Tubal Ligation with Cesarean Delivery

Number 205

Tubal ligation at the time of cesarean delivery requires significant additional physician work even though the technical work of the procedure is brief. Informed consent by the patient requires con...

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 2008, 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...

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

Number 278

(Reaffirmed 2009)

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...

Perinatal Risks Associated With Assisted Reproductive Technology

Number 324

(Reaffirmed 2007)

ABSTRACT: Over the past two decades, the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has increased dramatically worldwide and has made pregnancy possible for many infertile couples. A growing bod...

Tamoxifen and Uterine Cancer

Number 336

(Reaffirmed 2008, Replaces No. 232, April 2000)

ABSTRACT: Tamoxifen may be associated with endometrial proliferation, hyperplasia, polyp formation, invasive carcinoma, and uterine sarcoma. Any symptoms of endometrial hyperplasia or cancer reported...

Vulvodynia

Number 345

(Reaffirmed 2008)

ABSTRACT: Vulvodynia is a complex disorder that can be difficult to treat. It is described by most patients as burning, stinging, irritation, or rawness. Many treatment options have been used, includ...

Menstruation in Girls and Adolescents - Using the Menstrual Cycle as a Vital Sign

Number 349

(Reaffirmed 2009)

ABSTRACT: Young patients and their parents often are unsure about what represents normal menstrual patterns, and clinicians also may be unsure about normal ranges for menstrual cycle length and amoun...

Vaginal Agenesis Diagnosis Management and Routine Care

Number 355

(Reaffirmed 2009, Replaces No. 274, July 2002)

ABSTRACT: Vaginal agenesis occurs in 1 of every 4,000.10,000 females. The most common cause of vaginal agenesis is congenital absence of the uterus and vagina, which also is referred to as mullerian ...

Medical Futility

Number 362

(Reaffirmed 2008)

ABSTRACT: The construct of medical futility has been used to justify a physician's unilateral refusal to provide treatment requested or demanded by a patient or the family of a patient. It is importa...

Sterilization of Women Including Those With Mental Disabilities

Number 371

(Reaffirmed 2009)

ABSTRACT: Sterilization, like any other surgical procedure, must be carried out under the general ethical principles of respect for autonomy, beneficence, and justice. Women requesting sterilization ...

The Role of Cystourethroscopy in the Generalist Obstetrician-Gynecologist Practice

Number 372

(Reaffirmed 2010)

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...

Brand Versus Generic Oral Contraceptives

Number 375

(Reaffirmed 2010)

ABSTRACT:The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers generic and brand name oral contraceptive (OC) products clinically equivalent and interchangeable. The American College of Obstetricians and G...

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 ...

The Limits of Conscientious Refusal in Reproductive Medicine

Number 385

(Reaffirmed 2010)

ABSTRACT: Health care providers occasionally may find that providing indicated, even standard, care would present for them a personal moral problem—a conflict of conscience—particularly in the field ...

Supracervical Hysterectomy

Number 388

(Reaffirmed 2010)

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...

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Number 389

ABSTRACT: Because human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection often is detected through prenatal and sexually transmitted disease testing, an obstetrician–gynecologist may be the first health profes...

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...

Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer

Number 396

(Reaffirmed 2010 )

ABSTRACT: Postoperative intravenous (IV) chemotherapy for advanced stage ovarian cancer has been the standard treatment. Recent studies have found significant survival advantages with the use of adju...

Surrogate Motherhood

Number 397

ABSTRACT: Ethical responsibilities are described for obstetrician–gynecologists who choose to participate in surrogacy arrangements by 1) advising couples who are considering surrogacy, 2) counseling...

End-of-Life Decision Making

Number 403

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this Committee Opinion is to discuss issues related to end–of–life care, including terms and definitions, ethical principles, legal constructs, physician–patient communicatio...

Professional Liability and Gynecology-Only Practice

Number 408

(Reaffirmed 2012, Replaces No. 288, October 2003)

ABSTRACT: Fellows of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists may choose to limit the scope of their practices to gynecology. The College considers early pregnancy care (often up to 12...

Direct-to-Consumer Marketing of Genetic Testing

Number 409

ABSTRACT: Marketing of genetic testing, although similar to direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs, raises additional concerns and considerations. These include issues of limited knowle...

Ethical Issues in Genetic Testing

Number 410

ABSTRACT: Genetic testing is poised to play an increasing role in the practice of obstetrics and gynecology. To assure patients of the highest quality of care, physicians should become familiar with ...

Aromatase Inhibitors in Gynecologic Practice

Number 412

(Reaffirmed 2012)

ABSTRACT: Aromatase inhibitors appear to be effective as an adjuvant treatment for early-stage and late-stage breast cancer. Their role in chemoprevention of breast cancer in high-risk patients remai...