Management of Asymptomatic Pregnant or Lactating Women Exposed to Anthrax

Number 268

ABSTRACT: Anthrax infections are diagnosed by isolating Bacillus anthracis from body fluids or by measuring specific antibodies in the blood of persons suspected to have the disease. It is recommende...

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...

Guidelines for Diagnostic Imaging During Pregnancy

Number 299

(Reaffirmed 2009, Replaces No. 158, September 1995)

ABSTRACT: Undergoing a single diagnostic X-ray procedure does not result in radiation exposure adequate to threaten the well-being of the developing preembryo, embryo, or fetus and is not an indicati...

Pruebas para la deteccion de defectos congenitos

SP165

Las pruebas de deteccion pueden proporcionar informacion sobre el riesgo que corre una mujer embarazada de tener un bebe con determinados defectos congenitos. Estas pruebas tambien pueden ayudar a su...

ACOG President Advises Against Unnecessary Obstacles for Women Needing Ultrasound

Washington, DC -- Ultrasound is a safe and important tool in women's prenatal and gynecologic care, and Congress should not pass legislation that could delay women's access to diagnosis and treatment...

ACOG's Screening Guidelines on Chromosomal Abnormalities

San Diego, CA -- Today experts addressed in further detail new screening guidelines for fetal chromosomal abnormalities at the 55th Annual Clinical Meeting of The American College of Obstetricians an...

Alcohol and Pregnancy: Know the Facts

Washington, DC -- The recent news story "Can Pregnant Women Drink Alcohol in Moderation?", which aired on ABC's Good Morning America Weekend, has created tremendous confusion among women about the sa...

All Patients Should be Asked About Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Washington, DC -- Drug and alcohol abuse is a major health problem for American women, cutting across all income levels, ages, and races/ethnicities. In a committee opinion issued today, The American...

La fibrosis quistica: Pruebas de deteccion y diagnostico prenatal

SP171

La fibrosis quistica es un trastorno genetico que ocasiona problemas respiratorios y digestivos. Se origina debido a un gen anormal que se transmite de uno de los padres a su hijo. Aunque no hay cura...

Preimplantation Genetic Screening for Aneuploidy

Number 430

ABSTRACT: Preimplantation genetic screening differs from preimplantation genetic diagnosis for single gene disorders and was introduced for the detection of chromosomal aneuploidy. Current data does ...

Como reducir el riesgo de defectos congenitos

SP146

Los defectos congenitos afectan aproximadamente a 1 de cada 33 bebes que nacen en Estados Unidos cada ano. Aunque no es posible prevenir algunos defectos congenitos, para otros se pueden tomar medida...

Preconception and Prenatal Carrier Screening for Genetic Diseases in Individuals of Eastern European Jewish Descent

Number 442

(Replaces No. 298, August 2004)

ABSTRACT: Certain autosomal recessive disease conditions are more prevalent in individuals of Eastern European Jewish (Ashkenazi) descent. Previously, the American College of Obstetricians and Gyneco...

Air Travel During Pregnancy

Number 443

(Replaces No. 264, December 2001)

ABSTRACT: In the absence of obstetric or medical complications, pregnant women can observe the same precautions for air travel as the general population and can fly safely. Pregnant women should be i...

Maternal Phenylketonuria

Number 449

(Replaces No. 230, January 2000)

ABSTRACT: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive disorder of phenylalanine (Phe) metabolism characterized by a deficiency of the hepatic enzyme, phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme responsi...

Moderate Caffeine Consumption During Pregnancy

Number 462

ABSTRACT: Moderate caffeine consumption (less than 200 mg per day) does not appear to be a major contributing factor in miscarriage or preterm birth. The relationship of caffeine to growth restrictio...

Carrier Screening for Fragile X Syndrome

Number 469

(Replaces No. 338, June 2006)

ABSTRACT: Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited form of mental retardation. The syndrome occurs in approximately 1 in 3,600 males and 1 in 4,000–6,000 females. Approximately 1 in 250 female...

Family History as a Risk Assessment Tool

Number 478

ABSTRACT: Family history plays a critical role in assessing the risk of inherited medical conditions and single gene disorders. Several methods have been established to obtain family medical historie...

Update on Carrier Screening for Cystic Fibrosis

Number 486

(Replaces No. 325, December 2005)

ABSTRACT: In 2001, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Medical Genetics introduced guidelines for prenatal and preconception carrier screening for cyst...

Most Antibiotics Are Safe During Pregnancy

Washington, DC -- In 2009, researchers from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study published a report suggesting that two types of commonly prescribed antibiotics used to treat urinary tract inf...

Sulfonamides, Nitrofurantoin, and Risk of Birth Defects

Number 494

Abstract: The evidence regarding an association between the nitrofuran and sulfonamide classes of antibiotics and birth defects is mixed. As with all patients, antibiotics should be prescribed for pr...

Vitamin D - Screening and Supplementation During Pregnancy

Number 495

ABSTRACT: During pregnancy, severe maternal vitamin D deficiency has been associated with biochemical evidence of disordered skeletal homeostasis, congenital rickets, and fractures in the newborn. At...

Well Woman and Prenatal Visits Should Include Alcohol Abuse Screening

Washington, DC -- Women should be screened for alcohol use at least yearly and within the first trimester of pregnancy, according to a new Committee Opinion released today by The American College of ...

Genetic Disorders

FAQ094

What are genes? Genes control your physical makeup. Genes come in pairs. Half of a fetus's genes come from the mother. The other half comes from the father. Some traits, such as blood type, are deter...

Screening for Birth Defects

FAQ165

What is a birth defect? A birth defect is a physical problem that is present at birth. A birth defect may affect how the body looks, functions, or both. Many birth defects are mild, but some can be s...

Reducing Your Risk of Birth Defects

FAQ146

What is a birth defect? A birth defect is a problem that is present at birth and affects how the baby looks, functions, or both. A birth defect also is called a congenital disorder. More than 4,000 d...