CONTENTS
- Scope and applicability of this document
- Mission, aims and scientific scope
- Target audience
- Submission and publication language
- Article types
- Editorial independence
- Journal governance
- Open access model, copyright, license, and embargo
- Peer review process and confidentiality
- Research ethics and integrity
- Authorship, contributions, and identifiers
- Originality of contributions and prohibition of dual submission
- Conflicts of interest
- Textual integrity and pre-submission screening
- Image and graphical data integrity
- Corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern
- Data, reproducibility, and reporting
- Use of artificial intelligence
- Responsible use of metrics
- Economic model and editorial fees
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Advertising and commercial firewall
- Editorial disclaimer
- Complaints, appeals, and reports
- Digital preservation
- Reference standard
1. SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY OF THIS DOCUMENT
This Editorial Policy Statement sets out the foundational, ethical, and operational principles that govern European Gynecology and Obstetrics (EGO). The document serves as a framework policy and is integrated with the set of specific editorial policies published on the Journal's official website, to which it refers for detailed provisions. The provisions contained herein apply to the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, members of the Editorial Board, Guest Editors, reviewers, authors, and the Publisher. Compliance with the principles enunciated herein is a necessary condition for editorial collaboration in any capacity.
The reference normative framework includes the international guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the Recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing of the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), the reporting standards of the EQUATOR Network, and the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association.
2. MISSION, AIMS AND SCIENTIFIC SCOPE
European Gynecology and Obstetrics (EGO), the official journal of the European Society of Gynecology, publishes peer-reviewed research of high scientific quality in gynecology and obstetrics, contributing to the advancement of clinical and translational knowledge and to the improvement of women's health in Europe and internationally.
The scientific scope of the Journal includes, in a non-exhaustive manner, the following areas:
• general gynecology and gynecological surgery;
• obstetrics and maternal-fetal medicine;
• gynecological oncology;
• reproductive endocrinology and reproductive medicine;
• minimally invasive and endoscopic gynecology;
• urogynecology and pelvic floor medicine;
• menopause medicine and contraception;
• women's health, prevention, and gender medicine;
• breast disease in its gynecological and oncological implications.
The Journal welcomes contributions that balance clinical relevance, methodological rigor, and scientific originality, with particular attention to studies that yield evidence transferable to clinical practice and health policy.
3. TARGET AUDIENCE
The Journal addresses clinical specialists in gynecology and obstetrics, biomedical researchers, residents and trainers, European and international scientific societies, public and private healthcare organizations, healthcare policy decision-makers, and professionals involved in women's health.
4. SUBMISSION AND PUBLICATION LANGUAGE
The journal accepts manuscripts exclusively in English. Scientific content is published solely in English, in keeping with the Journal's international positioning and the indexing criteria of the main bibliographic databases. Non-native English-speaking authors are encouraged to submit their manuscripts to a language editing service before submission, with the understanding that the linguistic quality of the text does not in any way replace the assessment of scientific merit.
5. ARTICLE TYPES
The Journal publishes the following categories of contributions, each subject to peer review according to specific criteria:
• Original Articles - primary research studies, experimental, clinical, or observational.
• Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses - conducted according to PRISMA standards.
• Narrative Reviews - by invitation or upon proposal, evaluated by the Editorial Board.
• Protocols - pre-implementation study protocols, aimed at methodological transparency and reproducibility.
• Guidelines and Consensus Statements - by mandate of the European Society of Gynecology or of other reference scientific societies.
• Case Reports and Case Series - in compliance with CARE guidelines.
• Data Notes - structured description of datasets of particular interest to the scientific community, aimed at reuse according to FAIR principles.
• Letters to the Editor - comments on articles published in the previous 12 months.
• Commentaries and Perspectives - on topics of clinical or policy relevance.
• Opinion Corner - dedicated section for personalized viewpoints on controversial or emerging issues, intended to stimulate constructive scientific dialogue within the professional community.
• Position Papers - editorial or societal position documents on topics of scientific and policy relevance.
The specific provisions on formal requirements, word limits, and reporting standards for each article type are contained in the Submission Guidelines.
6. EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE
Editorial independence is a non-negotiable principle for the European Gynecology and Obstetrics (EGO). The Editor-in-Chief exercises full authority over scientific content and decisions on the acceptance, revision, and publication of manuscripts. Neither the Publisher nor the European Society of Gynecology, in its capacity as a scientific society holding the editorial brand, intervenes in decisions concerning individual manuscripts.
Editorial decisions are made exclusively based on scientific merit, originality, methodological rigor, relevance to the target audience, and compliance with ethical principles. Considerations of a financial, political, institutional, or personal nature may not affect the assessment of any manuscript. The principle is consistent with the provisions established by COPE on Editorial Independence and by the ICMJE Recommendations regarding the relationship between Journal Owners and Editorial Freedom.
7. JOURNAL GOVERNANCE
The governance of EGO is articulated on 3 levels, distinct from one another and functionally separated:
• European Society of Gynecology (ESG) - scientific society holding the editorial brand, responsible for overall strategic direction and for the scientific legitimization of the Journal within the professional community.
• Edikta S.r.l. - Publisher responsible for operational management, editorial production, distribution, archiving, and contractual, fiscal, and regulatory compliance obligations.
• Editorial leadership - composed of the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board, holder of scientific decisions and responsible for the quality of published content.
The composition, mandates, appointment criteria, and rotation modalities of editorial leadership members are governed by the Editorial Board Charter.
8. OPEN ACCESS MODEL, COPYRIGHT, LICENCE, AND EMBARGO
European Gynecology and Obstetrics (EGO) is a fully open-access journal under the diamond open-access model (a form of gold open access in which no charges are levied on authors, their institutions, or funders for submission, processing, or publication, and no subscription fee is required from readers). All published articles are immediately and freely available to the reader, without embargo or subscription barriers. The embargo period set by the Journal is 0 days: public access to the full text of every article is granted at the moment of publication.
Authors retain copyright of their works. All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits reuse, redistribution, and adaptation of content provided that proper bibliographic citation to the original work is attributed. Detailed provisions are set out in the Open Access Policy and the Copyright and Licensing Policy.
9. PEER REVIEW PROCESS AND CONFIDENTIALITY
All contributions submitted to the European Gynecology and Obstetrics (EGO), except editorials by invitation, are subject to peer review conducted by at least 2 independent external reviewers, selected for disciplinary competence and absence of conflicts of interest. The Journal adopts a double-anonymized peer-review model: neither the authors' identities are disclosed to the reviewers nor the reviewers' identities are disclosed to the authors.
The Journal pursues public Service Level Agreements (SLAs) subject to quarterly monitoring, with the target of a first editorial decision within 30-45 days of submission.
Submitted manuscripts constitute confidential communication between authors, reviewers, and editorial leadership. It is expressly prohibited to disclose, distribute, cite, or use for any purpose other than editorial assessment the contents of a manuscript under processing. The confidentiality obligation extends to tables, data, figures, and any supplementary material and persists after the conclusion of the assessment process, regardless of the outcome. The principle is compliant with the ICMJE Recommendations and with the COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers.
The specific provisions on the review model, processing times, reviewer selection criteria, appeal procedure, and tools for safeguarding confidentiality are contained in the Peer Review Policy.
10. RESEARCH ETHICS AND INTEGRITY
The Journal adheres to the ethical principles established by the World Medical Association's Declaration of Helsinki and complies with COPE guidelines. All studies on human subjects must present evidence of approval by the competent ethics committee and of informed consent of participants. For clinical trials, prior registration in a recognized public registry (ClinicalTrials.gov or an ICTRP-WHO-compliant registry) is required. For animal studies, compliance with the ARRIVE Guidelines is required. Detailed provisions are contained in the Research Ethics Policy.
11. AUTHORSHIP, CONTRIBUTIONS, AND IDENTIFIERS
To be recognized as authors, contributors must satisfy the 4 ICMJE authorship criteria. The Journal adopts the CRediT taxonomy to declare the specific contributions of each author. The Journal strongly recommends that all authors provide a validated ORCID identifier; ORCID provision is not a mandatory condition of submission but is considered an important indicator of authorship transparency and is actively encouraged by the principal international indexing bodies. Institutional affiliations must be associated with an ROR (Research Organization Registry) identifier, where available, in accordance with the requirements of the main scientific metadata infrastructures (Crossref, OpenAIRE, DataCite). The modalities of management of authorship changes, of corresponding authorship, and of acknowledgments are governed by the Authorship Policy.
12. ORIGINALITY OF CONTRIBUTIONS AND PROHIBITION OF DUAL SUBMISSION
The submission of a manuscript implies the formal declaration by the authors that the contribution, in whole or in substantial parts, is original, has not been previously published, is not simultaneously under assessment by other journals, and will not be submitted to other journals as long as the editorial process at the Journal has not concluded with a definitive decision. Dual submission constitutes a serious violation of editorial ethics and is handled in accordance with the applicable COPE flowcharts. The submission of manuscripts previously deposited on recognized preprint servers is permitted, provided that the deposit is explicitly declared at the time of submission. Detailed provisions are set out in the Peer Review Policy and the Preprint Policy.
13. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Authors, reviewers, the Editor-in-Chief, the Associate Editors, and members of the Editorial Board are required to declare any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest that may influence the assessment and publication of manuscripts. The Journal applies disclosure procedures compliant with ICMJE and COPE standards. Detailed provisions are contained in the Conflict of Interest Policy.
14. TEXTUAL INTEGRITY AND PRE-SUBMISSION SCREENING
All submitted manuscripts undergo systematic screening for plagiarism, self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, and text recycling using internationally recognized similarity-checking tools (Crossref Similarity Check/iThenticate or equivalents). Manuscripts presenting levels of textual overlap deemed incompatible with the principles of originality are rejected or returned to authors for revision, according to COPE flowcharts for the management of plagiarism. Detailed provisions are contained in the Plagiarism and Misconduct Policy.
15. IMAGE AND GRAPHICAL DATA INTEGRITY
Images contained in manuscripts, including clinical photographs, histological images, gel and blot images, radiological scans, microscopy, and any other graphic material of demonstrative significance, must faithfully represent the original data. Manipulations that alter the truthfulness of scientific content are expressly prohibited, including the selective removal, addition, or relocation of elements within the same image. Modifications to brightness, contrast, or color balance applied uniformly across the entire image are permitted, provided they do not obscure, eliminate, or distort relevant information in the original data. The Journal reserves the right to request high-resolution original image files from authors at any stage of the editorial process, including post-publication, and to apply COPE procedures in the event of suspected manipulation.
16. CORRECTIONS, RETRACTIONS, AND EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN
The Journal manages post-publication corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern in accordance with the COPE Retraction Guidelines. All correction and retraction acts are published with their own DOI, permanently linked to the original article, and notified to the indexes and databases in which the Journal is included. Detailed provisions are contained in the Corrections and Retractions Policy.
17. DATA, REPRODUCIBILITY, AND REPORTING
The European Gynecology and Obstetrics (EGO) promotes the sharing of research data in accordance with the FAIR Data Principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). Every original article must include a Data Availability Statement. For methodological reporting, the Journal requires compliance with EQUATOR standards relevant to the type of study, including:
• CONSORT for randomized controlled trials;
• STROBE for observational studies;
• PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta-analyses;
• CARE for case reports and case series;
• ARRIVE for animal studies;
• SAGER (Sex and Gender Equity in Research) for the reporting of sex and gender, considered of particular relevance for a journal dedicated to women's health.
Detailed provisions are set out in the Data Availability and Sharing Policy and the Statistical Reporting and Reproducibility Policy.
18. USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
The Journal recognizes the usefulness of generative and non-generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in support of the editorial process and scientific writing, while maintaining the principle of full and non-delegable human responsibility. Generative AI cannot be recognized as an author. Every use of AI in the writing, analysis, or revision phase must be explicitly disclosed. Detailed provisions are contained in the Artificial Intelligence Policy.
19. RESPONSIBLE USE OF METRICS
The European Gynecology and Obstetrics (EGO) adheres to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) as a statement of principle. The Journal does not use the Impact Factor or other single bibliometric indicators as the exclusive criterion of quality or editorial assessment. Citation metrics are used as a complementary tool for impact assessment, always subordinate to qualitative judgment based on originality, relevance, methodological rigor, and contribution to the discipline. Official third-party indicators are reported with an explicit source indication.
20. ECONOMIC MODEL AND EDITORIAL FEES
The European Gynecology and Obstetrics (EGO) does not currently apply Article Processing Charges (APCs) or any other form of financial burden on authors for the submission, assessment, review, and publication of manuscripts. Likewise, access to published content is entirely free for readers. The current editorial model is therefore qualifiable as diamond open access, that is, full open access free of charges on both the reader and author sides.
The economic support necessary for editorial production is provided by the Publisher, with the support of the European Society of Gynecology, in its capacity as the scientific society that holds the editorial brand. This arrangement is consistent with the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing of the Directory of Open Access Journals. It guarantees the full independence of editorial decisions from economic considerations.
The possible future introduction of Article Processing Charges, or other forms of financial contribution by authors, will be preceded by the adoption and publication of a specific Article Processing Charges Policy with adequate notice. Such a document, in compliance with DOAJ requirements and COPE guidelines, will expressly declare the fee structure, payment modalities, the waiver policy for authors from low- and middle-income countries (in coherence with the Research4Life program), any institutional and funder support, and the principle of firewall between editorial process and payment. In any case, even under an APC regime, editorial decisions will continue to be based exclusively on scientific merit, without any conditioning on the manuscript's payment status.
21. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
The European Gynecology and Obstetrics (EGO) is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in its editorial activity. The Journal pursues a composition of the Editorial Board, reviewers, and authors that reflects a plurality of geographic origins, career stages, genders, and scientific perspectives, with particular attention to European areas traditionally underrepresented in international journals in the sector. Sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic origin, nationality, religious or political beliefs, disability, or socioeconomic status do not, in any case, constitute an element in the assessment of a manuscript, an author, or a reviewer. The principle is consistent with the Journal's mission in women's health and gender medicine and is addressed in detail in the Diversity and Inclusion Policy.
22. ADVERTISING AND COMMERCIAL FIREWALL
TheEuropean Gynecology and Obstetrics (EGO) may host advertising in support of its editorial activity, in strict compliance with scientific integrity and editorial independence. The management of advertising is entirely separate from the editorial process: advertisers and sponsors have no influence over editorial decisions, peer review, or published content. The acceptance of an advertisement does not in any way constitute endorsement by the Journal, the Publisher, or the European Society of Gynecology. All advertisements are visually distinct from editorial content, compliant with applicable regulations on healthcare and pharmaceutical advertising, and subject to prior approval by the Editorial Direction and the Publisher. Detailed provisions are contained in the Advertising Policy.
23. EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER
The opinions expressed in articles published by the European Gynecology and Obstetrics (EGO) are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Editorial Leadership, of the Publisher or of the European Society of Gynecology. Product liability legislation entails an increased duty of care in the drafting of scientific and medical publications, particularly regarding therapeutic indications, dosages, and dosage schedules. Authors are exclusively responsible for the accuracy of data, clinical indications, and bibliographic references contained in their manuscripts. Readers are invited to verify independently any information of clinical relevance before applying it in professional practice, with reference to the relevant regulatory and statutory sources in force.
24. COMPLAINTS, APPEALS, AND REPORTS
Authors, reviewers, and readers may submit complaints regarding the editorial process, appeals against rejection decisions, and reports of suspected violations of research integrity or editorial conduct. The Journal guarantees the reporter's confidentiality and protection against retaliation, in accordance with the procedures established in the Complaints, Appeals and Whistleblowing Policy. The examination of reports follows COPE workflows for managing misconduct.
25. DIGITAL PRESERVATION
The Journal ensures long-term digital preservation of published content through internationally recognized archiving services. The active services, trigger access, and disaster recovery procedures are detailed in the Digital Preservation Policy.
26. REFERENCE STANDARDS
This document is drafted in compliance with the following international standards:
• COPE - Committee on Publication Ethics, Core Practices (2019, current version);
• ICMJE - Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals;
• DOAJ - Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing;
• WMA - Declaration of Helsinki, latest version in force;
• EQUATOR Network - Reporting guidelines (CONSORT, STROBE, PRISMA, CARE, ARRIVE, SAGER);
• DORA - San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment;
• FAIR Data Principles;
• Budapest Open Access Initiative;
• Plan S - Principles and Implementation;
• Creative Commons - CC BY 4.0 International License;
• CSE - Council of Science Editors, White Paper on Promoting Integrity in Scientific Journal Publications;
• WAME - World Association of Medical Editors, recommendations on editorial conduct;
• ORCID and ROR (Research Organization Registry) as standards of persistent identification;
• Crossref Similarity Check / iThenticate as standards of pre-submission screening.