New Insights in Reproductive Health and Disease

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Translational Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 920

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
Interests: reproductive medicine (endometriosis, miscarriage, implantation failure, polycystic ovary syndrome); developmental biology (redox control, gene dosage); maternal medicine (preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus); fetal medicine (fetal hypoxia, preterm, fetal growth restriction)
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Reproductive health is fundamental to human well-being, yet challenges such as infertility, pregnancy loss, and ovarian dysfunction affect millions globally. The intricate interplay of endocrine, immune, and molecular pathways in reproduction demands innovative approaches. Recent breakthroughs in AI, stem cell biology, gene therapy, and nanotechnology have revolutionized our ability to decode reproductive mechanisms and develop targeted interventions. For instance, AI-powered embryo assessment tools and collagen-based therapies for maternal–fetal interface regulation have shown promise in improving pregnancy outcomes.

This Special Issue seeks to consolidate research that bridges technological innovation with clinical needs in reproductive health. Topics will include, but are not limited to:

  1. AI and machine learning in reproductive medicine (e.g., embryo development, IVF outcome prediction, miscarriage risk assessment);
  2. Stem cell, gene, and regenerative therapies for ovarian dysfunction and fertility preservation;
  3. Molecular mechanisms of meiosis, implantation, and maternal–fetal immune tolerance;
  4. Nanomedicine and biomaterials for targeted drug delivery in reproductive disorders;
  5. Translational studies on collagen biology in pregnancy complications.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and short communications addressing:

  1. AI-driven diagnostics and personalized treatment in fertility clinics;
  2. iPSC-derived ovarian cell regeneration and follicle activation;
  3. DNA double-strand break repair in meiosis and its relevance to infertility;
  4. Role of collagen in decidual immune microenvironment and follicular development;
  5. Nanocarrier-based therapies for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Chi Chiu Wang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • reproductive health
  • artificial intelligence
  • fertility preservation
  • stem cells
  • gene therapy
  • materials
  • meiosis
  • DNA double-strand break
  • ovarian dysfunction
  • nanomedicine
  • pregnancy complications

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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18 pages, 3123 KB  
Systematic Review
Uterine Contractility Changes in Adenomyosis: Evidence from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Angela Vidal, Paula Tepasse, Vithusha Vinayahalingam, Sophie Cottagnoud, Marietta Gulz, Tanya Karrer, Gürkan Yilmaz, Janna Pape and Michael von Wolff
Biomedicines 2025, 13(11), 2728; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13112728 - 6 Nov 2025
Viewed by 579
Abstract
Background: The presence of ectopic endometrial glands within the uterine myometrium in patients with adenomyosis has been associated with adverse fertility outcomes. UP (Uterine Peristalsis), a movement of contractions at the junctional zone of the non-pregnant uterus, can be impacted by an [...] Read more.
Background: The presence of ectopic endometrial glands within the uterine myometrium in patients with adenomyosis has been associated with adverse fertility outcomes. UP (Uterine Peristalsis), a movement of contractions at the junctional zone of the non-pregnant uterus, can be impacted by an altered architecture of uterine layers. Abnormal contractility patterns could impact both uterotubal sperm transport as well as embryo implantation. Because of this potential influence on clinical symptoms and reproduction in patients with adenomyosis, studies have been analyzing the feasibility of diagnostic techniques in assessing uterine peristalsis. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to detect an alteration in patterns of UP in patients with adenomyosis. Methods: A systematic literature search of Medline, Embase, Cochrane, CENTRAL databases and Google Scholar was conducted up to June 2025, including studies evaluating UP and adenomyosis. Clinical studies evaluating uterine contractility were included, excluding those potentially affected by therapeutic interventions. The meta-analysis pooled data from studies to compare uterine contractility direction between patients with adenomyosis and control groups. Results: In seven included studies (442 women), uterine contractility varied significantly in association with menstrual cycle phases and pathological conditions. The meta-analysis revealed two statistically significant findings: women with adenomyosis showed significantly reduced uterine contraction frequency (SMD −1.81, 95% CI: −3.04 to −0.58, p = 0.0039) and fewer antegrade contractions (OR 0.35, 95% CI: 0.13–0.96, p = 0.0423) compared to controls. Other contractility patterns showed non-significant trends with substantial heterogeneity. Conclusions: Our findings show a significant difference in uterine contraction patterns in patients with adenomyosis compared to controls, namely a decrease in frequency and an increased number of retrograde uterine contractions in the adenomyosis group. The remarkable heterogeneity of the results highlighted the need for larger study cohorts in the future, especially to address the main diagnostic possibilities and treatments in order to improve reproductive outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in Reproductive Health and Disease)
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