Editorial
Dimitris Loutradis
Professor, Director of 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
As we inaugurate the first issue of HJOG for the new year, January offers a meaningful opportunity for reflection and renewed commitment. Globally, this month is recognized as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, reminding us of the vital importance of prevention, screening, and sustained public health engagement. It also precedes a series of major international congresses in obstetrics and gynecology, where new evidence, innovation, and collaboration will help shape clinical practice in the months ahead.
This issue of HJOG brings together a diverse collection of studies and clinical reports that speak to the evolving landscape of women’s health. Pregnancy care, reproductive endocrinology, and preventive strategies each occupy a central place in contemporary discourse, particularly as clinicians navigate increasingly complex patient needs.
We begin with new data exploring whether fetal sex influences the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. The study reinforces a crucial message: despite emerging hypotheses, maternal factors such as age and pre-pregnancy BMI remain the primary predictors of gestational diabetes. This clarification is valuable for both clinical risk assessment and public understanding, helping direct attention toward modifiable maternal health determinants.
Preventive medicine is also emphasized through research examining women’s knowledge and attitudes regarding breast cancer screening in a border community in northern Greece. Although many women participate in mammography programs, fear, misconceptions, and cultural barriers persist, often delaying preventive evaluations. These findings resonate strongly during a month dedicated to cancer awareness and underscore the continuous need for targeted educational initiatives.
Conceptual advances in maternity care are further explored through a scoping review addressing the evolving notion of safety in midwifery-led models. Rather than being confined to traditional biomedical parameters, safety is increasingly recognized as a multidimensional concept—shaped by cultural context, emotional experience, social conditions, and even global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This broader understanding invites health systems and educators to re-examine how safety is framed, taught, and implemented.
Several studies in this issue highlight clinical challenges frequently encountered in obstetric practice. One investigation assesses the relationship between hormonal contraceptive implants, neurosteroid levels, and mood, providing reassuring evidence that alterations in allopregnanolone do not necessarily translate into higher depression risk. Another explores immunological markers and cytomegalovirus exposure in unexplained miscarriage, offering insights into potential pathways underlying pregnancy loss.
The impact of subchorionic hematomas in early pregnancy is also examined, with findings indicating an association with adverse outcomes such as preterm birth and miscarriage. This reinforces the importance of close monitoring and individualized care when such hematomas are detected.
Complementing these studies are two compelling case reports: one detailing the successful management of severe hypertriglyceridemia in pregnancy through a multidisciplinary approach, and another describing complex care for a pregnant patient with hereditary spherocytosis requiring therapeutic apheresis and splenectomy. Both cases illustrate how coordinated, specialty-driven care can significantly improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in rare or high-risk conditions.
Finally, a concise communication discusses the clinical value of combined recombinant FSH and LH in controlled ovarian stimulation, offering timely insights for reproductive endocrinologists.
Together, the contributions in this issue reflect the scientific depth, clinical relevance, and human-centered perspective that guide HJOG’s mission. As we move forward into a new year of innovation and discovery, we remain committed to amplifying research that elevates care for women and families worldwide.