The congress, held at the Dr. Ralph A. Defronzo Auditorium of Istanbul Atlas University's Vadi Campus, featured current, evidence-based scientific presentations illuminating clinical practice across a wide range of topics, from pelvic floor dysfunctions to physiological and functional changes occurring during menopause.
The three-day congress, which saw high participation, brought together healthcare professionals from various disciplines interested in the subject, primarily physiotherapists working in the field of women's health.
Prof. Dr. Ersoy Kocabıçak: “The Collaboration of Different Disciplines in Women's Health is Very Important”
In his opening speech, Istanbul Atlas University Rector Prof. Dr. Ersoy Kocabıçak emphasized the importance of addressing women's health through an interdisciplinary approach. Stating that science today progresses through a culture of collaboration, Prof. Dr. Kocabıçak stressed that the collaboration of gynecology, neurology, psychiatry, physiotherapy, and other health disciplines is critically important in the field of women's health. He underlined that women's health should be evaluated not only from a physiological but also from a psychological perspective, adding that such scientific meetings contribute to the development of societal awareness.
Interdisciplinary Centers Enhance Academic and Clinical Success
Professor Dr. Ersoy Kocabıçak stated that centers that bring together different disciplines under one roof and enable these fields to work together have made significant progress, saying, “Universities and academic centers that implement this model are making significant progress. Centers that bring together different disciplines and conduct joint studies will advance further in terms of both academic output and clinical success. As a university, we also attach great importance to this approach. Many disciplines work together in the centers we have established under the university umbrella. For example, different branches are located together in the Diabetes Center. In the Neuromodulation Center, different disciplines such as neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry conduct joint studies. Physiotherapy is also an important field that works in collaboration with many disciplines.”
Prof. Dr. Aytolan Yıldırım: “Every investment in women's health is an investment in public health.”
In her opening speech, the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. Aytolan Yıldırım, drew attention to the importance of women's health for public health.
Professor Dr. Aytolan Yıldırım stated that pelvic floor dysfunctions, urinary incontinence, and similar health problems affect women not only physically but also psychologically and socially, adding that these issues are often overlooked and neglected health problems.
Prof. Dr. Aytolan Yıldırım stated, "Investing in women's health in every aspect actually means investing in public health. Improving women's health in a multifaceted way—biologically, psychologically, and socially—is of great importance in order to make both the family and society healthy."
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aybüke Ersin: “We have prepared a rich scientific program.”
Congress President and Associate Professor at the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Aybüke Ersin, stated that this year's congress had two main themes: pelvic floor health and menopause.
Associate Professor Dr. Aybüke Ersin stated that these areas are important topics requiring a multidisciplinary approach, where physiotherapists play an active role in both clinical applications and scientific studies throughout a woman's life cycle.
Associate Professor Aybüke Ersin noted that many of the topics discussed at the congress were areas that are often avoided, and stated that they had prepared a current, evidence-based, and very rich scientific program with expert academics in their fields to discuss these unspoken issues.
Experts who have distinguished themselves in their fields made important and up-to-date posts.
The congress brought together many experts who have distinguished themselves through their achievements in their fields. Following the opening speeches, Prof. Dr. Engin Oral delivered the opening lecture titled "A New Paradigm in Women's Health: A Multidisciplinary and Lifelong Approach."
Prof. Dr. Fatih Durmuşoğlu, a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology and President of the Turkish Menopause and Osteoporosis Association, shared his assessments regarding the current definition of menopause and the importance of hormone replacement therapy.
Prof. Dr. Tufan Tarcan, Secretary General of the International Continence Society (ICS) and faculty member of the Urology Department at Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, discussed medical approaches to urinary incontinence.
Prof. Dr. Serap Özgül, a faculty member at Hacettepe University Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Department of Physiotherapy in Pelvic Health and Women's Health, and President of FICED (Fellow Continence Society), and Vice President Prof. Dr. Şeyda Toprak Çelenay shared current information on physiotherapy approaches in urinary incontinence with the participants. Prof. Dr. Serap Özgül is also a member of the International Continence Society (ICS), known for its international work in the field of pelvic floor health.
Speaking at the Longevity Panel, Obstetrician and Gynecologist Prof. Dr. Cihat Ünlü made assessments regarding the role of the physician in the healthy aging process. Prof. Dr. Cihat Ünlü is also involved in international platforms through his work in the fields of women's health and fertility, and his membership in the German Fertility Society.
The Chief Physician of Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, Orthopedist Prof. Dr. Barış Yılmaz, stated that sexual dysfunction can also occur in pelvic fractures and emphasized the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in treatment.
Women's health was addressed from a multidisciplinary perspective.
The congress, held between May 7-9, 2026, addressed numerous topics from a multidisciplinary perspective, including urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, menopause, sexual health, rehabilitation, and women's health throughout life.
During the oral presentation sessions held as part of the scientific program, current research in the field of women's health was shared with the participants. Studies on telerehabilitation applications in the postpartum period, quality of life during menopause, pelvic floor exercises, and urinary incontinence attracted particular attention.
The program also addressed topics such as the biopsychosocial dimension of women's health, pelvic health in athletes, pelvic floor health during pregnancy, neurodevelopmental pelvic health, and longevity. The scientific program, consisting of conferences, panels, workshops, and oral presentation sessions, was held with high participation.
