Introduction:Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) may lead to pelvic floor complications, including sexual dysfunction. While short- and medium-term studies have reported increased dyspareunia and decreased sexual pleasure, desire, lubrication, and orgasm ability following OASIS, evidence on long-term sexual function remains limited. Aims:This longitudinal follow-up cohort study aimed to assess sexual function 12 years after vaginal delivery in women with and without OASIS, and to evaluate its evolution over time. Methods:The questionnaire used in our previous study, including patients' sociodemographic characteristics and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), was mailed to the same cohort of women previously included in a case-control study. The FSFI is a validated questionnaire assessing female sexual function across 6 domains: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Mean FSFI total scores, domain scores, and individual item scores were compared between women with and without OASIS. Changes in sexual function were also evaluated in comparison with the results obtained 6 years after the index delivery. Results:Completed questionnaires were returned by 52 women in the OASIS group and 141 women in the control group, with an overall participation rate of 79.8%. Mean FSFI total scores and domain scores were similar between women with and without OASIS. However, lubrication during sexual activity for less than half of the time (19.6% vs 8.5%, P = .033) and pain during vaginal penetration for about half of the time or more (13.7% vs 5.0%, P = .041) were reported more frequently in women with OASIS. In contrast to findings at 6 years, difficulty reaching orgasm was no longer significantly different between groups (10.0% vs 5.0%, P = .212). No significant changes were detected over time in individual FSFI items, domain scores, or total score. Conclusion:Overall sexual function does not appear to differ between women with and without OASIS 12 years after vaginal delivery. However, women with OASIS continue to report more frequent pain during vaginal penetration and reduced lubrication during sexual activity in the long term.

Evidence on long-term urinary incontinence (UI) after obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS) is scarce. This longitudinal case-control follow-up study assessed the evolution of urinary symptoms and their impact on quality of life 12 years after vaginal delivery in women with and without OASIS, comparing the findings with previous data from the same study population. A questionnaire, including the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6; evaluating the degree of bother caused by UI) and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7; evaluating the impact of UI on quality of life), was mailed to 242 previous participants (63 women with OASIS and 179 matched controls). The participation rate reached 76%. At 12 years postpartum, mean IIQ-7 scores were similar between groups (1.1 ± 2.6 for OASIS vs. 0.8 ± 1.7 for controls, p = 0.300). The UDI-6 scores increased significantly across the entire cohort (2.5 at 6 years vs. 3.3 at 12 years, p < 0.001), with a more pronounced rise in the control group (2.3 at 6 years vs. 3.2 at 12 years, p < 0.001) compared to the OASIS group, where the difference was not statistically significant (3.0 at 6 years vs. 3.5 at 12 years, p = 0.379). At 12 years, the severity of urinary symptoms and their impact on quality of life were comparable between women with OASIS and those without, contrasting with findings at 6 years. Within the entire cohort, the severity of UI symptoms progressed significantly over time.

Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a prevalent human pathogen that can cross the placenta by a mechanism that remains unknown, posing a risk of severe fetal complications, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy. We investigated the expression of B19V-specific receptors in the three trophoblast cell types, cytotrophoblasts (CTBs), syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), and extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs), and assessed their susceptibility to infection. VP1uR, the receptor that mediates viral uptake and infection in erythroid progenitor cells, is expressed in CTBs and STBs, but not in EVTs. Globoside, a glycosphingolipid that is essential for the escape of the virus from endosomes, is also expressed in these cells, except for choriocarcinoma-derived CTBs. In the latter, the absence of globoside can be overcome by promoting endosomal leakage with polyethyleneimine. While erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) signaling is associated with the strict erythroid tropism of B19V, it is not required for infection in trophoblasts. Transfection experiments revealed that highly proliferative first-trimester CTBs are more susceptible to B19V infection than the low-proliferative CTBs from term placenta. These findings demonstrate that B19V targets specific trophoblast cells, where viral entry and replication are collectively mediated by VP1uR, globoside, and high cellular proliferative activity, but are independent of EpoR signaling.

Skin-to-skin contact is known to help protect against traumatic birth experiences. However, it is sometimes not possible during cesarean sections, causing mother-infant separation. This pilot study explored a supportive alternative by streaming a live video of the newborn to the mother via a head-mounted display during the separation. Conducted in a Swiss hospital, this monocentric open-label non-randomized controlled pilot trial included 71 mothers. When separation occurred in the operating theatre, participants received either the head-mounted display intervention or standard care. Validated questionnaires were sent at one week and one month postpartum to assess maternal childbirth experience (primary outcome), birth satisfaction, childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, anxiety and depression symptoms, mother-infant bonding and satisfaction with the procedure. Compared to the control group, mothers with the intervention reported a significantly enhanced childbirth experience at one week postpartum, greater birth satisfaction, reduced childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, and diminished anxiety. Mothers unanimously expressed satisfaction with the intervention. These findings suggest using a head-mounted display to maintain visual contact with the newborn during early separation may be a valuable and well-accepted strategy to improve maternal childbirth experience. It also highlights the feasibility and acceptability of remote technologies in maternity care. Further research is warranted.

ABSTRACT Background Endometriosis is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in standard observational studies, including placental complications, preterm birth, and caesarean delivery. However, causal inference from these studies is complicated by residual confounding, differential clinical management, and the presence of intermediate factors such as subfertility and the use of assisted reproductive technologies, which may lie on the causal pathway between endometriosis and adverse outcomes.We applied Mendelian randomization (MR) to estimate the causal effects of genetic liability to endometriosis on a broad range of maternal and perinatal outcomes. Methods We conducted a two-sample MR study using summary-level GWAS data. Forty-one independent genetic instruments for endometriosis were derived from the largest available GWAS meta-analysis (60,674 cases; 701,926 controls; mean F-statistic = 279). SNP–outcome associations were obtained for 30 outcomes from the MR-PREG collaboration, FinnGen Release 12, and a postpartum haemorrhage GWAS meta-analysis, spanning placental disorders, pregnancy timing, labour and delivery, hypertensive disorders, fetal growth, and neonatal outcomes. Primary analyses used the inverse-variance weighted method, complemented by MR-Egger, weighted median, weighted mode, and MR-PRESSO. Trio-based models disentangled maternal from fetal genetic contributions. Multiple testing was addressed using false discovery rate correction. Findings Across 30 outcomes, only placenta praevia reached FDR-corrected significance, with a robust and consistent causal signal across four of five sensitivity methods (IVW OR 1·62, 95% CI 1·33–1·97; q<0·001). Within the placental disorders domain, estimates for premature placental separation and the broader placental disorders phenotype were directionally concordant but imprecise. For premature rupture of membranes, estimates were concordant across three methods, though the association was sensitive to cohort exclusion and did not survive multiple testing correction and should be interpreted cautiously. By contrast, hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, postpartum haemorrhage, stillbirth, and most neonatal outcomes showed estimates consistently close to the null across all methods. Trio-based analyses suggested predominantly maternal genetic pathways for most outcomes; fetal genetic contributions were not significant after correction for multiple testing, with exploratory signals observed for birthweight-related outcomes requiring independent replication. Interpretation A robust causal signal for placenta praevia alongside directionally consistent estimates across the placental disorders domain, suggests that mechanisms related to abnormal implantation and placentation may constitute a major mechanism for how endometriosis liability influences pregnancy. These results suggest that previously reported associations with broader obstetric outcomes may partly reflect confounding or clinical management patterns, and support targeted surveillance for abnormal placentation rather than a generalised elevation of obstetric risk. Funding TSC, MCB, EA, and DAL are members of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol (MC_UU_00032/5). MCM is supported by the Research Council of Norway through its Centres of Excellence funding scheme (project No 262700); and the research project “Endometriosis and adenomyosis throughout the life-course” (project No 351058). Research in context panel Evidence before this study We searched PubMed and MEDLINE from inception to March 2025 using combinations of the terms “endometriosis” and key pregnancy outcomes (including placenta praevia, preterm birth, postpartum haemorrhage, caesarean delivery, fetal growth, and pregnancy complications), without language restrictions. We included observational studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and Mendelian randomisation studies. Observational evidence consistently suggests that women with endometriosis have increased risks of placenta praevia, preterm birth, caesarean delivery, and impaired fetal growth, with reported effect sizes for placenta praevia typically ranging from two- to four-fold. However, findings for other outcomes, including postpartum haemorrhage and hypertensive disorders, are inconsistent. Taken together, these findings suggest that endometriosis may primarily affect early implantation and placentation processes. Rather than supporting a general intensification of obstetric surveillance, our results highlight the need to better characterise the underlying biological mechanisms of abnormal placental implantation, with the aim of identifying targets for prevention. Mendelian randomisation studies have attempted to address these limitations, but results remain inconsistent. Some studies report little evidence for causal effects on pregnancy outcomes, while others suggest associations restricted to severe disease or specific outcomes. These discrepancies likely reflect differences in statistical power—particularly for rare outcomes—and outcome definitions. Importantly, no previous study has jointly examined a broad spectrum of pregnancy outcomes while disentangling maternal, fetal, and paternal genetic effects. Added value of this study Using a two-sample Mendelian randomisation design across 30 pregnancy and perinatal outcomes, we provide robust genetic evidence that liability to endometriosis causally increases the risk of placenta praevia. This association was consistent across multiple sensitivity analyses and supported by the absence of pleiotropy and heterogeneity. Across the broader placental disorders domain, estimates were directionally concordant, suggesting that the causal signal extends beyond a single phenotype and reflects a shared underlying mechanism related to implantation and placentation. In contrast, we found little evidence supporting a causal role of endometriosis liability in hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, postpartum haemorrhage, fetal growth restriction, or most neonatal outcomes. Associations observed for preterm birth and caesarean delivery were not robust to sensitivity analyses and appeared driven by pleiotropy or cohort-specific effects. By incorporating trio-based analyses, we further show that associations are predominantly driven by maternal genetic pathways, supporting a uterine mechanism rather than fetal genetic effects. Implications of all the available evidence Taken together, the available evidence supports a more targeted approach to pregnancy care in women with endometriosis. The robust and specific association with placenta praevia—together with directionally consistent findings across the placental disorders domain—supports targeted surveillance of placental location rather than a generalised increase in obstetric monitoring. The absence of consistent causal effects for most other outcomes suggests that previously reported associations in observational studies may largely reflect residual confounding, differences in the population of women who achieve pregnancy (for example due to subfertility or the use of assisted reproductive technologies), and variations in clinical management (such as increased surveillance or intervention rates), rather than a direct biological effect of endometriosis itself. From a mechanistic perspective, these findings point to impaired implantation and early placentation as the principal pathway linking endometriosis to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Future research should focus on the biology of uterine receptivity and placentation, including the role of disease severity and co-existing adenomyosis, to identify opportunities for early intervention.

The most recent somatic gene therapies strategies for β-hemoglobinopathies - sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia – aim at stable re-expression of high level of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) are transforming the contemporary therapeutic landscape. HbF, expressed during in utero life and physiologically silenced after birth, has a higher affinity for oxygen allowing for transplacental exchange of oxygen. Its persistence at significant levels in the maternal circulation could impair fetal oxygenation during subsequent pregnancies. To anticipate the obstetric risks in this emerging population, we synthesize existing evidence on pregnancy outcomes in women with hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH)—a naturally occurring model of elevated HbF—to apprehend potential maternal and fetal impacts in individuals having undergone gene therapy for β-hemoglobinopathies. Evidence is very limited. It strongly suggests that moderate HbF levels (10–30%) reduce both maternal and fetal complications in sickle cell disease. However, levels exceeding 50%, as observed after gene editing in β-thalassemia, might blunt the maternal-fetal oxygen affinity gradient and contribute to placental insufficiency and fetal growth restriction. Based on these elements this viewpoint outlines pragmatic adaptation of the current recommendations for antenatal monitoring in pregnancies with supraphysiological level of maternal HbF. As gene-therapies are offered to teenagers and young adults and includes fertility preservation prior to conditioning, obstetricians and hematologists will be requested to manage post-therapy pregnancies in this population. Multidisciplinary guidelines and dedicated registries will be essential to ensure maternal safety and optimize perinatal outcomes within this evolving therapeutic landscape.

In 2026, COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy remains mainly recommended. However, despite strong safety data, uptake of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy remains suboptimal in many settings. Evidence, uncertainty and priorities should be discussed.

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a prevalent, disabling syndrome encompassing overlapping disorders such as endometriosis/adenomyosis, bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, vulvodynia, and myofascial pain syndrome. Despite distinct clinical phenotypes, these conditions converge on shared biological axes-immune dysregulation, endocrine imbalance, and central sensitization-that sustain chronic pain. Increasing evidence implicates the human microbiome as a potential upstream regulator of these pathways. Dysbiosis across the gut, vaginal, urinary, and endometrial microbial ecosystems may promote local and systemic inflammation, compromise epithelial barrier integrity, alter estrogen recirculation through the estrobolome, and engage aberrant neuroimmune signalling along gut-brain and hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian circuits. Recent multi-site profiling suggests that microbial alterations often co-occur across pelvic compartments but remain anatomically distinct, with shifts in anaerobic taxa and paired cervicovaginal immune signatures supporting microbiome-immune interactions in CPP pathophysiology. This narrative review synthesizes observational, multi-omics, and mechanistic evidence linking microbial dysbiosis to CPP, highlights microbial metabolites as key functional mediators, and evaluates causal data from experimental models. Finally, it discusses translational opportunities and limitations, including microbiome-targeted interventions (dietary modulation, probiotics/psychobiotics, postbiotics, and microbiota transfer approaches) and the need for harmonized, longitudinal and biomarker-embedded trials to enable mechanism-based stratification and rational therapeutic development.

Le cytomégalovirus (CMV) est l’agent d’infection congénitale le plus fréquent dans le monde. Sa prévalence à la naissance se situe autour de 0,4 à 0,6 % dans les pays à revenu élevé, avec un risque de séquelles neurologiques permanentes estimé entre 17 et 20 % chez les enfants infectés. En Suisse, comme dans la plupart des pays européens, environ une femme enceinte sur deux est immunisée, mais 1 à 2 % connaîtront une primo-infection pendant la grossesse. La transmission verticale est d’autant plus fréquente que la grossesse avance, mais la gravité des atteintes fœtales est pratiquement uniquement présente lorsque l’infection maternelle survient en périconceptionnel et au premier trimestre, soit respectivement entre -2 mois et +3 mois autour de la conception. Le paradoxe est clair : un virus est souvent silencieux chez la mère, mais peut être redoutable pour le fœtus lorsque la contamination est précoce.

Effective management of Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) before and during pregnancy is crucial as women with well-controlled IBD at conception tend to remain in remission throughout pregnancy, experiencing outcomes similar to women without IBD. Most IBD medications are considered safe during pregnancy, except for methotrexate. Despite reassuring data, previous studies have highlighted that women often have negative perceptions and fears related to IBD medications, leading to poor adherence. There is a lack of data regarding how IBD is treated before and during pregnancy in Switzerland. We aimed to assess the prevalence and usage patterns of various IBD medications in Switzerland before and during pregnancy over time. A descriptive study using the MAMA cohort based on Swiss health insurance claims from 2012 to 2019. We identified pregnancies with a pharmaceutical cost group (PCG) indicating IBD and at least one dispensed IBD medication before pregnancy. We defined three groups based on dispensation timing: continuers (dispensation in pre-pregnancy and in or after trimester 2), switchers (different dispensation between pre-pregnancy and in or after trimester 2), and discontinuers (dispensation in pre-pregnancy but no dispensation in or after trimester 2). Among 84,317 deliveries, 0.4

Background Antenatal education aims to prepare expectant parents for childbirth through knowledge of physiological processes, potential complications, and informed participation in decision-making. However, the expansion of digital and informal health information is reshaping knowledge practices in maternity care. Professionals increasingly encounter parents who draw on diverse non-professional sources. This study explores how maternity healthcare professionals perceive their role in childbirth preparation and interpret expectant parents’ information needs and information-seeking practices. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 maternity healthcare professionals (8 midwives, 7 medical doctors) in a Swiss university maternity hospital. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Four themes emerged: (1) Balancing information, uncertainty and reassurance; (2) Negotiating partnership within asymmetrical relationships; (3) Making sense of parents’ information practices and expectations; (4) Structural constraints shaping communication and trust. Participants expressed concern about parents’ understanding of childbirth and were critical of non-professional sources, particularly online content. While they valued collaborative care, they reported difficulties translating this commitment into practice due to structural constraints. Conclusions The use of informal sources in childbirth preparation should not be viewed as a threat to professional expertise. Rather, it may reflect a mismatch between professionals’ perceptions and the ways in which expectant parents mobilise knowledge to prepare for birth. Moving beyond information-delivery models toward a dialogical and relational approach would help bridge this gap. These findings contribute to the understanding of how epistemic authority and trust are negotiated in maternity care and underscore the importance of organisational conditions that support meaningful dialogue throughout pregnancy.

Introduction: Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by maternal alloimmunization against fetal red blood cell (RBC) antigens. While most cases involve well-characterized antibodies such as anti-D, anti-c, or anti-K, antibodies against low-prevalence antigens (LPAs) — particularly those within the MNS blood group system — remain underrecognized and underreported. Case Presentation: We report a case of maternal alloimmunization against the paternally inherited low-prevalence antigen MUT (MNS35), carried on a hybrid glycophorin (GYPA*19, GP.Hut), across three pregnancies. The first pregnancy ended in fetal demise due to severe anemia at 33 weeks of gestation (WG). In a subsequent twin pregnancy, both neonates presented with severe HDFN after emergency cesarean section at 31 WG. Anti-MUT antibodies were identified in maternal plasma and neonatal eluates, with a high monocyte index observed in functional testing using paternal and GP.Mur-positive RBCs. Sequencing demonstrated the presence of the GYPA*19 (GYPA*Hut) allele in both infants. The two neonates had favorable outcome after exchange transfusion and intensive phototherapy. A third pregnancy was closely monitored. Anti-MUT antibodies remained stable at 1/32 between 20 and 36 WG. The patient delivered a healthy newborn without anemia. After birth, the child was tested GP.Hut negative. Conclusion: This case supports the pathogenicity of anti-MUT as a cause of severe HDFN. It underscores the diagnostic challenges posed by antibodies against LPAs and highlights the importance of extended serological, molecular, and functional testing. Crossmatching maternal plasma with paternal RBCs and systematic evaluation of serological discrepancies can reveal otherwise undetectable alloantibodies. Early identification, functional assessment, and multidisciplinary management are key to optimizing outcomes in pregnancies complicated by rare RBC alloimmunization. Anti-MUT should be considered a clinically significant antibody with the potential to cause severe HDFN, warranting proactive perinatal surveillance.

Introduction: Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by maternal alloimmunization against fetal red blood cell (RBC) antigens. While most cases involve well-characterized antibodies such as anti-D, anti-c, or anti-K, antibodies against low-prevalence antigens (LPAs) - particularly those within the MNS blood group system - remain underrecognized and underreported. Case Presentation: We report a case of maternal alloimmunization against the paternally inherited LPA MUT (MNS35), carried on a hybrid glycophorin (GYPA*19, GP.Hut), across three pregnancies. The first pregnancy ended in fetal demise due to severe anemia at 33 weeks of gestation (WG). In a subsequent twin pregnancy, both neonates presented with severe HDFN after emergency cesarean section at 31 WG. Anti-MUT antibodies were identified in maternal plasma and neonatal eluates, with a high monocyte index observed in functional testing using paternal and GP.Mur-positive RBCs. Sequencing demonstrated the presence of the GYPA*19 (GYPA*Hut) allele in both infants. The two neonates had favorable outcome after exchange transfusion and intensive phototherapy. A third pregnancy was closely monitored. Anti-MUT antibodies remained stable at 1/32 between 20 and 36 WG. The patient delivered a healthy newborn without anemia. After birth, the child was tested GP.Hut negative. Conclusion: This case supports the pathogenicity of anti-MUT as a cause of severe HDFN. It underscores the diagnostic challenges posed by antibodies against LPAs and highlights the importance of extended serological, molecular, and functional testing. Crossmatching maternal plasma with paternal RBCs and systematic evaluation of serological discrepancies can reveal otherwise undetectable alloantibodies. Early identification, functional assessment, and multidisciplinary management are key to optimizing outcomes in pregnancies complicated by rare RBC alloimmunization. Anti-MUT should be considered a clinically significant antibody with the potential to cause severe HDFN, warranting proactive perinatal surveillance.

BACKGROUND:Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of severe lower respiratory tract infections in infants. Two effective preventive strategies exist: maternal RSV Prefusion F vaccination during pregnancy and child immunisation with monoclonal antibodies. OBJECTIVES:To assess pregnant individuals' acceptance of, and preferences between, maternal RSV vaccination and infant monoclonal antibodies across diverse global settings after receiving standardized information on RSV risks and expected protective benefits. STUDY DESIGN:Cross-sectional study conducted between March 2024 and March 2025 among pregnant individuals recruited by convenience sampling in partner centres across eight countries (Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and Switzerland). The primary outcome was acceptance of RSV vaccination during pregnancy, and the secondary outcome was preference between maternal RSV vaccination and infant Nirsevimab; associated factors were assessed using multivariable logistic regression, with country group included as a design-related adjustment variable. RESULTS:Among 887 participants, 675 (76.1%) reported accepting RSV vaccination during pregnancy: 96 (10.8%) were already vaccinated and 579 (65.3%) would have liked to receive it when available. Acceptance of the RSV vaccine during pregnancy differed across main study sites, ranging from 70.4% in Switzerland to 79.1% in Colombia. Factors independently associated with willingness to be vaccinated included having a child previously hospitalised in neonatal intensive care unit, uptake of other recommended vaccines during pregnancy, and perceiving a positive influence from health authorities. Most of participants (69.8%, 619/887) preferred maternal RSV vaccination over child immunisation with monoclonal antibody administration (14.5%, 129/887). Factors independently associated with vaccination preference included: having received other recommended vaccines during pregnancy, whereas history of pre-eclampsia or perception of foetal or obstetrical risk associated with this vaccine favoured preference for the monoclonal antibody. Additional motivations for preferring maternal RSV vaccination included: avoiding an extra injection for the newborn, perceived greater efficacy, and a preference for endogenous antibody-mediated protection. CONCLUSION:This multinational study demonstrates high acceptance of maternal RSV vaccination and a predominant preference for this strategy over infant immunisation. These findings highlight the importance of tailored communication addressing pregnant individuals' concerns about safety and efficacy, alongside policies that align with parental vaccination preferences to facilitate effective implementation.

Pregnancy entails specific nutritional needs, yet dietary recommendations are often perceived as overly restrictive. In most cases, a varied and minimally processed diet is sufficient to meet energy, protein, and micronutrient requirements. Targeted supplementation (iron, folic acid, vitamin D, calcium, iodine) is only necessary in certain situations. Particular attention is required for women on specific diets (such as vegan, paleo, or ketogenic), which may necessitate closer monitoring. In Switzerland, the risk of foodborne infections is low and can be effectively managed with basic hygiene and food safety practices. A pragmatic, evidence-based approach helps reassure patients while safeguarding both maternal and fetal health, promoting a more peaceful pregnancy experience.

BackgroundData about the competencies needed for physicians in obstetrics and gynecology (O&G) is currently insufficient. The aim of this study is to define the competence profile needed in this sector for daily professional activity, in order to account for these criteria in future recruitment.MethodsThe modified requirement-tracking questionnaire (R-track) was sent to 307 physicians working in the field of O&G with different training levels and practice locations. The R-track is designed to assess professional competence profiles and contains 66 items covering the following eight competence areas: "Mental abilities", "Social sensibility", "Psychomotor and multitasking abilities", "Solutions orientation", "Social interactive competences", "Personality traits", "Verbal competences" and "Resistance capacity". The mean scores of single items and competence areas were calculated. Results were compared between gender, training level, and place of practice.ResultsThe participation rate was 65.5%, with 201 physicians returning the questionnaire. In this sample, 50.2% of them were in training and 49.8% were practicing O&G specialists. The proportion of physicians working in a hospital setting was 64.7% while 30.3% worked in private practice. The competence areas "Social sensibility" and "Psychomotor & multitasking abilities" appear to be the most important for daily professional activity. At the item level, "Stress resistance", followed by "Workload management" and "Tactfulness" were considered as the most valuable characteristics. Differences between gender, level of training, and place of practice were not significant.ConclusionThe identified competence profile could serve as a basis for developing a new method of O&G residency selection. In addition, such a profile could help medical students to decide on a professional specialization at a very early stage by comparing their personal competence profile with the one in the field or with their mentors.

The ultrasound examination in the first trimester is a crucial tool in prenatal diagnostics. Its primary aim is the early detection of fetal structural anomalies with the option to assess the risk for the common fetal trisomies (in Switzerland: "Ersttrimestertest"). The latter is achieved by combining ultrasound data with biochemical blood tests. In addition to chromosomal diagnostics, the first-trimester ultrasound plays an essential role in evaluating pregnancy risks as well as the overall health of the fetus. This method is non-invasive, safe and effective, offering invaluable information to both healthcare professionals and expectant parents that is critical for further pregnancy care. The introduction and wide-spread use of another, molecular test, NIPT ("non-invasive prenatal testing") should be seen as a useful additional option to, not a substitute for first trimester ultrasound. NIPT has high detection rates for "the common trisomies", but, in isolation, is insufficient for comprehensive early fetal assessment.