Who was Prof. Dr. Eiko E. Petersen

Some people carry a deep passion within them, a driving force to make significant changes and give their all to make the world a little better. Gynecologist and infectious disease epidemiologist Professor Dr. Eiko E. Petersen was one such remarkable personality.

A true pioneer

This unique combination of disciplines allowed him to see connections that others missed and to think beyond disciplinary boundaries. Through his intensive involvement in medical research on diseases such as sepsis, HIV, chlamydia, genital skin conditions, and more, he established himself early on as a respected scientist.

A visionary and inventor

Driven by an unwavering will to help the women who came to him for consultations, Prof. Dr. Eiko E. Petersen developed a special colposcope using his own financial resources. This device made it possible to capture images of the inner mucous membranes of the vagina, making vaginal diseases visible for the first time—milestones in gynecology. Petersen published numerous medical books and articles, including seminal works in gynecology such as “Color Atlas of Vulvar Diseases.” His lectures and courses were also highly valued by his colleagues. He saw the acquisition and sharing of knowledge as one of his life’s missions. His colposcopy courses and seminars in Kaysersberg, Alsace, soon became a “must” in gynecological specialist training.

Driven by the will to help

Prof. Dr. Eiko E. Petersen was someone who was never satisfied with the existing medical answers. With his interdisciplinary expertise, he delved deep into issues. As a passionate doctor, it was a heartfelt matter for him—as an outstanding scientist, it was his calling—to free women from diseases in the intimate area. Particularly complicated cases involving vaginal and vulvar diseases were his specialty, and for this, he was highly regarded as a competent contact among his peers.

Special consultation for vulvar diseases

In the gynecological outpatient clinic at the University Women’s Hospital in Freiburg, the doctor witnessed the daily suffering of women with genital conditions in his specialized consultation. He not only saw the physical suffering but also its impact on the psyche and, ultimately, on the marital lives of these women. He was also acutely aware of another dilemma these women faced at the time: gynecologists were almost always men, and even in the otherwise “liberated” 1970s, intimate complaints were not discussed. It required a great deal of trust or extreme distress for women to open up about such issues to a male doctor. For his special consultation for vulvar diseases, which he held at the University Women’s Hospital in Freiburg until shortly before his death, many women would travel from all over Germany—no distance was too far.

A vision becomes reality

The sheer helplessness and despair of those affected gave Prof. Dr. Eiko E. Petersen no peace, especially since he often felt unable to truly help them. This was simply because, in his view, there were no satisfactory remedies available at the time. As a man of action, he began to take matters into his own hands and started testing formulations. After several months, he developed a formula for a fat-based ointment that could finally provide medical skin protection for the intimate area: Deumavan Protective Ointment. In 2002, he founded the company Kaymogyn to manufacture and distribute the ointment.

Committed to his legacy

To this day, the work, knowledge, and influence of Prof. Dr. Eiko E. Petersen have a significant impact on the philosophy of Kaymogyn. The employees see themselves as committed to his legacy and strive to continue it with personal dedication and passion. Today, Deumavan products are no longer just a well-kept secret among gynecologists—they are known to specialists such as urologists, dermatologists, midwives, and pharmacists.