FOGSI's ‘Waves 2025' to focus on women's health, wellness
The two-day event, commencing on May 17, will see renowned gynaecologists, health experts, medical students and researchers from across the country sharing insights into women's health and wellness.
A number of sessions will be conducted on topics such as ultrasound in infertility, pregnancy management techniques, emergency obstetric care, challenges in hormonal therapy and women's rehabilitative health.
Over the course of these two days, various sessions will be conducted on crucial topics such as advanced laparoscopic surgeries, ultrasound in infertility, pregnancy management techniques, emergency obstetric care, challenges in hormonal therapy, and women's rehabilitative health.
Organised under the chairpersonship of Dr Subbaraju and Dr T Radha and Dr Padmavathi Naidu, president of the OG Society, the event aims to serve as an effective platform for knowledge exchange among medical professionals.
Doctors from Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and other parts of the country are attending the conference.
As part of the presidential oration, Dr Sunita Tandulwadkar will talk about clinical crossroads-real stories from reproduction to recovery, while Dr N Palaniappan to speak about induction of labour, use, misuse and abuse as part of the vice-presidential oration. Dr Ananth Karumanchi from Los Angeles, USA will brief about pathophysiology of Preeclampsia as part of the Dr GRK Raju oration. The inaugural ceremony will be held on May 17th at 5:30 pm at Radisson Blu in the city and Union Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu is scheduled to take part as chief guest.
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The Hindu
12-07-2025
- The Hindu
How AI is revolutionising modern obstetrics and gynaecology
The use of AI in medicine has increasingly been heralded as promising change, one that is expected to make diagnosis faster, seamlessly integrate a patient's medical records across systems, read and decode images and lab results, help in medical modelling and even perhaps help surgeons. Of the many fields in medicine that AI is already beginning to help in, obstetrics and gynaecology is one that it seems to be on the cusp of a revolution. How is this happening? AI is increasingly being used in gynaecology for various applications such as diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient care, says Abha Majumdar, director and head of Centre of IVF and Human Reproduction at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. 'Currently, AI-powered tools are being used for tasks such aa image analysis, predictive modelling, and personalised medicine. In the next 5-10 years, we can expect AI to become even more integral to gynaecology, with potential applications in areas including robotic-assisted surgery, fertility treatment optimisation, and menopause management.' Sunita Tendulwadkar, president of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India, explains that AI has become like a trusty assistant. 'AI is the stethoscope of the 21st century,' she says. Used wisely, she adds, it can allow doctors to deliver safer, more personalised women's healthcare, from city hospitals to the last tribal hamlet. She notes however, that 'while it amplifies our senses, it can never replace the mind or the heart of the physician'. AI's applications In one generation, says Dr. Tendulwadkar, doctors have moved from paper charts to algorithms that predict complications before they happen. Today, an AI model built from routine antenatal data can warn doctors of the risk of pre-eclampsia or postpartum haemorrhage weeks earlier than the old scoring systems, she explains. Analysing data apart, ultrasound machines now come with 'auto-measure' buttons that capture standard foetal planes in seconds. She points out that systems such as SonoCNS can automatically segment the foetal heart or brain, label every chamber, and 'hand me precise biometrics while I'm still holding the probe'. 'Of course, I still review every image, but the heavy lifting is already done when I sit down to report,' she says. AI is also useful in interpreting ultrasound images to check for abnormalities and assess risks when dealing with high-risk pregnancies. AI can also help predict the chances of a preterm birth, and assess the risk of complications such as high blood pressure and organ damage. It can also help build personalised treatment planning for conditions such as PCOS and menopausal symptoms, says Dr. Majumdar. Helai Gupta, head, department, obstetrics and gynaecology, Artemis Daffodils, Delhi, says AI is definitely a 'welcome tool'' in gynaecological practice, as it is far easier to rely on an AI bot to sift through huge amounts of literature while arriving at a diagnosis. Similarly, if you want to compute or collate large amounts of data, AI is a godsend, she adds. However, 'In practical clinical settings, AI has limited utility at least in my field,' she says. Bandana Sodhi, director, obstetrics & gynaecology, Fortis La Femme, Delhi, adds that AI can help in reducing maternal/neonatal morbidity. 'Real-time AI-powered foetal monitoring continuously analyses foetal heart rate during labour and detects abnormalities promptly – leading to an 82 per cent reduction in stillbirths,' she says. Is AI better at diagnosing cancer? When it comes to mammograms, AI may be faster, but not necessarily better, says Dr. Helai. She explains that mammograms are designed to be sensitive and can give false positives with borderline cases. 'While AI may diagnose or 'undiagnose', and may do it faster, it may lack the necessary empathy and human skill required to ask for a second scan or put together patient-specific personal information that may alter simple reporting,' she says. In comparison to an ultrasound screening test, which detected abnormal results less than 5% of the time, an AI neural network accurately recognises nearly 100% of anomalies associated with ovarian cancer, according to a paper published in the online journal Cancers published by MDPI. Large, randomised trials from Sweden and the UK show AI catching up to 20% more cancers without increasing false alarms, says Dr. Tendulwadkar. 'The direction is clear: very soon the standard will be one radiologist plus an AI safety net instead of two humans double-reading every film,' she says AI in IVF A couple in the United States who had an 'AI-assisted pregnancy' recently made headlines, but what is the science behind this? According to media reports, the couple who had been trying to conceive for 18 years, underwent several rounds of in vitro fertilization, or IVF. In the IVF process a woman's egg is removed and combined with sperm in a laboratory to create an embryo, which is then implanted in the womb. Their IVF attempts were unsuccessful however, due to azoospermia, a rare condition wherein instead of hundreds of millions of sperm in a sample there were no measurable sperms at all. Finally, at the Columbia University Fertility Center in USA, after hours of fruitless meticulous searching under a microscope for sperms in the husband's sample, AI was used, and it helped identify and recover three sperms which were then used to fertilise the wife's eggs. The women became the first successful pregnancy enabled under this novel 'STAR' method. The baby is due in December. AI is being used to identify the most viable oocytes and embryos -- those with a high chance of leading to a pregnancy -- as well in selecting the correct timing of embryo transfer to the uterus. Nandita Palshetkar, medical director and IVF specialist Bloom IVF, Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, says, 'AI is giving us incredible new tools in IVF – helping us choose the best embryos, tailor treatments and improve success rates. It does not replace the doctor's judgement but supports it with sharper insights.' Fertility consultant Ashwani Kale, director Asha Kiran Hospital and Asha IVF Centre, Pune, adds that better embryo selection with AI may soon replace the need for invasive testing.' Risks and privacy concerns Privacy and data concerns have also arisen when it comes to the use of AI. There is a critical need for responsible AI in gynaecology, says Dr. Majumdar, particularly when it comes to confidentiality. 'AI systems require access to sensitive patient data, which must be protected from unauthorised access and misuse. Patient consent is crucial for building trust in AI-powered healthcare solutions.' Data shared on the internet lives forever, warns Dr. Hellai Gupta, reiterating the need to remove patient identifiers and private information to maintain confidentiality. Dr. Tendulwadkar emphasises that AI tools have to be fine-tuned to Indian conditions and Indian women so that they respect 'our diversity in body habitus and disease patterns'. Another potential threat Dr. Majumdar points to is the risk of bias in decision-making. 'If AI systems are trained on biased data, they may lead to unequal treatment and their outcomes for certain patient populations,' she says. (Satyen Mohapatra is a senior journalist based in New Delhi. satyenbabu@
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Choice, confidence, and care: Strengthening modern contraceptive access in India
In my consulting room, patients come seeking contraceptive counselling. The questions are in a hushed tone, patients ask: 'Will this affect my fertility later?' 'Is it safe?' 'Will anyone else find out?'. These queries come from women across age groups, professions, and backgrounds. Whether a college student or a homemaker, a shared thread often emerges--hesitation. This is not because they lack awareness, but because they are unsure about safety, stigma, control, and the range of options available to them. India has made significant progress in expanding access to contraception. Government programs like Mission Parivar Vikas and the rollout of health and wellness centres under Ayushman Bharat have strengthened service delivery in high-focus states. As a result, the modern contraceptive prevalence rate has steadily increased. Yet, some gaps remain. One common issue is the limited range of choices presented to women, especially when it comes to long-acting reversible methods (LARCs). In many cases, decisions around contraception are made quickly and with limited counselling, particularly after childbirth. Instead of being offered the expanded basket of choices, women are steered toward permanent methods like female sterilisation without adequate time or space to consider other options. In urban private practice, on the other hand, the challenge is not availability, but approachability. A younger patient may have heard of newer methods like DMPA-SC injectables or subdermal implants, but still feel unsure or embarrassed to ask about them. The gap between knowing a method exists and feeling confident enough to choose it is real, and it's here that both the public and private systems must do better. As a professional body, the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) sees this as a shared responsibility. We are actively working to sensitise our members across India on method counselling, especially for newly introduced, but highly effective, options that offer women greater flexibility and agency. Injectables and subdermal implants are especially promising. They reduce the need for frequent follow-ups, offer privacy, and are reversible. However, to successfully introduce them at scale, we need a robust ecosystem like trained providers, consistent supply chains, and supportive counseling environments where women feel heard and respected. Equally important is making conversations around contraception feel more natural and less clinical. We must embed family planning discussions into routine health care moments, whether during antenatal visits, adolescent health check-ups, or postnatal counselling. These moments offer valuable opportunities to provide information when women are already engaged with the health system. Destigmatising contraception also means widening the circle of who is part of the conversation. Too often, women are counselled alone, while decisions within families may involve spouses or in-laws. If men are excluded from the discussion, they may also lack accurate information or even oppose contraceptive use. We need more male-inclusive approaches, including workplace health initiatives, community outreach by male health workers, and relatable content via digital media can all help shift attitudes. As practitioners, we must remember that access does not automatically mean empowerment. A wider basket of contraceptive choices means little if a woman doesn't feel safe or supported in making her own decision. While apps, teleconsults, and anonymous chatbots have made information more accessible, nothing can replace the value of a non-judgmental, face-to-face conversation with a trusted provider. Our ultimate goal must be to ensure that family planning is seen not as a taboo or a hush-hush conversation, but as a core part of everyday well-being. When a woman walks into a clinic, public or private, she should be asked what she wants, not told what she should use. That shift, rooted in choice, confidence, and care, can transform lives. That is the India we must strive to build. This article is authored by Dr Sunita Tandulwadkar, president, Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI).
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Time of India
Social media campaign urges India to view menstruation as a sign of health
1 2 3 Pune: On World Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28), a new social media campaign is challenging India's entrenched narrative around menstruation. Launched by Tata Trusts, the initiative asks a provocative question: "What if we delink menstruation from fertility, and instead see it simply as a symbol of health?" The campaign spotlights four influential figures in a woman's menstrual journey, including mothers, mothers-in-law, ASHA workers, and men. Through a series of short films and a catchy jingle, 'Maheena Aa Gaya', the campaign aims to normalise conversations about periods and dismantle long-standing taboos. Medical experts support this reframing. Dr Sunita Tandulwadkar, president of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India and head of obstetrics and gynaecology at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, stated, "The regulation of periods goes much beyond highlighting the fertility of a woman. It represents her health condition. Monitoring periods is even more important in today's world where lifestyles have changed. Long working hours, high stress, irregular sleep, fast food, and rising obesity all play a role, not just in fertility but also overall health. " Dr Manisha Kulkarni, senior consultant in the obstetrics and gynaecology department at Sahyadri Hospitals, Hadapsar, said, "Many women experience heavy or painful periods, which can lead to anaemia due to blood loss. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Killer New Toyota 4Runner Is Utter Perfection (Take A Look) MorninJoy Undo Some also face premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a real condition marked by mood swings, sadness, or irritability before periods. In cases of severe pain or heavy bleeding, conditions like endometriosis — where tissue similar to the uterus lining grows outside it — may be diagnosed. These issues can lead to fatigue, weight gain, or even hypothyroidism. However, irregular periods don't always mean infertility. With minimal treatment, many women with irregular cycles can still conceive. Common myths persist such as painful periods are not normal and should be checked; you can and should bathe and exercise during periods; periods don't need to last a full week to be 'cleaning' the body; and healthy cycles can vary. PMS is real—many women experience emotional and physical changes days before their period." Kulkarni emphasises getting medical help early is key. The campaign also highlights several issues that women continue to face as the topic is not often talked about freely in Indian households. "The lack of reliable access to water and private spaces, whether to bathe, change, or dispose of pads, makes it difficult for girls to manage their periods with safety and dignity," said Divyang Waghela, head of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) at Tata Trusts. "Lack of infrastructure and agency compound this problem. We strive to tackle barriers around infrastructure, belief systems, and environments perpetuating them. Through this, girls can view periods as a normal part of health, not something to be hidden away," Waghela said. Creative director Keigan Pinto emphasised the campaign's relatable approach. "We're not asking people to radically shift their thinking. We simply want them to understand that a period is just a 'lakshan'—a symptom, like hair loss. Capturing this, we created a simple, light film that we shot in people's homes, with a powerful, memorable song with a hook rooted in Indian pop culture, offering an important reminder: 'Maheene ko sirf sehat se jodo' (link that time of the month only to health)."
