Reproductive health - the new concept involving an integrated approach to all inter ventions dealing with the reproductive process and organs - has been the subject of two recent world forums: the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo and the 1995 Women's Conference in Beijing. It is therefore very timely for Benno Runnebaum and Thomas Rabe to produce the English translation of the second edition of their text book Gynecological Endo crinology and Reproductive Medicine. The two volumes bring the reader up to date on the enormous progress mad- in just a few years - in the field of reproduction. A selected group of coauthors have provided the breadth of knowledge necessary to cover fields as diverse as physiology, endocrinology, endoscopic surgery, ultrasonography, genetics, and on cology. The first volume describes physiological events, especially the complex interplay of factors leading to ovulation occurring during menstrual cycle, and the patholog ical changes that can alter it. This is preceded by a careful review of the wide range of hormones active in the female reproductive process, their mechanisms of action, interactions with receptors, therapeutic applications, indications, contrain dications, and modes of action. Sex differentiation, puberty, fertility, and reproduc tion are carefully detailed, including management of the hyperandrogenic state and other disorders, including endocrine oncology. Special care is taken in describing the control of human fertility, its many facets, methods, and problems.
