Gynaecology is the area of medicine that involves the optimisation of women’s health, especially regarding the reproductive tract (ie. uterus and ovaries). Women may seek a gynaecologist’s opinion for management of:
- Heavy periods
- Painful periods
- Pelvic pain
- Ovarian cysts
- Endometriosis
- Adenomyosis
- Fibroids
Encompassing both medicine (ie. prescribing tablets) and surgery, gynaecologists are well-placed to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, such as that at Maven Centre.
The consultant generalist gynaecologists in our team have all completed the rigorous six-year training program accredited by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Some have gone on to undertake additional training in particular areas of interest, for example: Dr Sneha Parghi and Dr Alison Bryant-Smith have completed additional training in advanced laparoscopic surgery; while Dr Ekaterina Jovic and Dr Melissa Saunders have completed additional training in colposcopy.
Laparoscopic (or ‘keyhole’) surgery allows surgeons to view and operate on a patient’s internal organs using only small cuts (‘incisions’) in their tummy. This involves the use of a so-called ‘laparoscope’ – a video camera at the end of a 1cm-wide silver cylinder. Doing so allows the surgeon is visualise a patient’s internal organs. Additional smaller (eg. 0.5cm) incisions are made, to allow the surgeon(s) to insert long skinny surgical instruments, to complete the operation.
Laparoscopic surgery is now considered best-practice for many operations that used to be performed through large cuts, such as hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) and myomectomy (removal of fibroids). It also provides greater magnification than open surgery, thereby allowing much better views of fine details, such as endometriotic nodules.
Laparoscopic surgery has many benefits for patients, compared to open surgery, such as:
- Less pain after your operation
- Quicker recovery and return to your usual activities
- Earlier discharge home
- Fewer dangerous blood clots forming in your legs or lungs
- Fewer wound infections
- Smaller scars
In our team, Drs Sneha Parghi and Alison Bryant-Smith have both sought out additional training, to enable them to perform advanced laparoscopic surgery. Alison completed the accredited training program overseen by the Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy and Surgery society (AGES), under the mentorship of A/Prof Alan Lam. Sneha completed additional training under the guidance of A/Prof Alex Ades.
Dietetics is the application of evidence-based, clinical nutrition sciences to better the overall health and wellbeing of a person. It considers an individual’s lifestyle preferences as well as their dietary requirements, medical history and medication use. In the context of women’s health, specialised dietitians may provide dietary guidance for women with:
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Endometriosis
- Fertility
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Disordered eating
Our specialist women’s health GPs have pursued additional training in gynaecology, and are able to provide the following services:
- Contraception advice
- Insertion of IUDs
- Initial investigation and management of all gynaecological concerns: they can then refer you on to our specialists if further expertise is required
- Family planning and medical termination of pregnancy
- Vulval dermatology review and biopsy (Dr Amy Sinclair-Thomson)
Both our GPs are able to provide shared antenatal care with Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
A referral is not required to see our GPs, however we encourage you to provide details of your regular GP with us at the time of booking your initial appointment, so that we can provide holistic care.
This previous blog post provides more details about what a visit to a women’s health GP involves.
Pelvic physiotherapy is a speciality area of physiotherapy, which focuses on the care of women in relation to their pelvic floor muscles, bladder, and bowel habits.
Conditions that are commonly managed by women’s health physiotherapists include:
- Urinary incontinence
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Prolapse
- Vaginismus
- Vulvodynia
Therapeutic approaches to these conditions may include: education, behavioural techniques, manual therapy, and muscle relaxation techniques.
Maven Centre’s pelvic physiotherapist, Cara Richmond, has over 12 years of experience working in women’s health. Cara uses a wide range of treatment techniques including dry needling, massage, biofeedback, exercise and pelvic floor retraining to optimise the pelvic health of her clients.
If you would like to conceive, a great first step is to see a women’s health GP for a fertility work-up. This blog explains how Dr Phillippa Wootton and Dr Amy Sinclair-Thomson can help you (and your partner, if relevant) optimise your health, and complete any relevant investigations.
If needed, they can then refer you on to see our fertility expert Dr Melissa Cameron: Dr Cameron consults out of Maven Centre, and works as part of the Melbourne IVF team.
