Establishing the subspecialty of female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery in the United States of America

OBJECTIVE: In this review I describe the history leading to the creation of the subspecialty of female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery and its fellowships, the process involved in the current requirements for subspecialty certification and fellowship applications, and the implications for urological training. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The route to subspecialty certification and fellowships for female urology in the USA is a lesson in politics, education, medical rivalries and perseverance, with the goal of improving care for women. This decade-long journey culminated in the recognition of a separate subspecialty by the American Board of Medical Specialties in 2011, accreditation by the American Council for Graduate Medical Education in 2012, and certification to be awarded by the Boards of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Urology in 2013. It remains to be seen whether this effort will improve resident education and patient care, or represent a marketing tool in the competitive USA healthcare environment. While many of the details and regulatory issues are specific to the USA, elements of the curriculum and procedures should be relevant to other countries.