Women in Gynaecology and Obstetrics

The first meeting of Women in Gynaecology and Obstetrics (WIGO) was held in December 1982 in response to a call from the Women in Medicine organisation to establish specific groups for specific branches of medicine. Membership was open to all women obstetricians with part 1 MRCOG, MRCOG or FRCOG and that women planning to move into other specialities, such as genito-urinary medicine, family planning or community health should be eligible as long as they were members of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. A membership subscription was charged on a sliding scale. The aims of the organisation were to provide a support group for junior doctors working for the MRCOG part II to provide a careers advisory service for junior doctors contemplating a career in obstetrics and gynaecology to provide support and advice for overseas women doctors in obstetrics and gynaecology to encourage the participation of women in the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Officers of the society were comprised of a secretary, a treasurer and a co-ordinator who would also act as a press relations officer. In 1984 two other aims were added, to increase the proportion of women actively practising obstetrics and gynaecology and to increase the representation of women in the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and other official bodies. Founding members were Susan Bewley MD MRCOG, Wendy Savage MRCOG and Melanie C Davies MRCP MRCOG. The group closed in [1997] due to lack of interest.