There is no conclusive evidence that combination hormonal contraception increases epileptic seizures, and epilepsy itself poses no increased risk of an adverse outcome for those using combined oral contraceptive pills, the contraceptive patch, or a contraceptive ring. Because many antiepileptic drugs are teratogenic, discussing sexual health with and providing effective contraceptive choices to this population is critical. Obstetrician-gynecologists should work with patients with seizure disorders to develop a plan when pregnancy occurs.In the United States, there is a widespread belief that the overall cesarean birth rate is higher than necessary. Efforts are being directed toward decreasing the number of these procedures, in part by encouraging physicians to make changes in their management practices. Because breech presentations are associated with a high rate of cesarean birth, there is renewed interest in techniques such as external cephalic version (ECV) and vaginal breech delivery. The purpose of this document is to provide information about ECV by summarizing the relevant evidence presented in published studies and to make recommendations regarding its use in obstetric practice.Genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection during pregnancy poses a risk to the developing fetus and newborn. Genital herpes is common in the United States. Among 14- to 49-year-old females, the prevalence of HSV-2 infection is 15.9%. However, the prevalence of genital herpes infection is higher than that because genital herpes is also caused by HSV-1 (). Because many women of childbearing age are infected or will be infected with HSV, the risk of maternal transmission of this virus to the fetus or newborn is a major health concern. This document has been revised to include that for women with a primary or nonprimary first-episode genital HSV infection during the third trimester of pregnancy, cesarean delivery may be offered due to the possibility of prolonged viral shedding.This monograph is intended to serve as a practical guide to the office assessment of the aging woman and recognizes the time constraints that characterize current office practice. Obstetrician-gynecologists are increasingly becoming the primary care providers to women in their practices and especially to older women who have been long-time patients. This monograph should serve as a guide to the many tools needed to assess the health and functional and cognitive status of the aging woman. Illustrative cases demonstrate how to use these tools in a time-efficient manner to achieve a positive effect on the well-being of the patient.Approximately 17,730 new spinal cord injuries (SCIs) occur per year in the United States. Effective rehabilitation and modern reproductive technology may increase the number of these patients considering pregnancy. Obstetrician-gynecologists and other obstetric care professionals who care for such patients should be familiar with problems related to SCIs that may occur throughout pregnancy and during the postpartum period. Autonomic dysreflexia (sometimes called autonomic hyperreflexia) is the most serious medical complication that occurs in women with SCIs and is found in 85% of patients with lesions at or above T6 level. It is important to avoid stimuli that can lead to autonomic dysreflexia, such as distension or manipulation of the vagina, bladder, urethra, or bowel. Women with SCIs may give birth vaginally. Although pain perception is impaired in women with SCIs at or above T10, neuraxial anesthesia is the treatment of choice to reduce the risk of autonomic dysreflexia because it blocks neurologic stimuli arising from the pelvic organs. Adequate anesthesia, spinal or epidural if possible, is needed for cesarean births in all patients with SCIs. In addition to routine postpartum care, obstetrician-gynecologists and other obstetric care professionals should ensure that perineal and cesarean wounds are examined appropriately because of concerns for delayed wound healing in patients with SCI. Depression, suicide, alcoholism, and a wide variety of other mental health problems all occur at higher rates in women with SCIs. Therefore, screening and treatment for postpartum depression and other maternal mental health disorders are especially important in this population.Pregnant women should be advised of the significant perinatal risks associated with tobacco use, including orofacial clefts, fetal growth restriction, placenta previa, abruptio placentae, preterm prelabor rupture of membranes, low birth weight, increased perinatal mortality, ectopic pregnancy, and decreased maternal thyroid function. Children born to women who smoke during pregnancy are at an increased risk of respiratory infections, asthma, infantile colic, bone fractures, and childhood obesity. Pregnancy influences many women to stop smoking, and approximately 54% of women who smoke before pregnancy quit smoking directly before or during pregnancy. Smoking cessation at any point in gestation benefits the pregnant woman and her fetus. The greatest benefit is observed with cessation before 15 weeks of gestation. Although cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product in pregnancy, alternative forms of tobacco use, such as e-cigarettes or vaping products, hookahs, and cigars, are increasingly common. Clinicians should advise cessation of tobacco products used in any form and provide motivational feedback. Although counseling and pregnancy-specific materials are effective cessation aids for many pregnant women, some women continue to use tobacco products. Clinicians should individualize care by offering psychosocial, behavioral, and pharmacotherapy interventions. Available cessation-aid services and resources, including digital resources, should be discussed and documented regularly at prenatal and postpartum follow-up visits.Seizure disorders frequently are diagnosed and managed during adolescence; therefore, obstetrician-gynecologists who care for adolescents should be familiar with epilepsy and other seizure disorders, as well as antiepileptic drugs. Patients diagnosed with seizure disorders during childhood may have increased seizure activity with puberty and menarche due to the neuroactive properties of endogenous steroid hormones. Compared with patients without epilepsy, patients with epilepsy are more likely to experience anovulatory cycles, irregular menstrual bleeding, and amenorrhea.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/c646.html  Although hormonal suppression should not be initiated before puberty or menarche, prepubertal counseling may be appropriate, and obstetrician-gynecologists may work with young patients and their families to develop a plan to initiate with menarche. Additionally, obstetrician-gynecologists should be aware of any medication changes, including antiepileptics, for adolescent patients with seizure disorders. Research on hormonal therapy for the treatment of epilepsy is scant; however, the anticonvulsant properties of various progestins have been explored as potential treatment.