Cheryl Iglesia

Cheryl Iglesia, MD, FACOG, a board-certified gynecologist and obstetrician, is Section Director, Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC, an Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Urology at Georgetown University, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health and Sciences in Bethesda, MD.

A recognized expert in the field of urogynecology, Dr. Iglesia has published scholarly articles in the Journal of the American Medical Association, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, and has authored medical book chapters on the subject of urogynecologic urgencies and emergencies. She is a frequent invited lecturer at medical conferences and is often called upon by media sources as an expert medical commentator on gynecological health topics. Dr. Iglesia's research interests include surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence, biomaterials (e.g., mesh) and pelvic reconstructive surgery, and neuromodulation in the treatment of refractory urge incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction. She was the first surgeon in Washington, DC to perform a total vaginal mesh procedure and she participated in the first civilian laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy with mesh performed in DC.

Dr. Iglesia is actively involved in clinical research on the natural history of pelvic floor disorders and surgical therapy for pelvic organ prolapse. In addition, Dr. Iglesia is developing the curriculum for a MedStar fellowship in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, which will be one of only 24 board-approved programs in the country. She is an active member of and leader for several medical associations, and is the recipient of many honors and awards: The Best Doctors in America 2005 - 2006, the CREOG National Faculty Award for Excellence in Residence Education, and the Jelks Award for Education, Diligence, Compassion and Innovation in Patient Care.

She earned her medical degree at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD, and completed a surgical internship and residency at the University of Florida Health and Sciences Center in Jacksonville, FL. She completed a fellowship in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at the Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago, IL, followed by a mini-fellowship in pelvic floor clinical neurophysiology at Methodist Hospital and Indiana University in Indianapolis, IN.

Research Interests

Dr. Cheryl Iglesia's research interests include

  • Vaginal mesh for prolapsed repair
  • Pelvic floor disorders
  • Surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence
  • Biomaterials and pelvic reconstructive surgery
  • Neuromodulation in the treatment of refractory urge incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction
  • Safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of new surgical therapies
  • Comparative outcomes studies

View Dr. Iglesia's publications on PubMed

Research Areas


  • Maternal-Fetal/Women’s Health