Dr. Chapa’s OBGYN Clinical Pearls

Population based data tells us that 15 to 20% of women will develop an ovarian cyst during their lifetime. Although most ovarian cyst have a low potential for malignancy, their presence causes anxiety for both the patient and the provider. Our typical mental-exercise is balancing the risks of expected management vs choosing surgery prematurely. Which ovarian masses are likely to resolve if given e...

The word clitoris comes from the Greek word, “kleitoris” which means “little hill”. In 1559, the clitoris was “discovered” by an anatomist Renaldus Columbus who called it the “love of venus” and concluded that its primary function was strictly for pleasure. It is quite shocking 2 believe, although true, that the first anatomical paper on the clitoris was published only in 1998 and its anatomy, usi...

A ruptured uterus is a potentially catastrophic event in which the integrity of the myometrial wall is breached. We all have memorized the usual red flags and contraindications to labor as prior classical cesarean, multiple (more than 2) low transverse cesarean, prior transmural gyn surgery, or grand multiparity. In the absence of previous surgery or multiparity, uterine rupture may go unnoticed,...

On Tuesday, November 21, we released an episode titled “Optimizing Postpartum HTN Care”. On Wednesday, November 22, I received notification that a new clinical opinion piece will be released in AJOG in December 2023 which also discusses whether or not mag sulfate, should be used in the late postpartum interval in these patients. Amazing timing! Our podcast, and this soon-to-be released clinical op...

Data has shown that more than half of maternal deaths occur past the traditional 6 week postpartum mark. This is why the ACOG recognized the “fourth trimester” in 2018 (ACOG CO 736), reflecting the fact that the patient is still at risk beyond the first 6 weeks after delivery. One of the main areas of focus postpartum is on hypertension care. Growing understanding of the long-term implications of...

ACOG’s last practice bulletin on asthma in pregnancy (ACOG PB 90) was back in February 2008. Yep, 2008. Sooo… No advances since then? There’s been big shifts in the management of asthma, of course. That’s why we’re doing this podcast- things move so fast, and it’s often hard for guidelines to keep pace at times. That’s why we’re here. And that’s why it’s important to always stay ahead of the data....

It’s a universal nomenclature… The TPAL system. Despite its traditional and long-standing integration into obstetrical vernacular, there are significant gaps in this system. And, although we use these terms daily, there is controversy about what one of those elements actually means. What is the “L“ actually for? We’ve all learned it as “living children”. But what does that actually mean? Is that l...

This episode is our NEWS BRIEF. Yesterday, on November 15, 2023, the FDA approved the first, patient self-collected, home test kits for GC and Chlamydia. This is a BIG advancement for women's health. But, this is actually not the first at home STI test to be approved. In this episode, we will review this new FDA approved test, the specifics of the product, and why this is not just a "direct to con...

Recently, we released an episode regarding the limited utility of by BMEs; now, I mean, limited utility as a routine, annual exercise in the low-risk asymptomatic, and non-pregnant patient. And there’s plenty of evidence that has shown that just doing a bimanual exam because “that’s what we’ve always done” -without a real indication- is just not helpful. All to say, we received numerous comments r...

Trichomoniasis is the most prevalent nonviral sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States and is more prevalent than chlamydia and gonorrhea combined. In the US, the southern states share a disproportionate burden of infection, with rates up to 14%. Infection with Trichomonas vaginalis increases risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition and is associated with adverse per...

The pelvic examination is a standard component of the annual gynecologic visit despite limited evidence supporting its utility. Pelvic examinations can be a source of discomfort and anxiety for some patients seeking routine health care, whereas, for others, they can offer reassurance. In 2018, the ACOG released CO 754 on "The Utility of and Indications for Routine Pelvic Examination". What does th...

What do think about when I mention to you, Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS)? You would probably think placenta previa and prior C-section, right? You should! Those are the two most well-known risk factors. But placenta accrete can happen without either of those 2 factors, although less commonly. I was recently asked to provide insights on a real case of suspected PAS in a primiparous patient who wa...

I received a very personal and impactful Facebook message today from one of our podcast family members. It was enough to stop me in my tracks, and issue this heartfelt response. For F. L.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the World Health Organization all recommend universal topical ocular prophylaxis to prevent gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum. In the United States, ophthalmia neonatorum caused by N. gonorrhoeae has an incidence of 0.3 per 1000 live births, while Chlamydia tracho...

On September 26, 2023 we released an episode titled “LDA in Preg: the SAGA Continues”. Well, it continues still. In this episode, we will review a brand new publication (a Narrative Review) released ahead-of-print yesterday on November 2, 2023 covering “Aspirin in Pregnancy” (Obstet Gynecol). We will focus on 2 main areas: 1. Dose of aspirin best suited for preeclampsia prevention, and 2. support...

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVCC) is a highly burdensome, long-lasting medical condition that heavily compromises the activities of women and their quality of life. Recently, the prevalence of RVVC has increased, partly due to a rise in VVC caused by non-albicans species. Here's a real-world clinical dilemma (from a real case): What would you offer a patient who is allergic to fluconazole...

In 2017, the ACOG released committee opinion (CO) 712 which described the 3 categories of intrapartum fever. One of those categories was “isolated intrapartum fever”. In that CO, the ACOG stated that practitioners “should consider” the use of antibiotics in patients with isolated intrapartum fever. However, there was no evidence to support or refute that. But that evidence has now arrived. In this...

DiGeorge syndrome… what a complicated condition for such a little area of a single chromosome being affected. The condition’s descriptive and preferred name is 22q11.2. This is called a microdeletion. Along with microduplications, microdeletions are collectively known as copy number variants. Copy number variants can lead to disease when the change in copy number of a dose-sensitive gene or genes...

For years, herbalists have touted bee pollen as an exceptionally nutritious food. They've even claimed it is a cure for certain health problems. Bee pollen does contains vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, lipids, and protein. It comes from the pollen that collects on the bodies of bees as they fly from one flower to another. Bee pollen may also include bee saliva. This is NOT the same as natural h...

Although there were some early reports of sickle cell disease (SCD) in the late 19th century, the 1st time that the disease was referenced in literature was in 1910. Then in 1957, a doctor studying protein chemistry in England discovers that a single genetic mutation causes the abnormal hemoglobin found in patients who inherit SCD. And our knowledge of SCD continues to grow. In this episode, we wi...

In November 2023, the ACOG will release Clinical Consensus #6, “Compounded Bioidentical Menopausal Hormone Therapy”. We have covered bioidentical hormones in past episodes. However, this ACOG clinical consensus sheds new light on an old topic. Is there ever a role for bioidentical hormone therapy? What about postmenopausal testosterone use? What does the College say about the marketing of these co...

On June 27, 2023, researchers published a population based analysis of the prevalence of Iron Deficiency and Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Females in the US who were aged 12-21 Years. This study spanned from 2003 to 2020. What they found was staggering: Almost 40% of American teenage girls and young women had iron deficiency. This was published in JAMA. It's the first research to look at iron deficien...

In 2009, the ACOG released practice bulletin 106 which introduced the 3- tier fetal heart rate classification system. This was followed up in November 2010 with its sister practice bulletin, number 116, “Management of Intrapartum Fetal Heart Rate Tracings”. Yet now, 13 years later, management of the category II tracing remains a conundrum. How long can you watch/observe a category II tracing? Can...

In April 2023, both the ACOG and SMFM released their clinical updates regarding the use of progesterone for preterm birth prevention. While 17-OHP is gone, vaginal progesterone remains an option in the appropriate patient, with some slight differences between the opinions from ACOG and SMFM. A new expert commentary from October 2023 in the AJOG -MFM is calling for a reappraisal of those opinions....

Finding a nuchal cord (NC) at delivery is not rare. NCs occur anywhere from 25-30% of all deliveries. When encountered at time of vaginal delivery, the first line maneuver should be an attempt to "reduce" the loop of cord around the fetal head by gently pulling the cord up and around the presenting part. However, if the NC is tight, an attempt at reduction may not be successful- or may risk inadve...