Professor Joop S.E. Laven is professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and was initially trained at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands. After Medical school he completed his Ph.D. thesis on clinical and experimental aspects of varicocele at Utrecht University in 1991. From 1991 till 1997 he continued his training at the University Medical Center St. Radboud in Nijmegen. In 1997 he became board certified in OBGYN (FRCOG) and moved to the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam. In 2000 he became certified subspecialist Reproductive Medicine. He is a member of ESHRE, ASRM, the Endocrine Society, the Society of Gynaecological Investigation (SGI) and the Royal Dutch College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He is the past president of the Dutch Society of Reproductive Medicine.
For many years he had a particular interest in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome covering the full spectrum from the effects of the syndrome during adolescence and adult life on the menstrual cycle, fertility, body weight and cosmetic aspects. During the last decade the research focussed on more fundamental effects that PCOS may have on quality of life and long-term health risks as well as the genetic basis of the disease. More recently he was also involved in Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) exploring the genetic basis of PCOS, premature ovarian insufficiency, menarche and menopause.
He has published over 350 peer-reviewed papers and several reviews as well as chapters in books, and has delivered over 300 lectures to international scientific audiences. Books to which he has contributed include Endocrinology, De Groot and Jameson, IVF in the complicated patient, Insulin Resistance and PCOS. He is a past member of the editorial board of Human Reproduction Update, Human Reproduction and the Journal of Endocrine Society. He is a visiting professor at the University of Shandong, Shandong, China. He is also a member of the international guideline groups for PCOS, POI and unexplained infertility within the Center of Research Excellence (WHIRL) Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Currently he is living together with Annemarie Rietveld, he is the proud father of 4 sons: Niels, Pim, Jannes and Loek. In his rare free private time you might see him fly-fishing or biking or just being lazy on these Sunday afternoons listening to Van Morrison.
