International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics


The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, usually just FIGO 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 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:
FIGO implements global programmes on specific women's health issues, in collaboration with National Member Societies and/or partner organisations. These include:
FIGO Committees and Working Groups are dedicated to critical sub-specialty issues across obstetrics, gynecology and related fields:

Uterine bleeding

In 2011 FIGO recognized two systems designed to aid research, education, and clinical care of women with abnormal uterine bleeding 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 both ovaries and Fallopian tubes, the omentum, pelvic washings, assessment of retroperitoneal lymph nodes, appendectomy in suspected mucinous tumors, and pelvic/peritoneal biopsies for cytopathology.

Publications

Major publications include:
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.
NoDateCity
II22–28 June 1958Montreal
V23–30 September 1967Sydney
VIApril 1970New York
VIIAugust 1973Moscow
VIII17–22 October 1976Mexico
IX25–31 October 1979Tokyo
X17–22 October 1982San Francisco
XI15–20 September 1985Berlin
XIIOctober 1988Rio de Janeiro
XIIIAugust 1991Singapore
XIVSeptember 1994Montreal
XVAugust 1997Copenhagen
XVIAugust 2000Washington DC
XVII2–7 November 2003Santiago
XVIIINovember 2006Kuala Lumpur
XIX4–9 October 2009Cape Town
XX7–12 October 2012Rome
XXI4-9 October 2015Vancouver
XXII14-19 October 2018Rio de Janeiro

Member associations

The following 124 professional societies are members of FIGO as of December 2010: