In this third volume, the Biennial Review of Infertility brings together the most up-to-date research and clinical information on male and female infertility, emerging assisted reproductive techniques, and controversial issues in reproductive medicine. An impressive panel of contributors presents cutting-edge information in a clear and well-balanced manner. This volume includes hot topics in reproductive medicine including age and its impact on fertility, lifestyle factors and reproductive health, fertility preservation for cancer patients, reproductive tourism and a discussion of clinical research design. The expanded section on controversies allows for point/counterpoint discussion between experts with differing opinions on topics like safety of the ICSI procedure and the role of IUI in modern reproductive medicine. Created to provide an ongoing appraisal of current knowledge, the Biennial Review of Infertility stimulates communication amongst all those working to help couples resolve their infertility.

"Gynecological and Breast Cytopathology Board Review and Self-Assessment" is a comprehensive systems-based review of gynecological and breast cytology including cytomorphology, pitfalls and ancillary studies. Presented in a high-yield format with board-type multiple choice questions and detailed answers, this review includes chapters covering Pap smear cytology, colposcopy, breast FNA, and Pelvic washings. The book is also enriched with features to maximize studying and reviewing of cytopathology, including high-yield review with tables emphasizing key points, board exam-type questions, and high quality full-color images.
Written by cytologists and cytopathologists with experience in the practice of modern cytology, as well as intensive teaching experience at national and international levels. "Gynecological and Breast Cytopathology Board Review and Self-Assessment" provides an excellent review, resource, and self-assessment for pathologists, cytopathologists, cytotechnologists, and trainees preparing for board examinations.

"

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A Guide for Primary Care, second edition, covers the diagnosis and treatment of STDs and other information critical to patient care and reflects the last five years of significant changes in information about STDs. Updated to reflect the 2010 Center for Disease Control Guidelines on the Treatment of STDs, this book also contains new information about: -the epidemiology of herpes virus infections -expedited partner therapy -changes in recommendations for HPV vaccination for men -changes in resistance patterns for antimicrobial therapy for gonorrhea and chlamydia -treatment recommendations for bacterial vaginosis -treatment recommendations for genital warts In order to better meet clinician needs, the book has been streamlined to quickly convey critical, evidence-based information. Whether seeking information about particular conditions (including HPV, herpes, syphilis, trichomoniasis, HIV and AIDS, and others) or related patient issues (such as STD exposure evaluation and evaluation of sexual assault), Sexually Transmitted Diseases, second edition, contains the knowledge doctors need in a friendly, to-the-point format.

Hormone Therapy: A Clinical Handbook provides a comprehensive overview on hormone replacement therapy, with a range of key features that differentiate it from other titles on the topic. This concise, handy title presents an interdisciplinary approach to the subject, acknowledging that sex hormones affect more than reproductive organs and hot flushes for a deeper understanding of how hormones function. The authors provide a breadth and depth of practical prescribing experience, including many helpful tables and algorithms as well as directions for prescribing hormone therapy in the most effective and safest ways possible. Targeted and easy to read, Hormone Therapy: A Clinical Handbook offers all clinicians the state-of-the-art information they need to prescribe hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy.

Knowledge of and experience with the basic technique of vaginal hysterectomy is not univers al. Each surgeon must learn to identify and appreciate the dimensions of individual variation in anatomic findings and therefore surgical technical decisions and their execu tion from one patient to another. Unexpected surgical difficulty can be predicted, but ultimately it is dealt with retrospectively. Skilled practitioners must study the particular patient and her problem comprehensively and allow for such individual variations in find ings and technical needs as are necessary to the surgical solution for that patient's problem. Recognizing these factors, Drs. Hoffman and Spellacy have orga nized and prepared a comprehensive monograph concerning this very real clinical entity. They have reviewed the experience of con temporary surgeons and blended these recommendations with their own experience in a useful compendium of surgical knowledge about this important subject. Their monograph is recommended not as a replacement for the many other fine surgical texts available to the reader but as a supplement to the surgeon's library. It is for those surgeons who, having mastered the basic techniques, are in terested in extending the frontiers of personal knowledge of this provocative subject and safely broadening the indications for effec tive surgery and reconstruction. David H. Nichols, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.C.O.G.

This handbook is a guide to infertility and ultrasound for gynaecologists and infertility specialists. The second edition has been fully revised and includes many new topics, providing the latest information in the field. Divided into two sections, the first half of the book covers infertility. Beginning with discussion on assessment of an infertile couple, the following chapters examine different hormone treatments, sperm preparation, and ovulation induction, including in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. The remaining chapters cover male infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, and practical tips for infertility management. The second part of the book covers ultrasound. Beginning with discussion on transvaginal sonography and ultrasound in different uterine diseases, the following chapters cover ultrasound in infertility treatment, as well as in the different trimesters of pregnancy. Screening for foetal abnormalities is also discussed in depth. The comprehensive text is highly illustrated with more than 700 ultrasound images, diagrams and photographs. Key points Practical guide to infertility and ultrasound for specialists in gynaecology and infertility Fully revised, second edition featuring many new topics Highly illustrated with more than 700 ultrasound images and diagrams Previous edition (9789351528562) published in 2015

The versatility of oocyte and embryo donation has proven to be extremely valuable to both patients and doctors engaged in reproductive medicine. Originally thought to be applicable only to a rather small subset of infertile women, today busy practices commonly recommend the procedure and it is estimated that nearly all of the 400 or more IVF programs in the United States provide these services. Oocyte and embryo donation has established itself as a mainstay procedure within assisted reproductive care, and the breadth, depth and complexity of practice is deserving of focused attention. Much has changed within the field of oocyte and embryo donation since the publication of the first edition of Principles of Oocyte and Embryo Donation in 1998, thus the need for a completely updated and more expansive text. The second edition of this book provides an overview of the major issues affecting men and women engaged in the practice of oocyte and embryo donation. A primary emphasis has been placed on defining the standards of practice that have evolved over the past 30 years, clearly stating the outcomes expected from adhering to these established protocols. Details of both the basic science and the clinical medicine are presented together and attention is also focused on the non-reproductive aspects inherent to this unique method of assisted reproduction that involves opinions from lawyers, ethicists, mental health care professionals and theologians. Oocyte and embryo donation requires a working knowledge of the medicine, the law and the ethics that underlies its foundation. This book is intended to serve as a complete and comprehensive reference for all health care professionals that provide services related to egg donation, reproductive endocrinologists, obstetrician- gynecologists, and fellows and residents entering the fertility field.

The course of history is never one of smooth progression. Periods of relative quietness are interrupted by periods of wars and revolution. This pattern resembles that of a river which, before flowing into the delta, has to pass countless rapids. The same holds for the development of the science of medicine. In obstetrics some of these 'revolutions' or 'rapids' consist of the introduction of conservative obstetrical treatment by Lucas Johann Boer at the beginning of the nineteenth century, the discovery of the cause of puerperal sepsis by Oliver Wendell Holmes and Semmelweiss between 1843 and 1847, the introduction of the principle of asepsis by Pasteur in 1874, the introduction of prenatal care at the end of the nine teenth and the beginning of the twentieth century (Mijnlieff, Treub, De Snoo), the improvement of surgical techniques, the possibility to treat shock by bloodtransfusion, and, finally, the acquisition of new means for the effective therapy of infection. All these developments have led to a sharp reduction of maternal and perinatal mortality. In this connection it must be pointed out that such a reduction could never have been accomplished without the favourable social changes as a result of which medical and prenatal care could be made universally available. In recent years there has been another revolutionary develop ment in obstetrics. Two factors have been responsible for this: the ap plication of basic sciences in obstetrics, and the dissolution of the isolation with respect to other clinical disciplines.

"In Vitro Fertilization: A Comprehensive Guide" represents the next frontier in the integrated clinical and laboratory practice of ART. Uniquely balanced, the book provides the necessary understanding of the key laboratory techniques involved in ART and the complex aspects of clinical care. Featuring the contributions of world leaders in the field, the guide begins with the evaluation of the infertile woman and man. It then moves on to discuss treatment protocols and adjunctive treatments. Techniques for oocyte retrieval, insemination, and culture, and embryo transfer and cryopreservation are explored in detail. This comprehensive book covers all aspects of IVF and includes special sections on oocyte and embryo donation as well as gestational carriers, making it ideal for practicing clinicians. Advances such as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and screening, in vitro maturation, and means of fertility preservation, including oocyte and ovarian tissue cryopreservation, are also covered. The book concludes with dedicated chapters on quality assessment and improvement, regulation and legal concerns, and stress and ART. Readers will gain complete in-depth knowledge of the most current therapies and techniques, enabling optimal care and counsel of their infertile patients."

Caesareans are a possible outcome of any birth. Even the most straightforward pregnancy can end this way. Being prepared for such an eventuality can significantly improve your chances of viewing a caesarean birth positively. Unfortunately many antenatal classes and birth books give very little information about caesareans, leaving women unprepared for this mode of birth. This book has the facts and lots of ideas to help you prepare and recover: - Why prepare for a caesarean birth? - How to make the most of a caesarean birth, should you have one - How to avoid a caesarean if possible - How to improve your recovery - What a caesarean birth is and why it might be necessary - The benefits and risks of vaginal versus caesarean birth - The implications of caesareans on future births Covering every aspect of caesareans this book will help you to make confident, informed decisions about your birth. A positive birth experience will put you in a stronger position for your adventure into motherhood. "I am so glad I read this book before my birth. I didn't intend having a caesarean but when it happened I wasn't at all frightened and I fed 'S' in the recovery room. This book thoroughly demystified caesarean birth for me, it is a must read for anyone planning to have a baby and I will definitely be buying it for my friends." Vicki (35) "At long last pregnant women can get the unbiased and easily digestible information they need about caesareans. They can have useful discussions with their healthcare providers and make informed decisions about the birth of their baby" Bryan Beattie (MD FRCOG, Consultant in Fetal Medicine & Director of Innermost Secrets Ltd) "Before reading it I had never considered what might happen if I needed a caesarean. I feel far more confident about my next birth." Samantha (32) "This book should be required reading for professionals to enable them to respond to the needs of an increasingly informed group of women." Christa Greenacre (NCT teacher-retired)

Peritoneal Surgery addresses the response of the peritoneum to injury and the prevention of post-surgical adhesions resulting from general and gynecologic surgery. Adhesions, or scar tissue binding two normally separate surfaces, form when the peritoneum, the membrane covering the abdominal wall and protecting the inner organs, is damaged during surgery, inflammation, or injury. Negative complications from adhesions include pelvic pain, infertility, intestinal obstruction, multiple surgical complications resulting from surgery to remove or pull them apart, and therefore a greater surgical workload and economic burden to the healthcare system. In this book, experts in the field address peritoneal repair, the role of surgical technique to prevent adhesions, adhesion formation, complications of adhesions, and developing technology in the prevention of adhesions.

In the last decades, major advances have been made in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and the public demand for these procedures has increased globally. All ART clinics, from those just starting out to the well established, must employ the latest equipment and implement the best practices, while ensuring that their resources are effectively engaged to optimize patient outcomes. This is a tenet of the fiduciary role of physicians and it is increasingly recognized as a quantifiable goal regulated by formal certifications and accreditations. Quality management protocols such as those proposed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) are being rapidly adopted as standards of measure. Quality Management in ART Clinics: A Practical Guide provides easily adoptable ways to implement and improve formalized quality management systems. Essential to any clinic to achieve best practices and maintenance of formal regulatory certifications, this book brings together the know-how of experienced opinion leaders operating in key areas worldwide. The book offers an overview of primary regulations in the ART field, with attention to quality management demands, and links specific requirements to practical steps for implementation. Filled with process and procedure examples, flow diagrams and administrative form templates, this book is the first of its kind, gathering the necessary elements for optimizing practice, management, and quality assurance.

This is the fourth in a series of books on Advances in Prostaglandin Research published by MTP Press. From laboratory and animal studies a large number of practical applications of prostaglandins have been identified. In some areas clinical trials have also been carried out. There is usually a long time interval between identifying practical applications of new drugs and clinical trials. Most of the information on practical applications of prostaglandins is scattered in different journals. Although a number of books dealing with prostaglandin research have been published (including some on practical applications in specific areas, e.g. reproduction) there is no single volume dealing with all areas of practical applications of these substances. This book aims at filling this gap and should be of interest to clinicians as well as to medical and basic scientists in academic institutions and in the pharmaceutical industry. In some areas, exciting potential applications of prostaglandins have been identified from basic research but clinical trials have so far not been carried out. Such areas of practical applications are covered in a separate intro ductory chapter. All contributors to the volume are scientists and clinicians actively engaged in prostaglandin research and most are recognized authorities in specific areas. The need for rapid publication in a fast-expanding field is obvious.

Extensively revised and updated, the second edition of Essential Urology: A Guide to Clinical Practice provides support to primary care physicians through its review of common genitourinary problems. This edition continues to provide the primary care physician with tools to better recognize urological diseases as well as updated management strategies for these disorders. To enhance the theme of comprehensive care and family medicine, the volume is formatted according to the life cycle and the urological challenges, which may be detected and diagnosed by primary care physicians respective of the patient's stage in life, beginning with pregnancy and in utero diagnoses. Pediatric themes such as infection and voiding dysfunctions are followed by adult urological topics ranging from prostate diseases, nephrolithiasis, overactive bladder syndromes, incontinence and urological cancer screening. Three new chapters are added addressing male infertility/andrology and the growing demand for integrative and alternative medical care of urologic patients, as well as commonly encountered dermatological problems in the genital area. Essential Urology: A Guide to Clinical Practice, Second Edition is extremely comprehensive and yet, very accessible. It is authored by experts representing the spectrum of urological subspecialties, further enhancing the value of this unique work.

The 4th International Symposium on Women's Health and Menopause, organized by the Giovanni Lorenzini Medical Foundation (Milan, Italy and Houston, Texas) focused on the new strategies to improve the quality of life of post-menopausal women. This volume illustrates the findings of this conference and includes information on the age-related degenerative processes occurring after menopause including cardiovascular disease, cancer, fractures and dementia.

There is no clearer testament to the importance and efficacy of in vitro fertilization in the treatmentof the infertilepatient than the fact that over one million babies have been born since its clinical introduction in 1978. The successof this worldwideendeavorhas evolvedto treat some of the formerly most intractable forms of infertility and requires individuals with different skills and insights whose activities are often compartmentalized into clinical, laboratory and research functions. The intent of Essential lVF is to present current issues in clinical IVF that encompass the varied activities of those engaged in this enterprise. By integrating clinical, basic research and laboratory-related aspects of human reproduction, readers with diverse interests should obtain a more complete understanding of the impact, importance and inter-relatedness of each in the progress of infertility treatment, and an appreciation of whether emerging technologies will or should contribute to this progress in the near future. The topics selected for this volume include research that has begun to explain the origins of differential follicular, gamete, embryo and uterine competence, and specific laboratory procedures and protocols that may have important clinical implications forthe generation ofdevelopmentally viable embryos. Human embryoresearchoverthe past 25 years has notonly confirmed that the developmental potential of each embryo is unique, but more importantly, demonstrated how genetic and nongenetic factors for sperm and oocyte determineembryo competencewell before fertilization. Several chapters deal with the origins of normal and compromised gametes and how those with high competence can be identified and isolated for fertilization.

At the turn of the century it is appropriate to take stock of this relatively young but rapidly developing subject. For the first time, this book brings together information on the status of obstetric regional analgesia in many parts of the globe, and on the intriguing variability of maternal attitudes towards it. Advances in the field over the last decade in new applications, new drugs and techniques and new research tools are also reviewed. Controversial topics such as the effects of regional analgesia on the progress of and outcome of labour, the indications, contraindications and complications, and the place of regional anaesthesia for operative delivery are discussed by numerous experts in the field. The problem of consent and medicolegal aspects are also addressed. Regional Analgesia in Obstetrics should be read by all those involved in the medical care of women in childbirth. Professor Felicity Reynolds is Emeritus Professor of Obstetric Anaesthesia, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.

From the tissue culture dish to genetically modified mice, this volume explores the long recognized role of steroid hormones in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. Many striking effects of steroid hormones are apparent during development and neoplasia and these topics are covered extensively. Several chapters address the pharmacological uses of steroid and related hormones, their analogs and antagonists in controlling growth of endocrine cancers. This book also highlights the complex role of cross talk between steroid hormones and signals initiated at the cell surface in the regulation of cell cycle in hormone responsive tissues.

This conference, dedicated to the etiology and treatment of motility disor ders in spermatozoa and male sterility, attracted some of the finest investiga tors in the field. Standards were immensely high throughout, and discussions were meaningful and detailed. Analyses on disorders in sperm motility de mand a broad-based approach, involving cytologists, geneticists, andrologists, and embryologists, because the topic has many clinical and scientific over tones. Human spermatozoa are at the mercy of so many factors as they form and mature in the testis and epididymis. Their survival and fundamental char acteristics are essential for fertilization, and the male genome imposes its influence on the embryo as it becomes active in male pronuclei very soon after sperm entry into the oocyte. All of these fundamental aspects of sperm biology demanded a broad breadth of topics in the symposium. The opening session quickly got down to fundamentals with contributions from J.-L. Gatti, J.G. Alvarez, C. Gagnon, and H. Breitbart. They discussed the mechanism and regulation of motility, the metabolic strategy of human spermatozoa, the effects of exogenous fac tors such as antibodies, infections, and toxins, and finally the role of intracel lular calcium on sperm motility. To these topics, the postcoffee session on the first morning described the genetics of motility disorders and the etiology and management of necrozoospermia. The excellent presentation provided the background detail of the symposium and opened the way for the discus sion of various clinical aspects of the topic.

Recent years have seen important advances in the technology and techniques available to surgeons performing gynecologic surgery as well as reconstructive of clinical pelvic procedures. These developments took place in a wide variety settings from regional teaching centers to private clinical facilities. In 1996, the leading investigators from around the world gathered to discuss the present status of pelvic surgery and adhesion prevention with a look toward the future of patient care. This volume contains the proceedings of that meeting: the Third Interna tional Congress on Pelvic Surgery and Adhesion Prevention. Each chapter in cludes the material presented at the congress as well as a timely update of the authors' latest research and clinical thinking. Presentation integrating basic and clinical science provide the basis for con sidering peritoneal repair after surgery including the interaction of growth factors and other biochemical messengers. Research has increased the understanding of mesothelial reepithelialization and has led to new surgical technologies to reduce adhesion fonnation. A state-of-the-art review of emerging surgical adjuvants for adhesion prevention is provided, including discussion of barriers, gels, and poly mers as well as "designer" drugs effective at modifying the peritoneal response to injury. Assessment of clinical outcome in a wide variety of gynecologic surgical procedures brings into focus the benefits available as a result of these new tech nologies."

LA WRENCE G. RAISZ, MD Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Connecticut Health Center. Farmington. CT The rapid transfer of new knowledge concerning the pathogenesis, diagnosis, preven tion, and treatment of disease into clinical practice has always been a major challenge in medicine. This challenge is particularly difficult to meet in osteoporosis, not only because has been so much new knowledge generated in recent years, but also because this there disorder has not caught the attention of many practicing physicians. The goal of this volume is to help primary care physicians develop a better understanding of osteoporosis and a more effective approach to diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. As primary care physicians become more and more responsible for the maintenance of health and the prevention of disease, osteoporosis must become one of their important concerns. The magnitude of the problem of osteoporosis has been widely publicized. Within the next 30 years, the cost of hip fractures alone is expected to exceed $40 billion a year in the United States and will be a major cause ofincreased mortality. In addition, vertebral crush fractures will cripple more and more of our elderly population, both men and women. This enormous toll is not inevitable. Current methods of identifying individuals at risk and applying preventive programs could reduce the incidence offractures by 50% or more. This should be the minimum goal of clinicians."