OB/GYN

The hidden impact of pharmacy benefit companies on fertility treatments

Conditions

August 22, 2024

Fertility treatments are a challenging journey filled with emotional highs and lows. For many, these treatments represent the hope of starting or growing a family. However, one of the less obvious but critical aspects of this journey involves pharmacy benefit companies (PBCs). These companies play a significant role in determining access to fertility medications, and their influence can create unexpected barriers for patients and health care providers alike.

Pharmacy benefit companies …

Access to uterine artery embolization for all women [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 18, 2024

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Join Nikki Keefe, an interventional radiologist, as we delve into the complexities of uterine fibroids and the disparities in treatment access. Despite uterine fibroids affecting up to 70 percent of women and causing …

The hidden heroes who fought for women’s reproductive rights in the 1950s

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Policy

August 18, 2024

The term “Dainty Maids” could refer to various subjects depending on the context—ranging from historical groups to fictional characters.

Historically, women in service roles, such as maids or attendants, were referred to as Dainty Maids. They were noted for their refined manners and appearance, women who embodied ideals of delicacy and decorum. In literary works, poetry, and plays from various periods, particularly in the Victorian era, Dainty Maids were often described …

How microplastics affect our reproductive health [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 7, 2024

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Join us as we explore the world of microplastics with fertility specialist Oluyemisi (Yemi) Famuyiwa. Learn about microplastics, how they permeate our environment, and their potential effects on human health and fertility. Yemi …

Pelvic floor disorders: myths vs. reality [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 2, 2024

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We welcome Carmen Fong, a colorectal surgeon, to discuss the often overlooked yet critical topic of pelvic floor dysfunction. Drawing from her extensive experience, Carmen shares insights from the Pelvic Floor Symposiums, the …

Breaking the stigma: obesity and perimenopause [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

July 20, 2024

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In this episode, we sit down with Caissa Troutman, an obesity medicine and family physician, to delve into the pervasive stigma and shame associated with obesity and perimenopause. Caissa shares her personal experiences …

New standards for anesthesia in out-of-hospital Cesarean sections

Deepak Gupta, MD

Conditions

July 20, 2024

Unless planning to issue an update on practice guidelines for obstetric anesthesia, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), along with its subspecialty organization, the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP), should formulate a consensus statement for peri-anesthesia management during out-of-hospital cesarean sections (OHCS). Florida has become the first state to allow OHCS, an infrastructural relaxation for obstetric care that other states may follow. Whether the ensuing outcomes among pregnant …

Historical trauma in ethnic health disparities [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

July 2, 2024

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We explore the complex factors contributing to ethnic health disparities in the United States with our guest, Melody T. McCloud, an obstetrician-gynecologist who was bestowed a Distinguished Alumni Award by Emory University School …

Microplastics and fertility: Uncovering the hidden risks to reproductive health

Oluyemisi Famuyiwa, MD

Conditions

June 25, 2024

Microplastics, tiny plastic particles less than 5 mm in size, have permeated our environment, showing up in oceans, air, and even our food. These particles are a growing concern due to their potential impact on human health and fertility. Recent studies, including one by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), have highlighted the risks associated with microplastic exposure. This article delves into what microplastics are, how they affect …

Unlocking hidden leadership: the powerful skillset of parenthood

Victoria Chiaro, DO, MPH

Physician

June 23, 2024

I came back from ACOG feeling invigorated. This year’s theme was “Leading from where you are,” and let’s just say the leader in me was re-activated. I identified with so many qualities of the speakers; I felt inspired and ready to make an impact. Specifically, I felt ready to serve on committees and lead. Once home, I was ready to pull out my laptop and write down my goals. But, …

What every mom needs to know about post-delivery pelvic floor injuries [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 20, 2024

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Join us for an enlightening episode with Sarah Boyles, a urogynecologist, as we delve into the often overlooked topic of pelvic floor health post-delivery. While the joy …

One physician’s rules for recovery from burnout

Susan Landers, MD

Physician

June 18, 2024

I suffered through burnout twice in my career. Each episode was similar in that feelings of fatigue, exhaustion, and emotional overwhelm were predominant. Each time I felt like a failure as a mother and a physician. However, each episode of burnout differed by involving different triggers and calling into focus different aspects of my work-life imbalance.

For each episode of burnout, I was able to employ some particular methods to recover. …

Balancing expectations and reality in modern obstetrics

Roshni D. Patel, DO

Physician

June 13, 2024

“I want everything to be natural.”

Well, we are in a building with electricity and high-speed internet, neither of which are gifts from Mother Earth.

Yes, that’s really how I responded to a patient. We laughed, but her comment allowed me to reflect. I interpret this statement to be the patient’s wish to minimize intervention or achieve a vaginal delivery. I understand this position. However, it may stem from the cultural mythology …

Why the U.S. must urgently address maternal health disparities for Black women

Isabelle Akinyemiju

Policy

June 11, 2024

It is no secret that the U.S. lags greatly behind other developed nations in maternal health outcomes. When we hear the stories of women like Shalon Irving, who died three weeks after giving birth and whose pleas for help prior to her death were all but ignored, or the story of Kira Johnson, who was left hemorrhaging for ten hours in the hospital after what was supposed to be a …

The adverse labor and delivery experiences faced by Black women

Sophia Alexander, Deepjot Singh, MD, and Jessica L. Jones, MD, MSPH

Conditions

June 8, 2024

Women of color, particularly Black women, encounter distinct challenges during pregnancy and childbirth. This results in disproportionately adverse outcomes such as invasive treatments, infant mortality, severe complications, and even death experienced by these women. The role of racism and discrimination are highlighted even when controlling for certain underlying social and economic factors. For example, education and income are not protective of poor outcomes, and inequity in health care persists …

Black maternal mortality crisis: Preventable deaths demand action

Desrae Yvette Woods

Conditions

June 7, 2024

The racial and ethnic divide within health care remains largely unaddressed. One aspect I wish to highlight is the impact of mortality rates after childbirth, particularly among African American women. They face the highest mortality rates postpartum, presenting a concerning health disparity that verges on a public health crisis. According to the CDC, black women are two to three times more likely to succumb to pregnancy-related complications compared to other …

An infamous medical malpractice case

Howard Smith, MD

Physician

June 4, 2024

Byrom vs. Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, a lawsuit tried in Maryland in July 2019, is this infamous case. It concerns the failure to perform a cesarean section and brain damage in a 25-week-old infant. It resulted in the largest malpractice verdict ever recorded in the United States, $229 million.

After the trial, a spokesperson for Johns Hopkins revealed that the discussion of some facts during the trial was limited by …

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An infamous medical malpractice case

Why pelvic floor disorders deserve more attention

Carmen Fong, MD

Conditions

June 1, 2024

She’s the reason I pee when I sneeze. She’s the reason I fart when I walk. And yet, I would give birth to my daughter again, a thousand times over. And that, I think, is the crux of the cross we bear as mothers — bearing children and, specifically, bearing down.

As a resident, I attended the Pelvic Floor Symposiums held by my institution. They were fascinating discussions led by …

Why my doctor never mentioned pelvic floor dysfunction (and why it matters)

Carine Carmy

Conditions

May 30, 2024

I was 31 when I learned I had a pelvic floor: the set of muscles, ligaments, and tissues that stretch like a hammock across the pelvis. Like many women, my pelvic awakening came far too late in life. The phrase was never uttered in high school sex ed, never brought up by my gynecologist, and — despite spending most of my 20s shuttling around the health care system trying to …

Why discussing female sexual health matters [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

May 26, 2024

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Join medical students Olivia Negris and Jen Romanello as they delve into the often-overlooked topic of female sexual health in health care. In this insightful podcast, Olivia and Jen discuss the challenges patients …

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