Patient Leaflets - Gynaecology

Bartholin’s Abscess or Cyst with Word Catheter

This leaflet is aims to help women with a cyst or abscess of the Bartholin's gland to gain an understanding of the condition and treatments available. If there is anything you do not understand or if you have any questions, please ask the clinic nurse or doctor.

The Bartholin's glands are located on both sides of the vaginal opening. Under normal conditions, they are not noticeable. These glands secrete a fluid (through tiny openings called ducts) that keeps the vagina moist ... read more

BMI and Infertility

Being overweight has an adverse effect on reproduction. In women who need assisted conception (such as Ovulation induction, IVF, ICSI) recent evidence has shown a decrease in pregnancy rates with increasing body mass index (BMI), which is calculated as weight in kg/ height in metres ... read more

Chronic Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain is any pain you feel in the lower abdomen or pelvis. Healthcare professionals consider pelvic pain to be long-term if:

• you experience it either constantly or intermittently for at least six months
• it happens at times other than when you have your period or sexual intercourse.

Chronic or long-term pelvic pain is very common. Almost one in six women suffers from pelvic pain that has been going on for more than 6 months. Unfortunately, many women will suffer for years before a diagnosis is made ... read more

Colposcopy

Cervical screening tests (smears) and colposcopy are both part of the routine prevention of cervical cancer. Abnormal tests are fairly common, affecting about 1 in 12 women. Please be assured that it is very unlikely that you have developed cancer. This leaflet explains what colposcopy means and what happens when you attend a clinic ... read more

Colposcopy and Lletz Biopsy

LLETZ stands for “Large Loop Excision of the Transformational Zone”

You have had a LLETZ treatment today where a small piece of tissue (approximately 1cm by 1cm) from your cervix was removed to take away the abnormal cells. These cells are not cancerous, but your smear has shown that there are high grade pre-cancerous changes.

This means that they could develop into cancer if left untreated or unmonitored ... read more

Fertility Welcome Pack

The Fertility unit is a specialist gynaecology service with clinics and theatres located at both St Peter’s Hospital and Ashford Hospital. We provide a high quality, friendly and personalised one-stop service to patients who are seeking fertility treatment. We have an expert team providing the support you need, and to help you choose the most appropriate treatment ... read more

Follicle Tracking Scans

The purpose of follicle tracking is to confirm that a follicle is developing at the correct time in the cycle and is releasing the egg, in other words to confirm ovulation ... read more

Gynaecology-Oncology Fast Track Clinic

Your GP has referred you to the Gynaecology Fast Track Diagnostic Clinic for assessment and investigation of the pelvic and abdominal symptoms that you are having. On the appointment day, you may require an ultrasound to aid diagnosis:

Trans-vaginal ultrasound – This test uses sound waves to produce images of organs and structures within your pelvic region. This type of scan is performed by inserting a probe into the vagina in order to view the ovaries and womb clearly. You will be asked to lie on the couch in a similar position to having a smear taken.

The investigation feels similar to having an internal examination and is not usually painful ... read more

How to recover quickly from a laparoscopy

A laparoscopy (also known as keyhole surgery) is performed under a general anaesthetic. 3-4 small cuts (half to one centimetre in length) are made in the abdomen which allows your surgeon to insert a small telescope so that they can see inside your abdomen and your reproductive organs directly. Your abdomen will be filled with gas to allow us some space to gain a clear picture and if necessary, to treat any problems as agreed with you before your operation. Before you agree to surgery and sign your consent form, your surgeon will discuss what is planned (This is called an informed consent) ... read more

Laparoscopic Procedures for the Treatment of Endometriosis of Pelvic Nerves and Pelvic Nerve Entrapment

This leaflet aims to help you understand how laparoscopic procedures on pelvic nerves are performed and what potential complications of such surgery are. Please read this carefully and consider all the information contained in this leaflet and ask any questions that you may have from us before making your decision ... read more

Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist for Gynae-Oncology

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is a life changing event and you and your family may experience a wide range of emotions, and have a lot of questions and concerns throughout your cancer journey.

Your Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is available to provide ongoing support from the initial investigations leading to diagnosis, throughout your treatment and on to living with and beyond cancer ... read more

Outpatient Hysteroscopy

Outpatient hysteroscopy (OPH) is a procedure which allows us to look inside the womb. During the procedure a fine telescope called a hysteroscope is guided through the vagina and neck of the womb into the womb ... read more

Ovulation Induction with Clomiphene Treatment

Clomid (clomiphene citrate) is used in women who do not ovulate (produce eggs) regularly each month leading to infertility. Clomid stimulates eggs to develop in the ovaries and be released ready for fertilisation. About 80% of women will respond to this treatment and 40% will conceive. Most women who will ovulate do so during the first three months of treatment. Normally no more than six treatment cycles of Clomid treatment is given and, if pregnancy is not achieved during this time, then other methods of ovulation induction should be considered ... read more

Ovulation Induction with Letrozole Treatment

Letrozole is a fertility drug to stimulate ovulation and is sometimes used as an alternative to Clomifene. Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor and works by lowering the production of oestrogen and enhancing the release of FSH. It has also been shown to be effective at inducing ovulation in fertility patients and may be more effective than Clomifene in certain patients ... read more

Pre-Operative Bowel Preparation for Gynaecological Laparoscopic Surgery

Prior to your admission for laparoscopic surgery, we would like to ensure that your bowel is completely empty as this makes surgery easier to perform and reduces the risk of bowel injury to you. In the unlikely event of this occurring, it makes the management much easier as there is much less risk of contamination. It does, however, mean that you will have to go on a special diet for four days prior to your surgery and take strong laxatives. The laxatives will be given to you at your Preadmission assessment appointment together with instructions.

Bowel preparation is not suitable for all individuals if you have other medical problems for example diabetes or kidney problems. If you feel there is any reason why you may not be suitable for bowel prep then please discuss this with your doctor or nurse ... read more

Removal of Polyp / Fibroid using MyoSure Device

This is a procedure performed using a small telescope (hysteroscope) with a camera and light attached to it which is passed through the neck of your womb (cervix) to the inside of your womb (uterus). This enables visualisation as well as removal of polyps and fibroids growing inside the womb cavity using the MyoSure device ... read more

Removing Temporary Ovarian Suspension Stitches

Ovarian suspension has been done after your surgery to reduce post operative adhesions. The dissolvable stitches (blue coloured stitches) may be released after 5-7 days post operatively ... read more

TCRF (Transcervical Resection of Fibroids)

TCRF is a procedure in which the fibroids protruding into the lining of the womb (uterus) are removed or shaved off to make the womb lining as normal as possible (also called resection) using a wire loop. The operation is performed using a hysteroscope, an instrument like a telescope which allows the surgeon to see the inside the womb. Special instruments can then be passed along the hysteroscope so that surgical procedures can be carried out. When the hysteroscope carries a wire loop it is called a resectoscope. Myosure, a device with an integrated device can also be used for resection ... read more

Termination of Pregnancy

Finding out that you are pregnant can be a shock. This leaflet is intended for people considering termination of pregnancy ... read more