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

I'm 51 and was thrown into menopause at 48 due to chemo for breast cancer. I haven't had any periods since chemo apart from about once a year I have one. Why would this happen?

I am desperately in need of advice and hope one of you may be able to help as I don’t know where to turn.

I have endometriosis and adenomyosis. I spent two years on zoladex in my mid 20s and had all the usual menopausal side effects, including fatigue, hair loss, weight gain, and complete loss of sex drive.

Despite the fact I came off Zoladex 12 years ago, the side effects never went. I do have periods and all blood tests I’ve had so far seem normal. Very occasionally my sex drive will return and my fatigue will improve for a week or so around ovulation, then it goes again. I have had stretches of 5+ years with no sex drive, severe fatigue etc. I’m not on any hormonal treatments now. I’ve had hormonal blood tests - one showed below range estradiol at one point in my cycle but quite low in range at another.

I really need to find someone who can help me as it has badly affected every area of my life, but every GP or gynaecologist I’ve seen doesn’t know what it could be and it gets dismissed.

I really need some advice on who might be able to help me - this has had such a huge impact on my mental health, my marriage, my career and I have no idea where to go for help.

If you have any suggestions of things that might help, tests I could do, specialists I could see I would be enormously grateful.

My periods were really heavy with flooding for the first 2 to 3 days, a tampon and pad were not enough, after the birth of my 1st son, and I breastfed for 18 months , (2 years post partum) my periods are lighter, but really random, how long do you think they will return to a regular cycle, and would the debilitating flooding return.

I am 4 years post partum from DS2, and still have leakage, and dread sneezing when out in public, I did pelvic floor exercises, and did stretching with oil of my perineum, and did not tear when I delivered 2 babies - so cannot understand why I still have leakage. Pelvic floor exercises have not helped - and I don't think it's bad enough for surgery - so what's your best advise ?

Is week long ovulation pain on one side really no big deal? GP didn't seem concerned.

Tips on endometriosis management wanted

@HangingOver I'd request an ultrasound! You're well within your rights to have one. When my ovulation pain got severe it was down to a 12cm endometrioma on my Right ovary so definitely worth checking it out.

@languagelover96 me too!

DS1 was an IVF miracle and following the birth, DS2 was a miracle baby as I only have one ovary - does this lead to less hormones and does one ovary affect menopause and I did not get a any explanation into why DS1 took 18 months of IVF to conceive and DS2 was one night only not sure how I was so lucky.

I had PCOS years ago but since I have been on the mini pill I don't have any symptoms - if I come off it are they likely to return?

When are home HPV test kits likely to be made available to all by the NHS, reducing the need for smear tests?

Are abnormal cells with HPV always turn into cancer in the future and will i always need coloscopies in future aswell as extra smear tests?

I am on a six month course of Zoladex in an attempt to shrink my fibroids and finally tip me into menopause. I have just had the second of my monthly injections this morning.

Is it normal to have daily bleeding whilst on this treatment? I began having this around a week after my first injection last month and it is still going on now, around three weeks later. It is variable in amount, random and unpredictable. Some days not much, others quite a bit. Today has been a lot.

For background, I am 54 and have suffered from very heavy, flooding periods for years. I do have a couple of fibroids. They are a few centimetres in diameter and are thought to be the cause. I had a mirena coil for just over a year but the bleeding got worse over that time and it did not shrink my fibroids. They grew instead and I was relieved to finally get rid of it.

That is why I am now on Zoladex. I have declined another mirena coil because I simply cannot face going through that again, it was so awful.

Advice would be gratefully received. I will, of course, be contacting my gynaecology clinic again, but am currently having difficulty with the messaging system.

Early 50s, regular 28 day cycle but REALLY heavy periods mean I can barely leave the house for day 1 and 2. I use a cup so can measure my flow as easily 20ml per hour.

I have uterine (in the wall ) fibroids large (20cm) which were discovered in a pregnancy over 20 years ago. My GP is dismissive and says let nature do it’s thing.

Post my COVID vaccine my periods have been erratic 6-8 weeks instead of 28 days, of course this might be entirely due to my age and could have happened without the jab but regardless when they appear they are HEAVY!

Just sit it out - Is that really what I should do ?

I have extreme itching sound my mons pubis..is that the name?. Can't see anything there. What might it be,?

Does PCOS increase your risk of ovarian cancer? Other than a low GI diet and healthy lifestyle is there anything else that would help reduce symptoms e.g. natural supplements?

@JellySlice

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?

Yes! This!!

Do ovarian cysts and fibroids increase your risk of ovarian cancer?

I have many of the symptoms of polycystic ovaries but have never been found to have them based on scans but I read somewhere that scans aren't a reliable way to know. What is the best way to find out for sure and I'm wondering if it would even help to know now at my age (perimenopause) having lived with the symptoms all these years.

Is it healthy to use a mooncup every day?

A year on from giving birth I have what I thought was a prolapse, was then investigated for vulval cancer and now know to be a benign cyst of around 4cm diameter.

I have been told I can decide if I want it removed but since it doesn't cause any pain it seems like unnecessary surgery. How likely is it that it will grow or cause more pain? Is it related to my pregnancy or coincidence that it appeared at the same time?

At the age of 44 I had a vaginal hysterectomy which included removal of both ovaries and of course the cervix. I am now 58. I have not had a smear test since due to no longer having a cervix but I've always wondered if I should have one if cancer could be detected in the vaginal wall or in the scar tissue where the cervix was? I still receive invitations for a smear in the post but have been too embarrassed to ask if I should have one 😬

I have always had very heavy periods which I manage (now using resuable fabric pads which are much more absorbent & have none of the chemicals in dispoable sanitary pads - I highly recommend them!) - but my issue is extreme tenderness in my breasts which begins 1-2 weeks before my period is due & lasts until my period arrives. I have had this since I was 18, I remember going to the GP about it then & he recommended Evening Primrose which didn't help. I have lived with pretty much since then, but its very uncomfortable & I avoid hugging people during that time because even that contact hurts! (Obviously not an issue for the last 18 months!) I wear a supportive bra in the correct size & would really like to know if there is anything that will relieve this. It makes me very irritable for those 2 weeks & not that pleasant to live with!
Thanks :)

Hello

I take HRT and would like to continue taking this for as long as possible. Can you continue forever (provided no risk factors are noticed)?

Hi all, I'm hoping for some advice regarding pelvic adhesions. I have a history of ovarian cysts (currently awaiting a pelvic ultrasound from referral back in feb for constant pain in ovary area, changes to my cycle and very heavy periods) and have had 3 laparotomies and 3 laparoscopies for the removal of cysts, 2 further laparoscopies to diagnose and then treat pelvic adhesions and 2 c sections. I had a colonoscopy last year and was told there wasn't the flexibility in my bowel that was expected which was probably down to adhesions since my bowels had previously been stuck and then freed. For the last few years I've been passed from gynaecology to gastroenterology and back again as I'm a "complex case" and no one seems to want to do anything to make my life more pain free.

Of course I realise my adhesions are a result of the surgeries I've had and any more to free them up (if they have developed again as I suspect) could lead to more in future, so what can I do to make it more manageable and is there any point being referred (yet again) to gynaecology for help.

Thanks