Editorial

It is a rare opportunity to become Editor-in-Chief of a new journal, particularly one that represents a major medical organization such as the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. But why now, after nearly 60 years, did ASRM decide to give birth to a new journal? Isn't there already too much information? Isn't there already too little time to read what currently exists? Isn't Fertility and Sterility® already a major impact journal with excellent scientific articles on specific topics in our specialty?

Of course the answer to these questions is “Yes.” But the results of focus groups conducted by ASRM showed that these are the very reasons that a new journal was conceived. We are all busy with limited time to read the wide variety of journals that have an impact on women's health. And taking care of patients requires practical knowledge in areas that are not routinely covered in Fertility and Sterility®. So in response to our members' needs, the seeds were sown for Sexuality, Reproduction & Menopause.

SRM is intended to offer to members of our society what they have asked for: short, practical articles on a broad range of topics that our patients ask us about, or that we want to know about, but might not consistently have time to look up. In particular, those surveyed wanted information on sexuality, complementary and alternative medicine, legal issues, and technology. In response, this issue will discuss new treatments for erectile dysfunction. Another article will discuss yoga. Another article addresses fertility and aging and a series of articles takes a critical look at the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) one year later. The impact of the WHI was so great that new nomenclature for postmenopausal hormones has been established. For that reason we have replaced “hormone replacement therapy” (HRT) with “menopausal hormone therapy,” which is abbreviated HT. This is a national policy decision based on the premise that if a hormone has the potential to cause disease, it can no longer be considered “replacement.” This issue of SRM also offers content from the arts. A painting is included from a physician member; computer-generated artwork comes from the daughter of a nurse member.

Because my background includes academia (administration, patient care, and research), private practice, and industry, with a special interest in the arts and complementary and alternative medicine, I will attempt to identify content you might not typically see in medical journals. Because this issue reflects a new birth, there will be some slight changes as we grow and develop. Format will change slightly, content will expand, articles will shorten, and the range of contributors will broaden. The one thing that will remain constant is that this journal is for you.

If you like what you see, let us know. If you want something new or different, let us know. And if you have something to contribute, let us know. In particular, if you have humorous anecdotes, jokes, poems, cartoons, or artwork, we would love to hear from you. In these serious times, we all need a laugh or a moment to enjoy beauty.

I want to acknowledge and thank my associate editor, Dr. Paula Amato, the staff of ASRM (in particular Drs. Robert W. Rebar and Sandra A. Carson, President of ASRM) and Elsevier (in particular Paula Gantz and Anna Saar) for their help and guidance. I look forward to serving as Editor-in-Chief of Sexuality, Reproduction & Menopause and to watching it grow and develop into an important source of information for you.