About me
Cheryl B. Iglesia, MD, FACOG, FPMRS, is Director of the Section of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and Director of the National Center for Advanced Pelvic Surgery (NCAPS) at MedStar Health, an internationally renowned center that combines urogynecology and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. She is also Professor of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Urology at Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Dr. Iglesia and her colleagues are internationally and nationally recognized for their work in advancing the clinical, academic, research, and other innovative aspects of advanced pelvic surgery and urogynecology. The NCAPS faculty has received numerous awards for their excellence in research, teaching clinical trials, leadership, and administration. The MedStar Health—Washington Hospital Center Fellowship Program in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery is recognized as one of the top urogynecology fellowship programs in the country and one of the few fellowships that combine urogynecology and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.
As a double board-certified physician in Ob/Gyn and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery with more than 30 years in the field, Dr. Iglesia specializes in diagnosing and treating pelvic floor disorders, including urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, overactive bladder, and pelvic organ prolapse. She also specializes in treating complex pelvic floor complications after prior surgery, including urinary and bowel fistulas; complications after pregnancy and childbirth, including pain from episiotomies and lacerations, as well as accidental bowel and bladder leakage; and complications after cancer treatment, such as sexual health issues and vaginal dryness. She has special expertise in managing complications associated with transvaginal mesh and its removal.
Philosophy of Care
“My philosophy of care goes hand-in-hand with my philosophy of life. At the end of the day, life is about how you treat others. I treat my patients, as well as my colleagues including the administrative staff, nurses, medical office assistants, advanced practice practitioners, and learners in training, with the highest respect.
“I provide care and practice to the highest level of medical evidence. I want my patients to have access to the most groundbreaking treatments, but there must be evidence of their safety and efficacy. The advantage of getting care at a renowned medical teaching institution such as MedStar Health and Georgetown University School of Medicine is that patients have access to novel treatments through clinical trials, where we evaluate the new technology using outcomes that matter most to patients.
“I don’t operate on strangers. I feel strongly that it’s important to listen to patients, to understand what their goals and expectations are, and to have an honest conversation about how we can help them best achieve those goals.
“I’m passionate about educating doctors in training and giving my all to spread knowledge to the next generation of pelvic reconstructive surgeons–that is a significant part of my legacy.
“A saying that really speaks to me is, ‘Work won’t love you back.’ I know this to be true because only family and close friends can fill that need. But I firmly believe that work can bring you joy. I’m so joyful about the work I do. Some of the conditions I treat can be very debilitating and embarrassing, and significantly affect our patients’ quality of life. I really enjoy being able to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. It’s a true privilege and honor.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Lichen Sclerosus Treatment
- Robotic Colpopexy
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Breast Imaging
- Abnormal Urine Test Results
- Acquired Absence Of Female Genital Organs
- Acquired Absence Of Organs
- Acute Pelvic Pain
- Bartholin's Gland Diseases
- Candidiasis
- Cervical Dysplasia
- Cervix Uteri Disorders
- Congenital Malformations Of Female Genitalia
- Cystitis
- Cystocele
- Dyspareunia
- Endometriosis
- Female Genital Pain
- Female Genital Tract Fistulae
- Female Genital Tract Polyp
- Female Urinary Tract Infections (UTIS)
- Genital Injury
- Genitourinary Symptoms
- Hematuria
- Herpes (GENITAL HERPES)
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Leiomyoma Of Uterus
- Malignant Neoplasm Of Cervix Uteri
- Menstrual Disorders
- Mesh Erosion
- Ovarian Cysts And Benign Neoplasms
- Ovary, Fallopian Tube And Broad Ligament Disorders
- Painful Urination
- Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Peritoneum Disorders
- Sexual Dysfunction
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Sling Procedure Complications
- Uterine And Vaginal Bleeding Abnormalities
- Uterine Fibroids
- Uterine Prolapse
- Uterus Problems
- Vagina And Vulva Inflammation And Infections
- Vaginal And Vulvar Inflammation
- Vaginal Dryness
- Vaginal Fistula
- Vaginal Wall Prolapse
- Vulva And Perineum Disorders
- Vulvar And Vaginal Atrophy
Procedures I perform
- Endometrial Ablation
- Enteroscopy
- Geriatric Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
- Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
- Laparoscopic Removal Of Adnexal Structures
- Lichen Sclerosus Treatment
- Pelvic Floor Surgery
- Pelvic Pain Treatment
- Posterior Colporrhaphy
- Repair Perineum Muscle
- Robotic Colpopexy
- Vagina Resection
- Vaginal Laser Rejuvenation
- Vaginal Laser Therapy
- Vaginal Pessary Insertion
- Vaginal Rejuvenation With Vaginoplasty
- Vaginal Vault Suspension
- Vaginoplasty
- Vaginoplasty Revision
- Vestibuloplasty
- Vulvodynia
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- UHC Passport
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- First Health PPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Network OA
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- CareFirst NASCO
- IH-Open HMO
- IH-EPO Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Beech Street PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- HighMark
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna HMO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- POS OA
- IH-PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- Navigate
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- IH-Open POS II
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Employee Health Plan
- IH-Indemnity
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Choice Fund PPO
- TRICARE East Prime
- CIGNA PPO
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- TRICARE East Select
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Choice POS II Open Access
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- IH-Open POS Plus
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Medicare FFS
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Sentara Health
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst EPO
- OA Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Core Essential (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- MultiPlan, Inc
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- IH-POS
- BlueChoice Open Access
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- TRICARE for Life East
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- United Student Resources
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Choice POS II
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- IH-HMO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Choice POS
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CareFirst Administrators
Videos
Education
Board Certification:
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Fellowship: Methodist Hospital of Indiana (1997)
Fellowship: Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center-Chicago (1997)
Residency: University of Florida College of Medicine - Jacksonville (1995)
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine (1991)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025 2021 Most Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Florida College of Medicine, Shands/Jacksonville
- 2019 Karen Gale Award for Outstanding Achievement and Mentorship, Georgetown University School of Medicine
- 2018 AUGS Foundation Donor of the Year Award Chicago, IL
- 2014 ACOG Mentor of the Year Award
- 2013 SGS President’s Award for Outstanding Research,Charleston, SC
- 2011 AUGS Best Clinical/Surgical Paper Chicago, IL
- 2011 Axel Ingelman-Sundberg Award for Best Abstract International Urogynecologic Association 36th Annual Meeting Lisbon, Portugal
- 2011 Best Surgical Video Award Society of Gynecologic Surgeon’s 27th Annual Meeting
- Teaching Awards
- 2014 Anthony Sciallli Chief Resident excellence in teaching and resident advocacy award from Graduating Chief Residents
- 2014-17, 2019-21 Golden Apple Teaching Award Nomination(Georgetown Med Students)
- 2000 CREOG National Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Education as voted by Washington Hospital Center Ob/Gyn Residents
- 1997 Fellowship Teaching Award for Resident Education, Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center
- 1995 Jelks Award for Education, Diligence, Compassion and Innovation in Patient Care, University of Florida Health Sciences Center/ Shands
- 1995 Special Excellence in Endoscopy University of Florida Health Sciences Center/ Shands
- 1991 Rudolf Virchow Award for Research in Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine
- Special Recognition
- Top Doctors listing Washingtonian Magazine 2012-2017
- Super Doctors listing: The Washington Post 2011-2013
- Best Doctors Northern Virginia 2009 - present
- Best Doctors in America 2005 - present