Gynaecology

Gynaecological procedures available at Bishops Wood Hospital include:

Hysterectomy surgery

A hysterectomy is an operation that removes your womb and cervix.

The operation is effective at treating a number of gynaecological issues including fibroids, heavy periods, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, and ovarian cysts. However as this is a major procedure, a hysterectomy is usually only recommended after simpler treatments have been tried.

The operation is performed under general anaesthetic, and you’ll likely need to stay in hospital four to six days.

Gynaecological laparoscopy and hysteroscopy

A gynaecological laparoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a small telescope (laparoscope) to look at the abdominal and pelvic organs.

A laparoscopy can help identify if you have damaged fallopian tubes, endometriosis, adhesions, pelvic infection, an ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cysts or fibroids.

The procedure is usually performed under general anaesthetic, and you should be able to go home the same day.

A hysteroscopy is a procedure performed to find the cause of abnormal abdominal bleeding. A small telescope (hysteroscope) is used to look at the inside of the womb. It is also common for a biopsy to be done at the same time. The procedure usually takes less than 10 minutes and can be performed under local or general anaesthetic, and you should be able to go home the same day.

Vaginal wall repair

Vaginal wall repair is a surgical procedure performed to tighten your vaginal muscles.

The procedure is effective at treating women who have suffered a prolapse. This can be the womb dropping into the vagina, or rectum bulging into the vagina (posterior prolapse) or bladder bulging into the vagina (anterior prolapse).

If your womb has dropped into the vagina, the vaginal wall repair will tighten the tissue in the walls to provide improved support to lift the womb outside of the vagina.

For posterior prolapse, a vaginal wall repair called posterior colporrhaphy will be performed. The tissue between the back of the vagina and rectum will be tightened to push the rectum back into its normal position.

For anterior prolapse, a vaginal wall repair called anterior colporrhaphy will be performed. The front wall of the vagina will be tightened to lift and support the bladder back into its normal position.

The above vaginal wall operations are all performed under general anaesthetic, and you will usually need to stay in hospital for two or three days.

Oophorectomy surgery

Oophorectomy surgery is the removal of a woman’s ovaries. The surgery can either remove one (unilateral oophorectomy) or both (bilateral oophorectomy) ovaries. The operation is used to prevent or treat conditions such as ovarian cancer or endometriosis.

Oophorectomy surgery is sometimes performed as part of other surgeries, such as a hysterectomy, so recovery will depend on the procedure that you have. If an open abdominal procedure was needed, you would usually need to be in the hospital for two to four days. If a laparoscopic procedure was performed, you may be able to go home the same day. Your consultant will advise what procedure and recovery will be right for your needs.