Dr. Chapa’s Clinical Pearls.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is a HOT and TRENDY item right now. PRP use was initiated in sports medicine in the 1970s. It has since expanded into many medical specialty fields, and now it is being heralded as the new hope for diminished ovarian reserve for those desiring pregnancy...even in menopause! Can injecting the ovaries with PRP really rejuvenate the ovary? We’ll examine the evidence as it sits as of January 2023.

Routine, repetitive urine dipsticks (meaning at each prenatal visit) were introduced into prenatal care back in the 1960s and 70s. The idea was to act as an early screen for bacteriuria (ASB), proteinuria as a screen for preeclampsia, and glycosuria as a screen for GDM. That was based more on expert opinion rather than clinical trials. The utility of urine dipstick testing in pregnant women has been debated for years, with studies suggesting minimal use in asymptomatic patients. Urine dips as still integrated into clinical practice mainly out of tradition...But is this evidence-based now? And if it is NOT evidence-based to do this with every visit and with every patient, when SHOULD it be done? What does ACOG have to say? Well, turns out ACOG says a lot- so you’ll want to stay tuned until the end of the episode as we cover that and a lot more.

Paragard, Mirena, and Liletta IUDs are the most effective types of emergency contraception. Data from the 1980s, now seemingly forgotten, showed that IUDs work primarily on inhibition of fertilization rather than implantation effects. Nonetheless, misperceptions regarding the IUDs mechanisms of action persist, with some websites stating IUDs are abortive agents. Do IUDs cause abortion? Let’s examine the evidence.

“Placentophagy” is not a new concept. Most non-human mammals eat their placentas after giving birth but humans, historically, have not. Is there evidence to support this practice? Where did this idea come from? How did Rolling Stone magazine help launch this phenomenon back in the 1970s? Is Kim Kardashian onto something cutting edge by advocating for Placental encapsulation? In this episode we will walk through history and learn some pretty remarkable things about this practice. Grab your favorite placental snack, and start listening! 🍽️🍴🍴

Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the US and is increasing in incidence each year. Heartbreakingly, despite postmenopausal bleeding presenting as the main symptom in all patients with endometrial cancer, there is a large racial disparity in endometrial cancer mortality in African-American women compared to White women. The 2 largest factors contributing to this are advanced stage of diagnosis and histological cancer type. In this episode, we will review the ABOG MOC article under “Health Equity and Patient Safety” for Q1 2023. Does transvaginal ultrasound perform the same in African-American women as it does in white women? Why or why not? Let’s get to the data in this episode.