BMJ (Clinical research ed.)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate factors predisposing women to chronic and recurrent pelvic pain. DESIGN, DATA SOURCES, AND METHODS: Systematic review of relevant studies without language restrictions identified through Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Coc…

OBJECTIVE: To determine how often searching with Google (the most popular search engine on the world wide web) leads doctors to the correct diagnosis. DESIGN: Internet based study using Google to search for diagnoses; researchers were blin…

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the most appropriate surgical method of hysterectomy (abdominal, vaginal, or laparoscopic) for women with benign disease. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and S…

Pregnancies in women older than 35 are increasing markedly in Western countries.1 Some commentators believe that this demographic shift poses a small or manageable problem as there are compensatory successful fertility treatments. However, …

EDITOR—Roovers et al take subjective distress into account in their examination of sexual outcomes after hysterectomy.1 This is a much needed aspect of the research on this topic. I am disappointed that, as so often in this type of research…

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of laparoscopic hysterectomy and abdominal hysterectomy in the abdominal trial, and laparoscopic hysterectomy and vaginal hysterectomy in the vaginal trial. DESIGN: Two parallel, multicentre, randomised tr…

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of an electrocautery strategy with ovulation induction using recombinant follicle stimulating hormone in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Second…

Patent fallopian tubes are a prerequisite for normal human fertility. However, patency alone is not enough—normal function is crucial. Although patients often view them as either open or “blocked,” the fallopian tubes are highly specialised…

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of vaginal hysterectomy, subtotal abdominal hysterectomy, and total abdominal hysterectomy on sexual wellbeing. DESIGN: Prospective observational study over six months. SETTING: 13 teaching and non-teach…

Pharmaceutical companies and patients' organisations are unequal partners in a collaboration that has developed over the years—and this raises serious questions

ABC of subfertility Unexplained infertility, endometriosis, and fibroids

Promoting patient safety in primary care Honesty and openness may not be best policyEditor-We were both surprised by Wilson et al who, in their editorial, ask everybody to send in reports of their errors. 1Our concerns remain regardless of …