Reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) is a surgical subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology that trains physicians in

reproductive medicine Reproductive medicine is a branch of medicine concerning the male and female reproductive systems. It encompasses a variety of reproductive conditions, their prevention and assessment, as well as their subsequent treatment and prognosis. Reprodu ...

addressing

hormonal A hormone (from the Greek participle , "setting in motion") is a class of signaling molecules in multicellular organisms that are sent to distant organs by complex biological processes to regulate physiology and behavior. Hormones are required f ...

functioning as it pertains to reproduction as well as the issue of infertility. While most REI specialists primarily focus on the treatment of infertility, reproductive endocrinologists are trained to also test and treat hormonal dysfunctions in females and males outside infertility. Reproductive endocrinologists have specialty training (residency) in obstetrics and gynecology (ob-gyn) before they undergo sub-specialty training (fellowship) in REI.

Reproductive surgery Reproductive surgery is using surgery in the field of reproductive medicine. It can be used for contraception, e.g. in vasectomy, wherein the vasa deferentia of a man are severed, but is also used plentifully in assisted reproductive technology. ...

is a related specialty, where a physician in ob-gyn or

urology Urology (from Greek οὖρον ''ouron'' "urine" and '' -logia'' "study of"), also known as genitourinary surgery, is the branch of medicine that focuses on surgical and medical diseases of the urinary-tract system and the reproductive org ...

further specializes to operate on anatomical disorders that affect

fertility Fertility is the capability to produce offspring through reproduction following the onset of sexual maturity. The fertility rate is the average number of children born by a female during her lifetime and is quantified demographically. Fertili ...

Certification

In a number of countries, the pathway to become a subspecialist in REI is regulated. Thus, in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

, for instance, the

American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (abbreviated ABOG) is a non-profit organization that provides board certification for practicing obstetricians and gynecologists in the United States and Canada. It was founded in 1927, incorporat ...

(ABOG) and American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology set the standards for subspecialists to become certified. After four years of training in Obstetrics and Gynecology, a three-year approved

fellowship A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

needs to be successfully completed. Then, to become board certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, one must first complete

board certification Board certification is the process by which a physician or other professional demonstrates a mastery of advanced knowledge and skills through written, practical, or simulator-based testing. Certification bodies There are more than 25 boards that ...

in obstetrics and gynecology (written and oral exams), and then certify in reproductive endocrinology and infertility (written and oral exams). In the United States, fellowship in ''reproductive endocrinology and infertility'' usually takes 3 years, and is offered in 40 centers across the country as of 2013. In the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been de ...

, the

European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe ...

(EBCOG) has accreditation centers for a subspecialist training program in ''reproductive medicine'' at 4 centers across the EU as of 2012. In Australia and

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

, a training program in ''reproductive endocrinology and infertility'' takes 3 years, and is offered in 15 centers across the two countries.

Societies

Reproductive endocrinologists Certified by ACOG often belong to a specific medical society named ''Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility'' (SREI). As a condition of full membership, medical practitioners must be ACOG-certified in the reproductive endocrinology and infertility subspecialty.Society for Reproductive Endocrinology Brochure
Retrieved on Jan. 21, 2011.

Journals

* ''Human Reproduction'' is published on behalf of the

European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) was founded in 1985 by Robert Edwards (University of Cambridge) and J. Cohen (Paris), who felt that the study and research in the field of reproduction needed to be encouraged and ...

. According to SCImago Journal Rank, its

review journal A review article is an article that summarizes the current state of understanding on a topic within a certain discipline. A review article is generally considered a secondary source since it may analyze and discuss the method and conclusions i ...

''Human Reproduction Update'' was the highest ranking journal in obstetrics and gynecology in 2008. * ''Reproduction'' is published on behalf of the

Society for Reproduction and Fertility ''Reproduction'' is a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal covering the cellular and molecular biology of reproduction, including the development of gametes and early embryos in all species; developmental processes such as cell differentiation, m ...

in the United Kingdom. * ''Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology'' (RB&E) is an online

open access journal Open access (OA) is a set of principles and a range of practices through which research outputs are distributed online, free of access charges or other barriers. With open access strictly defined (according to the 2001 definition), or libre op ...

published by BioMed Central.Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology > about
Retrieved on May 29, 2010 It deals with both veterinary and human reproductive medicine. * ''Fertility and Sterility'' is a monthly journal from the

American Society for Reproductive Medicine The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is a nonprofit, multidisciplinary organization for advancement of the science and practice of reproductive medicine. The society has its headquarters in Washington, D.C and its administrati ...

Also, many academic journals in obstetrics and gynaecology dedicate many articles to reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reproductive Endocrinology And Infertility Gynaecology Andrology Endocrinology Fertility medicine Obstetrics de:Reproduktionsmedizin

Certification

Societies

Journals

See also

References