Screen All for Intimate Partner Violence

Ob/Gyn News: More than one in three women (36%) in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner at some point during their lives, according to figures published in 2010 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Intimate partner violence (IPV) extends beyond just physical and sexual violence. The term also includes psychological abuse and reproductive coercion, ranging from name calling and threats to isolation and sabotaging efforts at contraception.

The consequences of IPV are wide-ranging, too, and include acute injuries, chronic headaches, sleep and appetite disturbances, and recurrent vaginal infections. Among pregnant women who experience IPV, the abuse has been associated with stillbirth, placental abruption, fetal injury, preterm delivery, and low birth weight.

Obstetricians and gynecologists should screen all of their patients for intimate partner violence at periodic intervals such as at annual visits or during prenatal care, according to a new recommendation from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.