Amanda Artsen, MD, MSc

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Amanda Artsen, MD, MSc

Assistant Professor; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences; Assistant Professor Department of Immunology

Contact

UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital
300 Halket Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Phone: 412-641-7850
Email: artsenam@upmc.edu

Administrative Contact
Maureen Simmonds
Email: simmondsm2@upmc.edu

Area of Research

Gynecology

Education

MS, Clinical Research, University of Pittsburgh

MD, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

BS, Biology & BA, Chemistry, University of Toledo & University of Salford, Salford, England

My research focuses on why some women develop complications when we use mesh to augment surgical correction of pelvic floor disorders. Mesh gives women a more durable and less invasive option for repair but can cause complications. Understanding this process is critical not just to preventing complications but also to developing options for women that will prevent them from needing retreatment and allow them to get back to living their lives.
Amanda Artsen, MD, MSc

Research in Brief

Dr. Artsen’s driving mission is to keep women as physically, socially, and sexually active as they want to be. Current treatments for pelvic floor disorders, such as pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence, often fall short of this goal. Therefore, Dr. Artsen uses human tissue and innovative modeling systems to better understand the reasons behind treatment failure, complications, and disease progression of these disorders. She is especially focused on understanding and preventing polypropylene mesh complications, prolapse progression, pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, and urinary tract infections with the goal of developing new potential therapeutic avenues that restore organ function. She also has a keen interest in healthcare sustainability, including decreasing waste, energy use, and healthcare costs.

Current Projects

Outcomes after polypropylene mesh implantation: impact of the host
Complications reported to the FDA: a comparison of urogynecologic mesh products
Regenerative and third generation treatment for pelvic organ prolapse
Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction in injury and aging
The importance of the vaginal microbiome in postoperative urinary tract infections after urogynecologic surgery

Selected Publications

Artsen AM, Liang R, Meyn L, Rytel M, Palcsey S, Abramowitch S, Moalli PA. T Regulatory Cells and TGF-b1: Predictors of the Host Response in Mesh Complications. Acta Biomaterialia. 2020 Oct; 115:127-135. PMID: 32771596
Artsen AM, Rytel M, Liang R, King GE, Meyn L, Moalli PA. Mesh induced fibrosis: the protective role of T regulatory cells. Acta Biomaterialia. 2019 Sep; 96:203-210.
Artsen AM, Liang R, Meyn L, Bradley MS, Moalli PA. Dysregulated Wound Healing: a Plausible Mechanism in the Pathogenesis of Urogynecologic Mesh Complications. Scientific Reports 2023 Dec; 13(1):21437 PMID 38052928
Artsen AM, Mayer CR, Krissy Weber, Krysyna Rytel, Moalli PA. Polypropylene surgical mesh induces lipid oxidation in primates. Acta Biomaterialia 2025 Feb.
Melnyk M, Silva de Souza Lima Cano N, Glass Clark, S3, Bilec MM, Artsen AM. A Comparative Carbon Footprint and Cost Analysis of Uterine Manipulators for Hysterectomy. Obstetrics & Gynecology 2025 Feb.

For additional publications, click here.

In the News

Feb 10, 2025
Supporting Device Reprocessing to Reduce Waste in Health Care

Jan 22, 2025
Overcoming the ‘Motherhood Penalty’ in STEM Careers: Pitt Mothers Leading Science Program Supports Researcher-Moms

Mar 28, 2024
Dysregulated Wound Healing in the Pathogenesis of Urogynecologic Mesh Complications

Mar 8, 2022
Behind the Start Line Podcast with Dr. Fitzgerald and Dr. Artzen