About me
Professor Swati Jha
About Professor Swati Jha
Professor Swati Jha is a Consultant Urogynaecologist and Prolapse Surgeon in Sheffield, specialising in vaginal prolapse surgery, pelvic floor disorders and urinary incontinence. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FRCOG), was RCOG-accredited in Urogynaecology in 2008, and is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Sheffield.
Since her appointment as Consultant at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals in 2009, Professor Jha has held several national and regional leadership roles. She is Training Programme Director for RCOG Subspecialty Urogynaecology Training, Lead Clinician for the National Vaginal Mesh Complications Service, and Lead for Tertiary Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology Services.
Professor Jha holds an MD from the University of Sheffield and has published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, with over 2,800 academic citations. She is Chair of RCOG Research, a Bond Solon-accredited Expert Witness, and author of five books.
She provides private consultations at Spire Claremont Hospital and Circle Thornbury Hospital in Sheffield.
Professional Biography
My journey in medicine began in India, where I graduated with honours from Patna Medical College before pursuing specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the United Kingdom. Over the past 25 years, I have dedicated my career to improving the health and quality of life of women with pelvic floor disorders, urinary incontinence, vaginal prolapse, menopause-related conditions, and other complex gynaecological problems.
I am a Consultant Urogynaecologist and Pelvic Floor Surgeon at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and an Honorary Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Sheffield. I completed RCOG-accredited subspecialty training in Urogynaecology in 2008 and have since developed a clinical practice focused on delivering evidence-based, patient-centred care for women with both routine and complex pelvic floor conditions.
Throughout my career, I have combined clinical practice with research, teaching, and leadership. I currently lead the National Mesh Complications Centre in Sheffield and direct one of the UK’s accredited subspecialty training programmes in urogynaecology. These roles allow me not only to care for patients with some of the most challenging conditions in women’s health, but also to contribute to the training of future specialists and the development of national services.
Research has always been an important part of my work. I have authored more than 130 peer-reviewed publications, written several specialist textbooks, secured major research funding, and contributed to national and international guidelines that influence clinical practice worldwide. My research interests include pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, mesh complications, sexual function, menopause, and shared decision-making in women’s healthcare.
I have been privileged to serve in several national leadership positions, including President of the British Society of Urogynaecology (BSUG), Chair of RCOG Research, Fellow Representative on RCOG Council, and Specialist Adviser to NICE. I continue to work closely with professional organisations, researchers, and policymakers to improve standards of care and outcomes for women.
Despite these wider roles, my greatest professional satisfaction comes from helping individual patients. I understand that pelvic floor and gynaecological symptoms can have a profound impact on confidence, relationships, work, and daily life. My aim is always to provide expert advice in a supportive and approachable environment, ensuring that every woman understands her options and feels empowered to make informed decisions about her care.
Whether you are seeking help for prolapse, urinary incontinence, menopause symptoms, mesh complications, vulval conditions, or a second opinion, I look forward to working with you to find the most appropriate treatment for your individual needs.
Credentials at a glance
Education and Qualifications
Academic distinctions at undergraduate level included Gold Medal in Ophthalmology (DK Bose Memorial Award, 1995) and Distinctions in General Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry.
Current Appointments
Awards and Prizes
Research
My research centres on pelvic floor dysfunction, with particular focus on surgical outcomes in prolapse and urinary incontinence, sexual function in women with pelvic floor disorders, patient-reported outcome measures, mesh complications, and patient decision aids.
I led three national UK surveys on prolapse management (2007, 2011, 2018) — the most comprehensive epidemiological data on mesh use in vaginal prolapse surgery in the UK, cited 157 times jointly. I was Chief Investigator on the IPSU RCT (NIHR RfPB-funded), a randomised controlled trial on physiotherapy with and without electrical stimulation for urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction.
I co-authored the NICE Patient Decision Aid for stress urinary incontinence surgery on behalf of BSUG. I have secured grant funding from NIHR (HTA, RfPB), MRC, BSUG, UKCS, Pfizer, and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals — totalling over £6.7 million between 2009 and 2024.
Research Highlights
- Led three national UK surveys on prolapse management (2007, 2011, 2018) — the most comprehensive epidemiological data on mesh use in vaginal prolapse surgery in the UK; cited 157 times jointly.
- Chief Investigator, IPSU RCT (NIHR RfPB-funded): randomised controlled trial on physiotherapy with and without electrical stimulation for urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction.
- Co-authored the NICE Patient Decision Aid for stress urinary incontinence surgery on behalf of BSUG; subsequent research on decisional conflict awarded the RCOG Lindsay Stewart Memorial Award (2024).
- Systematic review and meta-analysis on vaginal laser therapy in breast cancer patients (2019) was cited by NICE in their Interventional Procedures Guidance on vaginal laser for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (IPG 697, 2021).
- Co-authored the IUGA Committee Opinion Paper on management of mixed urinary incontinence; co-authored the AUGS/IUGA Terminology Document for stress urinary incontinence surgery.
- Secured grant funding from NIHR (HTA, RfPB), MRC, BSUG, UKCS, Pfizer, and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, with total award value exceeding £6.7 million.
Full publication list: Google Scholar profile — https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=RoXEUbYAAAAJ (click here)
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Swati-Jha-2 (click here)
Original Research Articles in Refereed Journals
Professor Swati Jha has published extensively in peer-reviewed medical journals, with research focusing on pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, mesh complications, sexual function, patient decision aids, menopause, and pelvic floor surgery.
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Patients decision aids for pelvic floor surgery and impact on decisional conflict.
Bugeja R, Athey R, Jha S. -
Patient-Reported Outcome Measures used to assess surgical interventions for pelvic organ prolapse, stress urinary incontinence and mesh complications.
Forshall G, Budds K, Fisher V, Jha S et al. -
Challenges to overcome in a randomised trial for recurrent stress urinary incontinence treatment in women: the PURSUIT RCT.
Pope C, Cochrane M, Clement C, Liu Y, Paramasivan S, Noble S, Jha S et al. -
The impact of stress urinary incontinence procedures on bladder and voiding function.
Rahman A, Bugeja R, McCrosson K, Jha S. -
Impact of patient decision aids on shared decision making and patient satisfaction prior to pelvic floor surgery.
Athey R, Bugeja R, Jones G, Jha S. -
Coital incontinence: a multicentre study evaluating prevalence and associations.
Athey R, Gray T, Kershaw V, Jha S. -
Management of mixed urinary incontinence: IUGA opinion paper.
Jha S, Jepson P, Dokmeci F, Marquini G, Sartori M, Moalli P, Malik S. -
Do vaginal pessaries used to treat pelvic organ prolapse impact on sexual function?
Wharton L, Athey R, Jha S. -
Risk of reoperation 10 years after surgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence.
Muller P, Gurol-Urganci I, Thakar R, van der Meulen J, Jha S. -
The impact of vaginal laser treatment for genitourinary syndrome of menopause in breast cancer survivors.
Jha S, Krishnaswamy P, Wyld L. -
The UK National Prolapse Survey: 10 years on.
Jha S, Cutner A, Moran P. -
Impact of pelvic floor muscle training on sexual function of women with urinary incontinence.
Jha S, Walters SJ, Bortolami O, Dixon S, Alshreef A. -
Risk factors for recurrent obstetric anal sphincter injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Jha S, Parker V. -
Impact of incontinence surgery on sexual function: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Jha S, Ammenbal M, Metwally M. -
The UK national prolapse survey: 5 years on.
Jha S, Moran P. -
National survey on the management of prolapse in the UK.
Jha S, Moran P.
This is a selected list of original peer-reviewed research articles. A full academic publication list is available on request.
Books Published
Menopause in Cancer Survivors
Taylor and Francis, 2025 (Jha S and Schapira L)
ISBN: 9781032631004 (hardback)
Transgender Health: Best Practice and Research
Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Science Direct, 2023
ISBN: 1521-6934 (print)
Gynaecology for the Obstetrician
Cambridge University Press, 2023 (Jha S and Madhuvrata P)
ISBN: 9781009208802
Lessons from Medicolegal Cases in Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Improving Clinical Practice
Cambridge University Press, 2022 (Jha S and Power E)
ISBN: 9781108993388
Medicolegal Issues in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Springer, 2018 (Jha S and Ferriman E) — BMA Book Award: Highly Commended 2019
ISBN: 978-3-319-78683-4
26 book chapters published across major reference texts in obstetrics, gynaecology, urogynaecology, and medicolegal practice. Full list available on request.
National and International Standing
I currently serve as Chair for Research at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), a role I took on in 2024. I was President of the British Society of Urogynaecology (BSUG) from 2019 to 2021, having served as Vice President from 2017 to 2019. I act as BSUG’s media spokesperson to the RCOG, reviewing all media communications related to urogynaecology before publication.
I am a Specialist Adviser to the NICE Interventional Procedures Programme (2019 – present), Associate Editor of The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (2018 – present), and Associate Editor of Best Practice and Research: Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology (2021 – present). I have delivered over 100 keynote and plenary lectures at national and international conferences including IUGA, EUGA, BAUS, BIARGS, UKCS, and RCOG.
Medicolegal Expert Witness Work
I hold the Bond Solon Expert Witness Certificate (Cardiff University, 2017) and accept instructions in obstetrics and gynaecology medicolegal cases. I have published two books specifically addressing medicolegal aspects of practice and have extensive experience as an expert witness in clinical negligence, regulatory, and coronial proceedings.
For medicolegal enquiries, please contact: admin@swatijha.com
Professional memberships
