Ep. 45 RhoGAM’s Role in Pregnancy: Facts and Controversies with Dr. Matt Reeves

This episode of BackTable OBGYN features Dr. Matt Reeves, a seasoned OBGYN and CEO/Founder of the DuPont Clinic, and host Dr. Amy Park as they discuss the use of Rh immune globulin (RhoGAM) in pregnancy. RhoGAM is traditionally administered to Rh- women at 28 weeks gestation, within 72 hours of birth, and frequently after an abortion in order to prevent Rhesus alloimmunization in future pregnancies. However, with recent data showing negligible Rh- blood cell exposure in early pregnancy terminations, the need for RhoGAM in such cases is being questioned. Additionally, considering the scarcity of RhoGAM and the reality of smaller family sizes globally, the importance of RhoGAM in Rh alloimmunization prevention might not be as significant as previously thought. However, limited evidence and ingrained medical practices may cause the transition to be slow. --- SHOW NOTES 00:00 - Introduction 03:09 - Understanding RhoGAM: Origin and Development 06:06 - The Science Behind RhoGAM and Its Role in Pregnancy 08:13 - The Controversy and Debate Around RhoGAM Usage 11:52 - The Impact of RhoGAM on Public Health and Medical Practice 15:25 - The Future of RhoGAM: Perspectives and Predictions 29:24 - Closing Thoughts and Further Resources --- RESOURCES Horvath, S., Goyal, V., Traxler, S., & Prager, S. (2022). Society of Family Planning committee consensus on Rh testing in early pregnancy. Contraception, 114, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2022.07.002 Horvath S, Huang Z, Koelper NC, et al. Induced Abortion and the Risk of Rh Sensitization. JAMA. 2023;330(12):1167–1174. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.16953