We cordially invite all stakeholders involved in the field of physical activity in the preconception, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause - including researchers, exercise professionals, elite sports coaches, as well as perinatal care and reproductive health specialists - to join us in establishing a global platform for the exchange of research concepts and evidence-based knowledge. In collaboration with ECSS members and partner bodies, such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Pregnancy and Postpartum Special Interest Group and Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) our objectives are:

• To initiate international research projects examining the effects of physical activity on pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, the development of offspring, and other aspects of reproductive health.
• To provide high-quality scientific data to effectively support the prevention of infertility, pregnancy- and postpartum-related ailments and non-communicable diseases in mothers and children through an active lifestyle.
• To foster evidence-based educational and practical activities that promote a healthy, active lifestyle in the preconception, pregnancy and postpartum periods, as well as during menopause – implemented worldwide, including in the least developed countries.
• Discussion of global initiatives to support women's and men's reproductive health in collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including scientists, women and others planning pregnancy, who are pregnant, postpartum, or going through menopause, their partners and families, exercise and health specialists, and policymakers.

We look forward to your participation at the third meeting of the PAPPP&B SIG and to advancing this important field together!

Date: Thursday, 9 July
Time: 15:30 – 16:30 (during poster session)
Session room: 2A


To warm up, join us at this year's ECSS congress for two invited symposiums: 

IS-MH01 - Evidence-based paradigm shift in the use of physical activity during pregnancy and postpartum for promoting health of two generations
Date: 07.07.2024, Time: 12:00 - 13:15, Session Room: Auditorium C (STCC)

IS-MH03 Timing Matters: Leveraging Chronobiology to Improve Health Across the Lifespan.
Date: 07.07.2026, Time: 13:30 - 14:45, Session Room: Auditorium C (STCC)

To have more time to discuss joint projects and research and share ideas and expertise, we have planned an informal meeting: 
Date: 09.07.2026, Time: 17:00 - 19:00, at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) - Synathlon 
link to the venue
room: 2212 (TBC)

Then we invite you to a networking dinner.
Date: 09.07.2026, Time: 19:30, Gina ristorante (https://www.gina-ristorante.ch/); 
link to the restaurant: Les Arcades, Route Louis Favre 8C, 1024 Ecublens 
Kindly note that everyone will cover their own dinner costs.

Assoc Prof Anna Szumilewicz
Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport,
Polish Society of Sports Medicine (PTMS)
Gdansk, Poland
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Prof Rita Santos-Rocha
Santarém Polytechnic University - Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior (ESDRM)
SPRINT Sport Physical Activity and Health Research and Innovation Center
Santarém, Portugal
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Prof Linda May
East Carolina University, Kinesiology
Greenville, North Carolina, United States
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Young scientists involved in organising PAPPP&B SIG activities:

Mathilde Hyärinen
HESAV School of Health Sciences
Lausanne, Switzerland
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Dr Claudia Kubica
University of Bern, Institute of Sport Science, Health Science Department 
Bern, Switzerland
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