Lille University Hospital (CHU Lille) is France's largest university hospital center and one of the most prominent academic medical institutions at the national level. With over 16,000 professionals, 14 specialized hospitals, and more than 3,000 beds, CHU Lille serves as the premier referral center for complex cases in the North of France.
The Gynecological Surgery and Obstetrics Departments form the cornerstone of the Women, Mother, and Newborn Division at CHU Lille. As a Level III maternity unit and France's largest maternity ward —welcoming over 5,000 births annually— the departments provide comprehensive care for both routine and high-risk pregnancies, with particular expertise in managing complex obstetrical conditions.
The departments bring together more than 25 OBGYNs, over 100 midwives, and specialized surgeons working in state-of-the-art facilities. This high-volume national center is distinguished by its multidisciplinary approach to women's health, with recognized leadership in gynecologic surgery and obstetrics, and a particular focus on perineal care and pelvic floor disorders throughout a woman's life journey.
Perineal expertise across the childbearing continuum is a hallmark of CHU Lille's approach. The departments offer specialized care for perineal health during pregnancy with preventive education, expert management during childbirth to minimize trauma, and comprehensive postpartum rehabilitation services. The gynecological surgery department at CHU Lille hosts a dedicated perineal clinic that provides comprehensive assessment and management of pelvic floor dysfunction, including advanced MRI and ultrasound facilities and a complete spectrum of therapeutic options. The specialized team offers targeted care for women experiencing perineal trauma during childbirth, with protocols for immediate repair, follow-up, and rehabilitation of obstetric anal sphincter injuries. This patient-centered approach addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of perineal trauma recovery.
National leadership in pelvic floor health and research is evidenced by the department's EUGA accreditation and official recognition as a center of expertise for pelvic floor surgery complications. The team conducts pioneering translational research in perineal biomechanics, developing innovative predictive models and prevention strategies for obstetric trauma. This research directly informs clinical practice, positioning CHU Lille at the forefront of perineal health advancement and education, where it trains over 80 OBGYN residents and several international fellows annually in advanced perineal care.
Team members
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Dr Marine Lallemant is an gynecologist-obstetrician, as well as a teacher and researcher, specialized in urogynecology at Lille University Hospital (CHU Lille). She is also affiliated with the METRICS research unit (ULR 2694, University of Lille) and is actively involved with the biomechanics departments of the FEMTO-ST Institute (UMR 6174, University of Besançon) and of LaMcube (UMR 9013, Ecole Centrale de Lille). Initially trained in the historic cradle of French obstetrics, she developed expertise in vaginal birth and the prevention of perineal trauma, building a strong foundation in evidence-based obstetric practice. Dr Marine Lallemant Lallemant pursued advanced training in domain of pelvic floor disorders and reconstructive surgery, bridging both obstetric and surgical aspects of pelvic floor health. She also holds a PhD in applied biomechanics, with research focusing on the mechanical behavior of the perineum and the prediction and prevention of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS).
At CHU Lille, she leads the dedicated perineal clinic, providing expert management of pelvic floor disorders and perineal trauma across pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Her clinical expertise includes pelvic floor evaluation (clinical assessment, urodynamics, MRI), perineal and anal sphincter repair during childbirth, and surgical reconstruction for perineal trauma or order pelvic floor disorders. Dr. Lallemant is the author of numerous peer-reviewed publications and conducts several clinical studies. She is actively engaged in translational research, national and international collaborations, and simulation-based teaching in women’s health.
She is an active educator, responsible for multiple teaching programs in gynecology, simulation training, and interdisciplinary postgraduate education. Dr. Lallemant is a member of the national pelvic floor committee of the French College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF) and serves on the board of the SIFUD-PP, the leading French society in urogynecology. She also serves as a medical expert for several start-ups, contributing to digital innovation in urogynecology. She is dedicated to promoting patient-centered, multidisciplinary care, and to training the next generation of clinicians in perineal health.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Marine+lallemant&sort=pubdate
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Michel Cosson is a Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Lille University Hospital (CHU Lille), where he serves as Vice Head of the Women, Mother, and Newborn Division. With over 25 years of experience, particularly in the field of urogynecology, Professor Cosson has focused his clinical and research career on the management of pelvic floor disorders. He leads multidisciplinary teams dedicated to the care of women with pelvic floor conditions at CHU Lille.
His clinical expertise includes pelvic floor evaluation (clinical assessment, urodynamics, MRI), pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and complex perineal and anal sphincter repair, as well as surgical reconstruction for perineal trauma. Professor Cosson coordinates high-volume clinical care at France’s largest maternity unit and is involved in the organization and conduct of numerous national and international clinical studies in urogynecology and obstetrics.
In addition to his clinical practice, Professor Cosson has a strong background in both experimental and clinical research, including biomechanics and patient-specific simulation models. He is affiliated with the LaMcube (UMR 9013, Ecole Centrale de Lille), has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters, and regularly contributes to the training of residents and fellows. Professor Cosson is a member of several professional societies, including SIFUD-PP, EUGA, and IUGA, and is engaged in the advancement of multidisciplinary, evidence-based pelvic floor care.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Michel+cosson&sort=pubdate