Introduction Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and its main natural source is cutaneous synthesis during exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) rays. Dietary sources of vitamin D include cod liver oils and fatty fish, as well as fortified foods. 1 There are two forms of vitamin D: vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), derived from exposure to sunlight, […]

Introduction The incidence of cancer has been rising: one in nineteen women will have a neoplasm by the age of 49 (1). Survival rates have increased dramatically in recent years due to improvements in diagnosis and treatment. Death rates have fallen by more than 1.6% per year over the past five years. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy […]

Introduction Since inception in 1942, hormone therapy (HT) has benefited from a personalized approach through physician/patient interactions to arrive at an optimal formulation and dose to treat menopausal symptoms. This very personalized approach has generated decades of data that can be combined with 21st century genomic technologies to create a precision medicine approach to HT. […]

Introduction The word LASER is an acronym for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation”. Lasers generate light energy in the form of a beam of photons released from the medium contained in the laser device. This generally gives the laser its name (CO2, erbium) and defines its specific wavelength. Current medical lasers emit wavelengths […]

1.Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a RNA-virus, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), with genetic similarities with other coronaviruses such as the bat coronavirus (Bat-CoV), the SARS-CoV-1 and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).1 The latter two have the ability to infect humans. Cases of SARS-CoV-1 were initially […]

INTRODUCTION Menopause is associated with vasomotor symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats, in addition to disorders such as sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, decreased libido, sexual dysfunction, and poor memory. These conditions may require therapeutic intervention.1 Hot flushes are a disorder of thermoregulation caused by a lack of estrogens;2 this disorder involves brain neurotransmitters, […]

Introduction Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent disease that impairs reproductive function;  it occurs in about 4-25% of women of reproductive age (1, 2). Its diagnostic criteria were established at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology consensus meeting in Rotterdam (3). Classically the diagnostic criteria require […]

Introduction Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of childbearing age 1. The features of the disorder are anovulatory cycles, hyperandrogenism, and a specific ovarian appearance, characterized by an increased number of follicles and a greater ovarian volume 2. In addition to infertility, PCOS is also associated with an increased […]

INTRODUCTION Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age 1,2. Yet, due to the numerous different phenotypes, its etiology remains unclear3. It seems, however, that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can play a crucial role in the pathogenesis as they can impact the release, action, and metabolism of endogenous hormones. […]

Introduction Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) is one of the main causes of secondary amenorrhea in women. FHA is the result of aberration of the pulsatile release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) associated with psychological, metabolic or physical stress, such as weight loss or excessive exercise1. FHA accounts for approximately 30-35% of secondary amenorrhea [amenorrhea for at […]

Introduction Scar formation is the outcome of the tissue remodeling response to wounding. There are three distinct phases; an inflammatory phase which occurs within 48-72 hours after trauma and is driven by the release of cytokines and growth factors by damaged and dying keratinocytes and dermis cells, a proliferative phase which may last for up […]

Introduzione Breast cancer affects up to one in eight women in developed countries, with a median age of 61 years at diagnosis. Approximately 2% of breast cancer occurs between 20 and 34 years of age and 11% between 35 and 44 years of age [1]. Young women often present aggressive breast cancer, which means higher […]

Introduction Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases in women of reproductive age. Over the last three decades, numerous basic and clinical studies have shown the complex pathogenesis of the disease, providing indications for clinical management (1,2). Several scientific societies have developed classification systems based on the appearance and extension of endometriosis at […]

Dear Colleagues and Friends, In March 1987, I had the honor of writing the editorial for the first issue of Gynecological Endocrinology, the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology (ISGE), initially published by David Bloomer, the owner of Parthenon Publishing. I have always strongly believed in the importance of promoting women’s health, […]

INTRODUCTION Although they are very effective in cancer management, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are highly gonadotoxic treatments that often result in premature ovarian insufficiency [1, 2]. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation constitute the only currently available means of safeguarding fertility in young women who need to undergo treatment without delay, and also prepubertal patients yet to […]

Definition Biochemical pregnancy (BP) is often also known by other terms, including chemical pregnancy, non-visualized pregnancy or pregnancy of unknown location (PUL). The most common definition of a BP is a positive βhCG test with no pregnancy on ultrasound. The most recent nomenclature is that of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), […]