Peer Review Process

The International Journal of Sexual Health, Fertility and Reproductive Medicine follows a structured peer-review process to evaluate the quality, originality, scientific validity, relevance, and ethical integrity of submitted manuscripts. The process aims to provide constructive feedback to authors while maintaining high standards of scholarly, clinical, and scientific publishing.

1. Manuscript Submission

Authors must submit manuscripts according to the journal's submission requirements. Submitted manuscripts should be original and must not be simultaneously under consideration by another journal.

2. Initial Editorial Screening

After submission, the editorial team conducts an initial assessment to determine whether the manuscript:

  • Falls within the scope of the journal.

  • Meets the basic submission requirements.

  • Contains sufficient scientific, clinical, and academic content.

  • Meets standards of originality and research integrity.

  • Includes appropriate ethical, funding, authorship, and conflict-of-interest information.

Manuscripts that do not meet the basic requirements may be returned to the authors or declined at this stage.

3. Reviewer Selection

Manuscripts that pass the initial editorial assessment may be assigned to qualified and independent reviewers with appropriate expertise in the relevant subject area.

Reviewers are selected based on:

  • Subject expertise

  • Research experience

  • Academic or professional background

  • Availability

  • Absence of relevant conflicts of interest

4. Peer Review

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on criteria including:

  • Originality and significance

  • Scientific and clinical quality

  • Research methodology

  • Accuracy and reliability of results

  • Quality of analysis and interpretation

  • Clarity and organization

  • Adequacy of references

  • Ethical considerations

  • Relevance to sexual health, fertility, reproductive medicine, reproductive health, gynecology, obstetrics, reproductive endocrinology, assisted reproductive technologies, and related fields

Reviewers provide comments and recommendations to assist the editorial team in reaching an informed decision.

5. Editorial Decision

Following the peer-review process, the editorial team may make one of the following decisions:

  • Accept

  • Minor Revision

  • Major Revision

  • Reject

The final decision is made after considering the reviewers' assessments, the scientific and clinical quality of the manuscript, and its suitability for the journal.

6. Revision

When revisions are requested, authors should carefully address the comments and recommendations provided by reviewers and editors and submit a revised manuscript within the specified timeframe.

Authors may also be required to provide a response explaining how the reviewers' major comments have been addressed.

7. Further Review

A revised manuscript may be returned to the original reviewers or evaluated by additional reviewers when necessary. Further revisions may be requested if significant scientific, methodological, clinical, ethical, or editorial concerns remain unresolved.

8. Final Acceptance

Once the manuscript satisfies the required scientific, clinical, editorial, and ethical standards, the editorial team may issue a final acceptance decision.

The accepted manuscript then proceeds to the production and publication stages.

9. Confidentiality

All manuscripts, reviewer reports, and related review materials are treated as confidential. Reviewers and editors must not disclose, reproduce, distribute, or use unpublished information from submitted manuscripts for personal or professional purposes.

Particular care should be taken with confidential information relating to patients, research participants, sexual health, fertility, reproductive health, clinical records, genetic information, and other sensitive research data.

10. Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers and editors should disclose any potential conflict of interest that could affect the impartial evaluation of a manuscript. Individuals with significant conflicts may be asked to decline participation in the review process.

11. Research Integrity

Concerns involving plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabrication or falsification of data, unethical research, authorship issues, peer-review manipulation, undisclosed conflicts of interest, misuse of confidential information, or other forms of research misconduct may be investigated by the editorial team. Appropriate corrective action may be taken when concerns are substantiated.