Dr. Harold Drutz, is considered one of the founders of the Canadian Society for Pelvic Medicine. He has been a prominent figure in urogynaecology since the 1970s, and is widely regarded as a pioneer in developing female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery in Canada, Dr. Drutz has championed improved education and the establishment of international training guidelines in urogynaecology.

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CSPM: Why did you help create the Canadian Society for Pelvic Medicine?

Dr. Drutz: The concept of a multidisciplinary Society of providers that was devoted to improving the quality of health for women was on my mind for almost 50 years. While organizations like IUGA and AUGS were well established, I felt there was a need for something specifically Canadian—an institution that fully grasped our healthcare system.

Initially, we were two societies:

• The Western Society of Pelvic Medicine formed by, among others, Dr. Kevin Carlson, Dr. Geoff Cundiff, Dr. Cathy Flood, Dr. Tom Mainprize, Dr. Colin Birch, Dr. Magali Robert, Dr. Magnus Murphy, and Dr. Jane Schulz; and
• The Eastern Society of Pelvic Medicine, which I was a member of with Dr. Kevin Baker, Dr. Patricia Lee, Dr. Dante Pascali, and Dr. Jens-Erik Walter among others.

With the help of these colleagues—and many former fellows of mine—I was able to merge the two societies into one and create the Canadian Society for Pelvic Medicine.

Today, CSPM fulfills the purpose we envisioned. Though it is still in its early years, CSPM is making tremendous progress, and I am grateful to those who have taken my vision forward.

CSPM: Why do fellowship programs matter to you?

Dr. Drutz: I had the privilege of training with two of the founding fathers of IUGA, Dr. Jack Robertson—who also founded AUGS—and Professor Axel Ingelman Sundberg. I was Jack’s first fellow, and that experience profoundly shaped my perspective on urogynecology and how I wanted to practice medicine focusing on female pelvic health.

Before, it was the pelvis full of “holes” (urethra, vagina, rectum). Women had to seek care from a urologist, gynaecologist and colorectal surgeon. Today, with female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery as a specialty, a woman doesn’t have to see three doctors to receive specialized care.

I became a mentor myself early in my career. As my wife says, I have three biological children and another 44 who are my former fellows. I take great pride in the success of my students, many of whom have played pivotal roles in CSPM’s growth. They are now training the next generation and developing excellent fellowship programs across the country.

CSPM: What advice would you give fellows?

Dr. Drutz: I would remind fellows that academic medicine is not easy. It demands a commitment to do research, to publish papers regularly, and secure grants, all of which can strain the balance with personal life. Is it demanding? Yes. But it’s also incredibly rewarding.

CSPM: Is there a recent study or development in the field that has piqued your interest?

Dr. Drutz: There was a very good study published recently on vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomies that I found interesting. It showed that the cheapest and most cost-effective method of doing a hysterectomy is vaginal.

Azadi A, Taher Masoud A, Ulibarri  H. Vaginal Hysterectomy Compared With Laparoscopic Hysterectomy in Benign Gynecologic Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol. 2023 Dec 1; 142(6):1373-1394. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005434. Link to the article.

Additionally, the Centre for Mature Women’s Health, a $50-million project launched in 2023 by Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, is at an exciting stage. Led by Dr. Wendy Wolfman, it is currently focused on specialized areas of women’s health, including primary menopause, ovarian failure, urogenital aging, and degenerative changes in the female pelvis and pelviperineology.

CSPM: What would people be most surprised to learn about you?

Dr. Drutz: I am an excellent baker. My family says that I make the world’s best carrot cake!

Thank you Dr. Drutz for your invaluable contribution to CSPM and to women’s pelvic health medicine.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD) affects millions of people, yet it often goes undiagnosed due to a lack of awareness and understanding. As healthcare providers, it's crucial to educate patients about Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD). Use this simple guide, prepared by IUGA, to help your patients understand, manage, and prevent PFD.

Understanding PFD

Remind patients that the pelvic floor consists of muscles and tissues supporting the bladder, rectum, and reproductive organs. When these muscles malfunction, it can lead to issues like incontinence, pelvic pain, and organ prolapse.

5 Key Points to Discuss with Your Patients

1. Understand the Symptoms: Knowing the signs of PFD is the first step towards getting help. Common symptoms include:

• Urinary incontinence (leakage of urine)
• Fecal incontinence (leakage of stool)
• Pelvic pain
• Painful intercourse
• A feeling of heaviness or bulging in the pelvic area

Early diagnosis can lead to more effective treatments.

2. Practice Pelvic Floor Exercises: Pelvic floor exercises, often called Kegels, can strengthen the muscles that support your pelvic organs. Here’s how to do them:

• Identify the right muscles by trying to stop the flow of urine midstream.
• Once identified, contract these muscles for 5 seconds, then relax for 5 seconds.
• Repeat this 10-15 times, 3 times a day.

Consistency is key, so try to incorporate these exercises into your daily routine.

3. Maintain a Healthy Weight: Excess weight can put extra pressure on your pelvic floor muscles, leading to dysfunction. Eating a balanced diet and staying active can help you maintain a healthy weight. Incorporate plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins into your diet, and aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week.

4. Stay Hydrated and Eat Fiber: Constipation can strain your pelvic floor muscles, so it’s important to keep your bowel movements regular. Drink plenty of water and include fiber-rich foods in your diet, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. This helps prevent constipation and reduces unnecessary pressure on your pelvic floor.

5. Seek Professional Help: If you’re struggling with PFD symptoms, don’t hesitate to seek help. Physical therapists who specialize in pelvic floor health can offer personalized exercises and treatments. Your doctor can also discuss other options, such as medications or surgery, if needed.

Emphasize that while PFD can significantly impact quality of life, proper management can lead to symptom improvement. Encourage patients to seek personalized advice and treatment options.

This content draws from a publication by the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA).

All Obstetrics and Gynecology residents are invited to attend this virtual event, on April 17, 2024, to meet fellows from Canadian programs and learn about:

Registration for the 2024 CSPM Annual Meeting is now open, register today!

CSPM is accepting nominations for four open positions on the Board of Directors now through Tuesday, November 14, 2024. Self-nominations are acceptable. The open positions are:

• President Elect
• Treasurer
• Eastern Director-at-Large
• Western Allied Health Director-at-Large

A nominee must be a regular CSPM member in good standing and meet the criteria listed below in the relevant position description. Student members are not eligible to serve in these leadership positions.

Position Descriptions

President Elect. If the president is absent or is unable to act, the president elect shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the members. The president elect shall have other duties and powers as the board may specify. The president elect’s term of office shall be 2 (two) years, after which he/she will ascend to a 2 (two) year term as president of the Society. A president elect may not serve for successive terms.

Treasurer. The treasurer shall ensure that sound financial records are kept, sound financial practices are in place, that appropriate financial reports are provided on a regular basis to the board and that necessary bank accounts for the Society’s funds are established; will be the primary contact with the office in the development of a budget for the board’s consideration; and shall submit a financial report to the membership of the Society for its review at the Society’s annual Members’ Meeting. The treasurer’s term of office shall be 2 (two) years, renewable once.

Eastern Director-at-Large. The Eastern director-at-large shall be a voting member originating from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island or Nunavut. The Eastern director-at-large’s term shall be 2 (two) years, renewable once.

Western Allied Health Director-at-Large. The allied health director-at- large shall be a voting member who is a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, continence advisor, or physiotherapist residing in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Yukon or Northwest Territories. The Western allied health director-at-large’s term shall be 2 (two) years, renewable once.

Nomination Process & Application Deadline

Nominations may be submitted by any CSPM member in good standing, including the nominee him or herself. Nominations must be received by 11:59pm Central on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

• If you wish to nominate a CSPM member for one of the above positions, please email your nomination to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The CSPM Executive Office will contact nominees to 1) confirm they are interested and willing to stand in the election and 2) request they complete the online Board Application Form.
• If you wish to nominate yourself for one of the above positions, please complete the Board Application Form here.

Voting will occur in December, with those elected taking office on January 1, 2024.

Be Part of a CSPM Committee!

Enhance your CSPM experience and help bring recognition to urogynecology across Canada! Volunteer now to serve on a CSPM Committee. You’ll share your experience and expertise, but also gain knowledge and enlarge your networking circle as we fulfill our mission to promote excellence in care, education, and research and create a collaborative multidisciplinary group that advocates for better health for those affected by pelvic floor disorders.

All Obstetrics and Gynecology residents are invited to attend this virtual event, December 2, 2022, to meet fellows from Canadian programs and learn about:

Call for Nominations
 CSPM is accepting nominations for three open positions on the Board of Directors now through Wednesday, October 19. Self-nominations are acceptable. The open positions are:

• Secretary
• Western Director-at-Large
• Eastern Allied Health Director-at-Large

A nominee must be a CSPM member in good standing and meet the criteria listed below in the relevant position description.

Position Descriptions
Secretary. The secretary shall attend and be the secretary of all meetings of the board, members and committees of the board. The secretary shall enter or cause to be entered in the Corporation's minute book, minutes of all proceedings at such meetings; the secretary shall give, or cause to be given, as and when instructed, notices to members, directors, the public accountant and members of committees; the secretary shall be the custodian of all books, papers, records, documents and other instruments belonging to the Corporation. The secretary’s term of office shall be 2 (two) years, renewable once.

Western Director-at-Large. The Western director-at-large shall be a voting member originating from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, or Yukon. The Western director-at-large’s term shall be 2 (two) years, renewable once.

Eastern Allied Health Director-at-Large. The allied health director-at- large shall be a voting member who is a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, continence advisor, or physiotherapist residing in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, or Quebec. The Eastern allied health director-at-large’s term shall be 2 (two) years, renewable once.

Nomination Process & Application Deadline
Nominations may be submitted by any CSPM member in good standing, including the nominee him or herself. Nominations must be received by Wednesday, October 19, 2022.

• If you wish to nominate a CSPM member for one of the above positions, please email your nomination to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The CSPM Executive Office will contact nominees to 1) confirm they are interested and willing to stand in the election and 2) request they complete the online Board Application Form.
• If you wish to nominate yourself for one of the above positions, please complete the Board Application Form here.

Voting will occur in November, with those elected taking office on January 1, 2023.

We are looking for a first-year fellow to serve on the CSPM Education Committee to represent the fellow experience and perspective in CSPM's educational initiatives. This is a 2-year term (September 1, 2022 – August 31, 2024). 

The leadership of CSPM stands with the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) and other like-minded organizations, such as the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS), in denouncing the United States Supreme Court’s (SCOTUS) decision to overturn the federal abortion protection that Roe v. Wade afforded to millions of American women. Read the statement here.

The next CSPM Journal Club is Wednesday, June 1! If you would like to attend the next CSPM Journal Club and have not already registered, you can register and find the Journal Club Articles by logging into your member portal and going to the CSPM Journal Club section. 

The CSPM Scientific Meeting Committee, along with the Research & Development Committee, welcomes abstract submissions for oral and video presentations at our 2022 3rd Annual CSPM Meeting. The Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, April 30, in Toronto, Ontario.

Abstracts on research that 1) will be submitted for publication, 2) is currently being considered for publication, or 3) has been published in the last year (since January 2021) will be considered. Abstracts that were submitted for the 2021 CSPM Virtual Scientific Session may also be re-submitted.

All accepted abstracts will be presented live, in person (virtual presentation is not an available option for this meeting). All abstracts presented at the meeting will be included on the CSPM Website. 

LEARN MORE & SUBMIT

CSPM is accepting nominations now through Thursday, September 30 for four open positions on the Board of Directors. Self-nominations are acceptable. The open positions are:

• President Elect
• Treasurer
• Eastern Director-at-Large
• Western Allied Health Director-at-Large

A nominee must be a CSPM member in good standing. The description of each position is listed below. 

Position Descriptions

President Elect: If the president is absent or is unable or refuses to act, the president elect, shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the members. The president elect shall have such other duties and powers as the board may specify. The president elect’s term of office shall be 2 (two) years. He/she will serve a term as president of the Society immediately following the term of president elect. A president elect may not serve for successive terms.

Treasurer: The treasurer shall ensure that sound financial records are kept, sound financial practices are in place, that appropriate financial reports are provided on a regular basis to the board and that necessary bank accounts for the Society’s funds are established; will be the primary contact with the office in the development of a budget for the board’s consideration; and shall submit a financial report to the membership of the Society for its review at the Society’s annual Members’ Meeting. The treasurer’s term of office shall be 2 (two) years, renewable once.

Eastern Director-at-Large: The Eastern director-at-large shall be a voting member originating from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island or Nunavut. The Eastern director-at-large’s term shall be 2 (two) years, renewable once.

Western Allied Health Director-at-Large: The allied health director-at- large shall be a voting member who is a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, continence advisor, or physiotherapist residing in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Yukon or Northwest Territories. The Western allied health director-at-large’s term shall be 2 (two) years, renewable once.

Nomination Process & Application Deadline

Nominations may be submitted by any CSPM member in good standing, including the nominee themselves. Nominations must be received by Thursday, September 30, 2021.

• If you wish to nominate a CSPM member for one of the above positions, please email your nomination to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The CSPM Executive Office will contact nominees to 1) confirm they are interested and willing to stand in the election and 2) request they complete the online Board Application Form.
• If you wish to nominate yourself for one of the above positions, please complete the Board Application Form here.

Voting will occur in November, with those elected taking office on January 1, 2022.

The CSPM Scientific Meeting Committee, along with the Research & Development Committee, welcomes abstract submissions for oral and video presentations* at our 2021 Virtual Scientific Session. The Virtual Scientific Session will be held on Wednesday, October 27, at 7:00pm Eastern.  

Abstracts on research that 1) will be submitted for publication, 2) is currently being considered for publication, or 3) has been published in the last year (since January 2020) will be considered. Abstracts that were submitted for the 2020 CSPM Annual Meeting (that was cancelled due to COVID-19) may also be re-submitted.

Please note that there will be another Call for Abstracts at the end of 2021 for the 2022 In-Person CSPM Annual Meeting, to be held in Toronto on April 23, 2022.  

All abstracts presented at the virtual meeting will be included on the CSPM Website. 

LEARN MORE & SUBMIT 

We are all eager to see one another in person again, but unfortunately, we will have to wait a little longer.

We've been moving forward with plans to hold the 3rd Annual CSPM Meeting in-person after having to transition to a shortened virtual meeting last year. Unfortunately, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to make planning a successful meeting extremely difficult for a small organization like CSPM. 

CSPM remains committed to hosting an Annual Meeting that will deliver attendees the best possible experience - with quality educational sessions and research presentations as well as opportunities for networking and connection. With the health and safety of all of our attendees foremost in mind, the CSPM Board has made the difficult decision to postpone the 3rd Annual CSPM Meeting to April 23, 2022. The meeting will still be held in Toronto at the The Loft - Simpson Tower as originally planned.

Despite the pandemic, the need for continuing our education and presenting the latest research continues. For that reason, the CSPM Scientific Committee is shifting gears to focus on development of another stellar Virtual Scientific Session that will be held this fall. Watch your email inbox and the CSPM website for more information about this virtual offering! 

CSPM is an Affiliate Society of the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA). Pelvic Organ Prolapse Awareness Month is a great opportunity for you to familiarize yourself with the IUGA patient website, www.YourPelvicFloor, and all of the resources available to share with your patients. There are over 40 patient information leaflets, including those on pelvic organ prolapse, conservative management, and surgical treatments for POP. 

CSPM continues to expand its organizational structure to meet the needs of our urogynecology community. We’re pleased to announce we are creating a new Standardization Committee that will focus on developing patient education materials as well as standardized forms that can be used across institutions and provinces. Darren Lazare from the University of British Columbia has been appointed as committee chair and we are now seeking CSPM members to serve on this new committee.  

Members volunteering to serve on this committee will serve an initial term of either 2 or 3 years in order to establish staggered terms. Terms will start mid-year (this year only) to establish the committee and run through the end of either 2023 or 2024.   

Let us know you are interested in serving on the new Standardization Committee by submitting the following to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.:  

• Letter of Interest (please include if you have a preference for a 2- or 3-year term)   
• CV  

Expressions of interest will be accepted through are due no later than Tuesday, June 29.

Thank you to Western University for sponsoring this session!
Members: Log in to the CSPM website to register for this session and access the article.
Not a member? Please RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we'll send you the journal article to be discussed and the Zoom link to join the meeting. 

Thank you to the University of Alberta for sponsoring this session! RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we'll send you the journal article that will be discussed and the Zoom link to join! 

We've made it easier than ever to network with your CSPM colleagues with the CSPM Discussion Forum. Use the CSPM Discussion Forum to get feedback on difficult cases in the Case Consultation section or use the Job Board to post openings in your clinic or institution. Follow these easy steps to start your discussion today:

1. Log in to the CSPM website.
2. Navigate to the Member Page via the drop-down arrow in the upper right corner by your name.
3. Click the link in the “CSPM Discussion Forum” box.
4. Read the initial “Read Me: Instructions & Guidelines" post for using the Discussion Forum.
5. Post!

* You must be a current CSPM member to use the CSPM Discussion Forum. Not a member? Join today!