Cooney publishes reflection in Fertility and Sterility

Cooney’s article “Are we writing letters of mis-recommendation?” is a reflection essay in response to the article “Do gender differences exist in letters of recommendation for reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellowship?”, published in the same issue of the journal. In the reflection, she outlines possibilities for bias and inequity in narrative letters of recommendation and asks whether a different approach may be better:

“On a larger scale, it may be time to think about the need for a culture shift, away from the traditional “narrative” letter of recommendation and toward a more “standardized” letter of recommendation. This has been endorsed by the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine in their recommendation that program directors use standardized letters of recommendation for fellowship applications in internal medicine. Their report recommends that residents be assessed on 6 competencies: patient care, medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, systems-based practice (i.e., leadership skills), practice-based learning and improvement (willingness to accept feedback), and professionalism as well as a description of scholarly contributions.”

Read the whole article here.

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Cooney publishes study on PCOS and mental health in Fertility and Sterility

Laura Cooney, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, co-authored a new study published in Fertility and Sterility. Co-authors include Snigdha Alur-Gupta, MD and Anuja Dokras, MD, PhD.

In “Management of polycystic ovary syndrome must include assessment and treatment of mental health symptoms,” Cooney and co-authors mention how any correlations between PCOS and mental health issues are widely understudied, even when women with PCOS report that they are unsatisfied with mental health counseling. Cooney and her co-authors’ research found there is evidence of women with PCOS having an increased risk of mental health concerns.

“Management of all comorbidities of PCOS, whether they are psychological, reproductive, or metabolic, requires a multidisciplinary approach,” which involves connecting reproductive and mental health physicians together.

Read the whole article here.

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson

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Cooney receives UW Health Clinical Practice Physician Excellence Award

The Clinical Practice Physician Excellence Award honors outstanding clinicians who demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to safety and quality patient-and-family centered care. Cooney was nominated by colleagues to receive this award.

Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Dr. Cooney!

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Cooney co-authors article on live birth rates and PCOS in Fertility and Sterility

“The details matter: personalized prediction of live birth following in vitro fertilization in women with polycystic ovary syndrome” is a multicenter, retrospective cohort study attempting to validate a prediction model for live birth for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment.

“Our study demonstrates that in addition to anovulation, the underlying pathophysiology and associated co-morbidities alter the likelihood of a successful pregnancy in women with PCOS undergoing IVF. Further validation of this model is needed before it, can serve as a tool to personalize prediction estimates for probability of live birth in women with PCOS.”

Read the whole study here.

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Cooney featured in UW Health IVF success story

An area family shared their IVF experience at Generations Fertility Care with UW Health in the story “Second IVF try a charm for the McMahon family”. Laura Cooney, MD, associate professor in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, worked with the couple and added perspective on their care to the UW Health article.

“While IVF never comes with a guarantee, Dr. Cooney assured the McMahons that they would be cared for by an expert team of professionals who work tirelessly to help couples like them.

“Not every fertility center offers a comprehensive team like ours,” said Dr. Cooney. “We see nearly 5,000 patients a year. In addition to fertility physicians, physician assistants and nurses, we have a urologist on staff to address issues such as Brooks experienced. We also have a health psychologist, a genetics counselor and a team of five embryologists who ‘make the magic’ in the laboratory by conducting the egg fertilization and embryo preparation.””

Read the whole article here!

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Grand Rounds: Shapiro Students present research projects

Every summer, Shapiro Summer Research students collaborate with UW Department of Ob-Gyn faculty on research projects. On August 3, the 2023 Shapiro Summer Research students presented their projects during Ob-Gyn Grand Rounds. 

Presenters, mentors, and projects were: 

Camille Phillips, mentored by Laura Hanks, MD - “Sterilizations Rates of Pregnancy Capable People at a Single Institution in Wisconsin Before and After the Dobbs Decision” 

Amy Tran, mentored by Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH - “Pelvic Floor Symptom Burden and Treatment Choices for Rural versus Urban Dwelling Women” 

Lindsey Christianson, mentored by Laura Jacques, MD - “How is the Dobbs Decision Impacting Decision-Making and Perceived Training Options for Ob-Gyn Residency Applicants?” 

Sami Stroebel, mentored by Laura Cooney, MD - “Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSD) & Time to Pregnancy” 

Doua Chee Xiong, mentored by Laura Bozzuto, MD - “Optimizing Care for Patients with Granulomatous Mastitis” 

Watch all the presentations here. 

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Cooney, Stanic co-author publication in Women

Associate Professor Laura Cooney, MD, and Associate Professor Aleks Stanic-Kostic, MD, PhD, both of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, co-authored a recent study in the journal Women. 

In “Rapid Ovarian Reserve Decline in a Woman with Pericentric Inv(9) Variant”, Cooney, Stanic, and lead author Leeann Bui, MD, UW SMPH graduate and current ob-gyn resident at Stanford Medicine, present a case study of a patient who experienced a rapid decline in ovarian reserve and data from the literature about a possible connection to Pericentric Inv(9) Variant, a chromosomal variation. 

Read the whole paper here! 

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Banerjee, Stanic, Cooney published in Immunohorizons

Congratulations to Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology graduate student Soma Banerjee, MD, who is lead author on a new article in the journal Immunohorizons! Aleks Stanic-Kostic, MD, PhD, associate professor in the Divisions of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and Reproductive Sciences, and Laura Cooney, MD, associate professor in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, co-authored the article.

In “Immune Dysfunction in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome”, Banerjee and co-authors evaluate the current literature on the relationship between PCOS and immune abnormalities, with a focus on emerging research in the field.

Read the whole article here!

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Division of Reproductive Sciences prepares impressive slate of research for Society for Reproductive Investigation conference

The 2022 Society for Reproductive Investigation’s Annual Scientific Meeting, held in Denver, CO between March 15-19, features several presentations, posters and abstracts from members of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences! Just some of their exciting accomplishments:

Clinical and Translational Perinatology Oral Presentation:

Breastfeeding Promotes Predominant Bifidobacterium in Farm-Exposed Infants
Deborah Chasman, Krittisak Chaiyakul, Samantha Fye, James E Gern, Susan V Lynch, Christine M Seroogy, Irene M Ong

Maternal Biology and Health oral presentation:

Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) Increases Mean Arterial Pressure by Impairing Endothelial Nitric Oxide-Mediated Vasodilation and Enhancing Angiotensin II-Mediated Vascular Contraction in Pregnant Rats
Sri V Dangudubiyyam, Jay S Mishra, Ruolin Song, Sathish Kumar

Preeclampsia oral presentation:

Preeclampsia Differentially Dysregulates Female and Male Fetal Endothelial Cells Function and Transcriptomic Profiles in Lean and Obese Pregnancies.
Chi Zhou, Allison Yang, Colman Freel, Olivia Mills, Jing Zheng

Preeclampsia II Oral Presentation session, moderated by Aishwarya Rengarajan

Abstracts:

An Endogenous Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Ligand Induces Preeclamptic Phenotypes in Rats. Ying-jie Zhao, Chi Zhou, Hui-hui Li, Jay S Mishra, Sathish Kumar, Jing Zheng

Follicular Immune Signature of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment. Soma Banerjee, Fernanda B Levya Jaimes, Abigail A Zettel, Eryne T Jenkins, Jason Austin, Laura G Cooney, Aleksander K Stanic

Immunohistochemical Localization of ACE2 in the Male Reproductive Tract in the Rhesus Macaque: Implications for Nonhuman Primate Model Development for COVID-19. Hayly Hinkle, Sierra Block, Ann Mitzey, Jenna Schmidt, Gregory Wiepz, Thaddeus G. Golos

Estradiol Protects Against Gestational Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced Hypertension and Metabolic Dysfunctions in the Adult Female Offspring. Ruolin Song, Jay S Mishra, Sri V Dangudubiyyam, Jyoti Watters, Tracy Baker, Sathish Kumar

Novel Role of Angiotensin Type 2 Receptor in Promoting Angiogenesis in Primary Human Uterine Artery Endothelial Cells. Jay S Mishra, Sri V Dangudubiyyam, Ruolin Song, Dong-Bao Chen, Sathish Kumar

Endothelial Dysfunction in Preeclampsia: The Story of the Interleukins. Rachel L Dahn, Amanda C Ampey, Jason L Austin, Ian M Bird

Congratulations to all!

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Cooney promoted to Associate Professor (CHS)

Our sincere congratulations to Laura Cooney, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences! The UW School of Medicine and Public Health CHS Faculty Appointments and Promotions Committee met in February 2023 and overwhelmingly endorsed her promotion to the rank of Associate Professor (CHS).

The promotion will be effective June 18, 2023. Incredible work, Dr. Cooney!

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Antony, Cooney publish in journal Women

A new study co-authored by Katie Antony, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Laura Cooney, MD, of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility examines whether screening for sleep apnea should be included for women seeking fertility treatment.

Published in the journal Women, “Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Another Condition to Screen for in Women with Infertility” examined questionnaire results from more than 100 women seeking fertility care in early 2021:

“In this observational study, we found that approximately 8% of young women seeking infertility evaluation screened positive for OSA using the STOP-BANG screening questionnaire. We also found that women who screened positive for OSA were also more likely to screen positive for mild depression and mild-severe anxiety.”

Read the whole study here!

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HPV research from UW Ob-Gyn cited in PBS News Hour article

Misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines is abundant. One of the most pernicious myths – that COVID-19 vaccines can cause infertility – may be deterring people from getting the vaccine. (Michael Beninati, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, already dispelled that myth on a recent episode of the Women’s Healthcast!)

Making up fertility concerns is a common anti-vaccination tactic, used against many other vaccines in the past. A story from PBS News Hour explained vaccine scare tactics and the overwhelming evidence for the safety of COVID vaccines. The story also cited another example of unfounded fertility concerns used to discourage vaccination: this paper by UW Ob-Gyn researchers that found no link between HPV vaccination and infertility. Laura Cooney, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and Nicholas Schmuhl, PhD, formerly of the Division of Reproductive and Population Health, are co-authors.

Read the whole piece from PBS here!  

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Grand Rounds: Badger Bytes on PCOS

On December 2, 2021, three presenters offered different updates on PCOS during the UW Ob-Gyn Grand Rounds Badger Bytes research presentation. David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, Laura Cooney, MD, of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and Leeann Bui, UW SMPH medical student, each presented updates on polycystic ovary syndrome research.

Presenters discussed a variety of PCOS-related issues: updated PCOS diagnostic criteria; immune predictors that could be used to predict pregnancy rates; potential PCOS candidate genes associated with PCOS in rhesus monkeys; and much more.

Watch the whole “Badger Bytes: PCOS” presentation. 

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Advocacy Update: Abbott, Cooney join virtual PCOS Advocacy Day

On March 4, 2021, David Abbott, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences and Laura Cooney, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility attended the virtual PCOS Advocacy Day, hosted by PCOS Challenge.

PCOS Advocacy Day focuses on building connections with federal legislators and advocating for increased access to better informed medical care for women with polycystic ovary syndrome and broader and increased NIH funding for PCOS research beyond infertility.

The day included meetings with members of Congress and their staff. The Wisconsin delegations met with staff from the offices of Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson, and Representatives Mark Pocan and Brian Steil.

Thanks to Dr. Abbott and Dr. Cooney for bringing this important issue some national attention!

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