A Review of Animal Models Investigating the Reproductive Effects of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy.

Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is an important component in the process of transitioning for many transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals. Multiple medical organizations recommend fertility preservation counseling prior to initiation of GAHT; however, there remains little high-quality data regarding the impact of GAHT on fertility and reproductive function. A PubMed literature review was performed using Boolean search operators linking keywords or phrases such as "mouse", "rat", "primate", "animal model", "transgender", "gender", "estrogen", "testosterone", "fertility", and "fertility preservation". Recent research has produced a number of animal models of GAHT that utilize similar hormonal regimens and produce similar phenotypic results to those used and observed in human patients. Specific to testosterone(T)-containing GAHT, animals demonstrate loss of menstrual cyclicity with therapy, resumption of menses on cessation of therapy, suppression of gonadotropin levels, and physical changes such as clitoromegaly. Models mimicking GAHT for transmasculine individuals in the peripubertal period demonstrate that pretreatment with GnRHa therapy does not modify the effects of subsequent T administration, which were similar to those described in adult models. Both models suggest promising potential for future fertility with cessation of T. With estradiol (E)-containing GAHT, animals exhibit decreased size of testicles, epididymis, and seminal vesicles, as well as ongoing production of spermatocytes, and seminiferous tubule vacuolization. Given the ethical challenges of conducting human studies in this area, high-fidelity animal models represent a promising opportunity for investigation and could eventually transform clinical counseling about the necessity of fertility preservation. Future studies should better delineate the interactions (if any exist) between treatment attributes such as dosing and duration with the extent of reversibility of reproductive perturbations. The development of models of peripubertal feminizing GAHT is an additional area for future work.

Human Milk-Expression Technologies: A Primer for Obstetricians.

Lactation is a powerful tool for improving health trajectories and promoting reproductive justice. Multiple new human milk-expression technologies are available. Although direct feeding is optimal and feasible in many circumstances, understanding human milk-expression technology and counseling patients appropriately represents one of the ways physicians can support patients in meeting their feeding goals. Breast pumps and breast pump accessories may help patients establish and maintain breastfeeding, but these technologies continue to evolve and are not always intuitive. The core components of a pump are the attachment at the breast, valves, tubing, motor, device programming, and reservoir. Whereas closed systems can be used by multiple patients, open systems are single-user and they are not able to be sterilized. Mobile pumps may help support breastfeeding individuals who are unable to remain stationary for the time necessary to express milk. Nonelectric pumps represent an important adjuvant technology. There are a wide variety of pump accessories that may help patients overcome specific breastfeeding challenges. Obstetricians remain uniquely positioned to support patients in achieving their lactation goals, which is enhanced by familiarity with the supportive technologies available.

Surgical uterine evacuation in patients with two cervices: a case series.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical circumstances, surgical approach, intraoperative challenges, and outcomes of patients with two cervices undergoing uterine evacuation for spontaneous, incomplete, or induced abortion at our institution. STUDY DESIGN: We used diagnostic and procedure codes related to uterine anomalies and uterine evacuation to identify patients with cervical duplication who underwent uterine evacuation at Penn Medicine from January 2008 to December 2020. RESULTS: We identified 15 patients with cervical duplication in whom we performed uterine evacuations during 19 pregnancies. We describe in detail each patient's first pregnancy with uterine evacuation at our institution, of which providers performed 11 in the first trimester, and four in the second trimester. Ten patients had a known diagnosis of cervical duplication prior to pregnancy. Five patients did not have a diagnosis of cervical duplication prior to pregnancy and providers newly made this diagnosis intraoperatively either at our institution or referring clinics. Providers at outside institutions referred three patients to our institution for incomplete procedures. At our institution, one patient had a procedure notable for a major complication. Eight other cases were notable for surgical challenges including difficulty placing osmotic dilators, difficulty identifying the correct cervix for local anesthesia, and contralateral cervical and uterine horn instrumentation. CONCLUSIONS: This case series suggests surgical abortion in patients with two cervices is rare, but generally safe. The majority of patients did not have major complications, despite presenting a variety of unique procedural challenges. Surgical providers were sometimes the first to make the diagnosis of a second cervix. IMPLICATIONS: Uterine evacuation providers must be aware of the possibility of an undiagnosed cervical duplication, particularly when encountering surgical challenges in patients with congenital reproductive tract anomalies. Providers should consider procedures under ultrasound guidance regardless of gestational age for patients with any congenital reproductive tract anomaly or who had prior incomplete procedures.

The incidence and importance of the pseudogestational sac revisited.

BACKGROUND: In a pregnancy of unknown location, an intrauterine fluid collection may represent either the early gestational sac of an intrauterine pregnancy, or as reported in previous literature, the pseudogestational sac of an ectopic pregnancy. Various sonographic features have been used to distinguish these 2 entities, but the clinical relevance of the pseudogestational sac remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To establish the incidence and relative rate of intrauterine fluid collection among ectopic and intrauterine pregnancies and to determine if the size of the collection differs between ectopic and intrauterine pregnancies STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective cohort study of women with pregnancies of unknown location and pelvic or abdominal pain or bleeding. We calculated the incidences of intrauterine fluid collections among ectopic and intrauterine pregnancies, including both ongoing pregnancies and spontaneous abortions, given that that our focus was location and not viability. We calculated the relative risk of ectopic pregnancy if an intrauterine fluid collection was present, adjusting for age and vaginal bleeding. We compared the incidences of ectopic and intrauterine pregnancies among those with and without intrauterine fluid collections. Among those with collections, we compared the mean sac diameter between ectopic and intrauterine pregnancies in continuous and categorical fashions. RESULTS: We evaluated 1236 women presenting with a pregnancy of unknown location. The rates of ectopic and intrauterine pregnancies (including spontaneous abortions) were 13.1% and 63.9%, respectively, with the remainder lost to follow-up. On ultrasound, 452 women (36.6%) had an intrauterine fluid collection. Eight of 162 ectopic pregnancies (4.9%) had a collection, compared with 363 of 789 intrauterine pregnancies (46.0%) (P=.01). Of the ectopics with a fluid collection, 5 had an adnexal mass. The presence of intrauterine fluid collection decreased the risk of ectopic pregnancy (adjusted relative risk, 0.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.19) after adjusting for age and the presence of bleeding. Among those with an intrauterine fluid collection, the rate of ectopic pregnancy was 2.2%, and the rate of intrauterine pregnancy was 97.8%; among those without a collection, the rate of ectopic pregnancy was 26.7%, and the rate of intrauterine pregnancy was 73.3%. The mean sac diameter did not differ between ectopic and intrauterine pregnancies, whether analyzed continuously or categorically. CONCLUSION: In the presence of an intrauterine fluid collection, the rate of ectopic pregnancy is very low. The size of the intrauterine fluid collection in a woman with a pregnancy of unknown location cannot be used to distinguish between a gestational sac and a pseudogestational sac. Pseudogestational sacs are uncommon and of little clinical consequence. In assessing pregnancies of unknown location, clinicians should incorporate the entire clinical picture, including other sonographic findings, to avoid incorrect or delayed diagnoses.

Detection of COVID-19 in a Vulvar Lesion.

As new information about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is rapidly discovered, clinicians are better equipped to make informed decisions for their patients. While current research suggests COVID-19 viral antigen is not found in vaginal secretions, its detectability in the female lower genital tract may have clinical implications for obstetric and gynecologic care for women. We present a case of a woman at 31 weeks' gestation with simultaneous upper respiratory symptoms and vulvovaginitis. She was found to have a vulvar lesion positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome-COVID by viral swab. This case shows that COVID-19 is detectable in the vulva. This may have implications for health care workers' exposure and personal protective equipment needs. While vertical transmission has largely not been reported, the presence of detectable virus in the female lower genital tract makes this a continued possibility and area of study. KEY POINTS: · COVID-19 is detectable in the female lower genital tract.. · The detection of COVID-19 in the vulva may have implications for personal protective equipment use.. · The detection of COVID-19 in vulvovaginal lesions makes vertical transmission a continued possibility..

A Clinical Reference Guide on Sexual Devices for Obstetrician-Gynecologists.

In the United States, more than half of all women have used a vibrator, nearly one third of women have used a dildo, and more than three quarters of women who have sex with women have used a vibrator. Sexual devices can be used by patients with decreased libido, anorgasmia, conditions inhibiting vaginal penetration, partner erectile dysfunction, and motor or sensory disabilities. Basic knowledge of sexual devices can help obstetrician-gynecologists counsel patients about device safety, sharing, cleaning, disinfection, and material selection. Common sexual devices include vibrators, penetrative devices, anal-specific devices, and air pulsation devices. Collision dyspareunia aids can assist patients who experience difficulty with deep penetration owing to pain and structural limitations. Although rare, the most common risks of sexual devices are traumatic injury and infection. Barrier use over sexual devices and proper disinfection can help reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of transmission of common viral and bacterial sexually transmitted infections. Sexual devices made of nonporous materials are the safest and easiest to clean and disinfect. Porous materials should be avoided given inability to disinfect and risk of material breakdown. Sexual devices can benefit specific patient populations, including women who are pregnant or postpartum, those with disorders of sexual function or pelvic floor, menopausal patients, cancer patients undergoing treatment, and women with disability and chronic illness.

Best Practices in North American Pre-Clinical Medical Education in Sexual History Taking: Consensus From the Summits in Medical Education in Sexual Health.

INTRODUCTION: This article discusses a blueprint for a sexual health communication curriculum to facilitate undergraduate medical student acquisition of sexual history taking skills and includes recommendations for important elements of a thorough sexual history script for undergraduate medical students. AIM: To outline the fundamentals, objectives, content, timing, and teaching methods of a gold standard curriculum in sexual health communication. METHODS: Consensus expert opinion was documented at the 2012, 2014, and 2016 Summits in Medical Education in Sexual Health. Additionally, the existing literature was reviewed regarding undergraduate medical education in sexual health. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: This article reports expert opinion and a review of the literature on the development of a sexual history taking curriculum. RESULTS: First-year curricula should be focused on acquiring satisfactory basic sexual history taking skills, including both assessment of sexual risk via the 5 Ps (partners, practices, protection from sexually transmitted infections, past history of sexually transmitted infections, and prevention of pregnancy) as well as assessment of sexual wellness-described here as a sixth P (plus), which encompasses the assessment of trauma, violence, sexual satisfaction, sexual health concerns/problems, and support for gender identity and sexual orientation. Second-year curricula should be focused on incorporating improved clinical reasoning, emphasizing sexual history taking for diverse populations and practices, and including the impact of illness on sexual health. Teaching methods must include varied formats. Evaluation may be best as a formative objective structured clinical examination in the first year and summative in the second year. Barriers for curriculum development may be reduced by identifying faculty champions of sexual health/medicine. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Medical students will improve their skills in sexual history taking, which will ultimately impact patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. Future research is needed to validate this proposed curriculum and assess the impact on clinical skills. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: This article assimilates expert consensus and existing clinical guidelines to provide a novel structured approach to curriculum development in sexual health interviewing in the pre-clinical years. CONCLUSION: The blueprint for developing sexual history taking skills includes a spiral curriculum with varied teaching formats, incorporation of a sexual history script that incorporates inquiry about sexual wellness, and longitudinal assessment across the pre-clinical years. Ideally, sexual health communication content should be incorporated into existing clinical interviewing and physical examination courses. Rubin ES, Rullo J, Tsai P, et al. Best Practices in North American Pre-Clinical Medical Education in Sexual History Taking: Consensus From the Summits in Medical Education in Sexual Health. J Sex Med 2018;15:1414-1425.