(December 21, 2025) From pioneering minimally invasive gynaecological surgeries to earning the Padma Shri and a Guinness World Record, Dr Manjula Anagani’s career reflects a body of work that consistently pushes the boundaries of what gynaecological care can achieve. Through surgery, research, and women’s health advocacy, she continues to advance how healthcare responds to women’s needs.
Back in 2014, when Dr Manjula Anagani was faced with one of the most complex cases of her medical journey, she was clear in her mind that complexity cannot decide a woman’s fate. The case pertains to a woman with an enormous uterine fibroid weighing 5.1 kg, who was admitted to NMC Hospitals in Dubai, where Dr Manjula was a visiting surgeon. Amid conflicting opinions and suggestions from colleagues, for whom removing the uterus was the default response to such complexity, Dr Manjula chose a fertility-preserving fibroid surgery.
The procedure saved the patient’s uterus, allowing her to conceive, and went on to become the world’s second-largest fibroid removal. “This case tested every ounce of my experience as the woman was anxious to conceive. The uterus was preserved and the patient’s future remained intact,” smiles Dr Manjula, Clinical Director and HOD, Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Care Hospitals, Hyderabad, in conversation with Global Indian.
Dr Manjula Anagani receiving the Padma Shri award from President Pranab Mukherjee in 2015
Across decades of practice, Dr Manjula has handled tens of thousands of cases, from routine consultations to some of the most complex gynaecological surgeries. “No case is routine for me. Each one of them is a reminder that medicine demands humility,” points out Dr Manjula, who was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest Indian civilian award, by the Government of India.
She was recognised by Guinness World Records for removing the largest number of uterine fibroids in a single operation. She and her team removed 84 fibroids weighing four kilograms in total, with the largest weighing 1.07 kg, operating through a minimally invasive low transverse mini-laparotomy incision.
Pioneering laparoscopy against the odds
Dr Manjula pioneered the art of laparoscopy in the late 1990s when it was still an emerging technology and primarily a man’s world, wherein all the techniques and equipment that came about were designed to suit the ergonomics of the male surgeon.
“When I began practising, laparoscopic gynaecology was still treated with scepticism in India. Open surgeries were the standard,” says the doctor, who came up with a new entry technique to make surgery less complicated and easier for the surgeon.
Working beyond technological limitations
Back then, minimally invasive procedures were viewed as risky, experimental, or unnecessary. “I saw it differently. I trained rigorously in laparoscopy and hysteroscopy, often working with limited resources, adapting techniques, and trusting my hands,” says Dr Manjula, whose work on the ergonomics of women and the evolution of newer techniques in laparoscopy and minimally invasive surgery is appreciated worldwide.
Instead of accepting the limitations of available equipment, she learned to work around them. Over time, Dr Manjula became known for performing complex surgeries involving large fibroids, dense adhesions, and fertility-preserving procedures through minimally invasive methods.
“What mattered to me was not the novelty of technique, but what it meant for the woman on the table, less pain, faster recovery, dignity preserved. Slowly and quietly, mindsets began to shift,” says Dr Manjula, the first doctor in the country to utilise autologous stem cells to regenerate the endometrium in cases of endometrial aplasia, that is, genetically absent lining of the uterus.
Where the real challenges lie in women’s healthcare
The most difficult part of Dr Manjula’s work is not surgical complexity, it is delayed care. “I regularly meet women who have lived with pain for years, believing it was normal. Others arrive burdened by fear, shame, or misinformation.”
She first listens to them patiently. “I address their concerns by explaining, reassuring them, and offering choices whenever possible,” says Dr Manjula, who has performed more than 10,000 laparoscopic surgeries in gynaecology, catapulting her to the top slot in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and placing her among the few leading laparoscopic surgeons in India.
From a small village to the world
Far from operating theatres and conference halls, Dr Manjula grew up in a small village in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, where life followed steady rhythms, ambition was quiet, and girls were rarely encouraged to dream beyond convention.
As a child, she was energetic and curious, often outdoors, climbing trees and keeping pace with the boys around her. Beneath that physical confidence was a questioning mind. “I liked to understand why things worked the way they did, a habit that later defined my approach to medicine.” School was where her discipline took shape. She performed consistently well and earned a government scholarship after Class 10, an achievement that opened doors her family had never imagined.
Choosing medicine from a rural background
“Medicine was not an obvious choice for a girl from a rural background, but it became a determined one,” recalls Dr Manjula, who went on to study MBBS at Gandhi Medical College, Hyderabad, followed by postgraduation in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from Osmania Medical College. During college, she balanced demanding academics with leadership roles, serving as a class representative and actively participating in sports, early signs of the resilience and authority she would later bring into operating rooms.
“My family’s support played a quiet yet crucial role. My father, in particular, believed in my abilities even when the path ahead seemed unconventional.”
Why gynaecology became her calling
“I did not enter medicine chasing prestige. I entered it driven by curiosity and purpose,” says Dr Manjula, who, during her training years, began noticing how women approached healthcare, often late, often fearful, and often resigned to pain.“Many were told that suffering was normal or that removal was the only solution. These encounters stayed with me. Gynaecology became my calling because it sits at the intersection of science and sensitivity. It requires skill, but also listening.”
Breaking ground in male-dominated surgical spaces
Dr Manjula’s journey was not easy. Surgical spaces were male-dominated, tools were not designed for women, and mentorship was limited. “Yet I persisted, learning relentlessly, questioning protocols, and absorbing every opportunity to improve my craft,” says the renowned gynaecologist, who has been a DNB (Directorate of National Board) teacher since 2006 and a faculty member at the Ethicon Institute of Surgical Education.
Life as a practising surgeon
Dr Manjula’s days are long and demanding, often beginning early and ending late. “Surgeries, consultations, and teaching each carry weight. I believe calm is a surgeon’s greatest tool,” says Dr Manjula, who consults dozens of patients and performs multiple procedures every day.
Her approach to health mirrors her approach to medicine, simple, consistent, and balanced. “I prefer home-style food, avoid extremes, stay active through walking and movement, and value mental clarity over physical aesthetics,” says Dr Manjula, who is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International and has undertaken women’s awareness initiatives, AIDS programmes, and polio eradication workshops in collaboration with Rotary Club.
Before joining Care Hospitals, Dr Manjula worked as Chief Gynaecologist, Obstetrician, Infertility Specialist, and Laparoscopic Surgeon at Medicover Woman and Child Hospital, Madhapur, Hitech City, Hyderabad. Earlier, she was associated with Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, headed the department at Care Hospitals, Banjara Hills for over seven years, worked at Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda for two years, and BEAMS Hospital, Hyderabad for four years.
Looking ahead at the future of gynaecology
Reflecting upon the future of gynaecology in India, Dr Manjula says that while India has progressed, technology is better, training has improved, and awareness is growing, access remains uneven.“My belief is simple. Advanced care should not be limited by geography,” says Dr Manjula, who advocates stronger training systems, preventive care, and informed decision-making so women are treated early, respectfully, and wisely. She conducts regular training in basic and advanced laparoscopic techniques, duly guiding more than 500 gynaecologists across India.
Academic and scientific contributions
Beyond the operating room, Dr Manjula shares her work globally by presenting papers, speaking at conferences, and teaching surgeons across countries. “My focus has always been practical knowledge, what improves outcomes, what reduces suffering, and what preserves life beyond surgery,” says Dr Manjula, who has presented scientific papers in the US, South Africa, Malaysia, Thailand, Sharjah, and Italy.
Pratyusha and care beyond hospitals
Dr Manjula has co-founded an NGO, Pratyusha Support, working on women’s empowerment and medical support.Through Pratyusha, she extends her work beyond hospitals. The organisation focuses on women’s health awareness, adolescent education, and preventing unnecessary surgeries. “It exists to ensure that lack of knowledge never becomes a barrier to care,” says Dr Manjula, who was also part of the Wish Come True project for HIV-infected children, Say Yes to Health, and free health check-ups in slums, orphanages, and schools in collaboration with LivLife Hospitals. She also collaborated with the state of Andhra Pradesh to undertake free cervical cancer vaccination for young girls in Kasturba Balika Vidyalayas across the state.
Suyosha and advocacy for women’s health
Dr Manjula also initiated an advocacy campaign called Suyosha – A Perfect Woman to address all aspects of women’s health, child abuse, health education for adolescent girls, and an anti-hysterectomy campaign against avoidable surgeries through regular awareness initiatives on television, in print media, schools, and public forums.
Medicine and beyond
Looking ahead, Dr Manjula plans not only to continue operating, teaching, and innovating, but also to deepen her role as a mentor. “My future lies in building systems that outlast me, and in training surgeons who treat women with skill, respect, and empathy,” she says.
Away from the intensity of hospital life, she finds balance in music, reading, and quiet reflection. “I enjoy guiding young doctors and watching them grow into confident professionals. For me, balance is not a luxury. It is a necessity,” she signs off.
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