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The Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound convened a multisociety panel to develop a first-trimester US lexicon based on scientific evidence, societal guidelines, and expert consensus that would be appropriate for imagers, clinicians, and patients. Through a modified Delphi process with consensus of at least 80%, agreement was reached for preferred terms, synonyms, and terms to avoid. An intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) is defined as a pregnancy implanted in a normal location within the uterus. In contrast, an ectopic pregnancy (EP) is any pregnancy implanted in an abnormal location, whether extrauterine or intrauterine, thus categorizing cesarean scar implantations as EPs. The term pregnancy of unknown location is used in the setting of a pregnant patient without evidence of a definite or probable IUP or EP at transvaginal US. Since cardiac development is a gradual process and cardiac chambers are not fully formed in the first trimester, the term cardiac activity is recommended in lieu of 'heart motion' or 'heartbeat.' The terms 'living' and 'viable' should also be avoided in the first trimester. 'Pregnancy failure' is replaced by early pregnancy loss (EPL). When paired with various modifiers, EPL is used to describe a pregnancy in the first trimester that may or will not progress, is in the process of expulsion, or has either incompletely or completely passed., Competing Interests: Disclosures of conflicts of interest S.K.R. Book royalties from Elsevier. M.M.H. Payment for lectures, travel, or visiting professorship from Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham Women’s Hospital, University of Toronto, McMaster University, World Class CME, and Hoag Medical Group; section editor for RadioGraphics. P.M.D. No relevant relationships. M.C.F. Payment for panel discussion from GE HealthCare. A. Kennedy Royalties and writer’s fees from Elsevier; honoraria from World Class CME and University of California Davis; support for travel from the RSNA; secretary of the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound. R.A. No relevant relationships. K.B. Patents planned, issued, or pending with Kristyn Brandi MD MPH LLC. L.D. No relevant relationships. S.K.H. Grants from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences at the National Institutes of Health; payment for presentations from Organon; payment for expert testimony from Huff Powell Bailey; support for attending meeting from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG); section secretary of the Pennsylvania ACOG. A. Kamaya Book royalties from Elsevier. A. Koyama No relevant relationships. P.C.L. Honoraria for editor role from RoshReview (now Blueprint); support to attend meeting from Individuals with Intellectual or Development Disability Engaged, Aligned and Leading project workgroup funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute; secretary-treasurer of the New York Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians and past chair of the American College of Emergency Physicians Emergency Ultrasound Section. K.E.M. No relevant relationships. T.M. Book royalties from Elsevier. S.G.O. No relevant relationships. K.O. No relevant relationships. R.S. Honoraria and support for travel to meetings from World Class CME. S.S. Grants from the National Institutes of Health, AbbVie, and Organon. L.M.S. No relevant relationships., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc., RSNA. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cesarean scar pregnancy is a complication in which an early pregnancy implants in the scar from a prior cesarean delivery. This condition presents a substantial risk for severe maternal morbidity because of challenges in securing a prompt diagnosis, as well as uncertainty regarding optimal treatment once identified. Ultrasound is the primary imaging modality for cesarean scar pregnancy diagnosis, although a correct and timely determination can be difficult. Surgical, medical, and minimally invasive therapies have been described for cesarean scar pregnancy management, but the optimal treatment is not known. Women who decline treatment of a cesarean scar pregnancy should be counseled regarding the risk for severe morbidity. The following are Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recommendations: We recommend against expectant management of cesarean scar pregnancy (GRADE 1B); we suggest operative resection (with transvaginal or laparoscopic approaches when possible) or ultrasound-guided vacuum aspiration be considered for surgical management of cesarean scar pregnancy and that sharp curettage alone be avoided (GRADE 2C); we suggest intragestational methotrexate for medical treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy, with or without other treatment modalities (GRADE 2C); we recommend that systemic methotrexate alone not be used to treat cesarean scar pregnancy (GRADE 1C); in women who choose expectant management and continuation of a cesarean scar pregnancy, we recommend repeat cesarean delivery between 34 0/7 and 35 6/7 weeks of gestation (GRADE 1C); we recommend that women with a cesarean scar pregnancy be advised of the risks of another pregnancy and counseled regarding effective contraceptive methods, including long-acting reversible contraception and permanent contraception (GRADE 1C)., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Program at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) celebrated its 10 th anniversary in 2018. This Viewpoint article reviews opportunities, challenges, and lessons learned by the ACOG LARC Program throughout the last decade. Housed within the largest medical organization representing women's health providers, the LARC Program supports change by developing resources for clinicians, healthcare systems, healthcare organizations, and policy makers. The Program's Postpartum Contraceptive Access Initiative (PCAI) meets specific needs identified by an Expert Work Group using implementation science principles, including improved contraceptive counseling and clinician training, and institution-wide sustainable systems change in billing, coding, pharmacy, and electronic medical record integration. Key lessons learned include the importance of centering patient preferences and autonomy, developing foundational evidence-based guidance, supporting practice change through implementation tools and collaboration with local champions, advocating for insurance and payment policy, and partnering with other health care organizations to develop robust resources to improve patient access to the full range of contraceptive methods., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Powerful incentives now exist that could subordinate professionalism to guild self-interest. How obstetrician-gynecologists respond to these insidious incentives will determine whether guild self-interests will define our specialty. We provide ethically justified, practical guidance to obstetrician-gynecologists to prevent this ethically unacceptable outcome. We describe and illustrate 2 major incentives to subordinating professionalism to guild self-interest: demands for productivity; and compliance and regulatory pressures. We then set out the professional responsibility model of ethics in obstetrics and gynecology to guide obstetrician-gynecologists in responding to these incentives so that they preserve professionalism. Obstetrician-gynecologists should identify guild interests affecting their group practices, set ethically justified limits on self-sacrifice, and prevent incremental drift toward dominance of guild self-interests over professionalism. Guild self-interests could succeed in undermining professionalism, but only if obstetrician-gynecologists allow this to happen. When guild self-interest becomes the deciding factor in patient care, professionalism withers and insidious incentives flourish., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Neonatal safety data along with national guidelines have prompted renewed interest in vaginal delivery of twins, particularly in the case of the noncephalic second twin. Yet, the rising rate of twin cesarean deliveries, coupled with the national decline in operative obstetrics, raises concerns about the availability of providers who are skilled in twin vaginal birth. Providers are key stakeholders for increasing rates of twin vaginal delivery. We surveyed a group of practicing obstetricians to explore potential barriers to the vaginal birth of twins with a focus on delivery of the noncephalic second twin. Among 107 responding providers, only 57% would deliver a noncephalic second twin by breech extraction. Providers who preferred breech extraction had a higher rate of maternal-fetal medicine subspecialty training (26.2% vs 4.3%; P<.01) and were more likely to be in an academic practice environment (36.1% vs 10.9%; P<.01) and to practice in high-volume centers that deliver >30 sets of twins annually (57.4% vs 34.8%; P=.02). Most providers (54.2%) were familiar with the findings from the recent randomized trial that demonstrated the safety of twin vaginal birth. However, knowledge of the trial was not associated statistically with a preference for breech extraction (62.3% vs 43.5%; P=.05). Providers who preferred breech extraction were more likely to agree with recent society guidelines that encourage the vaginal birth of twins (86.9% vs 63.0%; P<.01). In an adjusted analysis, the 46% of providers with a perceived need for more training were far less likely to prefer breech extraction for delivery of a noncephalic second twin (adjusted odds ratio, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.16-0.95). Furthermore, 57% of providers who would not offer their patient breech extraction would be willing to consult a colleague for support with a noncephalic twin delivery. These results suggest that scientific evidence and society opinion are likely insufficient to reverse the national trends that favor cesarean delivery for twins. Instead, implementation of provider training and support programs is critical for increasing the rates of twin vaginal birth. Changing our national landscape of vaginal twin delivery may require innovation. Without novel provider-focused strategies, we may relinquish passively the requisite skills for not only our patients but also for future generations of obstetricians., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome have substantially higher rates of insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome when compared with women without the disease. Given the high prevalence of these comorbidities, guidelines issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Endocrine Society recommend that all women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergo screening for impaired glucose tolerance and dyslipidemia with a 2 hour 75 g oral glucose tolerance test and fasting lipid profile upon diagnosis and also undergo repeat screening every 2-5 years and every 2 years, respectively. Although a hemoglobin A1C and/or fasting glucose are widely used screening tests for diabetes, both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Endocrine Society preferentially recommend the 2 hour oral glucose tolerance test in women with polycystic ovary syndrome as a superior indicator of impaired glucose tolerance/diabetes mellitus. However, we found that gynecologists underutilize current recommendations for metabolic screening in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. In an online survey study targeting American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists fellows and junior fellows, 22.3% of respondents would not order any screening test at the initial visit for at least 50% of their patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. The most common tests used to screen for impaired glucose tolerance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome were hemoglobin A1C (51.0%) and fasting glucose (42.7%). Whereas 54.1% would order a fasting lipid profile in at least 50% of their polycystic ovary syndrome patients, only 7% of respondents order a 2 hour oral glucose tolerance test. We therefore call for increased efforts to encourage obstetrician-gynecologists to address metabolic abnormalities in their patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Such efforts should include education of physicians early in their careers, at the medical student and resident level. Efforts should also include implementation of continuing medical education activities, both locally and at the national level, to improve understanding of the metabolic implications of polycystic ovary syndrome. Electronic medical record systems should be utilized to generate prompts for appropriate screening tests in patients with a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome. Because obstetrician-gynecologists may be the only physicians seen by many polycystic ovary syndrome patients, particularly those in their young reproductive years, such interventions could effectively promote optimal preventative health care and early diagnosis of metabolic comorbidities in these at-risk women., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Antenatal corticosteroid administration is a critical fetal intervention, and the use of a rescue protocol is now standard practice. Rescue antenatal corticosteroid may improve overall accuracy of antenatal corticosteroid administration timing, but this observation and its effect on the initial course is unknown., Objective: We sought to compare the accuracy of antenatal corticosteroid administration before and after the implementation of a rescue antenatal corticosteroid protocol., Study Design: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who received a minimum of 1 dose of antenatal corticosteroid from 2006-2012 at the University of Washington Medical Center with the use of the University of Washington Medical Center Pharmacy Database. For inclusion, subjects were required to be admitted, receive the initial antenatal corticosteroid course at 24-34 weeks gestation, and deliver at University of Washington Medical Center. We designated 2 groups that were based on when rescue antenatal corticosteroid became standard practice at University of Washington Medical Center: before rescue antenatal corticosteroid (2006-2008) and after rescue antenatal corticosteroid (2009-2012). Primary outcome was delivery within any optimal antenatal corticosteroid window, which was defined as 48 hours to 7 days after the first dose or third dose. We also compared delivery within the optimal window of the initial and rescue antenatal corticosteroid courses independently and assessed antenatal corticosteroid timing by the indication for delivery. Chi squared and independent sample t-tests were used to compare results., Results: From 2006-2012, 1356 women met inclusion criteria, 601 before and 755 after rescue antenatal corticosteroid. The study groups demonstrated similar demographics, with the exception of more white women in the group after rescue antenatal corticosteroid (47% vs 60%; P < .01) and delivered at comparable gestational ages (32.7 vs 32.6 weeks; P = .59). Availability of a second course did not increase total subjects who delivered within any optimal window (26.5% vs 28.5%; P = .41). Frequency of delivery within the initial course optimal window did not change after the introduction of the rescue course protocol (26.1% vs 26.4%; P = .92). Similarly, of the 73 subjects who received rescue antenatal corticosteroid, 24.7% delivered in the optimal window of the second course. Delivery within the optimal window varied by indication for antenatal corticosteroid, with highest accuracy among maternal indications (41.2% in any optimal window), followed by preterm premature rupture of membranes (32.1%). Lowest administration accuracy was among women with antenatal cervical shortening and advanced cervical dilation; only 2.8% and 6.3% delivered within the optimal window, respectively. Furthermore, for women with antenatal cervical shortening, the mean gestational age of delivery was 35.1 weeks, and the median interval from antenatal corticosteroid administration to delivery was 55 days (interquartile range, 34-72 days)., Conclusions: The opportunity for a second course of antenatal corticosteroid did not improve the number of women who delivered within any optimal antenatal corticosteroid window. Administration timing was similar for the initial course and the rescue course, with approximately one-quarter of women delivering within the optimal antenatal corticosteroid window. These findings likely reflect the few circumstances in which rescue antenatal corticosteroid is useful and the poor predictability of preterm birth. Future focus should be aimed at tools to predict the timing of preterm birth to optimize antenatal corticosteroid administration., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Retirement of obstetrician-gynecologists is becoming a matter of increasing concern in light of an expected shortage of practicing physicians. Determining a retirement age is often complex. We address what constitutes a usual retirement age range from general clinical practice for an obstetrician-gynecologist, compare this with practitioners in other specialties, and suggest factors of importance to obstetrician-gynecologists before retirement. Although the proportion of obstetrician-gynecologists ≥55 years old is similar to other specialists, obstetrician-gynecologists retire at younger ages than male or female physicians in other specialties. A customary age range of retirement from obstetrician-gynecologist practice would be 59-69 years (median, 64 years). Women, who constitute a growing proportion of obstetrician-gynecologists in practice, retire earlier than men. The large cohort of "baby boomer" physicians who are approaching retirement (approximately 15,000 obstetrician-gynecologists) deserves tracking while an investigation of integrated women's health care delivery models is conducted. Relevant considerations would include strategies to extend the work longevity of those who are considering early retirement or desiring part-time employment. Likewise volunteer work in underserved community clinics or teaching medical students and residents offers continuing personal satisfaction for many retirees and preservation of self-esteem and medical knowledge., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate attitudes and practice patterns of obstetricians related to screening for group B streptococcal colonization and providing intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis against early-onset neonatal infections with group B streptococcus., Study Design: We mailed a survey to 546 members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, including members of the Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network and non-Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network members. Stratified random selection was used to generate samples from both of these groups., Results: The survey response rate was 60% for Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network members and 42% for non-Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network members. Of the 206 respondents who reported providing prenatal care, 97% collect screening samples at 35-37 weeks' gestational age. Anatomic sites used to collect samples were more variable: 62% include lower vagina and rectum, 26% include lower vagina and perianal skin but not rectum, and 5% include neither the perianal skin nor the rectum. First-line agents for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis were penicillin (71%), ampicillin (27%), and cefazolin (2%). For patients reporting a nonanaphylactic penicillin allergy, drugs used for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis were more varied: cefazolin (51%), clindamycin (36%), vancomycin (8%), and erythromycin (5%). For patients undergoing a labor induction starting with a cervical ripening agent, less than 40% typically give the first dose of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis before or at the time of cervical ripening agent administration, and 15% wait until the patient reaches the active phase of labor., Conclusion: Gaps in knowledge and reported practice related to the prevention of early-onset neonatal group B streptococcus infections were similar to gaps in implementation of guidelines demonstrated in past studies. New approaches to improve implementation are warranted., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We examined screening practices and attitudes of obstetricians-gynecologists toward the use of noncombustible tobacco products (chewing tobacco, snuff/snus, electronic cigarettes, and dissolvables) during pregnancy., Study Design: The authors mailed a survey in 2012 to 1024 members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, including Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network (CARN) and non-CARN members. Stratified random selection was used to generate CARN and non-CARN samples., Results: Response rates were 52% and 31% for CARN and non-CARN members, respectively. Of 252 total eligible respondents (those currently providing obstetrics care) 53% reported screening pregnant women at intake for noncombustible tobacco product use all or some of the time, and 40% reported none of the time. Respondents who reported that noncombustible products have adverse health effects during pregnancy, but are safer than cigarettes, ranged from 20.2% (dissolvables) to 29% (electronic cigarettes) and that the health effects are the same as those of cigarettes from 13.5% (electronic cigarettes) to 53.6% (chewing tobacco). Approximately 14% reported that electronic cigarettes have no adverse health effects; <1% reported no health effects for the remaining products. Two-thirds of the respondents wanted to know more about the potential health effects of noncombustible tobacco products; only 5% believed themselves to be fully informed., Conclusion: A large proportion of obstetrician-gynecologists reported never or inconsistently screening their pregnant patients for the use of noncombustible tobacco products. Responses regarding the harms of these products relative to cigarettes were mixed and most respondents wanted more information. Development and dissemination of guidance for providers is needed to improve decision-making regarding noncombustible tobacco products., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

This is an executive summary of a workshop on the management and counseling issues of women anticipated to deliver at a periviable gestation (broadly defined as 20 0/7 through 25 6/7 weeks of gestation) and the treatment options for the newborn infant. Upon review of the available literature, the workshop panel noted that the rates of neonatal survival and neurodevelopmental disabilities among the survivors vary greatly across the periviable gestations and are significantly influenced by the obstetric and neonatal management practices (eg, antenatal steroid, tocolytic agents, and antibiotic administration; cesarean birth; and local protocols for perinatal care, neonatal resuscitation, and intensive care support). These are, in turn, influenced by the variations in local and regional definitions of limits of viability. Because of the complexities in making difficult management decisions, obstetric and neonatal teams should confer prior to meeting with the family, when feasible. Family counseling should be coordinated with the goal of creating mutual trust, respect, and understanding and should incorporate evidence-based counseling methods. Since clinical circumstances can change rapidly with increasing gestational age, counseling should include discussion of the benefits and risks of various maternal and neonatal interventions at the time of counseling. There should be a plan for follow-up counseling as clinical circumstances evolve. The panel proposed a research agenda and recommended developing educational curricula on the care and counseling of families facing the birth of a periviable infant., (Copyright © 2014 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine retention rates of entry-level physician faculty members in obstetrics and gynecology., Study Design: Ongoing data were collected by the Association of American Medical Colleges between 1981 and 2009 for full-time, entry-level assistant professors to determine whether they remained at their original departments, switched to another school, or left academia. Retention curves and 5- and 10-year retention rates at their original department and for academia were determined., Results: The number of entry-level faculty members per year increased significantly for women and those faculty members in general obstetrics and gynecology. Retention rates at the original departments improved for all disciplines in recent years (2000-09), regardless of sex. Among those faculty members who left their original department, faculty members in general obstetrics/gynecology were more likely than subspecialists to leave academia., Conclusion: Growth in the number of entry-level physician faculty members was accompanied by higher retention rates at their original departments only in recent years., (Copyright © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We sought to determine whether downward trends in inflation-adjusted salaries (1989-99) continued for obstetrics and gynecology faculty., Study Design: Data were gathered from the Faculty Salary Survey from the Association of American Medical Colleges for academic years 2001 through 2009. We compared median physician salaries adjusted for inflation according to rank and specialty., Results: While faculty compensation increased by 24.8% (2.5% annually), change in salaries was comparable to the cumulative inflation rate (21.3%). Salaries were consistently highest among faculty in gynecologic oncology (P < .001), next highest among maternal-fetal medicine specialists (P < .001), and were not significantly different between general obstetrics-gynecology and reproductive-endocrinology-infertility. Inflation-adjusted growth of salaries in general obstetrics-gynecology was not significantly different from that in general internal medicine and pediatrics., Conclusion: Growth in salaries of physician faculty in obstetrics and gynecology increased from 2000-01 through 2008-09 with real purchasing power keeping pace with inflation., (Copyright © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the future physician workforce with a sample of obstetrician-gynecologists., Study Design: Two separate surveys regarding career satisfaction and retirement plans were sent to random samples of obstetrician-gynecologists under age 50 years (n = 2,000) and over the age of 50 (n = 2,100)., Results: Obstetrician-gynecologists over the age of 50 years who were working part time or were female were more satisfied than those working full time or were male. Obstetrician-gynecologists (under and over age 50 years) who were concerned about liability and unable to balance their work and personal lives were more dissatisfied. Obstetrician-gynecologists retired earlier than planned because of rising malpractice costs and later than planned because of high career satisfaction., Conclusion: Low career satisfaction may be adding to the already shrinking physician workforce. Offering part-time work opportunities and alleviating liability concerns may increase career satisfaction and help to combat a future of the physician workforce shortage.

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) In-Training Examination scores for significant trends., Study Design: The percent-correct scores for each of the 6 published examination objectives from 7 consecutive years were analyzed. The data set was analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance using gender, examination year, and postgraduate year as categorical variables, and each year was analyzed separately by gender and postgraduate year. Scores of residents who took the examination for 4 consecutive years were analyzed by using repeated measures analysis of covariance., Results: Variation by examination year appeared random, although scores monotonically increased with postgraduate year for all objectives and all years. The mean relative scores of women were higher than men on the primary/preventive care objective, but the reverse was true for the general considerations objective., Conclusion: The CREOG In-Training Examination appears to be a dependable measure of residents' improvement in cognitive knowledge.

Objective: Obstetrician/gynecologists' career satisfaction with certain work-related activities was examined among clinicians who perform deliveries and clinicians who do not., Study Design: A questionnaire was sent to 1500 member-fellows of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; 842 members (56%) responded. The questionnaire was designed to distinguish between obstetrician/gynecologists who perform deliveries and clinicians who do not in the areas of satisfaction with specific aspects of career and work-related activities. Data were examined initially by multivariate analysis of variance and subsequently by univariate analysis of variance if the multivariate test was found to be significant., Results: Workload and personal control were the primary factors for which there was a significant difference in satisfaction between clinicians who perform deliveries and clinicians who do not (P<.001). Obstetrician/gynecologists who do not perform deliveries reported working significantly fewer hours per week (P<.001) and had more satisfaction with their work activities than the delivery group overall. Despite lowered satisfaction with certain career aspects among the delivery Group, the highest positive disposition ratings that was given by respondents were for surgery, vaginal delivery, and planned cesarean delivery, with gender differences observed in the level of disposition for these particular activities. The most negative rating was reported for on-call/in-hospital time., Conclusion: Although positive disposition is associated with the activity of vaginal and cesarean delivery overall, 2 primary contributing factors of dissatisfaction that were identified among obstetrician/gynecologists who perform deliveries were increased workload and decreased personal control.

Skeletal fragility at the end of the life span (osteoporosis) is a major source of morbidity and mortality. Adequate calcium intake from childhood to the end of the life span is critical for the formation and retention of a healthy skeleton. High intakes of calcium and vitamin D potentiate the bone loss prevention effects of hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. Pregnancy and lactation are not risk factors for skeletal fragility, although lactation is associated with a transient loss of bone that cannot be prevented by calcium supplementation. Low calcium intake has been implicated in the development of hypertension, colon cancer, and premenstrual syndrome, and it is associated with low intakes of many other nutrients. Encouragement of increased consumption of calcium-rich foods has the potential to be a cost-effective strategy for reducing fracture incidence later in life and for increasing patients' dietary quality and overall health.

In obstetrics and gynecology residency education is a fixed prescription, whereas the world of practice leads physicians in diverse directions. Nonetheless, obstetrics and gynecology has so far resisted the proliferation of subspecialties. The future scope of our specialty will be defined by the changing healthcare needs of women. These will be driven by changing demographics and an emphasis on preventive and primary care. Residency education and, to a lesser extent, forms of practice will have to change to meet women's needs.

By the year 2000 nearly 60% of practicing obstetrician-gynecologists will have graduated from medical school after 1975 and been in practice 20 years or less. At the midpoint of that era we estimate and examine the numbers of such specialists (more than 40,000 by the year 2000), the percentage of women obstetrician/gynecologists (26% in the year 2000), their predominant forms of practice, practice differences between men and women specialists, the changing and aging of the populations of women they will serve, and the participation of young physicians in medical organizations. All of these reflect the picture of our specialty when a new century begins.