Focus On Women's And Mens Health

Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO Guest: Renée Simone Yolanda Allen, MD, MHSc., FACOG In the past 20 years, rates of bariatric surgery have risen more than 800%. Of the number of bariatric procedures performed every year, women of reproductive age account for the vast majority of patients. What are the obstetric and gynecological effects of these various surgical procedures on female patients, and how can potential complications be prevented? Host Dr. Jennifer Caudle welcomes Dr. Renee S. Allen, Board certified OB/GYN and hospitalist, Fellow of ACOG, and Masters of Health Sciences from Atlanta, Georgia, to discuss OB/GYN counseling strategies for women who have undergone or intend to undergo bariatric surgery.

Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO Guest: Renée Simone Yolanda Allen, MD, MHSc., FACOG Host Dr. Jennifer Caudle welcomes Dr. Renee S. Allen, Board certified OB/GYN and hospitalist, Fellow of ACOG, and Masters of Health Sciences from Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Allen shares her expertise as an OB/GYN hospitalist, the growing support from ACOG in this new arena, and the goals of an emerging subspecialty.

Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP Dr. Brian McDonough welcomes Dr. Gregory Weinstein, Professor and Vice Chair and the Director of the Division of Head and Neck Surgery. He is the Co-Director of The Center for Head and Neck Cancer in The Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The two discuss a dramatic rise in HPV-related cancers over the past decade, and what clinicians need to be aware of in assessing their patients for these indidious diseases.

[Read the Article] The popularity of testosterone supplementation among older men has increased substantially over the past decade. However, the risks and benefits of long-term administration are still unclear. A new study examined whether using testosterone supplements affected the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries), which is linked to heart attack and stroke.Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston studied more than 300 men who were sixty years of age and older, in relatively good health, and had low or low-normal testosterone levels. Half the men applied a testosterone gel daily to the skin for three years, while the other half were given a placebo gel. During the course of the trial, hardening of the arteries was measured in the carotid and coronary arteries, which supply the brain and heart.Results were that during the three year study, there was no significant effects in terms of hardening of the carotid or coronary arteries. Testosterone supplementation also did not i

[Read the Article] An increasing number of pregnant women are undergoing noninvasive prenatal testing to help identify fetal genetic abnormalities. This is done using a blood test that looks at the DNA of both the mother and fetus. In a small percentage of these tests, the results appear abnormal, but the baby's genetics are later shown to be normal. A new study examined if the rare diagnosis of maternal cancer could be one cause of such discrepancies. The study is being released to coincide with its presentation at the 19th International Conference on Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapy in Washington, D.C.Researchers at Tufts Medical Center in Boston examined more than 125,000 noninvasive prenatal test results over the course of a two year period. Approximately 3,800 women had abnormal test results, and ten of those women were subsequently diagnosed with cancer. Medical records and additional genetic information were examined in eight of those women to look for patterns suggestive of underlying cancer.Based on th

Noninvasive Prenatal Testing and Incidental Detection of Occult Maternal Malignancies Diana W. Bianchi, MD; Darya Chudova, PhD; Amy J. Sehnert, MD; Sucheta Bhatt, MD; Kathryn Murray, MS; Tracy L. Prosen, MD; Judy E. Garber, MD; Louise Wilkins-Haug, MD, PhD; Neeta L. Vora, MD; Stephen Warsof, MD; James Goldberg, MD; Tina Ziainia, MD; Meredith Halks-Miller, MD JAMA. 2015;314(2):162-169. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.7120 Importance: Understanding the relationship between aneuploidy detection on noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and occult maternal malignancies may explain results that are discordant with the fetal karyotype and improve maternal clinical care. Objective: To evaluate massively parallel sequencing data for patterns of copy-number variations that might prospectively identify occult maternal malignancies. Design, Setting, and Participants: Case series identified from 125 426 samples submitted between February 15, 2012, and September 30, 2014, from asymptomatic pregnant women who underwent plasma cel

Dr. Carol Burke, Director of the Center for Colon Polyp and Cancer Prevention at the Cleveland Clinic, unveils ongoing but underrecognized gender disparities in the practice of gastroenterology, such as differences in academic vs private practice opportunities, average salaries and hours worked, rates of promotion and partnerships, and male-modeled endoscopic equipment designs. Dr. Burke then explores gender disparities in GI care for patients with colorectal cancer, including differences in efficacy of colorectal cancer screening, male vs female morbidity and mortality rates, and even the underlying biologies of cancers themselves.

Host: Michael Krychman, MD As many clinicians have become increasingly aware, the problem of obesity involves a complex interplay of habits and hormones, influenced by genetic predispositions and cultural practices alike. Whereas the supposed magic bullets of weight loss pills and fad diets are always in high demand, few to none have demonstrated consistent benefit for patients, and the struggle to avoid the "yo yo effect" of regained weight goes on. Sexual health problems represent some of the most difficult issues reported by patients who are obese, but rarely are these complaints properly registered or addressed by clinicians. Joining Dr. Michael Krychman at ACOG’s annual scientific meeting to focus on this neglected aspect of obesity is Dr. Maida Taylor, Clinical Professor of OB/GYN and Reproductive Sciences of the University of California-San Francisco. They discuss counseling strategies and interventions for patients striving toward better sexual health as they pursue more healthy, stable weight.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Most women will readily testify that pelvic examinations are unpleasant experiences; they can be physically painful and induce anxiety. But recent studies have also indicated that examinations of asymptomatic, average-risk woman may lead to unexpectedly high rates false positives and unnecessary followup tests. So the perennial question resurfaces: are routine pelvic examinations more trouble than they're worth? Join Dr. Matt Birnholz and guest Dr. Hannah Bloomfield, Chief of Research at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, speaking at ACOG’s annual scientific meeting. They focus on the latest research behind this question of whether routine pelvic examinations are really necessary for monitoring patient health, and the potential pros and cons of abandoning this practice in annual OB/GYN checkups.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Many people believe that exercise during pregnancy is detrimental to the health of the fetus. This belief seems to have come from an outdated study that the fetus’s heart rate drops if the mother exercises. More recent studies, however, have supported a counterposition that exercise during pregnancy is safe and can actually be beneficial for both the mother and fetus. Join Dr. Matt Birnholz and Dr. Linda Szymanski, Medical Director of Labor and Delivery at Johns Hopkins Hospital at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. They discuss the latest research on exercise during pregnancy, from benefits to harms, and how clinicians can counsel patients on the "right" amount of exercise during this life period.

Host: Michael Krychman, MD Low libido, a condition affecting an estimated 10% of women, can develop at any age and be attributed to several factors in a woman’s life, from lifestyle changes to medication and procedural side effects. Join host Dr. Michael Krychman and Dr. Leah Millheiser, Director of Female Sexual Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, on the floor of ACOG’s annual scientific meeting. They discuss current knowledge gaps in recognizing and treating low libido, and the importance of sexual health psychology within therapeutic approaches.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Guest: Maureen Whelihan, MD There is a stigma around sex in the United States. That stigma makes it difficult both for patients to disclose details about their sex lives in clinical settings and for physicians to ask patients about sex. Consequentially patients may have treatable but unaddressed sexual problems because their physicians don't know those problems exists. Join Dr. Matt Birnholz and Dr. Maureen Whelihan, President of The Center for Sexual Health and Education in West Palm Beach, Florida, as they discuss case stories spanning the various ages and stages of sexual health, and their implications in helping physicians and patients talk about sex.

Host: Michael Krychman, MD For women in their 40's and 50's, approximately one in four will develop a pelvic floor disorder such as urinary incontinence. By the age of 80, that prevalence rises to more than 50 percent. The struggle with a pelvic floor disorder has lasting effects on a woman's sexual health, leading to numerous psychosocial and physical consequences in turn. But of equal concern to many patients dealing with the symptoms of their disorder is the potential aftermath of reconstructive surgical treatments, such as mesh slings, due to their troubling complication rates. Are these concerns justified, and if so, how can the risks be mitigated by both physicians and patients? Joining Dr. Michael Krychman to discuss the misconceptions versus realities of pelvic floor disorder treatments is Dr. Cheryl Iglesia, Professor in the departments of OB/GYN and Urology at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, and Drector of the Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery section of Medstar W

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Studies in the field of anthropology have shown that having a healthy grandmother plays a critically positive role in family cohesion. But the wholistic, personalized health needs of women in their elder years are not always recognized. This care disparity is all the more prominent in general OB/GYN practice, but thanks to the work of a select few, the trends may be about to change. Dr. Matt Birnholz speaks with Dr. Sarah Berga, Professor and Chair of OB/GYN at Wake Forest School of Medicine at ACOG’s annual meeting in San Francisco. They discuss maintaining grandmothers' health across both physiological and psychological spectra, and how this attention in care fundamentally changes larger family units for the better.

Host: Michael Krychman, MD Many clinicians think that one of the most dangerous things a woman will ever do in her life is to carry and conceive a child. Stemming from this belief, several misconceptions have risen within the medical community, and by extension the general public, concerning risks of sexual activity during pregnancy. Joining host Dr. Michael Krychman at ACOG's annual scientific meeting to clarify the facts versus myths on sexuality during and after this important life event is Dr. Haywood Brown, Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Duke University Medical Center.

Host: Maureen Whelihan, MD The increasingly recognized concept of a clinician's "work-life balance" is critical to thriving and avoiding burnout, but the philosophy behind this balance remains poorly understood. Some argue that adequate time alottment to one's priorities is the key factor in sustaining a positive medical career trajectory, but a select few believe that time allocation alone is not enough. Dr. Michael Foley, Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Banner University Medical Center-Phoenix, argues in favor of what he calls work-life harmony, where aspects of meaningfulness, relationships, and wellbeing better guide one's life and career decisions. Joining host Dr. Maureen Whelihan at ACOG's Annual Scientific Meeting in San Francisco, Dr. Foley applies a martial arts-centered perspective on medical careers based on his extensive experience as a seventh-degree black belt and the founder of The Center for Humane Living.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Dr. Matt Birnholz welcomes Dr. Tom Gellhaus, President-Elect of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, to discuss his vision for ACOG's initiatives to come, inspired in part by both his unique clinical training background and his extensive legislative activity experience on behalf of OB/GYN specialists nationwide. Dr Gellhaus is Clinical Associate Professor of OB/GYN and Director of General OB/GYN at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa. City.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Dr. Matt Birnholz welcomes Dr. Mark DeFrancesco, 66th President of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, to the program. Dr. DeFrancesco looks back at the accomplishments of his immediate predecessors, and reflects on the three-fold initiative to which he will dedicate his efforts on behalf of ACOG to advance the OB/GYN specialty for years to come. Dr. DeFrancesco is managing partner at Westwood Women’s Health in Waterbury, Connecticut, a division of Women’s Health Connecticut. He is a founding member of this organization, and served as its chief medical officer for many years.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Dr. Matt Birnholz welcomes Dr. Jeanne Conry, 64th President of The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Assistant Physician-in-Chief at The Permanente Medical Group in Roseville, CA, and Associate Clinical Professor of OB/GYN at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Conry reflects on three presidential initiatives she advanced during her tenure: (1) formal, ongoing investigations into the environmental impacts on health, (2) a national campaign to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, and (3) launch of the Well Woman Task Force.

Host: Michael Krychman, MD The market for sexual health products and accessories, from moisturizers to lubricants to self-stimulators, is very large, and this creates confusion among patients and physicians alike as to which types of products are most helpful for specific sexual health problems. To address ways to gauge the safety and efficacy of sexual health products on the market, particularly for perimenopausal patients with special needs, Dr. Michael Krychman welcomes Dr. Barb Depree, gynecologist, menopause care specialist, and founder of MiddlesexMD, a website providing information and recommended products for women's sexual health.