ACOG COMMITTEE OPINION

The neonatal risks of late-preterm and early-term births are well established, and the potential neonatal complications associated with elective delivery at less than 39 0/7 weeks of gestation are well described. However, there are a number of maternal, fetal, and placental complications in which either a late-preterm or early-term delivery is warranted. The timing of delivery in such cases must balance the maternal and newborn risks of late-preterm and early-term delivery with the risks associated with further continuation of pregnancy...

There is emerging evidence that links exposure to toxic environmental agents and adverse reproductive and developmental health outcomes. Toxic exposures related to reproductive and developmental health primarily have been associated with infertility and miscarriage, obstetric outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight, neurodevelopmental delay such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and adult and childhood cancer. Although there is substantial overlap in the type of exposure and the associated health outcomes, for the purposes of this document, exposures can be generally grouped into the following categories: toxic chemicals, air pollution, and climate change-related exposures...

The neonatal risks of late-preterm and early-term births are well established, and the potential neonatal complications associated with elective delivery at less than 39 0/7 weeks of gestation are well described. However, there are a number of maternal, fetal, and placental complications in which either a late-preterm or early-term delivery is warranted. The timing of delivery in such cases must balance the maternal and newborn risks of late-preterm and early-term delivery with the risks associated with further continuation of pregnancy...

Obstetrician-gynecologists and other women's health care practitioners can support efforts to improve health care for incarcerated pregnant, postpartum, and nonpregnant individuals. The majority of incarcerated women are parents and are of reproductive age, which has important implications for their reproductive health care needs. The legacies of racism and resulting racialized medical outcomes shape inequities in reproductive health for all people, including those who are incarcerated. Reproductive health care for incarcerated individuals should be provided in accordance with the same guidelines and recommendations as for those who are not incarcerated, with attention to the increased risk of infectious diseases and mental health conditions common to incarcerated populations...

The goals of vaccination are to preserve the health of individual patients as well as the health of the general public. Although interventions to promote individual and public health are usually aligned, ethical challenges may arise that require a balancing or compromise between these two objectives. Major challenges to increasing vaccine uptake and acceptance include widespread misinformation and disinformation on social media regarding safety; limited knowledge and awareness about recommended vaccinations; lack of trust in the medical system, especially in communities of color because of historic and ongoing injustices and systemic racism; prioritization of personal freedoms over collective health; and vaccination delay and refusal through nonmedical exemptions from state-mandated vaccination requirements...

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether or not the current American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommendations regarding carrier screening are sufficiently robust in detecting mutations in the Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Outreach program at university community center. PATIENTS: Self-identified Jewish students, 18-24 years of age, interested in genetic carrier testing...

INTRODUCTION: The debate surrounding the management of term breech presentation (BP) has resulted in the presence of a multitude of guidelines, reviews, and directives. The vaginal delivery of a breech baby requires sound obstetric skills since approximately 3-4% of babies at term are breech presentations. BP is the commonest of all malpresentations. However, expertise required to deliver breech babies vaginally has virtually disappeared. There is no convincing evidence that Caesarean Section (CS) is better than assisted vaginal delivery when conducted in appropriate settings, with experienced obstetricians and strict prevailing protocols...

The purpose of this Committee Opinion is to offer guidance about indications for and timing and frequency of antenatal fetal surveillance in the outpatient setting. Antenatal fetal surveillance is performed to reduce the risk of stillbirth. However, because the pathway that results in increased risk of stillbirth for a given condition may not be known and antenatal fetal surveillance has not been shown to improve perinatal outcomes for all conditions associated with stillbirth, it is challenging to create a prescriptive list of all indications for which antenatal fetal surveillance should be considered...

The purpose of this Committee Opinion is to offer guidance about indications for and timing and frequency of antenatal fetal surveillance in the outpatient setting. Antenatal fetal surveillance is performed to reduce the risk of stillbirth. However, because the pathway that results in increased risk of stillbirth for a given condition may not be known and antenatal fetal surveillance has not been shown to improve perinatal outcomes for all conditions associated with stillbirth, it is challenging to create a prescriptive list of all indications for which antenatal fetal surveillance should be considered...

Sterilization is one of the most effective and popular forms of contraception in the United States, relied upon by 18.6% of women aged 15-49 years using contraception. Nearly half of procedures are performed during the postpartum period, yet many women who desire postpartum sterilization do not actually undergo the procedure. Factors that may decrease the likelihood of a patient obtaining desired postpartum sterilization include patient-related factors, physician-related factors, lack of available operating rooms and anesthesia, federal consent requirements, and receiving care in some religiously affiliated hospitals...

Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for individuals with low incomes, serves as a safety net for women throughout the life span. Historically, expansions of Medicaid have been associated with improved access to health care, less delay in obtaining health care, better self-reported health, and reductions in mortality. Compared with nonexpansion states, states that have participated in the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion have experienced improvements in maternal and infant mortality and decreases in uninsured rates and have decreased racial inequities for these measures...

Trauma is experienced throughout the life span, and traumatic experiences may be remote events or current and ongoing. The health care community continues to learn the many ways in which trauma affects an individual's health, relationships, utilization of the health care system, health care experience, and ability to adopt health-related recommendations. It is important for obstetrician-gynecologists and other health care practitioners to recognize the prevalence and effect of trauma on patients and the health care team and incorporate trauma-informed approaches to delivery of care...

Trauma is experienced throughout the life span, and traumatic experiences may be remote events or current and ongoing. The health care community continues to learn the many ways in which trauma affects an individual's health, relationships, utilization of the health care system, health care experience, and ability to adopt health-related recommendations. It is important for obstetrician-gynecologists and other health care practitioners to recognize the prevalence and effect of trauma on patients and the health care team and incorporate trauma-informed approaches to delivery of care...

Elder abuse, a violation of human rights, is defined as a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate actions, which causes harm, risk of harm, or distress to an individual 60 years or older. As many as 1 in 10 older adults have been victims of elder abuse. Most cases of abuse occur in women. The U.S. Census predicts that by 2060, the segment of the population that is older than 65 years will reach an estimated 94.7 million. Categories of elder abuse include physical, psychological, emotional, or sexual abuse; neglect; abandonment; and financial exploitation...

An estimated 150,000 youth and 1.4 million adults living in the United States identify as transgender. This Committee Opinion offers guidance on providing inclusive and affirming care as well as clinical information on hormone therapy and preventive care; it also cites existing resources for those seeking information on the care of transgender adolescents. The social and economic marginalization of transgender individuals is widespread, which leads to health care inequities and poorer health outcomes for this population...

Morcellation is a surgical technique used to reduce the size of the uterus or myomas by creating smaller pieces to allow the tissue to be removed through small incisions or with laparoscopic instruments. Open (uncontained) morcellation of the uterus and myomas has been scrutinized because of the possible spread of an unsuspected leiomyosarcoma while using a power morcellator during a hysterectomy or myomectomy for presumed symptomatic uterine leiomyomas. Before considering morcellation of the uterus, a woman should be evaluated to determine if she is at increased risk of malignancy of the uterine corpus...

Elder abuse, a violation of human rights, is defined as a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate actions, which causes harm, risk of harm, or distress to an individual 60 years or older. As many as 1 in 10 older adults have been victims of elder abuse. Most cases of abuse occur in women. The U.S. Census predicts that by 2060, the segment of the population that is older than 65 years will reach an estimated 94.7 million. Categories of elder abuse include physical, psychological, emotional, or sexual abuse; neglect; abandonment; and financial exploitation...

An estimated 150,000 youth and 1.4 million adults living in the United States identify as transgender. This Committee Opinion offers guidance on providing inclusive and affirming care as well as clinical information on hormone therapy and preventive care; it also cites existing resources for those seeking information on the care of transgender adolescents. The social and economic marginalization of transgender individuals is widespread, which leads to health care inequities and poorer health outcomes for this population...

Morcellation is a surgical technique used to reduce the size of the uterus or myomas by creating smaller pieces to allow the tissue to be removed through small incisions or with laparoscopic instruments. Open (uncontained) morcellation of the uterus and myomas has been scrutinized because of the possible spread of an unsuspected leiomyosarcoma while using a power morcellator during a hysterectomy or myomectomy for presumed symptomatic uterine leiomyomas. Before considering morcellation of the uterus, a woman should be evaluated to determine if she is at increased risk of malignancy of the uterine corpus...

Breastfeeding has maternal, infant, and societal benefits. However, many parents experience obstacles to achieving their breastfeeding goals, leading to reduced rates of breastfeeding initiation and continuation. Despite efforts to increase rates of breastfeeding initiation and continuation, inequities still persist. The factors that influence an individual's desire and ability to breastfeed are varied and include individual parent considerations; practitioner influences; hospital barriers; societal factors, such as workplace and parental leave policies; access to lactation support; and social support of their breastfeeding goals...