M Hickey

STUDY QUESTION: Can the priorities for future research in infertility be identified? SUMMARY ANSWER: The top 10 research priorities for the four areas of male infertility, female and unexplained infertility, medically assisted reproduction…

OBJECTIVE: To develop a core outcome set for endometriosis. DESIGN: Consensus development study. SETTING: International. POPULATION: One hundred and sixteen healthcare professionals, 31 researchers and 206 patient representatives. METHO…

STUDY QUESTION: Can consensus definitions for the core outcome set for infertility be identified in order to recommend a standardized approach to reporting? SUMMARY ANSWER: Consensus definitions for individual core outcomes, contextual sta…

STUDY QUESTION: Can the priorities for future research in infertility be identified? SUMMARY ANSWER: The top 10 research priorities for the four areas of male infertility, female and unexplained infertility, medically assisted reproduction…

The core definition of endometriosis is when endometrial glands and stoma are identified outside the uterine cavity. It is estimated to affect 2-10% of women in their reproductive age, and 50% of patients complain of infertility. Ovarian en…

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in developed countries, and 12% of breast cancer occurs in women 20-34 years. Survival from breast cancer has significantly improved, and the potential late effects of treatment a…

BACKGROUND: Bilateral oophorectomy is commonly performed at the time of hysterectomy for benign disease. Indications for oophorectomy vary, but in most cases relatively little high-quality information is available to inform the surgeon or p…

BACKGROUND: Endometriomata are endometriotic deposits within the ovary. The surgical management of these blood filled cysts is controversial. The laparoscopic approach to the management of endometriomata is favoured over a laparotomy approa…

BACKGROUND: Abnormal bleeding is common in hormone therapy (HT) users. We aimed to determine how HT alters endometrial blood vessels and stromal factors known to regulate vascular growth and integrity. METHODS: Prospective observational st…

CONTEXT: Irregular bleeding is common in users of combined hormone therapy (HT) and often leads to invasive and expensive investigations to exclude underlying pathology. The mechanisms of HT-related bleeding are poorly understood. Endometri…

BACKGROUND: Endometriomata are endometriotic deposits within the ovary. The surgical management of these blood filled cysts is controversial. The laparoscopic approach to the management of endometriomata is favoured for as it offers the adv…

BACKGROUND: Irregular bleeding affects up to 60% of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) users. The mechanism of this bleeding is not understood. Reduced endometrial microvascular integrity appears to underlie breakthrough bleeding in pre-meno…

BACKGROUND: Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a significant health problem in premenopausal women that can reduce quality of life and cause anaemia. First line therapy has traditionally been medical therapy but this is not always completely…

BACKGROUND: Women using progestogen-only contraceptives are commonly troubled by irregular bleeding. Endometrial vessel breakdown and repair is thought to be locally regulated under the indirect influence of sex steroids. Most information a…

During the past 5 years, a number of important advances have been made in our understanding of the mechanisms of sex steroid-induced breakthrough bleeding (BTB). These observations suggest that superficial endometrial vascular fragility may…

Menstrual disturbances are one of the most common problems presenting to the gynaecologist. In order for the endometrium to bleed, vessels must break down. Disruption in the regulation of endometrial vascular growth and function has been fo…

Breakthrough bleeding is a common problem in postmenopausal women taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and is often the single most important factor deterring women from continuing to use HRT, or from starting it in the first place. The…

Unscheduled disturbances of bleeding with long-acting progestogen-only methods continue to be a major social inconvenience, and the most common reason for premature discontinuation of use. The patterns of bleeding with different methods are…

The aim of this study was to develop an objective test for superficial endometrial vascular fragility at hysteroscopy, and to apply this test to women using Norplant((R)) for contraception and to women with ovulatory dysfunctional uterine b…

The use of progestogens without oestrogen is commonly associated with irregular menstrual bleeding. Oestrogens and progestogens are both thought to influence endometrial perfusion; changes in endometrial perfusion may contribute to vascular…

Recent studies have provided substantial evidence to highlight abnormalities in the structure of endometrial microvessels in users of progestogen-only contraception. Structural changes alone are unlikely to lead to breakthrough bleeding, bu…

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the subdermal levonorgestrel contraceptive implant Norplant on endometrial vascular density at different durations of exposure, and the relationship between endometrial histology, vascular dens…

Progestogen-only contraception is almost invariably associated with changes in menstrual bleeding patterns. Changes in the endometrial vasculature, and in particular an increase in vascular fragility, may contribute to this bleeding. In thi…

Irregular menstrual bleeding in users of hormonal contraception represents the single major reason for discontinuation of these contraceptive methods. The mechanisms which underlie these bleeding disturbances are poorly understood, but appe…