C‘is a new word destined to enter the vocabulary of women’s medicine – and perhaps, soon, also in that of all women who wish to better understand their bodies: neurogynecology. Born inIRCCS Sacred Heart Hospital – Don Calabria of Negrar, in the Verona area, created by Professor Marcello Ceccaroni, who describes it as «A bridge that unites anatomy, neuroscience And surgical innovation. It is a scientific branch aimed at interpreting and analyzing all the delicate phenomena that underlie pain, especially chronic pain.”
Neurogynecology brings with it a revolutionary idea: look at female health starting from the brain. Because if pain, infertility or endometriosis often begins in the body, the key to truly understanding them is hidden in the nervous system. This is where a new discipline that unites comes into play gynecology and neuroscienceanatomy and biotechnology, technology and human sensitivity. A frontier that promises to rewrite the way in which we deal with some of the most delicate conditions for women – and which, like all great ideas, arises from a simple intuition: curing does not only mean intervening, but also preserving, protecting, regenerating.
What neurogynecology studies
The new discipline aims to address various situations previously treated with more traditional approaches:
- the study of biological, genetic and immunological mechanisms linked to infertility and neuro-inflammation;
- surgical interventions that preserve nerve fibers and pelvic functions after treatments for gynecological tumors or severe endometriosis;
- the development of new neuro-regeneration factors and biosynthetic structures to regenerate nerve fibers damaged by surgery or pathologies.
This vision broadens the concept of “female well-being”: not only treatment of symptoms, but also protection of neurological function and quality of life.
Why it matters to women
The chronic pelvic paintheendometriosis severe, theinfertility they are conditions that profoundly impact women’s lives, often tolerated for a long time before being diagnosed. Neurogynecology intervenes right there, looking “beyond” the gynecological structure alone and considering the “entire female nervous system”.
«All these areas of study will be associated with anatomical and neuroanatomical research, aimed at the development of new surgical techniques, aimed at preserving nerve fibers and pelvic functions after very invasive surgeries», says Ceccaroni. This means that the therapeutic choice is no longer just “remove or cure”, but “save, regenerate, preserve”.
A dedicated scientific organization
To give structure to this vision, theInternational Society of Neuro‑Gynecology & Nerve Sparing Surgery (ISNG)which brings together researchers and surgeons from all over the world. The board includes experts such as Shailesh Puntambekar, director of the Pune Hospital (India)and international collaborations that broaden the global impact of the discipline.
The official presentation of ISNG takes place at the 54th Congress of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) in Vancouver: an important context that underlines the international scope of the initiative.
What changes for women’s health
The birth of neurogynecology introduces some concrete changes. First of all, diagnoses and therapies that take into account the nervous and not just gynecological component; more attention to preserve pelvic function and quality of life after invasive interventions; opening to nerve regeneration, a topic traditionally relegated to neurology or surgery. Finally, a more integrated, multidisciplinary and function-focused treatment modality, not just the disease.
How neurogynecology will evolve
Neurogynecology represents, for women, the possibility of being seen not only as gynecological patients, but as people with a nervous system, with functions, with needs. It is a step forward in the quality of care and dignity of women’s health. The future will see further technological developments (biosynthetic matrices, regeneration factors), but also an impact on prevention: early identification of neurological causes of pelvic pain or infertility. «Another very important field of investigation will concern the study and development of new neuroregeneration factors and matrices and new biosynthetic structures for the support and regeneration of damaged nerve fibers», explains Ceccaroni.
Professor Marcello Ceccaroni (Courtesy IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital)
5 questions (and answers) to understand neurogynecology
1. What is neurogynecology?
It is a new discipline that unites gynecology and neuroscience to study the interaction between the nervous system and the female reproductive system. Explore how nerves affect pelvic pain, infertility, and recovery of function after complex surgeries.
2. Why was it born at the IRCCS Negrar in Verona?
The project was conceived by Professor Marcello Ceccaronidirector of the Department for the protection of women’s health and quality of life of the IRCCS Sacro Cuore – Don Calabria of Negrar. The institute has for years been an international reference center for advanced gynecological surgery and for the treatment of endometriosis.
3. How can it help women?
Neurogynecology aims to reduce chronic pelvic paina preserve nerves and pelvic functions after oncological operations or for severe endometriosis, and to develop therapies that favor regeneration of nerve fibers damaged.
4. What does “nerve-sparing technique” mean?
It is a surgical methodology that allows the removal of lesions or pathological tissues without damaging the pelvic nerves. This technique, already successfully applied in “Negrar method”, allows for better functional recovery and a higher quality of life after surgery.
5. What will be the next applications?
Researchers are working on biosynthetic matrices And neuroregeneration factors which could one day regrow nerves damaged by disease or surgery. It’s a perspective that could radically change the treatment of pelvic pain and post-operative complications.