The International Continence Society (ICS) continues its commitment to improving women’s pelvic health worldwide through its highly regarded Workshop on Surgical Repair of Female Genital Fistula (FGF) and Urinary Incontinence, most recently held in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Female genital fistulas; including vesicovaginal, urethrovaginal, rectovaginal, ureterovaginal, and vesico-uterine fistulas — remain among the most devastating urogenital conditions affecting women globally. These abnormal connections between the urinary tract and vagina result in continuous leakage, recurrent infections, infertility, and profound social isolation, particularly in regions where access to surgical care is limited and stigma is high. The World Health Organization estimates that 50,000 to 100,000 new obstetric fistulas occur each year, with the greatest burden in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, making this one of the most serious childbirth-related morbidities worldwide.
Since its launch in 2019, the ICS surgical workshop has become a cornerstone of the Society’s global education initiatives, attracting clinicians from across the world for intensive, hands-on training. The programme has been delivered annually in Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, Niger, India, Zambia, The Gambia, and now Bangladesh, reflecting ICS’s dedication to capacity building in regions of greatest need.
This year’s workshop was hosted by Popular Medical College Hospital in Dhaka, where the ICS faculty worked closely with the local surgical team to perform approximately 12 complex fistula repairs, including vesicovaginal, ureterovaginal, and uterovaginal cases, alongside several procedures for stress urinary incontinence. Participants joined from Nigeria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Austria, the Philippines, and the Netherlands, highlighting the truly international reach of the programme.
Over three intensive days, trainees observed and assisted with surgical repairs using transvaginal, transabdominal, and laparoscopic approaches. All procedures were transmitted live to the hospital’s main auditorium, enabling real-time discussion and learning with expert surgeons throughout the workshop.
Through initiatives such as this, ICS continues to foster global collaboration, strengthen surgical expertise, and work toward reducing the burden of fistula and incontinence worldwide — transforming lives through education, innovation, and compassionate care.