Washington, DC -- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) will hold its 56th Annual Clinical Meeting (ACM), Saturday, May 3, through Wednesday, May 7, at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA.

ACOG's ACM is one of the largest gatherings of obstetrician-gynecologists in the US. Thousands of physicians and other experts will participate in the meeting, which includes multiple postgraduate courses, clinical seminars, poster and paper presentations, luncheon conferences, scientific sessions, and current issue updates.

The following are some highlights of the latest research to be presented at the meeting:
(All research is embargoed until the day of presentation.)

Monday, May 5, 2008

Paper Presentations (2 - 4 pm)

• The Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Sexual Behavior
  Although some studies have suggested a higher risk of unintended pregnancy among overweight and obese women, these women do not differ significantly from normal-weight women in terms of sexual behavior.

Poster Presentations (10:30 am - 5 pm)

• A Novel Fertility-Friendly Lubricant for the Infertile Couple
  Couples trying to get pregnant should carefully choose the lubricant they use during intercourse as most have a negative effect on sperm motility.

• Recolonization of Group B Streptococci in Women with Prior Group B Streptococci-Positive Pregnancy
  Women who have a history of GBS have a significantly higher risk of being GBS-positive in subsequent pregnancies compared with women who don't have a history of GBS.

• Effect of Perineal Lubrication on Laceration Severity and Episiotomy Rate
  Applying lubrication to the perineum during labor reduces the rate of episiotomies among women who have given birth previously and decreases the severity of perineal lacerations among women having their first birth.

• Resource Use in Delivery After Cesarean
  Allowing VBACs is not associated with a greater need for additional hospital resources compared with planned cesarean deliveries.

• Body Mass Index More Than 40 and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
  Pregnant women with BMIs greater than 40 have higher rates of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, cesarean delivery, and neonatal intensive care unit admissions than do pregnant women with BMIs lower than 40.

• Paternal Hispanic Ethnicity Associated With Increased Risk of Preeclampsia
  There is an increased risk of both gestational hypertension and preeclampsia in pregnancies with Hispanic fathers compared with African American fathers.

• Do Our Patients Know the Cervical Cancer and Human Papillomavirus Connection?
  Women are largely unaware that HPV is associated with cervical cancer.

• Prevalence of Urinary Symptoms Among Morbidly Obese and Change Subsequent to Bariatric Surgery
  Women who had rapid weight loss after bariatric surgery had marked improvement in stress urinary incontinence symptoms.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Paper Presentations (2 - 4 pm)

• Dietary Counseling Prevents Excessive Weight Gain During Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
  Pregnant women who received intensive dietary and lifestyle counseling reduced their weight gain in pregnancy. Pregnant women who did not receive intensive counseling had significantly more cesarean deliveries.

Poster Presentations (10:30 am - 4 pm)

• Prevalence of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Among Women with Significant Cervical Dysplasia
  PCOS may have a protective effect against the development of significant cervical dysplasia caused by HPV infection.

• Herpes Virus Infection and Chronic Pelvic Pain
  More than half of women with chronic pelvic pain tested positive for herpes simplex virus (HSV), a known cause of chronic pelvic pain; 46% tested positive for HSV-1; 31% were positive for HSV-2; and 20% tested positive for both.

• What Women Want-Factors Most Important to Pregnant Women in Choosing an Obstetric Practice
  When choosing an obstetrician, women's top five criteria included: reputation of the practice, acceptance of their insurance plan, continuity of care, phone access to physician, and convenience of office hours. Gender and ethnicity of the physician were most often viewed as of minor importance.

• Association of Obesity with a Higher Risk of Operative Delivery in Pregnant Adolescents at Grady Memorial Hospital
  Pregnant teenagers who are obese have an increased risk of cesarean deliveries and operative (forceps or vacuum) vaginal deliveries compared with non-obese pregnant teens.

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