title: Phenotyping clinical disorders: lessons learned from pelvic organ prolapse.
abstract: Genetic epidemiology, the study of genetic contributions to risk for disease, is an innovative area in medicine. Although research in this arena has advanced in other disciplines, few genetic epidemiological studies have been conducted in obstetrics and gynecology. It is crucial that we study the genetic susceptibility for issues in women's health because this information will shape the new frontier of personalized medicine. To date, preterm birth may be one of the best examples of genetic susceptibility in obstetrics and gynecology, but many areas are being evaluated including endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and pelvic floor disorders. An essential component to genetic epidemiological studies is to characterize, or phenotype, the disorder to identify genetic effects. Given the growing importance of genomics and genetic epidemiology, we discuss the importance of accurate phenotyping of clinical disorders and highlight critical considerations and opportunities in phenotyping, using pelvic organ prolapse as a clinical example.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Urogynecology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Renée M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Kristina L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Allen-Brady
authors.forename: Todd L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Peggy A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: Katherine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Digna R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Velez Edwards
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D012307:Risk Factors