This special issue on women in reproduction that acknowledges some of today's female trailblazers in the field of reproduction. When most of these women began their careers, there were few, if any, role models for them to follow. Most reproductive scientists were men; most general practitioners were men; most obstetricians and gynaecologists were men. Fortunately, this sex bias has changed today, but in no small part to the pioneering effort of these and many other women reproductive biologists.