Emerging areas of personalized medicine in Obstetrics and Gynaecology: a narrative review

R. LEUNG, Alyssa Belfiore, Hannah Whibbs, Emma R. Wilson, Hoyang Seo, S. Rotman
In: UCC Student Medical Journal · 2024 · vol. 4 , pp. 127–130 · doi:10.33178/smj.2024.1.18 · W4402234556
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-09 ⓘ

This review explores emerging personalized medicine research and clinical applications in obstetrics and gynecology, highlighting advancements in prenatal care, reproductive technology, and treatments for conditions like endometriosis.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-10 · read from full text ⓘ

This narrative review discusses emerging areas of personalized/precision medicine in obstetrics and gynaecology, outlining how improved understanding of disease mechanisms and determinants may enable more individualized screening, diagnosis, and management. It describes personalized medicine in obstetrics as underpinning routine prenatal care and extending to research such as advanced assisted reproduction, screening for pregnancy complications, and in utero fetal treatment, while noting that in gynaecology mechanistic insights may support improved diagnosis and individualized approaches for endometriosis and postmenopausal symptoms. The review’s main limitation is that it is narrative and therefore does not present systematic evidence synthesis. Relevance to endometriosis: the paper specifically highlights “more individualized approaches to treatment of endometriosis” as an application area within gynaecology, though its overall focus is personalized medicine across broader obstetrics and gynaecology.

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Abstract

Importance: Obstetrics and gynaecology (OBGYN) focuses on women’s reproductive health. Many significant challenges in the field of OBGYN stem from limitations in screening, diagnostic, or treatment options. Conditions that are poorly understood, such as pre-eclampsia or endometriosis offer few management options or prevention strategies. In recent years, growing interest and advancements in personalized medicine have led to a deeper understanding of the aetiology and pathophysiology of OBGYN conditions, potential targets for intervention, and novel approaches to management. The aim of this review is to briefly describe some of these emerging areas of research and clinical use. Observations: Personalized medicine in obstetrics is a foundational concept underlying routine prenatal care and also drives ongoing research in areas such as advanced assisted reproductive technology, screening for medical complications during pregnancy, and fetal treatment in utero of congenital diseases. In gynaecology, developments in our understanding of determinants and mechanisms of common conditions have illuminated potential avenues for improved diagnosis and more individualized approaches to treatment of endometriosis and postmenopausal symptoms. Conclusions and Relevance: Personalized medicine is a flourishing area of research and clinical application with the potential for significant benefits to OBGYN patients. This concept has driven research interest and advancement in OBGYN disease processes that are poorly understood and offers potential novel diagnostic and treatment options for the future. With endless potential to improve the health outcomes of women and children, personalized approaches to screening, diagnosis, and management are worthwhile investments.
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Conclusions

and Relevance: Personalized medicine is a flourishing area of research and clinical application with the potential for significant benefits to OBGYN patients. This concept has driven research interest and advancement in OBGYN disease processes that are poorly understood and offers potential novel diagnostic and treatment options for the future. With endless potential to improve the health outcomes of women and children, personalized approaches to screening, diagnosis, and management are worthwhile investments.

References

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Leung, Alyssa Belfiore, Hannah Whibbs, Emma Wilson, Hoyang Seo, Sydney Rotman This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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