Since 1962
16 Countries
1.546 Members
Since 1962
16 Countries
1.546 Members
Report from the 21st ISPOG Congress, 3–5 April 2025, Seoul, Korea
Traditionally, the ISPOG congresses bring together people from different nations across continents every three years under the theme of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology, this time with the motto: ‘Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology (POG) in the Globalised World’. This congress will remain a lasting memory for all participants thanks to the special location, exceptional hospitality, and challenging presentations and interesting discussions.
Day 1 focused on ‘Psychosomatic health in Asia’ with speakers from China, Korea, Japan, Oman and Thailand covering a wide range of topics from the challenges of female life phases and traditional Thai medicine, burnout prevention and resilience promotion to training programmes in the context of teaching POG in Asia. This was preceded by introductory lectures by Congress President Keun Ho Lee on the history and traditions of Korea – When KSPOG meets the world – and ISPOG President Mechthild Neises-Rudolf on a topic related to women’s health, specifically focusing on female doctors. This day of the congress ended with the Presidential Dinner on the artificial island in the Han River called ‘Some Sevit – Villa de Notche’ with an atmospheric sunset over Seoul during a delicious meal and stimulating conversations – this generous atmosphere remains incomparable.
Days 2 and 3 were held under the motto ‘Bringing together experts in the field of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology’. These days were packed with plenary sessions, symposia, workshops and oral presentations. As it is not possible to cover all topics here, please refer to the Congress book, which is still available online https://trs.maillink.co.kr/procresponse? a=4I-17953008I-448I-4oaSoZI-4ehhgzE-8D-7D-7gUv3D-6bBSaaSHZD-6oCD-6ZuD-7JCDHmSaPF-3obgHoCJPF-17953008C-8zPqF-12I-3
The symposia focused on the following topics: Migrant women’s health, Impact of Climate Change on Women’s Health, Mind-Body Connection in Pregnancy, Psychosomatics of Puerperium, Psychosomatics in Gynaecological Oncology and Reproductive and Mental Health, and last but not least: Environmental and Cultural Factors in Psychosomatic Obstetrics. The Israeli and Japanese Societies for Psychosomatic OB/GYN organised their symposia on the following topics: Psychosomatic impact of traumatic stress: PTSD symptoms in obstetrics and gynaecology (ISRAPOG) and Psychosomatic Problems in Japanese Women (JSPOG).
We would like to thank Julie Quinlivan (Australia) and Sibil Tschudin (Switzerland) for organising the research session in collaboration with Olivia Cliff, Taylor & Francis via ZOOM as an offer for our younger colleagues who are active in research.
The plenary session was highlighted by a renowned Korean scientist in the field of addictive behaviour against the backdrop of findings from neuroscience and artificial intelligence.
The workshops focused on the topics: Challenging Consultations, Moral Deliberation, Film and Psychoanalysis – Film ‘Parasites’.
Of particular note are the oral presentations with more than 20 lectures following the review of the submitted abstracts and the awarding of three prizes for outstanding presentations. The prizes went to Ruben Plöger (Germany), Shin Ikebukuro (Japan), Marijana Vidmar Simic (Slovenia) and Jung Yoon Park (Korea).
We would like to thank everyone who contributed to and took responsibility for this congress, first and foremost the organisers of KSPOG and the congress team, as well as everyone who enriched this congress with their lectures, workshop leadership and chairing.
The venue for days 2 and 3 was the Omnibus Park of the Catholic University of Korea, connected to St. Maries Hospital in Seoul, an attractive new building with all the technical equipment required for the plenary and workshop rooms.
The programme also lists all the companies that sponsored this congress, some of which also held symposia on their respective research areas; without this support, the congress would not have been possible in its current form.
We were all impressed by this metropolis of almost 10 million people built on 14 hills (Rome is said to be built on seven hills), combining breathtaking modernity with traditional neighbourhoods. The Han River, which runs through the city in a W shape and is spanned by 50 bridges within the city, is impressive. Three floating islands have been created on this river, and it was on one of these artificial islands, Some Sevit, that our congress began and ended in the Omnibus Park in a friendly atmosphere with new and old friendships forged among 108 participants from 15 nations.
As in the past, this congress was accompanied by the ISPOG Executive Committee meetings in a pre- and post-congress session, thus framing the General Assembly. The following were elected to fill the positions of the outgoing officers: Secretary General, Professor Danny Horesch, Israel; Treasurer, Dr. Ruben Plöger, Germany; and Incoming President, Vesna Gall Mr.sc.dr., Croatia. We got a sneak preview to the 22th ISPOG Congress in Split, Croatia. We would like to thank Vesna Gall for her presentation on the venue and the proposed congress content – we pledge our full support to her.
From the start in 2019, the three main topics for the work of the board were advocacy, education and research. However, soon after the board took office in October 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic struck and the activities of the board were severely hampered by the travel restrictions.
The board met in Heidelberg and Munich in person in between lockdowns. Luckily, with the aid of electronic meetings, we could stay in touch. We met with the board monthly and twice a year with the Executive Committee. Sadly, the EBCOG conference in Norway was cancelled due to the pandemic.
After the travel bans were released and still hampered by postponement, we were finally able to organize the 20th ISPOG-Congress in Vienna in July 2022. This was organized in conjunction with the 4th Dreiländertagung by the German and Austrian Societies and the Swiss Working Group for Psychosomatic Gynecology and Obstetrics. The venue was the Sigmund-Freud-Privatuniversity, aesthetically very appealing and provided with a technically high level of equipment. During ISPOG 2022, we celebrated ISPOG’s 60th diamond jubilee with a reminiscence symposium. All in all, we received 250 registered participants from 20 nations and five continents. 15 nations were involved in the preparation of the 20th ISPOG Congress through the International Scientific Committee. A magnificent highlight of the social program was the reception in the historic City Hall of Vienna by Kristina Hametner, the Women’s Health Commissioner of the City of Vienna.
During the General Assembly at ISPOG 2022, Chulmin Lee was appointed as our next president-elect and Sibil Tschudin stepped down from the board as immediate past president.
However, Sibil Tschudim was immediately appointed chair of the newly formed Research Committee of ISPOG. After a second successful session at ISPOG 2022 (the first was during ISPOG 2019 in the Hague), we are very happy that she will use her wide experience to work on this important goal of ISPOG. During ISPOG 2025, another symposium is organized by Sibil Tschudin in collaboration with Julie Quinlivan. Also, prizes for best short presentations were discussed and approved. Further opportunities to promote scientific work are under discussion, also in co-operation with Taylor & Francis, the publisher of the JPOG journal.
Our theme in a psychosomatic perspective is the physical and mental health of women in gynaecology and obstetrics. This was presented in a broad spectrum during the ISPOG congress in Vienna, with a focus on experiences and studies during the pandemic. ISPOG 2022 resulting in a big project: the post-conference book on Women’s Health and Pandemic Crisis, edited by Vivian Pramataroff-Hamburger and Mechthild Neises-Rudolf. This book contributes to another goal of ISPOG namely education.
The results from the conference and experiences gained from exchanging ideas in a well-functioning network at ISPOG 2022 are summarised in 260 pages by 48 dedicated authors with many thanks to all who contributed, including the staff of Springer Publisher. We extend special thanks to Jeanne Ann Conry, President of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), who wrote an exceptionally kind foreword to the book publication and Wolf Lütje, President of the German Society, DGPFG, whose balanced and positive review can be found on our homepage. We invite interested readers and our members to submit a review for publication.
For advocacy, we mainly used our website www.ispog.org. In the section with latest news, one can find ISPOG’s statement on refugees and migration. In war and other situations of conflict, care for women and children is especially vulnerable and reproductive rights will be violated more easily.
Mechthild Neises-Rudolf started a statement on the climate crisis and its consequences, especially for obstetrics and women’s health from the German perspective. This was continued by Barbara Maier for the Austrian perspective.
A book review of Pramataroff-Hamburger V. & Neises-Rudolf M. (ed.) Women`s Health and Pandemic Crisis. Springer 2024 by Dr. med. Wolf Lütje, President DGPFG German Society for Psychosomatic OB/GYN was presented.
You’ll also find obituaries for deceased members, in the year prior to last, Marianne Springer-Kremser, Austria, and, pending, the loss of our colleague Michael Edward Pawson, GB
Regarding education, educational content for the website was developed by Jonathan Schaffir and other contributors. A survey of POG teaching in our member societies was performed and its results presented at ISPOG 2022 and published by Jonathan Schaffir & Vivian Pramataroff-Hamburger in our JPOG journal.
We have a next book in preparation, as a follow-up on the first edition by Marieke Paarlberg and Harry van de Wiel: „Bio-psycho-social Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Editors this time will be Vivian Pramataroff-Hamburger, Chulmin Lee and M.Caroline Vos. This wil also be published by Springer and will be full open access. This is made possible by contributions of ISPOG, its members and a general donation from the German society.
Our Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology (JPOG) is published by Taylor & Francis. It was founded in 1982 and focuses on psychosomatic and psychosocial aspects of women’s health in various disciplines such as gynaecology, obstetrics, nursing, psychiatry and psychology. By 2023 (Volume 44), it converted to a full Open Access journal. This is an important reason to agree on updated contract modalities.
For the journal metrics, the publication process in terms of average speed of article publication has more than been halved over the last 10 years to around 14 days after acceptance. The number of downloads by readers is continuously increasing, and the impact factor that has averaged 2.6 over the last six years.
Luckily, the JPOG has not seen many problems with the actions on academic integrity by various research groups about articles from past issues. This shows the dedication and good work of the editorial team over the years.
We owe these developments to the dedicated work of the two Editors-in-Chief: Julie Quinlivan and Mijke Lambregtse van den Berg and the 24 colleagues on the Editorial Board from 12 nations. See: https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/ipob20/about-this-journal#abstracting-and-indexing
International cooperation with colleagues on other symposia is a strong feat of ISPOG where advocacy, education and research goals are all three met. ISPOG members were represented (with symposia) at the following events.
Finally, we have arrived in Seoul, Korea for our triannual conference for the 21st time. It is timed 3-5 April 2025 coinciding with the cherry blossoms. The congress motto is Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the Globalised World. We have opened at Villa the Noche on the 3rd of April and will continue at Omnibus Park, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, St.Mary´s Hospital on the 4th and 5th of April 2025. We extend sincere thanks to the organisers, the congress president, Keun Ho Lee, the chair of the scientific committee, Kyu Ri Hwang, and the entire team for their dedicated preparation. Most of all, we extend a special heartfelt thanks to Chulmin Lee, who has been a dedicated link between the ISPOG Board, the members of the organising committee and the organising team over the past three years.
We want to extend good wishes for the new board members and the future of ISPOG.
„The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team. Good teams become great ones when the members trust each other enough to surrender the me for the we.“ (quote from Philip Douglas “Phil” Jackson, born September 17, 1945, an American professional basketball executive, former coach and former player).
On behalf of ISPOG’s board: Chulmin Lee, president-elect, Vivian Pramataroff-Hamburger, treasurer, Leroy Edozien, immediate past-president, M.Caroline Vos, secretary-general.
Prof. Mechthild Neises-Rudolf, president
April 4th, 2025.
Michael Edward Pawson MBBS (London), MRCS, LRCP, MRCOG, FRCOG
“Mike” to his friends and family
Michael Pawson, who was Chairman of the British Society of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynaecology 1995-96 and 1997-99 and served as the UK representative on the ISPOG Executive Committee, died on 9 November 2024 at the age of 87. As a pioneer in exploring the psychosomatic aspects of infertility – how psychology and mental health affect pregnancy – he was instrumental in positioning ‘psychosomatics’ within mainstream clinical practice.
Mike qualified at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, in 1962 and obtained Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (MRCOG) in 1970, then Fellowship (FRCOG) in 1983. He worked as a registrar under Norman Morris, who argued that doctors were failing to understand the emotional pressures on women going through childbirth and set out to change forever the experience of giving birth in a British hospital.
He became a consultant at Charing Cross Hospital, London, in 1972 and set up a dedicated fertility clinic there, one of the first such clinics: previously people who were infertile were seen in the general gynaecology clinic. Charing Cross Hospital also had the UK’s first gender clinic, and Mike did some gender-confirming surgery for its patients.
Subsequently, he was a consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital in London, where he was the first clinical director of the Assisted Conception Unit. He left this post in 1998. He was also clinical director of gynaecological services at the hospital for three years.
He was honorary senior lecturer at the Imperial College School of Medicine, University of London, and an examiner for the University of London, Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, the Central Midwives Board and the Conjoint Board of the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Surgeons.
His publications include, Psychological Challenges in Obstetrics and Gynecology: The Clinical Management(Springer-Verlag, London, 2007) which he co-edited.
He was a member of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, the Medical Protection Society and on the Register of Expert Witnesses.
At school, a teacher had told him he would “never make a scientist”. The teacher would have been closer to the mark if they had said he would “never make a biomedical scientist”. Mike shunned the biomedical model of health care delivery and championed the holistic biopsychosocial model that integrates biological factors with psychological, emotional and social factors.
He said of his work: “What is it that makes a gynaecologist take up such a speciality and reflect on mortality and procreation? I am conscious that my motivation to do medicine and then to specialise in women’s health and well-being, initially in pregnancy and childbirth, was the positive and creative nature of producing a healthy baby. Probably a deeper and more complex reason was associated with the fact that I had no communication of any sort with my father from the age of 6. This made me interested in parenting and, having seen, understood and taken part in the care of pregnant women, I became aware of the pain of those who were unable to conceive”.
He is survived by his wife, three children and six grandchildren to whom ISPOG extends condolences as well as gratitude and appreciation of his legacy.
In the coming days, we are all preparing for ISPOG’s 21st conference in Seoul. For some of us, it will be the first time in Asia or in Korea, for others it will be a home game.
Eightteen years after the successful conference in Kyoto, ISPOG is coming to Asia again. It is important to span our activities across the globe to be able to meet the demands of members in different countries. We are excited to meet all the delegates and people of the ISPOG family again. Old connections can be strenghtened and new friends can be added as family members.
The title of the conference is “Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a globalised world.” This very important theme will be the main topic of the scientific program, where we be able to discuss psychosomatic topics that are still actual in today’s world. Bringing together the views from different parts of the world is very valuable. However, in preparing we noticed that we share the same themes and concerns regarding psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology. This common focus will help to advance science, teaching and advocacy in psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology.
KSPOG, the organising committe and the scientific committee have done a great job in establishing a conference at a great location. They have prepared three days of themed symposia, workshops and free communication sessions to delve into the world of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology.
If you are still in doubt whether you should travel? Look at the website of ISPOG 2025 (www.ispog2025.com) to find out more information.
We are looking forward to seeing you!
Dr. med. Wolf Lütje, President DGPFG German Society for Psychosomatic OB/GYN published in „Ärztliche Psychotherapie und Psychosomatische Medizin“ 2024;19:199 (www.aertzliche-psychotherapie.de)
No, at first glance this is not a book that seems compellingly worth reading from the title alone: yet another book about the coronavirus – surely we’ve all learned our lessons by now? And in English, no less.
On closer inspection, however, it becomes clear to the reader that this book only addresses central issues of global health in all their facets by way of example. The result is a meta-level blueprint for overcoming future and unfortunately expected crises facing humanity. Whether war, climate, infections – there must be regional but also global answers to everything, that go far beyond biological phenomena.
In addition to the WHO, it is above all the FIGO (which will soon have a German president) and the ISPOG (also under German presidency) which, alongside the DGPFG, is seeking a holistic approach to health care and has found it in many ways.
To stay on topic: the vaccine is one thing, but without the associated disease and its holistic consideration in terms of meaning, well-being and relationship, there can be no health.
If there is a particularly important target group in this regard, it is women, who are likely to shape this century like never before and will continue to do so.
This book takes a multi-layered approach to women: whether it is about mental health, touch, family planning, birth, attachment, stress, violence, trauma or death, many international authors competently engage with these issues.
It is important that ethics, the pitfalls of the digitalised information society, the psychological challenges for a healthcare system and the basic idea of the biopsychosocial perspective have also been included and round off the book.
We have the editors to thank for helping to make the topic of the 20th ISPOG Congress 2022 in Vienna on sustainability and for admonishing us to remain vigilant after surviving the crisis and to prepare ourselves for new challenges in a multi-faceted way.
The future belongs not only to women, but also to a global and holistic view of health and illness.
As the saying goes: ‘Health is the ability to live with disorders’.
The book helps comprehensively to deal with the next major disorders even better – even if, in such a case, not everyone can be saved, but at least they can be better accompanied and cared for.
German perspective
The German perspective was published in a position paper, which was co-authored by the German Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics, the Professional Association of Gynaecologists and a further 10 working groups and 6 specialist associations.
The following aspects are emphasised in the paper:
The environmental and climate crisis is the greatest threat to our health in the 21st century, affecting people worldwide to varying degrees. Vulnerable population groups, especially women and children, but also the elderly, the chronically ill and the socially disadvantaged, are increasingly suffering from the effects, as are future generations. Pregnant women, newborns and young children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of heat stress and dehydration due to their limited ability to adapt. An American meta-analysis of numerous studies on the effects of heat and particulate matter pollution on the course of pregnancy describes an increase in premature births of around 15%, low birth weight of around 30% and an increase in stillbirths of up to 14.5% (Bekkar et al. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3: e208242).
The healthcare system must be put in a position to absorb the health effects of the climate crisis, which will increase sharply in the coming years, and to meet the growing demands that this will bring. Medical professionals will increasingly have to focus on the prevention of diseases.
Gynaecologists, midwives and nurses in particular should work towards a sustainable transformation in the healthcare system. If we see ourselves as part of the solution, network and become active, we will achieve positive changes.
The position paper lists numerous proposals for action in the inpatient and outpatient care sector. In addition to the options for action for practices and clinics, the professional policy area is also discussed and, finally, the tasks in patient contact. Gynaecologists and midwives should use their expertise and patient contacts to provide climate-sensitive advice to particularly vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, infants and young children, as well as the chronically ill, the obese and the elderly, so that they can protect themselves from the consequences of heat stress, dehydration and air pollution, which are the main consequences of the climate crisis in Central Europe. (Bechert et al. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2024; 84: 319-24. DOI: 10.1055/a-2232-3981).
FIGO statement
The FIGO, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, has already established its own Committee on Climate Change and Toxic Environmental Exposures, which has highlighted the links between the climate crisis and health consequences, as well as providing clear guidance on the measures needed to protect the climate in our areas of work and on specific climate-friendly measures in clinics and practices. Read the full statement here: https://www.figo.org/news/statement-climate-crisis-and-health.
We hereby invite our members, especially those on the Executive Committee, to submit the statements, experiences and activities of their national societies to our Board for publication on our website.
Mechthild Neises-Rudolf, ISPOG President
The picture is drawn by Hinari Koizumi at 10 years old in ISPOG’s diamond jubilee year 2022. She is the granddaughter of dr. Hiroko Komura, former vice-president of the Japanese POG society.
In war and other situations of conflict, care for women and children is especially vulnerable and reproductive rights will be violated. Obstetric and gynaecologic care is more difficult under these circumstances and health care workers cannot do their jobs properly and may become victims of war themselves. Also, war and conflict-related migration are known to be associated with increased levels of gender-based violence, mental ill-health and human rights deprivations. Therefore, war has long-term and transgenerational implications for reproductive health.
Currently, the war in Ukraine, with the attendant civilian casualties, separation of families, and influx of refugees into neighbouring countries is one of these situations that abhors the world. It challenges the global community to be proactive in addressing the plight of vulnerable persons, particularly women and children.
The International Society of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ISPOG) calls on governments and nongovernmental organisations to ensure the timely implementation of extant guidelines and interventions developed from the experiences of families and communities affected by warfare elsewhere in the world over the last three decades.
The impact of the covid-19 pandemic is not only influencing the topic of our conference, but also makes a date change necessary.
The new dates for the 20th ISPOG congress are 13-16 July 2022.
The conference venue is still the Sigmund Freud University in Vienna.
The new deadline for abstract submission will be 30 March 2022.
We hope to see you all in summer 2022 in Vienna!
The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and still has, a profound impact on all of us,. Affecting the everyday life and professional activities of our patients and ourselves. The 20th Congress of the International Society of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ISPOG) addresses this Impact in relation to the following topics in key lectures, symposia, master classes and workshops:
The abstract submission deadline is set at December 15th 2021. Join us in the lovely city of Vienna, Austria.
Parallel to the 20th Congress of ISPOG, the 3-Länder-Tagung der Deutschen, Österreichischen und Schweizer Gesellschaften für Psychosomatik in Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe
will take place (the conference language for that conference is German).
More information about ISPOG 2022 can be found at www.ispog2022.org.
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Report from the 21st ISPOG Congress, 3–5 April 2025, Seoul, Korea Traditionally, the ISPOG congresses bring together people from different nations across continents every three years under the theme of […]
Read more »From the start in 2019, the three main topics for the work of the board were advocacy, education and research. However, soon after the board took office in October 2019, […]
Read more »Michael Edward Pawson MBBS (London), MRCS, LRCP, MRCOG, FRCOG “Mike” to his friends and family Michael Pawson, who was Chairman of the British Society of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynaecology 1995-96 […]
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