Empowerment and change: Women in paediatric urology

As increasing numbers of women pursue careers in medicine and surgery, the paediatric urology workforce is progressively approaching gender parity. However, women continue to face specific barriers to career advancement, including conscious and unconscious gender bias, stereotypes, challenges in achieving work-life balance, limited mentorship, and barriers to leadership. This article summarizes the first session specifically focused on women's experiences and challenges in paediatric urology, presented during the European Society for Paediatric Urology (ESPU) Congress in Vienna in September 2025. A pre-session survey of female paediatric urologists was conducted to assess current perceptions of barriers to professional development, identify potential solutions, and explore future directions. The article also reviews the evolution of female representation within paediatric urology organizations, including the ESPU, as well as within clinical departments and leadership positions over recent years. Based on the discussions and survey findings, strategies to promote the empowerment, career advancement, and professional development of women in paediatric urology are proposed.