Gynae Special Services

There are numerous gynaecological procedures we provide at our office.

I will mention only few in particular those my patient fear the most.

For all those procedures that are done at my office, on routine base, I have provided a short video clip.

I am certain it l will reassure them that it is actually not painful and perfectly possible to have procedure done without admissions to the hospital and all what follows admission, operational theatre, general anaesthetic and recovery.

Also, no need to mention it is much cheaper for my patients and for the medical aid society.

We perform the following procedures in the office:

• Colposcopy and biopsy for irregular cells on the cervix assessment (film)
• Diagnostic hysteroscopy and assessment of fertility, removal of IUD, polyp, office ultrasound saline sonography and foam-based scan guided hysterosalpingography (film)
• IUI intrauterine insemination (we closely collaborate with IVF Zimbabwe and Mercycare lab at Melbourne hospital in Harare where all semen analysis and preparations are done and if no results obtained subsequently IVF is done)
• Also, We closely collaborate with Vitalab, Medfem clinics Johannesburg and Newlands medical Clinic, Capetown and prepare surgically or medically ( stimulation of follicles)  patients  for IVF. Time spent overseas is significantly shortened for the couple suffering with infertility.
• Endometrial biopsy
• Cervical LEEP with Argon laser(film)
• Genital and cervical warts freezing with liquid nitrogen (film )
• Aesthetic gynaecology assessment and outpatient treatment with Argon laser

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More Information

For more information regarding to this procedure please follow the links below and donwload the documents:

       Link One

       Link Two

What is a microwave endometrial ablation?

A microwave endometrial ablation is an operation that uses microwave energy to remove the lining of the uterus (womb).

What are the benefits of surgery?

Most women experience a noticeable reduction in their periods and, in some cases, periods stop altogether.

An endometrial ablation has fewer complications and a quicker recovery time than a hysterectomy.

Are there any alternatives to surgery?

Heavy periods can be treated using a variety of oral medications.

Other alternatives include a hormonal coil.

What does the operation involve?

A microwave endometrial ablation can be performed under local or general anaesthetic and usually takes less than twenty minutes.

Your gynaecologist will usually pass a hysteroscope through your vagina and cervix into the cavity of your womb and pass fluid or gas through the hysteroscope to swell the womb. They will place a microwave probe into your womb and then remove it slowly.

What complications can happen?

General complications

• Pain
• Sickness or being sick
• Bleeding or discharge
• Infection
• Blood clots

Specific complications

• Making a hole in the womb
• Failed procedure
• Haematomata
• Continued bleeding or pain

How soon will I recover?

You should be able to go home the same day.

You should be able to return to normal activities after two to four days.

You should expect to have some bleeding or discharge for up to six weeks after the operation.

Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, you should ask a member of the healthcare team.

The operation is not recommended for women who still want children. However, even if your periods stop, there is still a risk of becoming pregnant.

Summary

An endometrial ablation is a commonly performed gynaecological operation. It helps to relieve the symptoms of heavy periods. If the operation is successful, you should have less bleeding and pain.

Hysterosonography, also called sonohysterography, uses sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of a woman’s uterus and help diagnose unexplained vaginal bleeding. Hysterosonography is performed very much like a gynecologic exam and involves the insertion of the transducer into the vagina after you empty your bladder. Using a small tube inserted into the vagina, your doctor will inject a small amount of sterile saline into the cavity of the uterus and study the lining of the uterus using the ultrasound transducer. Ultrasound does not use ionizing radiation, has no known harmful effects, and provides a clear picture of soft tissues that don’t show up well on x-ray images.

It is best to perform hysterosonography one week after menstruation to avoid the risk of infection. Little or no special preparation is required for this procedure. Inform your doctor if there’s a possibility you are pregnant. Leave jewelry at home and wear loose, comfortable clothing. You may be asked to wear a gown.

What are some common uses of the procedure?

It is a valuable technique for evaluating unexplained vaginal bleeding that may be the result of uterine abnormalities such as:

• polyps
• fibroids
• endometrial atrophy
• endometrial adhesions (or scarring)
• malignant lesions/masses
• congenital defects

Sonohysterography is also used to investigate uterine abnormalities in women who experience infertility or multiple miscarriages.

Doppler ultrasound images can help the physician to see and evaluate:

• blockages to blood flow (such as clots).
• blood flow in polyps, tumors and congenital malformation.
• pelvic varicose veins and aneurysms.

How should I prepare?

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. You may need to remove all clothing and jewelry in the area to be examined.

You may be asked to wear a gown during the procedure.

It is best to perform sonohysterography one week after menstruation to avoid the risk of infection. At this time in the menstrual cycle, the endometrium is at its thinnest, which is the best time to determine if the endometrium is normal. The timing of the exam may vary, however, depending on the symptoms and their suspected origins. Sonohysterography should not be performed if you are pregnant.

No special preparation is required prior to the exam. You may be advised to take an over-the-counter medication shortly before the procedure to minimize any potential discomfort.

What does the equipment look like?

Ultrasound scanners consist of a computer console, video display screen and an attached transducer. The transducer is a small hand-held device that resembles a microphone. Some exams may use different transducers (with different capabilities) during a single exam. The transducer sends out inaudible, high-frequency sound waves into the body and then listens for the returning echoes. The principles are similar to sonar used by boats and submarines.

The technologist applies a small amount of gel to the area under examination and places the transducer there. The gel allows sound waves to travel back and forth between the transducer and the area under examination. The ultrasound image is immediately visible on a video display screen that looks like a computer monitor. The computer creates the image based on the loudness (amplitude), pitch (frequency) and time it takes for the ultrasound signal to return to the transducer. It also takes into account what type of body structure and/or tissue the sound is traveling through.

Some ultrasound procedures, such as transvaginal or transrectal exams, require insertion of the transducer. In these cases, the device is first covered with a sheath and lubricated.

The saline is infused into the uterus by using a small, lightweight catheter.

How is the procedure performed?

A baseline transvaginal ultrasound procedure is usually performed first to view the endometrium, or the lining of the uterus, including its thickness and any associated ovarian abnormality.

Transvaginal ultrasound is performed very much like a gynecologic exam. It involves the insertion of the transducer into the vagina after you empty your bladder. The tip of the transducer is smaller than the standard speculum used when performing a Pap test. A protective cover is placed over the transducer, lubricated with a small amount of gel, and then inserted into the vagina. Only two to three inches of the transducer end are inserted into the vagina. The images are obtained from different orientations to get the best views of the uterus and ovaries. Transvaginal ultrasound is usually performed with you lying on your back, possibly with your feet in stirrups similar to a gynecologic exam.

Doppler sonography can also be performed through the transvaginal transducer. See the Pelvic Ultrasound page for more information.

Sonohysterography is then performed as a more in-depth investigation of the abnormalities and their potential causes. Determining the locations of certain abnormalities, such as fibroids or polyps, can be important when establishing a treatment or management strategy for a patient’s particular condition.

Following the baseline exam, the transvaginal probe will be removed, and a sterile speculum will be inserted as you lie on your back with your knees bent or your feet in stirrups. The cervix will be cleansed, and a catheter will be inserted into the uterine cavity. Once the catheter is in place, the speculum will be removed, and the transvaginal probe will be re-inserted into the vaginal canal. Sterile saline will then be injected through the catheter into the uterine cavity as ultrasound is being performed.

This ultrasound examination is usually completed within 30 minutes.

What will I experience during and after the procedure?

Most ultrasound exams are painless, fast and easily tolerated.

With transvaginal ultrasound, although the examination is often performed to look for a cause of pelvic pain, the sonogram itself should not be painful or significantly increase your discomfort. A vaginal sonogram is usually more comfortable than a manual gynecologic examination.

During the sonohysterogram, you may feel occasional cramping as a result of the introduction of the saline. Over-the-counter medication should be sufficient to minimize any discomfort associated with the procedure. You may have vaginal spotting for a few days after the procedure, which is normal.

If a Doppler ultrasound study is performed, you may actually hear pulse-like sounds that change in pitch as the blood flow is monitored and measured.

After an ultrasound examination, you should be able to resume your normal activities immediately.

Who interprets the results and how do I get them?

A radiologist, a doctor trained to supervise and interpret radiology exams, will analyze the images. The radiologist will send a signed report to the doctor who requested the exam. Your doctor will then share the results with you. In some cases, the radiologist may discuss results with you after the exam.

Follow-up exams may be needed. If so, your doctor will explain why. Sometimes a follow-up exam is done because a potential abnormality needs further evaluation with additional views or a special imaging technique. A follow-up exam may also be done to see if there has been any change in an abnormality over time. Follow-up exams are sometimes the best way to see if treatment is working or if an abnormality is stable or has changed.

What are the benefits vs. risks?

Benefits

• Most ultrasound scanning is noninvasive (no needles or injections).
• Occasionally, an ultrasound exam may be temporarily uncomfortable, but it should not be painful.
• Ultrasound is widely available, easy-to-use and less expensive than most other imaging methods.
• Ultrasound imaging is extremely safe and does not use radiation.
• Ultrasound scanning gives a clear picture of soft tissues that do not show up well on x-ray images.
• Sonohysterography is a simple, minimally invasive procedure that is well tolerated by patients and has very few complications.
• Sonohysterography is a relatively short procedure that provides an excellent view of the uterus and endometrial lining.
• Many uterine abnormalities that may not be seen adequately with routine transvaginal ultrasound may be viewed in detail with sonohysterography.
• Sonohysterography can prevent unnecessary surgery, and it can ensure that all polyps and fibroids are removed at surgery.

Risks

• Standard diagnostic ultrasound has no known harmful effects on humans.

What are the limitations of Sonohysterography?

• Sonohysterography should typically not be performed in women with active pelvic inflammatory disease.
• Sonohysterography may have a few limitations in certain clinical situations. In women with stenosis of the cervix, it may be somewhat difficult to insert the catheter into the cervical canal so that saline may be injected. Inadequate distension (expansion) of the uterine cavity from the saline injection may also prevent good-quality ultrasound images from being obtained. This can occur especially with uterine adhesions (scarring) or large benign tumors called fibroids, which may partially obliterate the uterine cavity.
• Also, sonohysterography is limited in the assessment of the patency, or openness, of the fallopian tubes because of their size and structure. In such cases where an abnormality of the fallopian tubes is suspected, a procedure such as hysterosalpingography might be recommended for further evaluation.