Hot Topics Issue

Richard S. Legro, MD

Our journal is instituting a new concept, an occasional hot topics issue based on recent trending topics of great interest where there are new or emerging data to guide clinical practice or stimulate clinical research. We have enlisted a talented team of authors to address these topics. The adverse effects of female obesity on reproduction are well documented, but we are beginning to see increasing epidemiologic data on the effects of male obesity and reproduction. Dr. Alex Polotosky from the University of Colorado and his coauthors drill down on the latest evidence for this with a focus on the paternal diet. We are seeing the development of several new pharmacologic treatments for common gynecologic conditions. Dr. Dan Lebovic and colleagues from the University of Minnesota review the upcoming landscape for the treatment of endometriosis and Dr. Martel and myself from the Penn State College of Medicine review it for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Common and ancient therapies continue to be utilized and adapted for treatment in reproductive medicine. Dr. Enrique Schisterman from the Division of Intramural Population Health at the NICHD reviews the use of low-dose aspirin to enhance fertility in subfertile females. Dr. Elizabeth Stener-Victorin from the Karolinska Institute reviews the use of acupuncture for the treatment of infertility. Technology continues to rapidly advance our field and is often adapted before we understand the full implications as well as the risk–benefit ratio of these changes. Dr. Daimin Wei from Shandong University and colleagues review the current evidence, bolstered by several randomized trials for elective fresh versus elective frozen embryo transfer for women with PCOS. Dr. Stephanie Estes from the Penn State College of Medicine and colleagues review the current and expanding role of robotic surgery in reproductive medicine. Finally, fertility preservation has become a key component of our practice. Much of our role is in counseling patients with cancer about a range of issues, including the options for gamete or embryo preservation, long-term spontaneous fertility, best practices regarding contraception during and after treatment, and how best to plan for pregnancy. Dr Irene Su and colleagues at the University of California at San Diego offer timely advice on best to perform this counseling.