Gynaecology in Darlington

Our private gynaecology service at Woodlands Hospital, offers you fast and convenient appointments with a consultant gynaecologist if you are based in Darlington, Richmond and Barnard Castle.

Together, you and your consultant can decide the best route for you and develop a tailor-made treatment package to achieve optimum results.

The gynaecology service at Woodlands Hospital offers treatment for a wide range of conditions including:

• Early pregnancy
• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Heavy periods (menorrhagia)
• HPV screening and vaccinations
• Investigate and treat urinary incontinence
• Painful periods (dysmenorrhoea)
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
• Screening and treatment for cervical, ovarian, uterine, womb and vulval cancers
• Vaginal and uterine prolapse
• Female incontinence and urinary problems
• Post delivery problems

The type of treatment you will receive will depend on your symptoms, your age and whether you wish to have children.

Your consultant will assess your condition and give you an expert opinion. If further diagnostic tests or treatment are required, these will be explained fully during your consultation. 

You should see a gynaecologist if you experience any of these symptoms:

• Abdominal or pelvic pain during or between periods
• Bleeding between periods
• Dyspareunia (painful intercourse)
• Failure to conceive
• Heavy periods
• Intermittent or irregular periods
• Irregular discharge
• Itching or burning
• Sensation of prolapse
• Stress and other urinary incontinence, and bladder problems

Common diagnostic tests include:

• Biopsy
• Blood tests
• Colposcopy
• Hysteroscopy
• Laparoscopy
• Pelvic examination
• Ultrasound
• Urodynamics

Urodynamics is a test for finding out how your bladder, sphincter (the muscle around the neck of your bladder) and the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) are working.

The test can help find out the cause for bladder problems such as incontinence, or difficulty in passing urine. The test may include X-rays to help your consultant make a diagnosis.

The purpose of a urodynamic study is to find out:

If your symptoms are due to involuntary contractions (squeezing) or over activity of your bladder muscles
If you have the bladder capacity we would normally expect
If your bladder pressure is normal during filling and emptying
If you are emptying your bladder normally
Urodynamics is usually performed as an out-patient procedure.

The test results will help you and your consultant decide if you need to alter your current treatment, or if you need surgery.

Before you come to hospital you will be asked to keep a voiding diary for three days before you come for your appointment.

A voiding diary is a record of how much you urinate. You will need to record what type of fluid you drink, when and how much, and the timing and volume of urine output.

You may also be asked to give information about when you experience urgency or urinary leakage.

Accessing private healthcare is easy, whether you choose to pay directly or use private medical insurance.

If you are paying for yourself, we can usually offer an upfront cost which you can then choose to pay in full or access one of our easy payment options.

If you have insurance, we can arrange direct settlement with your insurance provider, although you should check in advance to see if your treatment is covered. For more information, visit our private medical insurance page.