrics (OB) and Gynecology (GYN). The advanced ultrasound technologies, such as power Doppler angiography, with its assessment of vascular flow, adds to the described clinical benefits. The imaging technology that this represents, offers diagnostic abilities for a variety of obstetric and gynecologic conditions

Objective: To evaluate demographics and outcomes of maternal-fetal pairs in early onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) requiring delivery prior to 34 weeks’ gestation based on ultrasound indication leading to diagnosis. Study Design: This is a descriptive study of maternal-fetal pairs with early FGR diagnosed prior to 30 weeks’ gestation and delivering between 22w0d and 34w0d under the care of Wake Forest University Perinatology 01/2012-12/2016. 

Contraception encompasses the concept of avoiding a pregnancy, and is aimed at women of reproductive age who, although are sexually active, do not want to achieve any pregnancy at their option fertility preservation and family planning. It should be underlined that no method of contraception is 100% guaranteed because its success depends on many factors such as patient’s compliance to gynecologists instructions, woman’s age, the advantages and disadvantages of each method, the frequency of sexual intercourse and of course the type of contraception.

Objective: To investigate the effect of low progesterone (P) level on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection on the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) with GnRH- agonist (GnRH-a) long protocol. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a reproductive medicine center of University-affiliated teaching hospital. 1115 women included were divided into two groups according to the P level: Group 1 (233 women with P level ≤ 0.5 ng/ml, and Group 2 (882 women with P level >0.5, ≤ 1.5 ng/ml). 

Background: At present, progesterone administration is widely used. There is no agreement on whether estradiol (E2) addition should be supplement to progesterone (P) as luteal phase support (LPS). The present meta-analysis was conducted to clarify whether E2 supplementation as LPS has beneficial effect on the clinical outcome after in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Purpose: As long-acting reversible contraceptive choices are becoming more popular among young women, proper informed consent over potential complications should be addressed when such decisions are made. A local case series was analyzed to consider the risk of intrauterine device (IUD) fracture. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of provider experience with the intrauterine device over a seven-year period was undertaken, to specifically analyze the incidence of IUD embedment and fracture in the studied population.

The study “knowledge and health beliefs of reproductive-age women in Alexandria about tetanus toxoid immunization” has shed a new light on the attitude of obstetricians in Alexandria (Egypt) towards recommending tetanus toxoid vaccination to pregnant females. According to the study, the use of tetanus toxoid vaccine among females in child-bearing age in Alexandria was low.

Medical management of hypertension in pregnancy is indicated for severe range blood pressures. This is diagnosed with either systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 160 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥110 mm Hg on two occasions at least 4 hours apart. When this diagnosis is established, fast-acting anti-hypertensive medications can be utilized for acutely severe range blood pressures.

Chronic hypertension is present in 1-2% of pregnant women. Women with chronic hypertension are at an increased risk of maternal and perinatal complications when compared with normotensive women. It is not uncommon for the women with chronic hypertension to present first time during pregnancy and obstetricians are the first one to encounter them during antenatal checkup. Secondary hypertension is often unrecognised and misdiagnosed thus leading to improper treatment with significant risk to the mother and fetus. 

In 2020 we published a series of 18 patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and vaginal radical trachelectomy (VRT) as a fertility sparing alternative in stage 1B2 cervical cancer.

This manuscript reviews treatment of Sickle Cell disease over time. The application of allogeneic stem cells proved the sickle cell disease could be permanently corrected and cured but limited to those with a compatible donor.

Women with rare bleeding disorders (RBDs) can be exposed throughout their life to several complications such as menorrhagia or hemorrhagic complications during pregnancies and deliveries. Among RBDs, factor XIII deficiency leads to life-threatening hemorrhages such as intracranial hemorrhage, and women during their reproductive period may experience gynecological and obstetric complications, and more specifically recurrent miscarriages due to the role of FXIII in placenta attachment.

Robot assisted gynaecological surgery is exponentially expanding its field and gynaecologists need to be prepared to implement this new approach in clinical practice. Training on this new device is thus mandatory but the method by which the training is best organized remains open for debate. In 2019, 12 experts invited by the Society of European Robotic Gynaecological Surgery (SERGS), agreed on 39 recommendations about education in robot-assisted surgery (RAS) in gynaecology. 

For a long time, it was rare to see a case of cervical pregnancy (CP) throughout the journey in the field of obstetrics. Recently, the circumstances showed dramatic changes and I think not uncommonly every one elsewhere in the field may face this problem to some extent and the CP term strikes his/her ears. This may be attributed to an actual increase in CP rate that go parallel to widespread application of Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART) procedures all over the world on one hand and earlier diagnosis owing to liberal utilization and more familiarity with Transvaginal Sonography (TVS) on the other hand.

The published study Compliance and health consequences of menopausal hormonal therapy after surgical menopause: A retrospective study in Thailand showed that menopausal hormonal therapy soon after bilateral oophorectomy before the age of natural menopause in Thailand possibly prevented subsequent osteopenia compared with menopausal hormonal therapy non-users, also without significant adverse breast outcomes comparing between hormonal therapy users and non-users.

Objective: Evaluate the prevalence of anemia in term and preterm pregnancies and compare maternal and perinatal outcomes among groups. Methods: Secondary analysis of Brazilian Multicenter Study on Preterm Birth (EMIP). Cross sectional study on preterm births, with sample of term births to evaluate risk factors and comparisons. Current analysis compared prevalence of anemia in term and preterm births and among their types (spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB)

The survival probability of early human conceptions is very low. At least 73% of natural single conceptions have no real chance of surviving six weeks of gestation. After six weeks, survival rates improve rapidly as 90% of the remainder will survive to term. This low fetal loss rate is close to the low rates of 1% - 2.9% for different methods of artificial reproduction. From 16 weeks the rate of loss reduces further, to around 1%.