Our gynaecology department features highly experienced consultants, ensuring you receive the most appropriate form of treatment to manage your symptoms and get you back to good health.
Treatment will depend on the specific condition diagnosed, with individualised treatments according to your wishes. Some patients may be averse to having surgery, instead preferring a conservative approach with medical/non-surgical treatment. Your consultant can offer an opinion on which treatment may be most effective or closest in line to your goals for recovery, but ultimately it will be your decision.
By seeing us privately, your treatment plan will be formed with your specific wishes in mind, rather than the typical protocol for treatment on the NHS which may be more limited.
Very often, surgical options are laparoscopic (a form of keyhole surgery), involving small incisions (cuts) made across your abdomen, allowing access for a telescope and any necessary surgical instruments. This can be used as a diagnostic tool to help confirm suspected endometriosis, ovarian cysts or fibroids, and certain minor procedures can be performed at the same time, such as a biopsy (small tissue sample).
Most laparoscopic surgeries are offered as a day case procedure, with some requiring an overnight stay for observation.
Hysteroscopy, involving a camera inspection of the inside of the uterus, may also be used for diagnostic purposes, particularly for diagnosing the cause of abnormal bleeding. Using surgical instruments, a biopsy can be taken, and removal of polyps or small fibroids can be undertaken at the same time.
Hormonal treatments such as HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) to treat symptoms of the menopause can be administered either as an oral tablet, through the skin with an adhesive patch or gel, or implanted beneath the skin with an injection. This will largely depend on your symptoms and the specifics of the hormones and dosage required, which is again why a personalised approach is so beneficial.
A surgical procedure known as a Hysterectomy involves the removal of the uterus, and is sometimes used as a last resort for patients who have tried other treatments for painful and/or heavy periods which have been unsuccessful. This surgery may also be used for treating fibroids, endometriosis, and some forms of cancer, and typically takes one of three forms:
- Total hysterectomy – where the cervix and uterus are removed
- Subtotal hysterectomy – where the cervix is left intact and just the uterus is removed
- Radical/extended hysterectomy – where the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and upper part of the vagina are removed
Your consultant will be able to advise you on which type of procedure you may require, weighing up the risks and benefits of this major surgery. By ensuring you understand any ramifications, such as the inability to get pregnant or have periods afterwards, you are kept well-informed, giving you control over your own healthcare and the decisions involved.