September 2024

Dear Ms Balasubramaniam

Welcome to the September edition of your members newsletter.

What do you and your own association members value most about being part of FIGO? What could we do differently, or better, to support you? How would you like FIGO to evolve in the coming years? These questions are at the heart of our ongoing review of FIGO’s membership services. The responses so many of you have contributed to two major surveys this year are helping us to build our future – Thank You.

We are delighted to share key findings from the second part of our membership survey with you this month. This insight will inform and guide our work to shape a membership offering that speaks to the needs and expectations of our national member societies.

One finding we are already acting on is that some of our member societies wanted more information about the current package of services and benefits we provide. Therefore, this month’s newsletter contains many opportunities and resources for our members to benefit from. Collectively, they showcase the breadth of FIGO’s work, our impact as a global federation and your vital contributions as clinicians, volunteers and women’s health advocates. Please read this month’s newsletter closely to find out more about our upcoming webinar series, submissions for the FIGO 2025 World Congress and the latest IJGO articles from our committees. Please also share these opportunities and resources with your members and colleagues.

FIGO is first and foremost a global family of members. We remain fully committed to facilitating open conversations and strengthening relationships with you all to advance together in our journey to build a better, safer world for women, girls and newborns.

Frances Longley
FIGO CEO

FIGO and ICM joint statement on the crucial role of contraception

To mark World Contraception Day on 26 September, FIGO and the International Confederation of Midwives have released a joint statement. This collaborative statement brings together the expertise of midwives and obstetricians, and highlights how shared decision-making between healthcare professionals can empower women to make informed choices about their reproductive health.

New webinar series We are pleased to share the launch of our 2024 –2025 webinar series, which brings together women’s health experts across a range of pressing topics. The first two webinars in the series will run in October and will cover the elimination of cervical cancer and advances in reproductive medicine. Webinars will be available on-demand and offer a certificate of completion.

Endometriosis diagnosis survey

FIGO’s Committee on Reproductive Medicine, Endocrinology and Infertility is undertaking global research to determine the impact of specialist endometriosis scanning and changes to guidelines on the use and knowledge of endometriosis scanning. We would greatly appreciate 5 minutes of your time to complete the survey – please do so even if scans are not used to diagnose endometriosis in your location.

XXV FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics submissions open Submissions are now open for proposals to showcase your research at FIGO Cape Town 2025. We welcome collaboration between our member societies and highly encourage members to submit joint proposals. Please also share this important opportunity with your members.

Delving deeper into your experiences of FIGO

This year, we have asked you to share your experiences of FIGO membership and how we can improve the work we do with and for our members. We are grateful to colleagues across the breadth of our member societies for their contributions and feedback, which have given us critical insights into your needs and expectations – your responses will shape the next steps of our membership review.

Obituary: Dr Habib Muhammed Sadauki FIGO was saddened to learn of the death of Dr Habib Muhammed Sadauki, the immediate past president of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) and State Coordinator on FIGO’s LDI:REACH project. We join his colleagues in mourning and send our condolences to his family and the SOGON community.