Association of Neighborhood-Level Socioeconomic Status With Prolapse Management Decision.

IMPORTANCE: This study identifies how neighborhood-level socioeconomic status (SES) may affect patients' treatment decisions for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the association of neighborhood-level SES with the decision of surgical versus conservative POP management. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients newly diagnosed with POP at a tertiary medical center between 2015 and 2021. Patients lost to follow-up or poor surgical candidates were excluded. Patient characteristics, demographics, and treatment selection were abstracted from the electronic health record. Conservative management was defined as expectant, pessary, and/or pelvic floor physical therapy. Five-digit zip codes were linked to the Area Deprivation Index and used as a surrogate for neighborhood-level SES. Area Deprivation Indices were dichotomized at or below the sample median (less disadvantaged area) and above the sample median (more disadvantaged area). Logistic regression models estimated the odds of choosing surgical versus conservative management as a function of the Area Deprivation Index. RESULTS: A total of 459 patients met the eligibility criteria (non-Hispanic White, 88.2%). The median age was 63 years (interquartile range, 52-70 years), and the majority had stage 2 POP (65.7%). Of all patients, 59.3% had Medicare/Medicaid, 39.9% were privately insured, and 0.9% were uninsured. Furthermore, 74.7% selected surgical management, and 25.3% chose conservative management. Increasing age and higher Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System stage were significantly associated with selecting surgery (P = 0.01). Women residing in a more disadvantaged area had a 67% increased odds of choosing surgical over conservative management (adjusted odds ratio, 1.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-2.64) after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System stage. CONCLUSIONS: Residing in a more disadvantaged zip code was associated with 67% increased odds of choosing surgical versus conservative POP management.

A Comparison of Vaginal and Intramuscular Progesterone for the Prevention of Recurrent Preterm Birth.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine whether vaginal progesterone is noninferior to 17-α hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17OHP-C) in the prevention of recurrent preterm birth (PTB). STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study included singleton pregnancies among women with a history of spontaneous PTB who received prenatal care at a single tertiary center from 2011 to 2016. Pregnancies were excluded if progesterone was not initiated prior to 24 weeks or the fetus had a major congenital anomaly. The primary outcome was PTB <37 weeks. A priori, noninferiority was to be established if the upper bound of the adjusted two-sided 90% confidence interval (CI) for the difference in PTB fell below 9%. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to carefully control for confounding associated with choice of treatment and PTB. Adjusted differences in PTB proportions were estimated via IPTW regression, with standard errors adjustment for multiple pregnancies per woman. Secondary outcomes included PTB <34 and <28 weeks, spontaneous PTB, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and gestational age at delivery. RESULTS: Among 858 pregnancies, 41% (n = 353) received vaginal progesterone and 59% (n = 505) were given 17OHP-C. Vaginal progesterone use was more common later in the study period, and among women who established prenatal care later, had prior PTBs at later gestational ages, and whose race/ethnicity was neither non-Hispanic white nor non-Hispanic Black. Vaginal progesterone did not meet noninferiority criteria compared with 17-OHPC in examining PTB <37 weeks, with an IPTW adjusted difference of 3.4% (90% CI: -3.5, 10.3). For secondary outcomes, IPTW adjusted differences between treatment groups were generally small and CIs were wide. CONCLUSION: We could not conclude noninferiority of vaginal progesterone to 17OHP-C; however, women and providers may be willing to accept a larger difference (>9%) when considering the cost and availability of vaginal progesterone versus 17OHP-C. A well-designed randomized trial is needed. KEY POINTS: · Vaginal progesterone is not noninferior to 17OHP-C.. · PTB risk may be 10% higher with vaginal progesterone.. · Associations did not differ based on obesity status..

A pilot randomized controlled trial of vaginal estrogen on postpartum atrophy, perineal pain, and sexual function.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Vulvovaginal symptoms following perineal laceration may be worsened by atrophy related to decreased estrogen. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of local estrogen therapy in this setting. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, pilot, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of local estradiol in primiparous women with a second-degree or greater perineal laceration following a term vaginal delivery. Participants were randomized to twice weekly estradiol or placebo cream from delivery through 3 months postpartum. The primary outcome was a validated measure of vulvovaginal symptoms at 12 weeks postpartum. Secondary outcomes included measures of perineal pain, quality of life, sexual function, ease of use, likelihood of continued use, and adverse events. RESULTS: We planned to enroll 70 women; however, due to human subjects research restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, enrollment was stopped early. A total of 59 women were randomized, 31 to the estradiol group and 28 to the placebo group. Nearly all participants (95%) were followed through 12 weeks with suggestion of marginal improvement in Vulvar Assessment Scale scores [-0.10; 90% CI = (-0.20, 0.01)] in those randomized to estradiol compared to placebo. Local estradiol was not associated with improvement in other measures, and only one non-serious adverse event was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In primiparous women with a perineal laceration, use of local estradiol showed minimal clinical benefit in vulvovaginal atrophy and related symptoms but appears to be acceptable and safe for postpartum use. Larger adequately powered trials enrolling a diverse group of postpartum women are needed to affirm these findings.

Postoperative complications after non-obstetric surgery among pregnant patients in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, 2005-2012.

BACKGROUND: To examine whether pregnant patients have higher risk of major 30-day postoperative complications compared with their non-pregnant counterparts after non-obstetric surgery. METHODS: A secondary analysis of the prospective National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) from 2005 to 2012 of pregnant patients 18-51 years old, without surgery in the preceding 30 days, and who underwent a non-obstetrical operation. The primary outcome was composite 30-day major postoperative complications. We used modified Poisson regression. RESULTS: Among 354,251 assessed patients, 3655 (1%) were pregnant. The overall incidence of 30-day major postoperative complication was 6%, and did not vary by pregnancy status. Pregnant patients were not at higher risk of 30-day major postoperative complications compared to non-pregnant patients following non-obstetric surgery. This held for most procedures, except pregnant patients were at a higher risk of complications with colorectal and hernia surgeries. Secondarily, pregnant patients were at higher risk of transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant patients are generally not at higher risk of major postoperative complications following non-obstetric surgery. This information can be used when counseling pregnant patients about the risks versus benefits of non-obstetric surgery.

Racial Disparities in the Risk of Complications After Nonobstetric Surgery in Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether there are racial and ethnic differences in postoperative complications after nonobstetric surgery during pregnancy in the United States. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of the prospective ACS NSQIP (American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement) program from 2005 to 2012. We assessed pregnant women 18-50 years without prior surgery in the preceding 30 days who underwent a nonobstetric surgery. Race and ethnicity were categorized as non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White (reference). The primary outcome was a composite of 30-day major postoperative complications inclusive of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and infectious complications, reoperation, unplanned readmission, blood transfusion, and death. We used modified Poisson regression to estimate the relative risk of complications. RESULTS: Among 3,093 pregnant women, 18% were non-Hispanic Black, 20% Hispanic, and 62% non-Hispanic White. The most common surgeries were appendectomy (36%) and cholecystectomy (19%). Black women (18%) were more likely to be assigned American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status class III or higher than their White (12%) or Hispanic (9%) peers. Non-Hispanic Black pregnant women had a higher risk of 30-day major postoperative complications compared with their White peers (9% vs 6%; adjusted relative risk [aRR] 1.41, 95% CI 1.11-1.99). This difference persisted when limiting the analysis to apparently healthy women (ASA class I or II) (7% vs 4%; aRR 1.64, 95% CI 1.08-2.50), those who underwent appendectomy (10% vs 3%; aRR 2.36, 95% CI 1.13-4.96), and when appendectomy and cholecystectomy were performed by laparoscopy (7% vs 3%; aRR 2.62, 95% CI 1.22-5.58). Hispanic pregnant women were not at an increased risk of complications compared with non-Hispanic pregnant White women. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant non-Hispanic Black women were at higher risk of major postoperative complications after nonobstetric surgery compared with their White counterparts.

Evaluating the Quality and Readability of Online Resources for Labiaplasty.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality, readability, and accuracy of Web-based information regarding labiaplasty and to characterize the types of Web sites providing this information. METHODS: Investigators used 3 major search engines to query the internet using the search terms labiaplasty, labia reduction, and vaginal rejuvenation. Two validated tools were used to evaluate Web sites: the JAMA benchmark tool and the DISCERN instrument. Three physicians independently reviewed each Web site. Interrater agreement was assessed, and reviewer scores were averaged. Flesch-Kincaid reading ease and Flesch-Kincaid grade level of each site were assessed. Data were analyzed using Stata 14.0 (College Station, TX). RESULTS: Of the 112 Web sites reviewed, 100 Web sites were from North America, 9 from Europe, 2 from Australia, and 1 from Asia. The median score using the JAMA tool was 1.0 (0.33-4.0), indicating low accountability, whereas the median score using the DISCERN tool was 28 (18.7-77) of 80 with higher scores indicating higher quality. Cohen's weighted κ statistic (0.81) demonstrated near perfect agreement among reviewers for DISCERN scores. The median reading level was 11.9 (6.4-19.5). A majority of the Web sites (92) were for-profit businesses or blogs. CONCLUSIONS: The internet enables patients to research sensitive topics and seek answers without worry of social stigma. Online health-related information is a widely used yet poorly studied source of medical information. The majority of Web sites reviewed lack balanced, evidence-based information. Given the wide variation in the quality of information, physicians should guide patients to reputable online resources.

Engaging Women in Pelvic Floor Disorders Research Using the Internet.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study were (1) to assess the feasibility of using online platforms as recruitment tools for pelvic floor disorder studies and (2) to compare the prevalence of symptoms of incontinence and care-seeking behavior by online platform to previously published prevalence estimates. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among women to assess the prevalence of incontinence symptoms, level of bother, and care-seeking behavior. Participants were recruited through Facebook ads, ResearchMatch, or Reddit. The effectiveness of Facebook ads was assessed using the click through rate and an overall completion rate (number of completes over number of times an ad was shown). A nontargeted ad was posted to a Reddit thread in which research opportunities are advertised. For ResearchMatch, investigators sent a recruitment email. Effectiveness of this method was assessed by observing how many women completed the survey compared with the number of women who received it. RESULTS: Among the 7361 women who initiated the questionnaire, 6650 (90%) completed it. A majority of participants were recruited through ResearchMatch. Online platforms were successful in recruiting women across a wide age range (ages, 18-93 years). The overall prevalence of incontinence was 46.1% with women 45 years and older having the highest prevalence (64.6%). Common reasons for not seeking care included "not bothersome enough," "other health problems," and "being unsure about treatment." CONCLUSIONS: Internet-based recruitment was found to be feasible. The prevalence of incontinence was higher than has been reported in other population-based samples. Significant barriers to care exist, and further studies should focus on educational strategies.

Is There an Association Between Bothersome Urinary Symptoms and Postpartum Depression?

OBJECTIVE: Bothersome urinary symptoms are often present postpartum. The objective of this study was to examine the association between bothersome urinary symptoms and screening positive for postpartum depression. METHODS: Women presenting at the routine 6-week postpartum visit were screened for risk of depression with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. A questionnaire comprising delivery characteristics and demographics, 20-item Postpartum Symptom Inventory (PSI), Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI) short form, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ) short form, and history of depression and antidepressant use was completed. Scores were then compared. RESULTS: Data from 104 women were analyzed, with 89% reporting excellent or good health; 73% delivered vaginally; 22% reported a history of depression, and 7% were taking an antidepressant. Twelve percent were classified as at risk of depression. Median UDI score was 5.6 (range, 0-44.4). Median IIQ score was 0 (range, 0-85.7). There was no statistically significant association between bothersome urinary symptoms and the odds of screening positive for depression using either the UDI (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7-12.5) or the IIQ (adjusted OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.1-2.9). The UDI score was associated with elevated PSI scores as PSI scores increased by 5.4 points if a woman had a UDI score that was greater than zero versus a UDI score of zero, controlling for education level, age, and whether the patient had a cesarean delivery (95% CI, 2.2-8.6; P = 0.001). The UDI score was not associated with antidepressant use (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 0.5-13.2). The IIQ score had no associations with PSI score (adjusted difference in means, 2.9; 95% CI, -0.9 to 6.8; P = 0.13) or antidepressant use (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 0.4-9.3). CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant association between bothersome urinary symptoms and the odds of screening positive for increased risk of postpartum depression was found. Future work in this area is needed.

Association between postpartum physical symptoms and mood.

OBJECTIVE: Postpartum depression may be associated with higher levels of postpartum pain, but the association with discomfort in general is unclear. We sought to describe an association between postpartum mood disturbances and quantitatively measured physical symptoms at the time of the routine postpartum encounter. METHODS: We designed a novel quantitative measurement of postpartum symptoms, the Postpartum Symptom Inventory (PSI), to allow comparison to scores of postpartum mood. Women presenting for a routine postpartum visit were asked to complete a brief questionnaire about their delivery, the 20-item PSI, and an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Depression scores were compared with symptom inventory scores and demographic data. RESULTS: Two hundred six women responded, of whom 77% had a vaginal delivery. The most common physical symptoms experienced to a bothersome degree were fatigue (35.3%), back/hip pain (22.4%), and headache (13.2%). Twenty-nine women (14.3%) had an EPDS score of 10 or more, thereby screening positive for possible depression. Women screening positive had significantly greater total PSI scores than women who did not screen positive (20.2 vs 12.2, p < 0.001). After adjustment for history of depression and age, the odds of screening positive for depression were 3.6 times higher in women with PSI scores over 10 compared to women with lower scores [95% CI: (1.1, 11.4); p = 0.03]. CONCLUSION: Data suggest that a high level of physical symptomatology as measured by a PSI score >10 at six weeks post-delivery is associated with increased odds of screening positive for postpartum depression.

The incidence of transfusion and associated risk factors in pelvic reconstructive surgery.

BACKGROUND: Almost 400,000 female pelvic reconstructive operations were performed in 2010 for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in the United States, and it is likely that this will continue to increase each year. There is a lack of population-based data evaluating the risk of blood transfusion after urogynecologic procedures. OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the incidence of blood transfusion related to pelvic reconstructive surgery in a large national surgical quality database and to identify transfusion-associated risk factors. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study was performed using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from the years 2010 through 2014. All women undergoing surgery for pelvic floor disorders were identified by Current Procedural Terminology code. Demographic and clinical variables were abstracted. The incidence of blood transfusion was determined. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify clinical factors independently associated with blood transfusion. RESULTS: A total of 54,387 women underwent pelvic reconstructive surgery from 2010 through 2014 in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Of these subjects, 686 (1.26%) received a blood transfusion. The median age was 57 (range 28-89) years. Of the population, 0.81% was underweight (body mass index <18.5), 27.0% was normal weight (body mass index 18.5-24.9), 35.6% was overweight (body mass index 25-29.9), and 36.7% was obese (body mass index ≥30). The majority of subjects in the study cohort were Caucasian (91.4%) followed by African Americans (4.6%); the remainder included Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. Hispanic ethnicity was reported in 9.3% of the population. American Society of Anesthesiologists class 1 and 2 represented a majority of the sample (76.5%). Concomitant hysterectomy was performed in 20,735 (38.1%) of the population. In the multivariate analysis, preoperative hematocrit <30% (odds ratio, 13.68; 95% confidence interval, 10.65-17.59), history of coagulopathy (odds ratio, 3.74; 95% confidence interval, 2.50-5.60), and concomitant hysterectomy (odds ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-2.12) were factors independently associated with receiving blood transfusion (all P < .05). When compared to American Society of Anesthesiologists class 1, patients who were class 3 (odds ratio, 2.82, P < .01; 95% confidence interval, 2.02-3.93) or class 4 (odds ratio, 6.56, P < .01; 95% confidence interval, 3.65-11.78) were more likely to require a transfusion. When compared to Caucasians, African Americans (odds ratio, 1.73, P < .01; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-2.36) and Hispanics (odds ratio, 1.92, P < .01; 95% confidence interval, 1.54-2.40) were more likely to require a transfusion. In this cohort, overweight (odds ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-0.93) and obese (odds ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.75) subjects were less likely to receive a transfusion. When compared to a vaginal approach, patients who had a minimally invasive approach (odds ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.83) were less likely to receive a transfusion, while those with an open approach were more likely to receive a transfusion (odds ratio, 5.43; 95% confidence interval, 4.49-6.56). Age was not a risk factor for transfusion. CONCLUSION: Transfusion after pelvic reconstructive surgery is uncommon. The variables associated with transfusion are preoperative hematocrit <30%, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, bleeding disorders, nonwhite race, Hispanic ethnicity, and concomitant hysterectomy. Recognition of these factors can help guide preoperative counseling regarding transfusion risk after pelvic reconstructive surgery and individualize preoperative preparation.

Is human fecundity changing? A discussion of research and data gaps precluding us from having an answer.

Fecundity, the biologic capacity to reproduce, is essential for the health of individuals and is, therefore, fundamental for understanding human health at the population level. Given the absence of a population (bio)marker, fecundity is assessed indirectly by various individual-based (e.g. semen quality, ovulation) or couple-based (e.g. time-to-pregnancy) endpoints. Population monitoring of fecundity is challenging, and often defaults to relying on rates of births (fertility) or adverse outcomes such as genitourinary malformations and reproductive site cancers. In light of reported declines in semen quality and fertility rates in some global regions among other changes, the question as to whether human fecundity is changing needs investigation. We review existing data and novel methodological approaches aimed at answering this question from a transdisciplinary perspective. The existing literature is insufficient for answering this question; we provide an overview of currently available resources and novel methods suitable for delineating temporal patterns in human fecundity in future research.

Reproductive counseling, contraception, and unplanned pregnancy in fertile women treated by gynecologic oncologists.

We sought to identify how gynecologic oncologists approach reproductive counseling for their fertile, reproductive age patients, and their experience with unplanned pregnancies. Members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) were surveyed electronically regarding consistency of counseling patterns of contraception and fertility concerns, most and least common contraceptive methods utilized, referral patterns, and incidence of unplanned pregnancy. Of the 1424 SGO members identified, 261 participated in the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 18%. Eighty-two percent of respondents agreed unplanned pregnancy is a potential problem, but only 57% believed their patients understood unplanned pregnancy is possible during treatment. Half of respondents report "always" in terms of frequency that contraception is addressed among their high-risk patients. After adjustment for gender, we found that the odds of reporting providing fertility counseling were nearly three times higher among attendings as compared to fellows [AOR = 2.72; 95% CI = (1.44, 5.12), three times higher in women as compared to men [AOR = 2.80; 95% CI = (1.46, 5.38)], as well as in individuals 50 + years as compared to those < 40 years old [AOR = 4.91; 95% CI = (2.05, 11.74)]. Ninety-six percent reported < 5 unplanned pregnancies, to their knowledge, in the previous five years of clinical practice. Most providers acknowledge that unplanned pregnancy is a potential risk in fertile gynecologic oncology patients, but only half believe their patients understand an unplanned pregnancy is possible. An opportunity exists to provide more directed counseling regarding fertility during and after cancer therapy, and to educate patients and providers regarding more reliable, long acting contraceptive methods.

Lifestyle and pregnancy loss in a contemporary cohort of women recruited before conception: The LIFE Study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate pregnancy loss incidence in a contemporary cohort of couples whose lifestyles were measured during sensitive windows of reproduction to identify factors associated with pregnancy loss for the continual refinement of preconception guidance. DESIGN: Prospective cohort with preconception enrollment. SETTING: Sixteen counties in Michigan and Texas. PATIENT(S): Three hundred forty-four couples with a singleton pregnancy followed daily through 7 postconception weeks of gestation. INTERVENTION(S): None. Couples daily recorded use of cigarettes, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, and multivitamins. Women used fertility monitors for ovulation detection and digital pregnancy tests. Pregnancy loss was denoted by conversion to a negative pregnancy test, onset of menses, or clinical confirmation depending upon gestation. Using proportional hazards regression and accounting for right censoring, we estimated adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (aHR, 95% CI) for couples' lifestyles (cigarette smoking, alcoholic and caffeinated drinks, multivitamins) during three sensitive windows: preconception, early pregnancy, and periconception. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Incidence and risk factors for pregnancy loss. RESULT(S): Ninety-eight of 344 (28%) women with a singleton pregnancy experienced an observed pregnancy loss. In the preconception window, loss was associated with female age ≥35 years (1.96, 1.13-3.38) accounting for couples' ages, women's and men's consumption of >2 daily caffeinated beverages (1.74, 1.07-2.81; and 1.73, 1.10-2.72, respectively), and women's vitamin adherence (0.45, 0.25-0.80). The findings were similar for lifestyle during the early pregnancy and periconception windows. CONCLUSION(S): Couples' preconception lifestyle factors were associated with pregnancy loss, although women's multivitamin adherence dramatically reduced risk. The findings support continual refinement and implementation of preconception guidance.

Receipt and timing of pregnancy-related preventive health messages vary by message type and maternal characteristics.

PURPOSE: To determine when women receive pregnancy-related preventive health messages and to examine differences in receipt timing by maternal characteristics. DESIGN: The cross-sectional secondary analyses used data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). SETTING: The study used PRAMS responses from Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio. SUBJECTS: Study participants were women with a recent live birth. MEASURES: Health messages included mental health, safe medications, smoking, alcohol, and illegal drugs. The timing of message receipt was categorized as early (preconceptionally and prenatally) or late (prenatally only/never). ANALYSIS: Weighted χ (2) tests and multivariable logistic regression were used for analysis. RESULTS: Among n = 3446, women with unintended pregnancies received all messages, except safe medications, significantly more early vs. late compared with women intending pregnancies (all p < .01). In multivariable analyses, there were no significant associations between timing of receipt and pregnancy intention, parity, preconception insurance status, or adequacy of prenatal care for any of the health messages. Hispanic women had increased odds of receiving the messages early compared with non-Hispanic white women, as did high school graduates vs. women with more education and women with lower household incomes vs. women with higher incomes. CONCLUSIONS: Women who may be perceived to be at higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and/or engaging in high-risk behavior (minorities, lower education, lower income) appear to be getting messages early more often than do other women; messages are not reaching all women equally.

Association between body mass index and the timing of pregnancy recognition and entry into prenatal care.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) is independently associated with the timing of pregnancy recognition and initiation of prenatal care. METHODS: Data from 2009 to 2010 were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. The 30 participating states contacted sampled mothers 2-4 months after delivery and had them complete the standardized Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System questionnaire. Prepregnancy BMI was calculated from the participants' self-reported prepregnancy weight and height. Timing of pregnancy recognition and initiation of prenatal care were also self-reported on the questionnaire. RESULTS: Among the 72,913 participants, 69,872 (96%) met the eligibility criteria for analysis. After adjustment for maternal race, ethnicity, smoking status in the 3 months before pregnancy, pregnancy intentions, insurance status, maternal age, marital status, maternal education, and parity, there was no association between prepregnancy BMI status and the week of pregnancy recognition. Obese women initiated prenatal care 0.20 weeks earlier on average compared with normal-weight women, although the difference was not clinically important (mean difference -0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.38 to -0.03). When examining the odds of receiving late or no prenatal care, there was no association with prepregnancy BMI. Uninsured women, however, reported initiating prenatal care almost 3 weeks later on average than privately insured women (mean difference 2.83, 95% CI 2.27-3.38) and had a more than fourfold increased odds of receiving late or no prenatal care (odds ratio 4.04, 95% CI 3.13-5.23). CONCLUSION: Prepregnancy BMI was not meaningfully associated with a delay in pregnancy recognition or with increased odds of receiving late or no prenatal care.

Association between infertility treatment and symptoms of postpartum depression.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between infertility treatment and subsequent symptoms of postpartum depression. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Not applicable. PATIENT(S): Women who delivered live-born infants from 2009-2010. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Odds of symptoms of postpartum depression. RESULT(S): Data were obtained from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Data on infertility treatment were available for 16 states in which mothers were sampled 2 to 4 months after delivery to complete the standardized PRAMS questionnaire. Infertility treatment status was as reported on the birth certificate. Maternal mental health was obtained via the maternal questionnaire. Data were analyzed in Stata 12.0 with sample weights to produce population-based estimates. Among the 42,614 women who resided in states in which infertility treatment data were collected, infertility treatment status was missing for 2,277 (5.3%) women. Among the 40,337 eligible women, 12.9% reported feeling down, depressed or sad, and 6.0% reported feeling hopeless. These women were considered to have symptoms of postpartum depression. Even after adjustment for confounders, there was no independent association between infertility treatment status and symptoms of postpartum depression. In contrast, having a child admitted to neonatal intensive care, smoking, experiencing a higher number of stressors in the 12 months before delivery, and a history of having prepregnancy mental health care were associated with an increased odds of having symptoms of postpartum depression. CONCLUSION(S): In a population-based sample of U.S. women, conceiving with the help of infertility treatment did not increase the odds of experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression.

Prostate-specific antigen is unlikely to be a suitable biomarker of semen exposure from recent unprotected receptive anal intercourse in men who have sex with men.

A biomarker of unprotected receptive anal intercourse could improve validity of sexual behavior measurement. We quantified prostate-specific antigen (PSA) from rectal swabs from men who have sex with men (MSM). One swab was PSA positive. Using current methods, PSA is an inadequate biomarker of recent unprotected receptive anal intercourse in men who have sex with men.

Preterm birth rates in a prematurity prevention clinic after adoption of progestin prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether progestin prophylaxis influenced the odds of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth among pregnant women with a previous preterm birth. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed evaluating outcomes of pregnant women with one or more previous preterm births who received prenatal care in a single academic prematurity clinic. Care algorithms were determined and revised by a single supervising physician. Progestin prophylaxis was adopted in 2004 with accelerated access to the first clinic visit adopted in 2008. Rates of preterm birth before 37, 35, and 32 weeks of gestation were compared over time. RESULTS: One thousand sixty-six women with a history of one or more spontaneous preterm births received care in the prematurity clinic and were delivered between January 1, 1998, and June 30, 2012. The gestational age at initiation of prenatal care declined significantly after adoption of an accelerated appointment process (median of 19.1 weeks before 2003, 16.2 weeks from 2004 to 2007, and 15.2 weeks from 2008 to 2012, P<.01), and progestin use increased from 50.8% in 2004-2007 to 80.3% after 2008 (P<.01). After adjustment for race, smoking, cerclage, and number of prior preterm deliveries, we noted a statistically significant decreased odds of spontaneous preterm birth in years 2008-2012 compared with 1998-2007 before 37 (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58-0.97) and 35 (adjusted OR 0.70, 95% CI (.52-0.94) weeks of gestation. CONCLUSION: Adoption of prophylactic progestin treatment was associated with a decreased odds of recurrent preterm birth before 37 or 35 weeks of gestation after adoption of an aggressive program to facilitate early initiation of progestin treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Are increased levels of self-reported psychosocial stress, anxiety, and depression associated with fecundity?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between self-reported measures of stress, anxiety, depression, and related constructs and fecundity. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study of women trying to conceive. SETTING: United Kingdom. PATIENT(S): Three hundred thirty-nine women aged 18-40 years who were attempting to conceive. INTERVENTION(S): Completed daily diaries for up to six cycles or until pregnancy was detected. For each cycle, stress biomarkers were measured and psychosocial questionnaires were completed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES(S): Fecundability odds ratios (FORs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using discrete time survival methods, and the day-specific probabilities of pregnancy were calculated using Bayesian statistical techniques. RESULT(S): Among the 339 women, 207 (61%) became pregnant during the study, 69 (20%) did not become pregnant, and 63 (19%) withdrew. After controlling for maternal age, parity, months trying to conceive before enrollment, smoking, caffeine use, and frequency of intercourse, we found no association between most psychosocial measures and FORs or the day-specific probabilities of pregnancy save for an increased FOR for women reporting higher versus lower levels of social support. CONCLUSION(S): Self-reported psychosocial stress, anxiety, and depression were not associated with fecundity. Any adverse effect of stress or psychological disturbance on fecundity does not appear to be detectable via the questionnaires administered.