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
- Acute Pelvic Pain
- Bladder Incontinence
- Lichen Sclerosus Treatment
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Prolapse Of Urethra
- Robotic Colpopexy
- Uterine Prolapse
- Vaginal Wall Prolapse
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abdominal Pain
- Abnormal Urine Test Results
- Acquired Absence Of Female Genital Organs
- Acute Pelvic Pain
- Bladder Incontinence
- Dyspareunia
- Female Genital Pain
- Female Genital Tract Fistulae
- Female Urinary Tract Infections (UTIS)
- Genital Injury
- Genitourinary Symptoms
- Herpes (GENITAL HERPES)
- Lichen Sclerosus
- Menstrual Disorders
- Nocturia
- Ovarian Cysts And Benign Neoplasms
- Painful Urination
- Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Prolapse Of Urethra
- Sexual Dysfunction
- Tubal Pregnancy
- Urinary Frequency
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Urinary Urgency
- Uterine And Vaginal Bleeding Abnormalities
- Uterine Fibroids
- Uterine Prolapse
- Uterus Problems
- Vagina And Vulva Inflammation And Infections
- Vaginal And Vulvar Inflammation
- Vaginal Dryness
- Vaginal Wall Prolapse
- Vulva And Perineum Disorders
- Vulvar And Vaginal Atrophy
Procedures I perform
- Adhesiolysis
- Bladder Instillations
- Endometrial Ablation
- Enteroscopy
- Geriatric Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
- Hysterectomy With Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy
- Labiaplasty
- Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
- Laparoscopic Removal Of Adnexal Structures
- Lichen Sclerosus Treatment
- Pelvic Floor Surgery
- Pelvic Pain Treatment
- Posterior Colporrhaphy
- Repair Perineum Muscle
- Robotic Colpopexy
- Sacrospinous Ligament Suspension
- Urinary Incontinence Treatment
- Vagina Excision, Open
- 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
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Sentara Health
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CareFirst EPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- CIGNA PPO
- UHC Passport
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- TRICARE East Select
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- IH-EPO Plus
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Tricare Reserve Select
- IH-Open POS II
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna HMO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Medicare FFS
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- IH-HMO
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Classic 5000
- IH-Indemnity
- Network OA
- First Health PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Blue Choice Advantage
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Administrators
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Choice POS
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Optimum Choice
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Medicare Direct
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- HighMark
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Choice Fund PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Navigate
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Employee Health Plan
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice
- IH-POS
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- CIGNA EPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Aetna Basic
- Choice POS II
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Police and Fire Clinic
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- OA Plus
- CareFirst NASCO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- POS OA
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
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