Scheduled Cesarean Delivery and the Prevention of Vertical Transmission of HIV Infection

Number 234

(Reaffirmed 2010, Replaces No. 219, August 1999)

Prevention of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from mother to fetus or newborn (vertical transmission) is a major goal in the care of pregnant women infected with HIV. An import...

Statement on Surgical Assistants

Number 240

(Reaffirmed 2008, Replaces No. 145, November 1994)

Competent surgical assistants should be available for all major obstetric and gynecologic operations. In many cases, the complexity of the surgery or the patient's condition will require the assistan...

Nongynecologic Procedures

Number 253

(Reaffirmed 2013, Replaces Statement of Policy on Liposuction, January 1988)

Cosmetic procedures (such as laser hair removal, body piercing, tattoo removal, and liposuction) are not considered gynecologic procedures and, therefore, generally are not taught in approved obstetr...

Circumcision

Number 260

(Reaffirmed 2011)

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports the current position of the American Academy of Pediatrics that finds the existing evidence insufficient to recommend routine neonatal...

Avoiding Inappropriate Clinical Decisions Based on False-Positive Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Test Results

Number 278

(Reaffirmed 2013)

ABSTRACT: Clinically significant false-positive human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test results are rare. However, some individuals have circulating factors in their serum (eg, heterophilic antibodie...

Maternal Decision Making Ethics and the Law

Number 321

ABSTRACT: Recent legal actions and policies aimed at protecting the fetus as an entity separate from the woman have challenged the rights of pregnant women to make decisions about medical interventio...

Elective Coincidental Appendectomy

Number 323

(Reaffirmed 2012, Replaces No. 164, December 1995)

ABSTRACT: Because of a lack of evidence from randomized trials, it remains unclear whether the benefits of routine elective coincidental appendectomy outweigh the cost and risk of morbidity associate...

Analgesia and Cesarean Delivery Rates

Number 339

(Reaffirmed 2010, Replaces No. 269, February 2002)

ABSTRACT: Neuraxial analgesia techniques are the most effective and least depressant treatments for labor pain. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists previously recommended that pra...

Mode of Term Singleton Breech Delivery

Number 340

(Reaffirmed 2012, Replaces No. 265, December 2001)

ABSTRACT: In light of recent studies that further clarify the long-term risks of vaginal breech delivery, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that the decision regardin...

The Role of Cystourethroscopy in the Generalist Obstetrician-Gynecologist Practice

Number 372

(Reaffirmed 2013)

ABSTRACT: Cystourethroscopy can be performed for diagnostic and a few operative indications by obstetrician–gynecologists to help improve patient care. Perhaps the most important indications for cyst...

Vaginal "Rejuvenation" and Cosmetic Vaginal Procedures

Number 378

ABSTRACT: So-called "vaginal rejuvenation," "designer vaginoplasty," "revirgination," and "G-spot amplification" are vaginal surgical procedures being offered by some practitioners. These procedures ...

Fetal Monitoring Prior to Scheduled Cesarean Delivery

Number 382

(Reaffirmed 2010)

ABSTRACT: There are insufficient data to determine the value of fetal monitoring prior to scheduled cesarean delivery in patients without risk factors.   With the increasing rate of schedule...

Supracervical Hysterectomy

Number 388

(Reaffirmed 2013)

ABSTRACT: Women with known or suspected gynecologic cancer, current or recent cervical dysplasia, or endometrial hyperplasia are not candidates for a supracervical procedure. Patients electing suprac...

Surgery and Patient Choice

Number 395

ABSTRACT: Acknowledgment of the importance of patient autonomy and increased patient access to information has prompted more patient–generated requests for surgical interventions not necessarily reco...

Choosing the Route of Hysterectomy for Benign Disease

Number 444

(Reaffirmed 2011)

ABSTRACT: Hysterectomies are performed vaginally, abdominally, or with laparoscopic or robotic assistance. When choosing the route and method of hysterectomy, the physician should take into considera...

Use of Hysterosalpingography After Tubal Sterilization

Number 458

ABSTRACT: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two devices for hysteroscopic tubal sterilization. To minimize the failure rates of these effective methods, it is important for health c...

Patient Safety in the Surgical Environment

Number 464

(Reaffirmed 2012, Replaces No. 328, February 2006)

ABSTRACT: Ensuring patient safety in the operating room begins before the patient enters the operative suite and includes attention to all applicable types of preventable medical errors (including, f...

Ethical Considerations for Performing Gynecologic Surgery in Low-Resource Settings Abroad

Number 466

ABSTRACT: International humanitarian medical efforts provide essential services to patients who would not otherwise have access to specific health care services. The Committees on Ethics and Global W...

Nonobstetric Surgery During Pregnancy

Number 474

(Reaffirmed 2013, Replaces No. 284, August 2003)

ABSTRACT: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Committee on Obstetric Practice acknowledges that the issue of nonobstetric surgery during pregnancy is an important concern for phy...

Health Care for Transgender Individuals

Number 512

ABSTRACT: Transgender individuals face harassment, discrimination, and rejection within our society. Lack of awareness, knowledge, and sensitivity in health care communities eventually leads to inade...