Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America

Menopausal symptoms are a consequence of the decline in sex hormone production, and hormone replacement therapy aims not only to relieve these symptoms but also to prevent the development of diseases of old age such as osteoporosis. The gen…

Mental health disorders impose a significant burden on individuals and society, with far-reaching implications that extend beyond personal suffering to substantial economic costs. Public health initiatives have traditionally focused on cond…

Endometriosis is a chronic disorder often beginning in adolescence. Despite the high prevalence of the disease and the symptom burden, adolescents may experience suboptimal management and a delay in diagnosis. The symptoms and laparoscopic …

The endometrium is a dynamic tissue that facilitates mammalian internal reproduction and thus, the ability to deliver live born progeny that are more easily protected from predators. This tissue is unique in its ability to undergo cyclic re…

Abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) is a rare type of endometriosis defined as endometrial glands and stroma located within the abdominal wall. Patients with a history of prior abdominal surgery classically present with cyclic abdominal pain…

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is multifactorial in etiology and heterogeneous in presentation. Identification of all pain contributors is essential for successful management. Chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs) are a specified group of …

Endometriosis surgery requires thoughtful consideration and planning for those with infertility or those who wish to conceive in the future. Clinical history, examination, imaging, and fertility assessment can help plan, prepare and provide…

Extrapelvic endometriosis has been reported in nearly every organ system of the human female body. The etiology of this disease may well be due to one or more factors. Though less common than pelvic disease, extrapelvic endometriosis is oft…

For well selected patients with chronic pelvic pain (CPP), 74% to 95% of women will report complete or significant improvement in pain after hysterectomy. A thoughtful history, examination, and review of imaging can improve success by linki…

Benign uterine diseases are very common gynecologic conditions that affect women mostly in reproductive age. Ultrasound examination is the first-line imaging technique, but MRI is more accurate for diagnosis, characterization, and patient m…

Preeclampsia may arise from impaired decidualization in some women. Transcriptomics of mid-secretory biopsy endometrial stromal cells decidualized in vitro and of early gestation choriodecidua from women who experienced preeclampsia with se…

Pelvic pain is a common condition. Many underlying gynecologic and nongynecologic conditions can contribute to this symptom. Pelvic ultrasound using comprehensive 2-dimensional interactive imaging techniques as well as color Doppler and 3-d…

Menstrual health assessment facilitates identification of pathologic conditions (eg, abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis), offers the opportunity to educate women on what menstrual symptoms may be normal or abnormal, and provides the o…

There are many diagnostic methods to assist clinicians in assessing adnexal masses on ultrasound. After suggesting a standardized terminology and measurement technique to evaluate adnexal masses, the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IO…

This article discusses the role of ultrasound in assessing endometrial and uterine factors affecting the implantation of the embryo. Modern ultrasound equipment includes advanced Doppler and three-dimensional facilities that refine our unde…

Ultrasound examination is an indisputable imaging method in the diagnosis of endometriosis, as the first step in the detection, as the fundamental tool in planning the management, and as the best diagnostic instrument during surveillance of…

Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disorder that persists throughout the reproductive years. Although endometriosis is a surgical diagnosis, medical management with ovarian suppression remains the mainstay of long-term management with su…

Premature ovarian failure is a devastating diagnosis for reproductive-aged women. The diagnosis is relatively easy. However, it has serious health consequences, including psychological distress, infertility, osteoporosis, autoimmune disorde…

Chronic pelvic pain is common, but rarely cured, thus patients seek both second opinions and alternative means of controlling their pain. Complementary and alternative medicine accounts for 11.2% of out-of-pocket medical expenditures for ad…

Interstitial cystitis, or painful bladder syndrome, can present with lower abdominal pain/discomfort and dyspareunia, and pain in any distribution of lower spinal nerves. Patients with this condition experience some additional symptoms refe…

Opioid pain medications and antidepressants are commonly prescribed to patients for chronic non-cancer pain. However, little evidence exists for their effectiveness in most pain states, including chronic pelvic pain. Whenever possible, init…

Treatment of patients with chronic pelvic pain is assisted by detailed history, physical examination, pain diary, and ultrasonography. The possibility of other contributing systems (eg, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, musculoskeletal) shou…

Adolescents present to outpatient and acute care settings commonly for evaluation and treatment of chronic pelvic pain (CPP). Primary care providers, gynecologists, pediatric and general surgeons, emergency department providers, and other s…

Endometriosis, an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition, affects 1 in 10 women and is associated with pain and infertility. Preoperative evaluation should include testing and management of other causes of pelvic pain. Ultrasonography ca…

Endometriois has been associated with infertility; however, the mechanisms by which it affects fertility are still not fully understood. This article reviews the proposed mechanisms of endometriosis pathogenesis, its effects on fertility, a…