National Women’s Health Week: Celebrating women shaping the future of urology

In 2020, the percentage of women in urology surpassed 10% for the first time in history—a historic milestone in a field long dominated by men.¹ As of the 2024 American Urological Association census, that number has grown to 12.1%,² marking steady but modest progress. Although the gender gap remains wide, a growing number of women are not only entering the field—they're redefining it, leading the charge toward a more inclusive and representative future in urology.

In recognition of these trailblazers, Urology Times® is celebrating National Women’s Health Week, taking place from May 11 to 17, 2025. As part of this recognition, our team connected with Shaya Taghechian, MD, a practicing urologist, to get her thoughts on the current landscape of women in urology and what this week means to her professionally and personally.

Shaya Taghechian, MD

Taghechian is a urologist at Georgia Urology in Atlanta and the founder of Aayla Sexual Wellness and Intimate Aesthetics.

Urology Times: What are your research and clinical interests?

Taghechian: My passion lies in advancing women’s sexual health—a field that has long been underrepresented in urology. I founded Aayla Sexual Wellness and Intimate Aesthetics, a practice dedicated solely to addressing the intimate concerns of women in a space where they feel safe, heard, and supported. Here, women can speak openly about issues affecting their sexual wellness, and together, we explore solutions to restore not just function, but confidence and pleasure.

I stay deeply engaged with the latest research and developments in sexual health and strive to contribute to that body of knowledge. Currently, I offer innovative treatments like Morpheus8V, FormaV, and VTone, which address concerns such as vaginal laxity, incontinence, recurrent infections, and decreased sexual stimulation. Thus far, every patient has reported meaningful benefits. I use standardized, validated questionnaires to track outcomes and aim to publish this data in the next 12 to 24 months, adding to the growing evidence for these treatments. At Aayla, I never want a woman to hear, “There’s nothing you can do. You just have to live with it.”

Urology Times: What sparked your interest in urology?

Taghechian: There were so many things that drew me to urology. I wanted to be a surgeon and to take on a field that offered variety and challenge—both in the OR and in clinic. I’ve always enjoyed making people feel comfortable, especially when discussing sensitive topics, and urology gives me the opportunity to do just that.

I was also motivated by a desire to challenge expectations. Urology has traditionally been male-dominated, and I felt inspired to step into that space and redefine it. The diversity of cases, the long-term patient relationships, and the chance to bring compassion to deeply personal issues made urology the perfect fit for me.

Urology Times: What is the best thing about your work?

Taghechian: I love giving people hope and then watching their lives transform as a result. Whether I’m relieving the pain of a kidney stone, treating a bladder tumor, helping someone regain control over their bladder, or restoring confidence in the bedroom, it’s all incredibly rewarding.

What excites me most is that there’s always room to learn, grow, and do more. Medicine is constantly evolving, and that means I get to evolve along with it—to bring more to my patients, and to myself, every step of the way.

Urology Times: What does National Women’s Health Week mean to you as a urologist?

Taghechian: As a urologist specializing in women’s sexual health, this week is especially meaningful. National Women’s Health Week shines a spotlight on topics that have too often been neglected—menopause, sexual wellness, pelvic health, reproductive health, and more.

Urologists are often on the front lines of these issues. We have the opportunity—and responsibility—to destigmatize conversations around vulvas, vaginas, pleasure, and pain. It’s a time to raise our voices proudly, to ensure women know they are not alone, and to advocate for the support and care they deserve.

Urology Times: How has the presence of women in urology changed over the past decade, and what progress still needs to be made?

Taghechian: The growth of women in urology has been both exciting and essential. It’s transformative—not only for the women entering the field but also for the countless patients who finally feel seen and understood.

Many women prefer to see a female physician, especially when it comes to intimate or sexual concerns. In many communities, though, female urologists are still few and far between. I have patients who travel hours just to be seen by someone they feel comfortable with.

As more women join the field, we are shining a light on the glaring gaps in female pelvic and sexual health research. For too long, urology focused almost exclusively on men’s health, leaving women with nowhere to turn—even within gynecology. But we are changing that. We’re asking the right questions, generating research, and fostering open conversations. It’s powerful progress, but we still have a long way to go.

Urology Times: What advice would you give to medical students considering urology?

Taghechian: If you love surgery, are comfortable talking about sensitive topics, and have a gift for making people feel at ease, urology might be the perfect specialty for you.

What makes urology so unique is its diversity—you can tailor your career to your interests. Want to focus solely on uro-oncology? Go for it. Prefer managing stones and BPH [benign prostatic hyperplasia]? That’s an option. Passionate about incontinence or sexual health? There’s room for that, too. You can carve out your own niche while making a real difference in people’s lives.

Urology Times: What gives you hope about the future of women in urology?

Taghechian: It’s encouraging to see that it’s no longer such an uphill battle for women to enter urology. Residency programs are becoming more inclusive, and the presence of strong, caring, and capable female residents is paving the way for future generations.

I’m hopeful because women in urology are no longer an exception—they’re becoming the norm. As we grow in number and influence, we’re expanding the scope of what urology means—not just for women physicians, but for the millions of women patients who finally have someone advocating for their needs.

REFERENCES

1. Women in urology — closing the gap. Nat Rev Urol. 2023;20(7):385. doi:10.1038/s41585-023-00777-4

2. The State of the Urology Workforce and Practice in the United States 2024. American Urological Association. https://www.auanet.org/documents/Data/census/2024%20Census%20Report.pdf