Ask the gynaecology consultants at Spire Healthcare your questions on all things gynaecology - £200 voucher to be won

[LucyBMumsnet]

Gynaecology isn’t a topic that’s likely to come up in everyday conversation. However, many people are seeking answers to their gynae-related questions and finding the right time or person to ask can be a challenge. That’s why Spire Healthcare has recruited a panel of gynaecology experts who will be here to answer your questions about all things related to gynaecology.

Here’s what Spire Healthcare has to say: “Spire Healthcare is a leading independent hospital group in the United Kingdom, with 39 private hospitals and eight clinics across England, Wales and Scotland. Working in partnership with around 7,500 experienced consultants, Spire Healthcare delivered tailored, personalised care to almost 750,000 inpatients, outpatients and day case patients in 2020.

The Group’s well located and scalable hospitals have delivered successful and award-winning clinical outcomes, positioning the Group well with patients, consultants, the NHS, GPs and Private Medical Insurance providers. 90% of Spire Healthcare’s hospitals are rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC (or the equivalent in Scotland and Wales).”

Want to find out more about who will be answering your questions? Read about the panel of experts below:

Dr Gail Busby
Dr Gail Busby is a Consultant Gynaecologist specialising in paediatric, adolescent and adult gynaecology conditions. She qualified in Trinidad in 1996, before amassing a wealth of experience at Liverpool and London. Her clinical interests include menstrual disorders, endometriosis, laparoscopic surgery, hysteroscopy and post-menopausal problems.

Mrs Sarah Hussain
Sarah has been a consultant gynaecologist for 33 years. She has a special interest in incontinence, prolapse of vagina and uterus, heavy and painful periods and abnormal bleeding, menopause, endometriosis and fibroids.

Mr Mohamed Mabrouk
Mohamad is a Consultant Gynaecologist and adjunct professor in Gynaecology in the University of Southern Denmark. His special interests are endometriosis, advanced laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery and menstrual disorders. He has extensive experience in laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis and is dedicated to helping women with endometriosis have a better quality of life and improve their fertility.

Maybe you have a question about recovery after childbirth or strengthening your pelvic floor muscles? Perhaps you’d like information on the things all women should know about their health or if they should have regular gynaecology check-ups? Whether your question is about menstrual disorders, childbirth injuries or incontinence, post it on the thread below. The expert consultants from Spire Healthcare will be back in July to answer a selection of your questions.

Everyone who shares a question on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

Hello, after having my child I encountered a 3rd degree tear. Ever since I have had ‘lax walls’ but apparently not bad enough to class as a prolapse. I have been doing pfe religiously for the past year but still have issues (dragging feeling, tampon feeling). Could this be because the tear has not healed 100%? I have found that on the inside I can feel a deep V but no one has ever mentioned it when I’ve been assessed.

I had a tear on my first delivery, and was sewn up which left overgranulation of the tissue, and had a subsequent repair, how strong would my perineum be for second delivery.

Do you have any tips to avoid damage for a first time vaginally delivery?

How can you help strengthen your perineum and to aid the stretching and not tearing, are there exercises for this ?

Hi,
I gave birth January 2020 and for around 6 weeks I had constant coccyx pain said to be caused by my very quick labour. But in the last 2 weeks it has come back and nothing I do helps.

Are there any surgical or non-surgical fixes for stress incontinence not available on the NHS that are worth paying for. Lengthy waits for treatments mean I would be prepared to go with private medicine. My condition is mild - medium but I would love it to go away.

I have had irregular incontinence since I was about 20 years old (not childbirth related) , I was referred to a specialist unit but they could only tell me that I have an issue where by my bladder does not fully empty when I use the toilet. As it is irregular (sometimes numerous times a day and some days none at all) is there anything else I can do?

Is there a point where damage to the anal sphincter is irreparable? Repair surgery has been delayed as a result of Covid and I am 3 years postpartum, and worried it may never be fixed.

Why would an episiotomy scar still hurt after 4 years post delivery?

Why are gynaecological procedures such as hysteroscopies and insertion of IUDs performed on women without adequate pain relief? The statement "it may feel a little uncomfortable" patently untrue for many women. When these women try to tolerate the agonising and distressing pain, their distress is often ignored or belittled.

Why is this allowed to happen?

Hit post too soon:

Why is this allowed to happen? What pain relief options are available for those for whom "a couple of paracetamol" has no effect?

If you have 3rd or 4th degree tears, does that make your next pregnancy harder to give birth naturally?

Excellent question @JellySlice

I would like the ask the panel’s opinion on hysteroscopies and polypectomies performed in the OPD without pain relief. And what their thoughts are on if men were expected to endure these procedures would the “don’t be silly, it’s just a bit uncomfortable” response be acceptable ?

I had a crash section 9 years ago. I go through periods of feeling like something is trying to push out of the scar. Sometimes, it looks like right side overhang has grown. Then it goes back to normal. Ultrasounds show nothing.

On same side, ovary is often very painful but ultrasound shows nothing.

Hi, I'd love some help please. I'm 55, post menopausal and have been on continuous HRT since 2013. Had a second unexplained bleed in March so was referred under 2 week pathway.

I have a history of endometriosis, my womb lining measured 8mm on scan so they attempted hysteroscopy under GA at the end of April. They couldn't open my cervix wide enough to get the scope in (angle of womb/cervix) so ended up performing biopsies using small curettage. I came round in agony, fortunately I had insisted on GA as my pain threshold is low.

Mid May, while all seemed fine, I had the follow up call with the consultant who said my biopsies were clear and so they discharged me.

8 weeks and two courses of Metronidazole for BV later, I'm STILL experiencing continuous bleeding although the infection cleared at least 4 weeks ago. I was swabbed in an STD clinic for that and they said that my cervix looked fine. The antibiotics definitely impacted the amount (I was flooding before it kicked in) and I had a break from bleeding for 2 whole days after the second course

My GP put me back on the 2 week pathway a fortnight ago as they have no other solution- I wondered if they'd nicked a polyp or something similar and that might be the issue- but apparently due to some restructuring in the department, the hospital have no idea how long before I can even have this emergency appointment.

I have even toyed with the idea of taking an extra half a patch (it's been done unsuccessfully before so not being reckless!) to see if it makes any difference. All feels rather desperate.

Hi. I would like to ask a question on behalf of my stepdaughter. She is 27, fit and healthy and so is her partner (30). They were trying for a baby for 8 months and got pregnant May 2020 which unfortunately ended due to a Cornual Ectopic (she kept her tube). They have been trying ever since and finally again got pregnant May this year but unfortunately that has been confirmed as a miscarriage today.

I'm just wondering are these two losses completely unrelated or could there be a link? When should she ask for help/advice from a medical professional? Not only is the poor girl taking forever to get pregnant but then she is losing the pregnancy.

Thanks in advance for any advice I can pass on.

Why would a woman of 48, with no previous history of endometriosis develop it at this age? Ovarian cysts, and adhesions between bowel and uterus diagnosed. Never really had any issues, except heavy, painful periods per children. Recently lots pain on first day of period, which prompted investigatons.

Cervical erosion - being treated for this (had a cauterisation) but doesn’t seem to have worked
Been told it may have to be treated under GA - it’s been horrible to live with the effects so far so hoping the next steps would actually fix the issue - any reassurance would be appreciated
Thanks

I noticed with concern, various news reports stating that your subsidiary hospital Spire Southampton, employs a notorious "yoni massager" Mike Lousada as a sex therapist at the Spire Southampton Sexual Wellness Clinic.

Mr Lousada gained notoriety in the national press after offering the controversial author Naomi Wolf a yoni (vulva and vagina) massage. Wolf declined the yoni massage but accepted a massage and went on to write her much derided book "Vagina" prior to becoming a full on conspiracy theorist and being banned from twitter.

According to the Mail Lousada will be offering women "Psychosexual Somatic Therapy" which "combines the ‘talking cure’ approach with physical touch".

source:
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3446164/Middle-aged-women-new-hips-boost-sheets-say-improved-sex-life-reason-op.html

I have been researching psychosexual somatic therapy and find it extremely concerning and potentially abusive.

I just wondered whether you could confirm or deny whether Mr Lousada will be offering his infamous yoni massages to the women seeking help from the Sexual Wellness Clinic at Spire Southampton Hospital?

Some further news stories about Mike Lousada's psychosexual somatic therapy here

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1310321/He-tickles-feeds-strawberries-I-think-children--tantric-sex-guru-rekindle-middle-aged-libido.html

www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/mike-lousada-guru-how-to-female-orgasm

Thank you in anticipation of clarification on this delicate yet important issue

What is the treatment for bladder weakness after child birth please?

What can cause a thickened uterine lining, approximately 20mm?
Would this always be a cause for concern or can it be within a normal range?

Is it wise for women to reduce running to a minimum to protect their pelvic floor?

Same question as PP - pre children I loved running as a stressbuster but worried if I start again I will prolapse

I use Aquaflex cones on the advice of a women's physio rather than traditional clenching exercises and have also used resistance-based pelvic floor trainers in the past. I assume they are more effective as they use resistance/ weights, but what do you think?

I am going through early menopause but cannot tolerate HRT. How important is it to replace the low estrogen in terms of protecting my heart and bones? Iam 38.