Soranus of Ephesus was a Greek physician who lived and worked in the 2nd century CE, during the Roman Empire. He practiced medicine in both Alexandria and Rome under the emperors Trajan and Hadrian. Soranus was a leading member of the Methodic school of medicine. This school promoted a simplified approach, focusing on observable bodily states like constriction or relaxation to guide treatment, rather than searching for hidden internal causes.

He was a prolific writer, though most of his works on topics like surgery and pharmacology are now lost. His fame rests on his surviving masterpiece, Gynecology. This is the most comprehensive work on women's health to survive from the ancient world. It systematically covers menstruation, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care, blending medical theory with practical advice. Other works, such as On Bandages and On Signs of Fractures, are known by title, but their texts are largely lost. The attribution of a work On the Soul to him is uncertain, and biographies of him found in later manuscripts are considered not genuine.

Modern scholars regard Soranus as the most important physician of the Methodic school. His significance lies primarily in the detailed, systematic nature of Gynecology. While adhering to his school's principles, he also pragmatically engaged with ideas from other medical traditions. His work was highly influential for centuries; it was translated into Latin, Hebrew, and Arabic and was studied through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, ensuring his lasting impact on the history of medicine.