Many women prefer to use a nonhormonal contraceptive. They also want the freedom to self-administer on demand and want assurances that the contraceptive is safe, effective, and has received FDA approval. One such contraceptive is a self-administered, hormone-free gel that functions as a vaginal pH modulator. Join Dr. David Eisenberg as he describes the evolution of this vaginal pH modulator and the clinical trials leading to FDA approval. Even more significant is patient acceptance, which was remarkably high for this contraceptive. In fact, approximately 9 out of 10 women participating in the clinical trials indicated they would continue using the vaginal pH modulator and also recommend this novel method to their friends.

Our patients express a number of misperceptions about combined hormonal non-LARC contraceptives such as the contraceptive patch, vaginal rings, and oral contraceptive pills. How well do you explain the advantages and disadvantages of these different options to your patients? How often have you prescribed what appeared to be a good contraceptive method for your patients only to have them be dissatisfied and become nonadherent?

Join Dr. Brooke Faught in this Women’s Health 2021 lecture as she tackles these issues and offers insights into how to discuss the full range of combined hormonal non-LARC contraceptive options with your patients using shared decision-making strategies. Remember, each patient’s needs, goals, and cultural background are important factors in a patient-centric approach to the choice of contraception.

OB-GYN clinicians can improve how they communicate with their patients about hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn or HDFN. Strategies include encouraging patients to talk about their feelings when learning about this condition and communicating with them in terms that are not overly complex. In this program, Drs. Lee Shulman and Michelle Owens discuss how to break things down for the patient in front of you and explain how to use a read-back approach. This tactic ensures that your patient has absorbed what was discussed and also allows you to identify gaps in her understanding that can be addressed with further counseling.

Both UNICEF and WHO recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, starting within the very first hour of birth. But are we adhering to that recommendation? Joining Dr. Hector Chapa to discuss the importance of breastfeeding shortly after delivery and how we can help our patients and their newborns reap the benefits of this golden hour is Dr. Susan Crowe, Director of Outpatient Breastfeeding Medicine Consultative Services at Stanford Children's Health who recently spoke about this topic at the 2021 ACOG Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting.

Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is a rare disease that occurs due to the incompatibility between fetal and maternal red cell antigens. HDFN can lead to both short- and long-term consequences, including potentially fatal outcomes. In order to better prevent these associated issues, the timely evaluation, recognition, and treatment of HDFN are critical.

Listen in as three leading experts, Drs. Lee Shulman, Kenneth Moise, and Christopher Robinson, join together to discuss new epidemiologic evidence, the underlying pathophysiology of HDFN, health equity, and evolving management strategies you can implement to improve your clinical practice.

As any healthcare professional would agree, being passionate about your practice is key to having a good relationship with your patients. But choosing a specific specialty isn’t always an easy or clear decision. Joining Ana Maria Rosario to share how she came to her decision and a few experiences that made her into the healthcare professional she is today is Dr. Patricia Boatwright, an ob-gyn and Associate Professor of Surgery and Population Health Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine.

Ob-gyn Dr. Patricia Boatwright once cared for a patient who told her the following philosophy: "If it doesn't bother you, don't bother it." Sadly, this is far from the only isolated event in which healthcare professionals hear this or a similar mantra from their patients. To help us better manage this all-too-common occurrence, Dr. Boatwright walks us through this particular patient case and how she encourages her patients to listen to their bodies rather than their peers.

When a patient comes to an appointment saying, “I want” or “I need,” it can be difficult to challenge them. But as ob-gyn Dr. Patricia Boatwright explains, doing so is absolutely critical to ensuring they receive the best and most appropriate care. Tune in to hear Ana Maria Rosario and Dr. Boatwright discuss a patient case and how we can do right by our patients, even if it means challenging their—or even a colleague's—opinion.

Updated cervical cancer screening guidelines were published by both the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) and the American Cancer Society (ACS). Dr. Lee Shulman leads a discussion with Dr. Anna-Barbara Moscicki on the recent guidelines, the range of cervical cancer screening tests, and the impact on risk stratification and patient management.

In this activity, Dr. Linda Bradley reviews risk factors for uterine fibroids, the use of TVS,
SIS, and MRI for diagnosis, and nonsurgical options that can help relieve symptoms associated with these bothersome growths.