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 sailed through the menopause with a single hot flush and feel fine but should I be doing anything special re bone density? I have psoriatic arthritis so I don't know if that impacts on anything.

@Rizzoli123

I think i have bowel endometriosis yet I have no other symptoms.

If the problem is pain / urgency / IBS type symptoms then it may be adhesions on your bowel. I have endometriosis and my bowels were horribly stuck together - I used to Ned the loo within 20 mins of eating every single time I ate. Had to the adhesions removed and fortunately the problem stopped.

Thank you sinkgirl

I think it could be that. Sometimes if I eat I have to go. Other times it could be a while. I'm waiting to see out local gynaecologist but not sure how long wait will be

I had an episiotomy 9 years ago. The stitches burst in the hospital and they left it to heal separate. I told my GP at checkup and a year later I was uncomfortable with rubbing and the sideways cut felt odd.

I have this obvious diversion between my vagina and anus that yes has healed but it's literally a sideways opening.

For the past few years I am horrified when I even wash myself or squat on the toilet because I feel like it's lower than it should be muscle wall and heavy feeling above it

I tried to see a GP a few months ago but they had no appointments and I'm trying to get the courage to call again

I'm worried I have both a prolapse and something wrong where these two sides should have healed together but didn't and now I just have this sideways gap in muscle that always feels open.

I don't know if this is normal for after episiotomy or not.

I know it sounds pathetic but I'm quite ashamed of it and frightened to confront it

I have recently gone through the menopause and have fibroids. I have read that fibroids usually shrink after the menopause, is this true? I'm suffering from lower back pain which seems to be getting worse rather than better. I was hoping that the pain would ease as my fibroids got smaller. Is there anything I can do to ease the pain or ideally shrink the fibroids?

I am in my late thirties and ive noticed lately that if i laugh too much i do have leakage and also when i sneeze, it has started happening too. I also sometimes have to dash when i arrive home and its pretty close to whether i make i or not?

Is this normal? Is there anything i can do to make it better?

What surgical solutions (current or up and coming) for rectal, bladder aand uterine prolapse will be 'gold standard' after the mesh scandal?

For vaginal atrophy, are pessaries with oestrogen likely to be prescribed? If so, would they help other menopausal symptoms? I am experiencing joint problems, which seem to be related.

My menstrual cycle has been irregular for a year (used to have a regular 30 day cycle now ranging from 35 to 45 days). My doctor doesn't seem concerned and my smear test was normal. I am 37. Is this normal, and could it be a result of having the copper IUD?

Is it really ok to leave the Mirena coil in for the rest of your life (when you are too old to need it for contraception)?

Will my hernia get worse when giving birth?

My diagnosis of endometriosis was confirmed 20 years ago via laparoscopy. Prior to that I have had all the medication you can have plus a chemical menopause when I was 27 then finally the laparoscopy when I was no longer under the NHS but a private patient.

Is there anything that helps with the fatigue at all? I haven't worked for the last 17 years because of being ridiculously tired every day in the afternoon. This affects holidays, weekends away, even day trips.

I don't have many of the other symptoms anymore, just pain around ovulation and severe pain when I am on my period. I manage this with a TENs machine and a massage gun and sheer determination. It is like being in labour every month. I really should go to the GP to get prescription pain meds but quite frankly having been fobbed off for 10 years prior to the endo diagnosis I am scared I will have to beg for pain relief. I am sure I am not alone in this fear.

Anything for the fatigue would help.

Im 45 and havent had a period in a year. Last week I had some slight bleeding and have been referred for urgent tests. Aside from the sinister outcomes what other things can contribute to post menopausal bleeding? Just trying to give myself other possibilities...

How do you help survivors of child sexual abuse who don't want to retraumarise themselves by having examinations? By the way, get it over with asap and no more than necessary.

Is there a genetic predisposition to cervical cancer for some? My mother and grandmother both died young from it yet I’ve been told labs nowadays look at smear to see if you have the HPV virus, only sending those that do to look for abnormal cells. So if there is a genetic cause for a minority that isn’t the virus they will surely drop through the cracks.

Why is so little pain relief given after a Caesarean section? I was expected to get by on paracetamol, and had to beg for oromorph.

Reoccurring Yeast infection - I have a question about my daughter - she is only 4. We have seen nurses and doctors on and off about this issue. She is regularly diagnosed with a yeast infection. They put this down to her not wiping correctly and not getting enough air to region - they give me canestan and I treat her for a week sometimes two and it goes away, but it always reoccurs.

I have tried everything to work out the cause - she has very little soap in the bath as she suffers from eczema we use E45 for sensitive skin. She doesn't sit in the bath long - we use vegan shampoo on her hair (child's farm baby shampoo in fragrances) and take her straight out the bath after washing it. We regularly talk to her about the importance of wiping. I wash all her knickers on 60 degree separate wash with non bio liquid only (no fabric softener and sometimes also soak in napisan before hand) we tried using the new laundry sanitizers that you can buy but her eczema on her legs got worse so I stopped immediately, she doesn't wear knickers to bed to get air to the region. I'm really at my limit.

It always goes away and then reoccurs about 2 weeks later - we put more canestan on but I worry what possible side effects she might have using it too often. over the course of a year she has probably had 4-5 treatments, the doctors I've spoken too don't seem so concerned, but she is only 4yrs old - which seems very young to be getting it so consistently. I'm worried it might have some sort of immunity to treatment they are suggesting or some long term side effects. I don't know how else to get rid of it, please help!

My episiotomy scar is still hurting 11 years on. Is that normal?

I had CIN2 and my cells burnt off but since then i had a repeat 6 month check that was clear and now it has gone to 3 yearly. Do you feel they should be sooner than this and if so should I pay private?

I was treated for an ovarian cyst, which was only found because of my 2nd pregnancy, during a routine scan. I had the cyst drained laprascopically, but as I did not feel or had any symptoms what are the chances of it coming back - I was due to have a follow-up scan to see if the cyst had gone - but the appointment did not materialise, my doctor just said - it's in the system and not to worry - but I am

What happens to PCOS sufferers post menopause?

Is it worth trying a mirena coil for heavy/painful periods?

I have been diagnosed with VAIN2 and have had two contradictory treatment plans. One from the NHS and one from one of the Spire hospitals. One route is diathermy of the site under GA, the other is a 16 week course of immiquimod . Each doctor ( 1 NHS and 1 Spire) says that the other plan hasn't been properly demonstrated to be successfully. My understanding is that VAIN is under-diagnosed / researched and that each new case treater is adding to the body of evidence.

With contradictory advice and no medical knowledge, how am I supposed to decide between the treatment plans?

Asking for a friend. Can frequent use of clit vibrator reduce your sensitivity to the extent that it becomes the only way to climax ?

When I was pregnant I had moderate pelvic girdle pain. I could walk, with difficulty, a hip band, & significant pain, but it wasn't so bad that I had crutches. I had a stirrups & forceps delivery. My child is now 9 years old & it still troubles me occasionally. Is there anything that can be done? Is it normal? Sometimes it's really sharp & painful to walk, it usually goes away after an hour or so.