# International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics

The International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, usually just FIGO ("fee'go") as the acronym of its French name Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie et d'Obstétrique, is a worldwide non-governmental organisation representing obstetricians and gynaecologists in over one hundred territories. It was founded on 26 July 1954 in Geneva, Switzerland, to "promote the well-being of women and to raise the standard of practice in obstetrics and gynaecology". Membership is currently composed of 132 professional societies ('National Member Societies') of obstetricians and gynaecologists worldwide.
The headquarters of FIGO was initially located at Geneva, Switzerland. The FIGO Secretariat is located at London, United Kingdom.

## Core activities

The aim of FIGO is to improve the health and well-being of women and newborns worldwide. FIGO works to enable every woman to achieve active participation in her own health and rights, and the highest possible standards of health. It is financed by dues of member societies, grants, and educational activities.
FIGO's work covers many critical aspects of obstetrics and gynaecology and women's health and rights, including:
* adolescent health
* cervical cancer
* environmental health
* refugee and migrant health
* noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)
* sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)
* universal health coverage (UHC)
FIGO implements global programmes on specific women's health issues, in collaboration with National Member Societies and/or partner organisations. These include:
* Fistula Surgery Training Initiative
* Postpartum Family Planning (PPIUD)
* Advocating Safe Abortion Project
* Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH)
FIGO Committees and Working Groups are dedicated to critical sub-specialty issues across obstetrics, gynecology and related fields:
* Contraception and Family Planning (Committee)
* Ethical and Professional Aspects of Human Reproduction and Women's Health (Committee)
* Fistula and Genital Trauma (Committee)
* Gynecologic Oncology (Committee)
* Human Rights, Refugees and Violence Against Women (Committee)
* Menstrual Disorders (Committee)
* Minimal Access Surgery (Committee)
* Pregnancy and Noncommunicable Diseases (Committee)
* Reproductive Developmental Environmental Health (Committee)
* Reproductive Medicine, Endocrinology and Infertility (Committee)
* Safe Abortion (Committee)
* Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health (Committee)
* Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor (Committee)
* Benign Breast Disease (Working Group)
* International Childbirth Initiative (Committee)
* Postpartum Haemorrhage (Working Group)
* Preterm Birth (Working Group)

## Classification systems
### Uterine bleeding

In 2011, FIGO recognized two systems designed to aid research, education, and clinical care of women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) in the reproductive years.

### Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is staged using the FIGO staging system and uses information obtained after surgery, which can include a total abdominal hysterectomy via midline laparotomy, removal of (usually) both ovaries and fallopian tubes, (usually) the omentum, pelvic (peritoneal) washings, assessment of retroperitoneal lymph nodes (including the pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes), appendectomy in suspected mucinous tumors, and pelvic/peritoneal biopsies for cytopathology.

## Publications

Major publications include:
* International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics – peer-reviewed journal published monthly by Wiley Online Library.
* "FIGO Newsletter" – published monthly, electronically
* FIGO Ethics Guidelines have been reproduced (with commentary) in academic periodicals: e.g. (2006) 7 Medical Law International 361.

## World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics

FIGO conducts a triennial meeting, the World Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In addition the society sponsors fellowships, lectures, provides reports about women's health, and offers grants. Importantly through international committees consensus guidelines are achieved about evaluation and treatment of gynecological and obstetrical disorders.
| No | Date | City |
| II | 22–28 June 1958 | Montreal |
| V | 23–30 September 1967 | Sydney |
| VI | April 1970 | New York |
| VII | August 1973 | Moscow |
| VIII | 17–22 October 1976 | Mexico |
| IX | 25–31 October 1979 | Tokyo |
| X | 17–22 October 1982 | San Francisco |
| XI | 15–20 September 1985 | Berlin |
| XII | October 1988 | Rio de Janeiro |
| XIII | August 1991 | Singapore |
| XIV | September 1994 | Montreal |
| XV | August 1997 | Copenhagen |
| XVI | August 2000 | Washington DC |
| XVII | 2–7 November 2003 | Santiago |
| XVIII | November 2006 | Kuala Lumpur |
| XIX | 4–9 October 2009 | Cape Town |
| XX | 7–12 October 2012 | Rome |
| XXI | 4-9 October 2015 | Vancouver |
| XXII | 14-19 October 2018 | Rio de Janeiro |
| XXIV | 9–12 October 2023 | Paris |

## Member associations

The following 124 professional societies are members of FIGO as of December 2010:
* Afghan Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
* Albanian Association of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
* American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, The
* Argentine Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies (FASGO)
* Asociacion de Ginecologia y Obstetricia de Guatemala (AGOG)
* Asociacion de Obstetricia y Ginecologia de Costa Rica
* Associação Moçambicana de Obstetras e Ginecologistas (AMOG)
* Association of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of Tanzania (The AGOTA)
* Association of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of Macedonia
* Association of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of Serbia, Montenegro and Republic Srpska (UGOSCGRS)
* Association of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Malawi (AOGM)
* Association of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Uganda
* Association Sénégalaise de Gynécologie-Obstétrique (ASGO)
* Bulgarian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The
* Chinese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The
* Collège National des Gynécologues et Obstétriciens Français
* Croatian Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians
* Cyprus Gynaecological and Obstetrics Society
* Czech Gynecological and Obstetrical Society
* Dansk Selskab for Obstetrik og Gynækologi
* Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe
* Dutch Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The
* Egyptian Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The
* Emirate Medical Association
* Eritrean Medical Association (ERIMA)
* Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
* Federaçao Brasileira das Sociedades de Ginecologia e Obstetricia (FEBRASGO)
* Federación Colombiana de Asociaciones de Obstetricia y Ginecología
* Federación Ecuatoriana de Sociedades de Ginecología y Obstetricia
* Federación Mexicana de Colegios de Obstetricia y Ginecologia (FEMECOG)
* Federation of Obstetrics & Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI)
* Finnish Gynecological Association
* Georgian Obstetricians and Gynecologists Association (GOGA)
* Grabham Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, The
* Hellenic Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society
* Hungarian Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
* Icelandic Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
* Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
* Iraqi Society of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ISOG)
* Israel Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
* Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
* Jordanian Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, The
* Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society
* Koninklijke BelgischeVerenigning voor Gynecologie en Verloskunde/Societé Royale Belge de Gynécologie et d’Obstetrique
* Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
* Kuwait Medical Association: The Profession of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
* Kyrgyz Association of Obstetricians, Gynecologists and Neonatologists (KOAGN)
* Latvian Association of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians
* Libyan Obstetrical and Gynaecological Association
* Lithuanian Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
* Macau Association of Obstetric and Gynaecology
* Malta College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
* Myanmar Medical Association
* National Association of Iranian Obstetricians & Gynecologists (NAIGO)
* Nepal Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (NESOG)
* Norsk gynekologisk Forening (Norwegian Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics)
* Obstetrical & Gynaecological Society of Hong Kong
* Obstetrical & Gynaecological Society of Malaysia
* Obstetrical & Gynaecological Society of Singapore
* Obstetrical & Gynaecological Society of the Sudan
* Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Bangladesh
* Oesterreichische Gesellschaft fur Gynakologie und Geburtshilfe (Austrian Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics)
* Papua New Guinea Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society
* Perkumpulan Obstetri Dan Ginekologi Indonesia (Indonesian Society of Obstetrics & Gynecology)
* Philippine Obstetrical & Gynecological Society, INC
* Polish Gynaecological Society (Polskie Towarzystwo Ginekologiczne)
* Republic of Armenia Association of Obstetricians/Gynecologists and Neonatologists
* Romanian Society of Obstetric and Gynecology
* Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, The
* Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (UK)
* Royal Thai College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, The
* Russian Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
* Saudi Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society
* Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilf/Société Suisse de Gynécologie & Obstétrique
* Shoqata e Obstetërve dhe Gjinekologëve te Kosovës/Kosovo Obstetrics and Gynaecology Association (KOGA)
* Sierra Leone Association of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians
* Slovak Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics
* Slovene Association of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians
* Sociedad Boliviana de Obstetricia y Ginecología
* Sociedad Chilena de Obstetricia y Ginecología
* Sociedad Cubana de Obstetricia y Ginecología
* Sociedad de Ginecología y Obstetricia de El Salvador
* Sociedad de Ginecología y Obstetricia de Honduras
* Sociedad de ObstetriciayGinecología de Venezuela
* Sociedad Dominicana de Obstetricia y Ginecologia
* Sociedad Espanõla de Ginecología y Obstetricia
* Sociedad Ginecotocologica del Uruguay
* Sociedad Nicaragüense de Ginecología y Obstetricia
* Sociedad Panamenã de Obstetricia y Ginecología
* Sociedad Paraguaya de Ginecología y Obstetricia
* Sociedad Peruana de Obstetricia y Ginecología
* Sociedade Portuguesa de Obstetricia e Ginecologia
* Società Italiana di Ginecologia e Ostetricia
* Societé Algérienne de Gynécologye-Obstétrique
* Societe de Gynecologie et d'Obstetrique du Benin et du Togo CUGO-CNHU
* Société de Gynécologie et d’Obstétrique de Bénin
* Societe de Gynecologie et d’Obstetrique de Côte d'Ivoire
* Societé de Gynécologie et Obstétrique du Niger (SGON)
* Societé de Gynécologues et Obstétriciens du Burkina (SOGOB)
* Société Gabonaise de Gynécologie Obstétrique et de la Reproduction (SGGOR)
* Société Guinéenne de Gynécologie-Obstétrique
* Societe Haitienne d’Obstetrique et de Gynecologie
* Société Libanaise d'Obstétrique et de Gynécologie (Lebanese Society of Obstetrics & Gynecology)
* Société Luxembourgeoise de Gynécologie et d’Obstétrique
* Societé Malienne de Gynécologie Obstétrique (SOMAGO)
* Société Royale Marocaine de Gynécologie Obstétrique
* Société Tunisienne de Gynécologie et d’Obstétrique
* Society of Estonian Gynaecologists
* Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of Ghana (Ghana Medical Association)
* Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON)
* Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of Cameroon (SOGOC)
* Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Pakistan
* Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, The/Societé des Obstétriciens et Gynécolgues du Canada
* Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Republic of Moldova
* Society of Palestinian Gynaecologists and Obstetricians
* South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, The
* Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
* Svensk Förening För Obstetrik & Gynekologi (The Swedish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology)
* Syrian Society of Obstetricians & Gynecologists
* Taiwan Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The
* Turkish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
* Ukrainian Association of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, The
* Vietnam Gynaecology and Obstetrics Association VINAGOFPA
* Zambia Association of Gynaecologists & Obstetricians (ZAGO)
* Zimbabwe Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, The (ZSOG)

## Former Presidents

Source (up to 2006):
* Hubert de Watteville, president from 1954-1958, first FIGO president
* Leon Gérin-Lajoie, president from 1954-1958, Quebecois professor
* Raymond Keller, president from 1959-1961
* Howard C. Taylor, Jr, president from 1961-1964
* Giuseppe Tesauro, president from 1964-1967
* Alfonso Alvarez-Bravo, president from 1967-1970
* John Harold Peel, president from 1970-1973, leading British obstetrician and gynecologist, Surgeon-Gynaecologist to Elizabeth II from 1961 to 1973, present at a number of royal births
* Balachandra Nikanth Purandare, president from 1973-1976
* Robert Caldeyro-Barcia, president from 1976-1979, Uruguayan doctor, pioneer in the field of maternal-fetal medicine, co-creator of Montevideo units, a measure of uterine performance during labor
* Keith Palmer Russell, president from 1979-1982
* Claude Sureau, president from 1982-1985
* Shan Rattan, president from 1985-1988
* José Aristodemo Pinotti, president from 1988-1991, Brazilian physician, gynecological surgeon, university professor, scientific and educational leader and politician
* John J. Sciarra, president from 1991-1994
* Mahmoud F. Fathalla, president from 1994-1997
* Markku Seppälä, president from 1997-2000, Finnish specialist in obstetrics and gynecology, published approximately 500 peer-reviewed studies in international journals, winner of multiple awards such as the Matti Äyräpää Prize
* Shirish Sheth, president from 2000-2003
* Arnaldo Acosta, president from 2003-2006
* Dorothy Shaw, president from 2006-2009, first female FIGO president
* Gamal Serour, president from 2009-2012
* Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, president from 2012-2015
* Chittaranjan Narahari Purandare, president from 2015-2018
* Carlos Füchtner, president from 2018-2021
* Jeanne Conry, president from 2021-2024
* Anne-Beatrice Kihara, president from 2024-2027