About
Nicola Pluchino is a physician specializing in reproductive medicine, gynecological endocrinology, and the surgical management of endometriosis. He currently heads the Endometriosis Centre and the Unit of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecological Endocrinology (UMREG) at the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), where he also practises as a senior physician in the Department of Gynecology.
He trained in medicine at the University of Pisa, Italy, and completed clinical placements in obstetrics and gynecology internationally, including at Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, Ireland (2005), as well as in Mozambique and the United States. From 2008 to 2013 he worked full-time as a reproductive endocrinologist in the IVF unit of the University of Pisa, completing a PhD in reproductive neuroendocrinology there in 2012.
In 2016, he co-founded the first centre in French-speaking Switzerland dedicated to endometriosis, certified by the European Endometriosis League and the Endometriosis Foundation for Research. He later headed the Fertility Medicine Unit and Endometriosis Centre at the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) from late 2022, returning to HUG in February 2026 to direct its Endometriosis Centre and UMREG.
His academic appointments include visiting professorships at Yale University (2015–2016) and Humanitas University, Milan (2023), and Privat-Docent titles at the University of Geneva (since 2019) and University of Lausanne (since 2023). He has authored or co-authored more than 160 peer-reviewed publications in reproductive medicine and endometriosis.
Beyond the clinic and the lab, he initiated a multidisciplinary "round table" format in Switzerland — bringing together patient associations with specialists, anesthesiologists, nurses, psychiatrists, and osteopaths to work jointly on improving endometriosis care, described as one of the first initiatives of its kind in the country. He has also spoken publicly on gender medicine and the hormonal dimensions of disease and care access, including a McKinsey Health Institute discussion on closing the global women's health gap, and has written for a general audience on why endometriosis diagnosis is so often delayed.
- Current role
- Head of Unit — Endometriosis Centre & UMREG, HUG, Geneva (Feb 2026–)
- Academic title
- Principal Lecturer, University of Geneva (Jun 2019–); corresponds to his 2019 Privat-Docent title
- Medical degree
- University of Pisa, Italy
- PhD
- Reproductive Neuroendocrinology, University of Pisa (2012)
- Visiting professorships
- Yale University School of Medicine (Sep 2015–Oct 2016); Humanitas University, Milan (2023)
- Prior appointment
- Head of Unit — Fertility Medicine & Endometriosis Centre, CHUV Lausanne (Nov 2022–Feb 2026)
- Publications
- 160+ peer-reviewed articles
Clinical Focus
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Deep infiltrating endometriosis & conservative surgery
Laparoscopic management of severe endometriosis, including nodule shaving and discoid resection techniques aimed at preserving organ function.
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Reproductive endocrinology & fertility medicine
Diagnosis and treatment of infertility, including ovarian stimulation strategies for patients with reduced ovarian reserve or a poor response to treatment.
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Endometriosis-associated infertility
Coordinated surgical and fertility-preservation planning for patients where endometriosis and infertility intersect.
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Reproductive ageing & perimenopause
Clinical and research interest in hormonal changes across the reproductive lifespan, including the perimenopausal transition.
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Sexual health in gynecological disease
Attention to the impact of gynecological conditions, particularly endometriosis, on sexual health and quality of life.
Career
Head of Unit, HUG (Endometriosis Centre & UMREG)
Returned to Geneva University Hospitals to direct the Endometriosis Centre and the Unit of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecological Endocrinology, alongside continued clinical practice in the Department of Gynecology.
Founder, multidisciplinary endometriosis round table
Initiated a working-group format in Switzerland bringing together patient associations with specialists, anesthesiologists, nurses, psychiatrists, and osteopaths to jointly improve care pathways for women with endometriosis — described as one of the first initiatives of its kind in the country.
Head of Unit, CHUV Lausanne
Headed the Fertility Medicine Unit and the Endometriosis Centre at the Lausanne University Hospital. Also held a Privat-Docent title at the University of Lausanne from 2023, and a visiting professorship at Humanitas University, Milan, in 2023.
Principal Lecturer, University of Geneva
Academic appointment held continuously alongside his clinical roles at HUG and CHUV; corresponds to the Privat-Docent title conferred in 2019.
Co-founder, Endometriosis Centre, HUG
Established the first centre in French-speaking Switzerland dedicated to endometriosis, later certified by the European Endometriosis League and the Endometriosis Foundation for Research (certification renewed 2023).
Visiting Professor, Yale University School of Medicine
Visiting professorship in reproductive sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences.
Medical Doctor – Ob/Gyn, HUG
Clinical role at Geneva University Hospitals, promoted to senior physician (médecin adjoint) in 2017. Note: HUG's own biography page dates his arrival to 2013 rather than late 2014 — the discrepancy likely reflects a training/rotation period versus a formal appointment date, and hasn't been resolved between the two sources.
Reproductive Endocrinologist & IVF, University of Pisa
Full-time clinical and research role at the university's in-vitro fertilization centre, alongside his PhD in reproductive neuroendocrinology (completed 2012).
Medical Doctor – Ob/Gyn, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin
Early clinical placement in obstetrics and gynecology in Ireland, part of his broader international specialty training (which also included placements in Italy, Mozambique, and the United States).
Medical degree, University of Pisa
Publications
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2016
Sexual function in endometriosis patients and their partners: effect of the disease and consequences of treatment
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2016
Endometriosis and stem cell trafficking
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2019
Adult bone marrow progenitors become decidual cells and contribute to embryo implantation and pregnancy
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2020
CXCR4 or CXCR7 antagonists treat endometriosis by reducing bone marrow cell trafficking
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2018
G-protein-coupled receptor CXCR7 is overexpressed in human and murine endometriosis
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2016
A murine 5-fluorouracil-based submyeloablation model for the study of bone marrow-derived cell trafficking in reproduction
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2015
Neurobiology of DHEA and effects on sexuality, mood and cognition
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2020
Estrogen receptor-α immunoreactivity predicts symptom severity and pain recurrence in deep endometriosis
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2016
Consensus on recording deep endometriosis surgery: the CORDES statement
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2023
Treatment modalities for poor ovarian responders
Contact
Endometriosis Centre — HUG
Boulevard de la Cluse 30, 1205 Genève, Switzerland
+41 (0)22 372 43 04
Reproductive Medicine Unit (UMREG)
Fertility & gynecological endocrinology enquiries
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