Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica is an international journal on obstetrics and gynecology and related matters concerning reproductive health. A manuscript will be considered on the understanding that it has been submitted exclusively to Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, that the material presented has not been published before and is not under any simultaneous consideration elsewhere. Priority is given to articles containing original and innovative research data with a clinical emphasis and to articles or reviews using a systematic and evidence-based approach.

For first time users, start by creating a new account, and then follow the instructions provided. For existing users, log into your account and then enter your 'Corresponding Author Center'. For additional assistance, contact the Editorial Office via e-mail at: acta.obstet.gynecol@obgyn.gu.se.

Manuscripts should be structured as follows: 1) Title page, 2) Abstract, 3) Keywords, 4) Main text, including; a) Introduction, b) Material and Methods, c) Results and Discussion; 5) Acknowledgments, Disclosure of Interest; 6) References, 7) Legends of Figures and Tables, 8) Tables and/or Figures.

1. Title page - should include: a) Full title (avoid abbreviations or proprietary names in the title) b) Running title (for page heading, max 40 characters), c) All contributing authors with full name, title and affiliation, d) Corresponding author details (to whom all decision letters and page proofs will be communicated, and to be noted in the printed manuscript).

2. Abstract - A structured abstract of no more than 250 words is required for main research articles, subdivided into the following sequential sections: Objective, Design, Setting, Population or Sample, Methods, Main Outcome Measures, Results, Conclusions. Short Reports, non-systematic reviews, commentaries and case reports require a maximum 150-word “block” style, non-structured abstract.

3. Keywords - Include in the manuscript file 3-5 keywords representative of your article. These may be used for indexing services and other search facilities for published material.

4. Main text - The text for articles and short communications should be structured with the following headings: Introduction, Material and Methods (including statistics, ethics and consent issues), Results and Discussion (bold, lower case). Commentaries and Reviews should have headings appropriate for the article.

5. Acknowledgements - Include only those who have made a valuable contribution to the work presented but who do not qualify as authors, with their contribution described. This may include a patient population and funding bodies. Use plain language and avoid adjectives. If appropriate, funding for publication, for writing or editorial assistance may be added.

6. Disclosure of interests (see details below).

7. References - in Vancouver style (see details below).

8. Figure and Table legends - Clearly marked with the heading of each table/figure.

9. Tables - Can be included in the main document if created with the table tool in the word processing software. The number of tables and figures should be kept to a minimum. There should preferably not be repetition/overlap of information given in tables/figures/text.

10. Figures - should be submitted as separate files in the best possible quality. Read more about accepted formats and quality requirements below.

A Cover Letter should be provided, where authors vouch for the accuracy of the manuscript according to the guidelines given here. This is also the place where authors may inform the Editors of any special circumstances or details regarding the submitted material, including prior publication of the material/parts of the material in a minority language.

Read more about article types accepted below.

Abbreviations of journal titles: please consult the List of Journals Indexed in Index Medicus, published annually as a list in the January issue of Index Medicus - for more information: www.nlm.nih.gov

Examples of the most commonly used reference types:

If the language is not English, add the translated title in brackets, e.g.
3. Janson PO, Friden B. Du skna nya vrld. Mnskliga embryon genom kloning: Vad r mjligt och vad r nskvrt? [Brave New World". Human embryo cloning: what is possible and what is eligible?] (in Swedish. No abstract available.) Lakartidningen. 2004;101:760-3.

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4. B K, Berghmans B, Mrkved S, Van Kampen M (eds.). Evidence-based physical therapy for the pelvic floor. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2007.

For more examples of how to refer to different sources, consult the uniform requirements for biomedical journals online: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/uniform_requirements.html

Figure files should be kept as separate files, in TIF, EPS, PDF or JPG format. Providing these formats will guarantee that the quality of the graphics is good throughout the publishing process, if provided with sufficient resolution. Photographic illustrations should be rendered with at least 300 DPI; please use CMYK color conversion if possible. Graphs made with Office software such as Microsoft Excel, can be provided in their original format to facilitate conversion into printable format with preserved quality. Any other line graphs/illustrations should preferably be provided in EPS format with a resolution of at least 600 DPI to prevent ragged lines when printed.

Costs for color illustrations must be borne by the authors. The standard fee is USD 1000 for the first printed colour page, and USD 500 for each subsequent page. Please state in your submission details in Manuscript Central the figures required to be reproduced in colour, noted by their number in the text.

The main text part of the manuscript should preferably not exceed 4,000 words (for more information about article lengths, see notes per specific article types below). If an especially long text is necessary, authors are asked to explain the reason for this in their Cover Letter.  

Subheadings may be used for clarification in the Material and Methods and Results sections, and must clearly differentiate from the main text using appropriate font style.

It is the responsibility of authors to ensure the quality of the language for submitted articles. Colloquial English may not be sufficient and is not necessarily the same as scientific English, for which professional services may be needed (see for example www.internationalscienceediting.com and www.writescienceright.com). A brief language overview will be made for articles accepted for publication, but no major changes are accepted at this stage.

Please note that “fetus/fetal” should be spelled without ”o”, e is used instead of ae or oe (gynecology instead of gynaecology, cesarean instead of caesarean and estrogen instead of oestrogen). Numbers one to nine should be spelled out; for ten or more people, objects, days, months etc. use Arabic numerals. “Women” is generally preferred to “patients” where possible and where disease is not the issue in question.

Any abbreviations or acronyms used should be listed on a separate page after the abstract and defined at first use in the main body of the article. Use only widely accepted and conventional abbreviations. Generic names of drugs should be used unless a proprietary name is directly relevant. Any specialised equipment, chemical or pharmaceutical product cited in the text must be accompanied by the name, city and country of its manufacturer.

To find more useful author resources, please turn to the publisher's Author Area online: /authors_journals

To avoid delays of publication, proofs should be checked immediately and returned electronically through the online service, following the instructions given. Corrections submitted via the telephone are not accepted. Authors are advised that they are responsible for proof-reading of the text, references, tables and figures for absolute accuracy. Additional material or major corrections cannot be accepted at this stage, nor is substantial rewriting of paragraphs permitted. Such extensive changes may result in a delay or withdrawal of the article from publication. Any costs arising from major additional changes may also be charged to the authors.

Reviews and commentaries are in general solicited by the Editorial Board, but prospective authors may contact the Editorial Board or Editorial Office with suggestions for such contributions. Short Reports on clinical studies, advances in technology or other relevant reproductive health matters are welcomed, as are Letters to the Editor. The journal does not at present publish case reports. Exceptionally this may be considered after prior consultation with the Chief Editor via e-mail.

Clinical trials should have been pre-registered in free, public clinical trial registries (for example, www.clinicaltrials.gov, http://clinicaltrials-dev.ifpma.org/ or http://www.controlled.trials.com/isrctn). Where a clinical trial registration number is available this should be included with the name of the trial register.If authors wish the editors to consider an unregistered trial explain in the Cover Letter why the trial was not registered.

Systematic reviews should be critical assessments of current evidence covering a broad range of topics of concern in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. The text should in general be restricted to a maximum of 4,000 words. Full disclosure of interests is necessary. Quote original articles only, not previous reviews on the same topic unless absolutely necessary. For further advice on writing systematic reviews authors may consult The Cochrane Reviewers' Handbook: http://www.cochrane.org/resources/handbook

Letters should comprise no more than 500 words, include no more than five references, including one to the article under discussion. A topical heading is required and the manuscript must include the full names and affiliations of the signatories.