Gynecological Endocrinology: From Physiological Mechanisms to Clinical Practice

Dear Colleagues,

Gonadal endocrine diseases in women encompass a broad spectrum of common and rare conditions associated with ovarian dysfunction, sex hormonal disbalance, and infertility. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects many young women, and its clinical manifestations not only include different signs of hyperandrogenism and menstrual disturbances but also an increased risk of metabolic complications. Even though congenital adrenal hyperplasia and androgen-producing tumors are rarely found, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hyperandrogenic PCOS. Despite apparent clinical symptoms, the genetic basis and epigenetic modifications leading to PCOS are far from clear. Further studies are therefore needed to enlighten the etiology and pathophysiology of this heterogeneous condition—particularly, those leading to new therapeutic opportunities for patients.

Beyond hyperandrogenic states, ovarian dysfunction might also result from disturbances in the hypothalamic–pituitary axis caused by a variety of factors. Continuous stress, eating disorders, as well as intensive physical activity might suppress the hypothalamic neurons regulating the pituitary, thus leading to hypothalamic amenorrhea. On the other hand, rare genetic mutations might cause an isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in some female patients, which can be easily overlooked, especially in women undergoing long-term hormonal treatment. 

Premature ovarian failure (POF) can not only be a devastating diagnosis for women with infertility but it could also have profound adverse effects on cardiovascular and bone health. Therefore, more effort should be invested into the development of new diagnostic tools for the early evaluation of ovarian follicular reserve and appropriate treatment.

Accordingly, this Special Issue focuses on the pathophysiology, clinical characteristics, biomarkers, and possible treatment of different ovarian disorders associated with endocrine disturbances. The topic includes (but is not limited to) PCOS, hypothalamic amenorrhea, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Extending knowledge in gynecological endocrinology is essential for improving women’s health; therefore, every valuable paper on the topic is welcomed.

Dr. Ralitsa Robeva
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• PCOS
• hypothalamic amenorrhea
• congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
• premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)