The Boston Women's Health Book Collective, publisher of Our Bodies, Ourselves and many related books on women's health, has an excellent blog site. Visit it, hear what others say, and voice your own opinion!

Stripping or sweeping the membranes is the separation of 2-3 cm of the membranes (bag around the baby) from the underlying cervix or lower part of the uterus. It is done during a vaginal examination with the finger of the examiner. There is some evidence from research studies, and many practitioners believe, that stripping the membranes may help to start labor in women who are past their due date (from 41-42 weeks of gestation). Unfortunately, if the cervix is closed, it is not possible to strip the membranes, and it is the woman with a closed cervix who has the greatest chance of not going into labor on her own. The procedure of stripping the membranes is no more uncomfortable than the usual vaginal exam (never very comfortable!) and has not been shown to cause complications such as infection or bleeding.

Fact: A woman who has intercourse without using contraception has a 90% chance of becoming pregnant in a year.

Emergency contraceptives is a term that refers to methods of preventing pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse.  "Plan B," one brand of hormonal emergency contraceptive, was approved for OTC sales to women 18 and older on August 24, 2006.  Women younger than 18 will still need a prescription to acquire the product.  The FDA announcement follows:

A new publication on menopause

Website and publication available

A new study published in the online advance issue of the American Journal of Public Health states that obesity raises preterm delivery risk in nulliparous women (first-time moms).  What is interesting is that the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery is actually decreased - it is elective preterm delivery (induced labor) that is increased.