Update in Reproductive Surgery

A special issue of Reproductive Medicine (ISSN 2673-3897).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 1843

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
2. Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Interests: gynecology; endometriosis; fibroids; laparoscopy; hormonal therapy; hysteroscopy; ultrasonography; gynecological surgery; minimally invasive surgery; infertility
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Reproductive surgery has undergone remarkable advances in recent decades, driven by innovations in minimally invasive techniques, imaging technologies, and a deeper understanding of reproductive pathophysiology. From the refinement of laparoscopic and hysteroscopic procedures to the integration of robotics and novel biomaterials, surgical practice continues to evolve with the goal of improving fertility outcomes, reducing complications, and preserving reproductive potential.

This Special Issue “Update in Reproductive Surgery” aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current developments and future perspectives in the field. We welcome contributions that address the following:

* Advances in minimally invasive gynecologic and andrologic surgery;
* Surgical management of infertility-related conditions (e.g., endometriosis, tubal disease, and uterine anomalies);
* Innovations in reproductive microsurgery and fertility preservation techniques;
* Outcomes research and evidence-based practice in reproductive surgery;
* Integration of robotics, imaging, and artificial intelligence in surgical practice;
* Ethical considerations and patient-centered approaches in reproductive interventions.

Through this collection, we aim to highlight cutting-edge surgical techniques, share multidisciplinary perspectives, and foster dialog on optimizing reproductive health care.

Prof. Dr. Simone Ferrero
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Reproductive Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1200 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.

Keywords

  • gynecologic surgery
  • andrologic surgery
  • infertility
  • reproductive surgery
  • fertility preservation
  • reproductive interventions

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 255 KB  
Article
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Using Polyvinylpyrrolidone Versus Hyaluronic Acid: A Prospective Sibling-Oocyte Study
by Huy Phuong Tran, Long Nu-Hai Nguyen, Vy Nguyen-Thao Do, Ngoc Thanh Truong, Chau Kim Mai, Tuyet Thi-Diem Hoang, Ha Le-Bao Tran and Trang Nguyen-Khanh Huynh
Reprod. Med. 2026, 7(2), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/reprodmed7020017 - 1 Apr 2026
Viewed by 280
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Hyaluronic acid (HA) has been proposed as a physiological alternative to polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) for sperm immobilization during intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This prospective sibling-oocyte study aimed to compare embryological outcomes and morphokinetic parameters between HA and PVP. Methods: A total of 811 [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Hyaluronic acid (HA) has been proposed as a physiological alternative to polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) for sperm immobilization during intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This prospective sibling-oocyte study aimed to compare embryological outcomes and morphokinetic parameters between HA and PVP. Methods: A total of 811 sibling-oocytes from 51 ICSI cycles were allocated to the HA group (SpermCatch; n = 377) or the PVP group (10% PVP Solution; n = 434). Fertilization outcomes, cleavage, blastocyst formation, and good-quality embryo development were assessed. Embryo morphokinetic parameters (t2–tB) and an AI-derived embryo score were analyzed in a subset of blastocysts with available time-lapse data. Results: The fertilization rates were comparable between the HA and PVP groups (80.9% vs. 85.3%, p = 0.25), as were the cleavage rates (99.0% vs. 97.0%, p = 0.27). However, the HA group had significantly lower rates of good-quality cleavage-stage embryos (33.4% vs. 47.9%, p < 0.01), blastocyst formation (52.3% vs. 69.9%, p < 0.01), and good-quality blastocysts (49.4% vs. 64.1%, p < 0.01). Morphokinetic timings did not differ significantly, whereas embryos in the HA group showed lower AI scores than those in the PVP group (p = 0.04). Conclusions: In this prospective sibling-oocyte cohort, HA-based sperm immobilization did not improve embryological outcomes compared with conventional PVP-assisted ICSI. Differences observed at the blastocyst stage should be interpreted cautiously and require confirmation in larger, randomized studies with clinical follow-up. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Update in Reproductive Surgery)

Other

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10 pages, 1387 KB  
Case Report
Uterine Artery Embolization as a Gateway to Conservative Fibroid Surgery
by Bianca Brazzelli, Alessandro Libretti, Raphael Thomasset, Massimiliano Natrella, Alessandro Messina and Livio Leo
Reprod. Med. 2025, 6(4), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/reprodmed6040040 - 1 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1188
Abstract
Background: The management of symptomatic uterine fibroids in women of reproductive age remains a clinical challenge, with uterine preservation being a primary objective in order to safeguard fertility. To date, no clear consensus has been established in the literature regarding the optimal treatment [...] Read more.
Background: The management of symptomatic uterine fibroids in women of reproductive age remains a clinical challenge, with uterine preservation being a primary objective in order to safeguard fertility. To date, no clear consensus has been established in the literature regarding the optimal treatment strategy, as therapeutic choices largely depend on individual patient characteristics. In selected cases, the use of preoperative measures aimed at minimizing the risk of major intraoperative hemorrhage has been associated with an increased likelihood of adopting a more conservative surgical approach. Case presentation: We report the case of a young patient treated at our institution who presented large uterine fibroids and underwent Preoperative Uterine Artery Embolization (PUAE) before planned open myomectomy with positive outcomes. In our case, this approach provided excellent intraoperative hemostatic control, minimizing blood loss. At post-discharge follow-up, the patient showed marked symptom relief and improved quality of life. Long-term follow-up will assess sustained treatment efficacy. Conclusions: PUAE should be considered a valuable therapeutic option in patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids at high risk of surgical bleeding. When integrated into a multidisciplinary treatment plan, PUAE may enhance surgical safety, support fertility preservation, and broaden the range of conservative options available for women with complex fibroid disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Update in Reproductive Surgery)
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