Gynaecology in Canterbury

The Chaucer Hospital is found in the historic city of Canterbury, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the English county of Kent. Our patients come to us from local areas such as Faversham, Thanet, Herne Bay and Whitstable, as well as Deal, Wye, Ashford and Maidstone. Our expert consultants, world-class facilities and truly compassionate team also attract people from further afield, across the UK and even abroad.

Gynaecology is the study of the female reproductive system, and the diseases and disorders that can affect it. A doctor who specialises in this area of medicine is known as a Consultant Gynaecologist.

The Gynaecology service at The Chaucer Hospital provides expert support, diagnosis and treatment for women aged 18+ for a range of symptoms and conditions. Some of the common reasons people book a private Gynaecology consultation with us include:

• Pelvic pain - either during or between periods
• Heavy periods
• Bleeding between periods
• Absent, intermittent or irregular periods
• Pain during intercourse
• Irregular discharge
• Pelvic prolapse
• Difficulty opening the bowels and/or passing urine
• Urinary incontinence
• Hot flushes and/or night sweats
• Hormonal symptoms
• Vaginal dryness, itching or discomfort
• Fibroids
• Pelvic mass
• Ovarian cysts

Some people may have had a scan that showed a possible fibroid or ovarian cyst. Others might have received an abnormal cervical smear result that needs further investigation.

We know that some of these symptoms can be worrying, frustrating or even confusing to experience. If you do have any new or unexpected symptoms in your pelvis or abdomen, it can be incredibly helpful to see somebody for expert assessment and advice. If you’d appreciate meeting with an experienced Consultant Gynaecologist to discuss your symptoms further, why not book appointment online today?

The female reproductive system is incredibly complex. Unfortunately, this complexity means that problems can occur quite frequently and may affect quality of life quite significantly in some cases.

Some of the conditions frequently seen and treated at The Chaucer include:

• Endometriosis – a long-term problem that causes pain in the pelvis. Although there is currently no cure for it, treatments are available that may help to manage the symptoms
• Uterine fibroids – fibroids are non-cancerous tumours that grow within the uterus
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (POS) – a condition that affects the function of the ovaries. (Rather confusingly given its name, it does not always mean you have cysts in the ovaries)
• Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction – can cause a variety of symptoms, including constipation, straining to pass stools, frequent urination and leakage (of urine or stools)
• Pelvic organ prolapse – occurs when one or more of the organs in the pelvis move from their normal position and push down on the vagina. Causes discomfort in the vagina and may make you want to urinate more frequently.
• Menopause – a lowering of oestrogen levels (one of the two female sex hormones) causes the body to stop producing eggs. Common symptoms include hot flushes and vaginal dryness and discomfort.

The Consultant Gynaecologists at The Chaucer cover the spectrum of gynaecological conditions and treatments. Whether you’re concerned about period problems, anxious about an abnormal cervical smear result or frustrated by bowel or bladder difficulties, help is available, sooner than you may think. Why not book your appointment online now?

When you first visit with your Consultant Gynaecologist at The Chaucer, they will take a clinical history and ask you to tell them about your symptoms. They may ask questions like:

• What symptoms do you have?
• When did these symptoms start?
• Have your symptoms been getting worse?
• Do you have any kind of pain in or around your pelvis or abdomen?
• Are your symptoms affecting your daily life in any way?
• Have you already had any treatments, such as pain relief medication or physiotherapy?
• Are any of your symptoms causing you particular concern? (For example, are you worried that an abnormal cervical smear result may mean that you have some type of cancer?)

A physical examination of your pelvis and abdomen may be required and this will be discussed with you beforehand by your Consultant. A chaperone will be present for support during the examination.

Depending on your specific symptoms, your medical history and the physical examination, you may be referred for additional investigations. These may include:

• Blood test
• Cervical swab - to check for infection
• A colposcopy –a procedure to examine your cervix (the neck of the womb) using a microscope with a light attached (colposcope). This will often be carried out if a smear test has shown a possible problem with the cells in your cervix
• Diagnostic scans – most often this will be Ultrasound or MRI, both of which are available on-site

Once the results of any investigations are back, your Consultant will talk through them with you and explain suitable treatment options. You may well have some questions or concerns, and this is the perfect time to discuss these with your Consultant - they will always be very happy to help.

There are a variety of treatments available at The Chaucer for gynaecological conditions, including:

• Watchful waiting
• Hormonal or other drug therapies
• Physiotherapy
• Behavioural therapy
• Lifestyle modifications
• Surgery

Many gynaecological conditions can be treated and managed successfully without the need for surgery. Around one in four people may need surgery to treat their symptoms.

Surgical procedures available at The Chaucer include:

• Biopsy - a sample of tissue is taken from the body and sent for analysis
• Fitting of a Coil (intrauterine device/ IUD)
• Removal of polyps (a polyp is an abnormal growth of tissue)
• Hysteroscopy - keyhole surgery carried out to investigate the inside of the womb
• Laparoscopy - a type of keyhole surgery to look inside the abdomen to diagnose conditions such as endometriosis and to treat conditions such as ovarian cysts
• Hysterectomy – removal of the womb (uterus). May be carried out vaginally, abdominally or laparoscopically (keyhole surgery)
• Vaginal wall repair – to correct vaginal prolapse
• Oophorectomy surgery – removal of one or both ovaries.
• Endometrial ablation – to treat heavy periods
• Laparoscopic myomectomies – keyhole surgery to remove fibroids

Whatever treatment you need for your condition and symptoms, whether simple or more complex, surgical or non-surgical, the Gynaecology team at The Chaucer can help.

 

People visit the Consultant Gynaecologists at The Chaucer for different reasons. Some have been referred by their GP or a consultant in another speciality. Others have been advised to visit us by their private medical insurance provider or have chosen to self-refer in order to benefit from expert advice more quickly.

Many of our patients are from Canterbury itself, while others travel to us from other parts of Kent.

We treat people with private medical insurance and self-pay patients.

When you choose to visit The Chaucer for help, you will benefit from:

• Fast access to an expert in women’s health – When you’re concerned about a health problem, you don’t want to be waiting weeks (or even months!) for an appointment. We can easily arrange an appointment for you with an experienced Consultant Gynaecologist, so that you can get the help you need sooner.
• Continuity of care – At The Chaucer, you will see the same Consultant Gynaecologist each time you visit. You will never have to worry about needing to explain your symptoms all over again to a different doctor.
• Peace of mind: - In an independent survey, 98% of the people we’d treated said they were likely or highly likely to recommend us to their friends and family.
• Flexible appointments – Appointments are available throughout the week, so it’s easy to schedule an appointment with a Consultant Gynaecologist for a time that is most convenient for you. Most appointments are carried out in person at The Chaucer, but we can offer remote consultations by telephone or video call if required (and where clinically appropriate).
• Multidisciplinary team: The Consultant Gynaecologists at The Chaucer are supported by other healthcare professionals including nurses, physiotherapists and radiologists. If additional expertise is needed from another medical field, it can be arranged very easily. This joined-up approach to care means that you will always receive the support you need, exactly when you need it.
• Location – Located on the southern outskirts of Canterbury, around two miles from the centre and sitting next to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, it’s easy to travel to The Chaucer. Our (paid) car park with 124 spaces makes parking simple.

Expert support and guidance and effective treatments are available for many gynaecological conditions. For peace of mind and fast, simple access to expert help, why not book your appointment online now? We look forward to helping you.