ESGO/INCIP Guidelines for the management of patients with gynecological cancers during pregnancy

Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2025 Sep;35(9):101975. doi: 10.1016/j.ijgc.2025.101975. Epub 2025 Jun 13.

Abstract

As part of its mission to improve the quality of care for women with gynecological cancers across Europe, the European Society of Gynecological Oncology (ESGO) organized 3 international consensus meetings with leading experts in the field to define protocols and to provide guidance for pregnant patients and healthcare providers on the management of gynecological cancers in pregnancy. Following the third consensus meeting, the guidelines published in 2019 were updated by incorporating new evidence on this field and covering new topics to provide comprehensive evidence-based guidelines on all relevant issues within a multidisciplinary setting. ESGO appointed 21 experts from relevant disciplines and 2 cancer survivors to serve on the international development group. Members of the International Network on Cancer, Infertility and Pregnancy involved in the 3 international consensus meetings were included. To ensure that the guidelines were evidence-based, data identified from a systematic search were reviewed and critically appraised. In the absence of robust scientific evidence, the guidelines were based on the consensus of the international development group. Prior to publication, the guidelines were reviewed by 100 independent international practitioners in cancer care delivery from Asia, Europe, Africa, and North and South Americas, and 3 patient representatives to ensure a global perspective. These ESGO/International Network on Cancer, Infertility and Pregnancy guidelines address all relevant aspects of imaging, pathology, surgery, medical oncology, obstetrics, radiation therapy, psychology, patient perspectives and pediatric follow-up in a multidisciplinary setting for patients with tubo-ovarian, cervical, and vulvar cancers during pregnancy. Treatment algorithms for each tumor type are also defined.

Keywords: Cervical Cancer; Guidelines; Pregnancy; Tubo-Ovarian Cancer; Vulvar Cancer.

Publication types

  • Practice Guideline

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female* / therapy
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic* / therapy