The Reproductive Endocrinology rotation – which is based at the Royal Victoria Hospital – offers access to an internationally-renowned team (the McGill Reproductive Centre). Endocrinology Residents have a chance to attend this Centre full-time for a period of four to six weeks. This rotation offers a rare chance to experience all the key areas of this sub-specialty. Additional rotations are also available on an ad hoc basis, and there may soon be the possibility for an additional year of training in Reproductive Endocrinology following the 2 core years in Adult Endocrinology.
Fertility
Clinical experience and teaching in the state-of-the-art approach to investigating and treating infertility is available, with input from the Division of Endocrinology and the Departments of Gynecology and Urology. Education into the modern investigation of the endocrinology of infertility – including metabolic assessment of women with the polycystic ovary syndrome – is available. Experience in the latest technical approaches to investigating ovulatory disturbances, including ultrasound, is available. Experience in ovulation induction, including pulsatile LHRH therapy and gonadotropin administration, surgical treatment for fertility (including ovarian microsurgery), and in vitro fertilization and maturation will give students a full range of insight into current methodologies. This teaching emphasizes the multi-disciplinary nature of modern Fertility Care.
The Centre is an academic unit that has been responsible for the introduction of many new techniques of therapy (IVM, oocyte preservation, etc.) and thus this rotation allows exposure to future trends in the field.
Neuroendocrinology
The Reproductive Centre maintains a close collaboration with the Neuroendocrine Clinic, supervised by Drs. N. Garfield and J. Rivera.
Menstrual Disturbance and Hirsutism
The rotation involves one of the country’s largest referral groups of women suffering from abnormal menstruation and steroid metabolism. Training in all the facets of investigation and treatment is available. The use of metabolic approaches to the treatment of insulin resistance in PCOS is emphasized – and students will be instructed in the full assessment of this potentially dangerous condition.
Research
For students interested in pursuing further studies in the area, short research projects are available to extend the educational value of the rotation. Particular areas of interest are abnormal steroid metabolism and glucose tolerance, ovarian suppression, and improvement in the efficacy of ovulation induction.
