The American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology is altering the way it publishes basic science articles. Beginning in 2010, basic science original research articles will be published in their entirety online, and only the abstracts will be published in the print edition of the Journal.

We have made this change for a number of reasons. Virtually all authors, and most readers, of basic science articles are in academics as opposed to clinical practice. We know from surveys and other sources that individuals in academics rarely read these types of articles as a result of receiving their Journals in the mail as opposed to searching and identifying them on the Journal’s web site.

We have also found that it is particularly difficult to reduce this type of article to the 1500 word summary, which is the format we now use for all original research articles in our print editions. With the change that the Journal made in 2004, printing only summaries of published papers, and the more recent addition of abstracts in the print version, as well as this newly announced change, the Editors and Publisher of the Journal are making every effort to the changes in searching and reading habits of our readers to deliver the most current information in the most effective and timely way.

In addition, submissions of original research articles to our Journal continue to increase, and we are unable to publish many worthy papers and/or publish those we do accept in the most timely manner. This important change will allow us to more positively deal with these 2 latter issues as well. The Editors welcome your comments.

The Editors