The Department of Gynecology at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center offers a full range of gynecologic procedures to treat a variety of conditions affecting women. Here is a look at some of them.
Colposcopy
Colposcopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to view your cervix, vaginal walls, and vulva with a special scope inserted into the vagina. It helps identify any areas of abnormal cells and can be used to assess unusual bleeding, genital warts, polyps, and more. Biopsies also can be taken during this procedure.
Cryoablation
Cryoablation involves using liquid nitrogen passed through a wand inserted into the vaginal canal to freeze tissue in order to kill any precancerous cells or to destroy the lining of the uterus that may be causing heavy bleeding. It can be used to treat heavy periods and may be an alternative to hysterectomy.
D&C (Dilation and Curettage)
Dilation and curettage (a D&C) is a procedure in which your doctor passes special instruments through your cervix and into your uterus to remove tissue. It may be performed for a variety of reasons including:
- Detection of uterine cancer
- Fibroids
- Hormone imbalance
- Menstrual changes
- Miscarriage
- Polyps
Hysteroscopy
Hysteroscopy is a way for your doctor to view inside the uterus by gently inserting a very thin tube containing a fiber-optic camera, called a hysteroscope, into the uterus through the vagina. It can help diagnose the cause of abnormal uterine bleeding, problems conceiving, or repeated miscarriages.
Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus (womb). This results in the inability to become pregnant. At Lahey, we offer a variety of hysterectomy procedures, often performed with minimally invasive or robotic techniques, including:
- Supracervical hysterectomy: removal of only the uterus
- Total hysterectomy: removal of the uterus and cervix (the opening of the uterus that leads to the vagina)
- Radical hysterectomy: removal of the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, upper part of the vagina, and the pelvic lymph nodes
- Salpingo-oophorectomy: removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes
LEEP
LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure) is a technique to remove abnormal cells from your cervix. It allows your doctor to remove abnormal tissue and examine it for signs of cancer. The doctor inserts a speculum into the vagina and uses a delicate loop of wire with a special high-frequency current to remove tissue without major damage to the surrounding tissue.
Myomectomy
Myomectomy involves removing fibroids from the wall of the uterus (womb) without the need for a hysterectomy. Fibroids are noncancerous growths in the muscle of the uterus that can cause pelvic or back pain, pressure on the bladder, abnormal bleeding, and other symptoms. At Lahey, we perform myomectomies using laparoscopic, minimally invasive techniques.
Ovarian Surgery
Lahey gynecologists perform several different types of ovarian surgery procedures, including using a minimally invasive approach. Each case is different, and our gynecologists work each woman to determine the appropriate procedure. Ovarian surgery is performed to treat conditions such as:
- Autoimmune oophoritis
- Ovarian cysts
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Premature ovarian failure
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
- Ovarian torsion
- Tumors (cancerous and noncancerous)
Pap Test (Pap Smear)
A Pap test is often done as part of a pelvic exam. Your doctor inserts a speculum into your vagina and uses a swab or brush to take a sample of cells from the surface of the cervix. The sample is examined by a pathologist to check for cancer or precancerous cell changes.
Urodynamics Testing
A urodynamic study is a series of tests that evaluate how your bladder and urethra work, to help diagnose the cause of urinary incontinence. It involves placing very thin catheters into your bladder and into your vagina (or rectum) to measure the pressure in your bladder. Your bladder is filled using the catheter, and you will be asked to cough and strain during different points.
Explore more conditions & treatments below
- Amniocentesis
- Cervical Cerclage
- Cervical Conization
- Cervical Cryosurgery
- Cesarean Birth
- Chorionic Villus Sampling -- Transabdominal
- Chorionic Villus Sampling -- Transcervical
- Colposcopy
- Cystectomy
- Cystocele and Rectocele Repair
- Cystolitholapaxy
- Diagnostic Ultrasound of the Abdomen
- Dilation and Curettage
- Endometrial Ablation
- Endometrial Biopsy
- Episiotomy
- Exploratory Laparotomy
- Human Papillomavirus Testing
- Human Papillomavirus Vaccine
- Hysterectomy -- Laparoscopic Surgery
- Hysterectomy -- Open Surgery
- Hysterosalpingography
- Hysteroscopic Sterilization
- Hysteroscopy
- In Vitro Fertilization
- Intrauterine Device Insertion
- Intrauterine Device Removal
- Labiaplasty
- Labor and Delivery, Vaginal Birth
- Medical Induction of Labor
- Myomectomy -- Laparoscopic Surgery
- Myomectomy -- Open Surgery
- Oophorectomy
- Ovarian Cyst Removal -- Laparoscopic Surgery
- Ovarian Cyst Removal -- Open Surgery
- Pap Test
- Repair of Vesico-Vaginal Fistula
- Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Procedures
- Robot-Assisted Surgery -- Overview
- Therapeutic Abortion: Medical
- Therapeutic Abortion: Surgical
- Tubal Ligation -- Laparoscopic Surgery
- Types of Prenatal Testing
- Urethral Suspension -- Sling Procedure
- Urethral Suspension -- Transvaginal Suspensions
- Urinary Incontinence Surgery -- Sling Procedures
- Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Section
- Vulvectomy
- Absent Periods
- Acanthosis Nigricans
- Actinomycosis
- Acute Abdominal Pain
- Acute Cystitis
- Aortic Coarctation -- Adult
- Arrhenoblastoma
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Atrophic Vaginitis
- Bacterial Vaginosis
- Bartholin Gland Cyst
- Breech Presentation
- Cervical Cancer
- Cervical Dysplasia
- Chlamydia
- Chordee
- Chorioamnionitis
- Crab Lice
- Cystocele/Rectocele
- Delayed Sexual Development
- Dyspareunia
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Endometriosis
- Failure to Progress
- Galactosemia
- Genital Herpes
- Genital Warts
- Gestational Diabetes
- Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
- Hirsutism
- Hypospadias
- Infertility in Women
- Inflammatory Breast Cancer
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Kidney Infection
- Leiomyosarcoma
- Lichen Planus
- Menopause
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Miscarriage
- Multiple Pregnancies
- Neonatal Drug Withdrawal
- Neonatal Sepsis
- Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Oligohydramnios
- Ovarian Cancer
- Ovarian Cyst
- Painful Menstrual Periods
- Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Perinatal Asphyxia
- Placenta Previa
- Placental Abruption
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Polyhydramnios
- Post-term Pregnancy
- Postmenopausal Bleeding
- Postpartum Depression
- Postpartum Endometritis
- Postpartum Hemorrhage
- Pre-eclampsia
- Premature Rupture of Membranes at Term
- Preterm Labor
- Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes
- Primary Ovarian Failure
- Psychosexual Dysfunction
- Rectovaginal Fistula
- Reiter's Syndrome
- Rhabdomyosarcoma -- Child
- Shoulder Dystocia
- Small for Gestational Age
- Stillbirth
- Tarlov Cyst
- Threatened Abortion
- Toxic Shock Syndrome
- Trichomoniasis
- Urethritis
- Urinary Incontinence -- Female
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Uterine Cancer
- Uterine Fibroids
- Uterine Prolapse
- Uterine Rupture
- Vaginal Bleeding During Pregnancy
- Vaginal Cancer
- Vaginal Laceration
- Vaginal Prolapse
- Vaginal Yeast Infection
- Vaginismus
- Ventricular Septal Defect
- Vertebral Compression Fracture
- Vulvar Abscess
- Vulvar Cancer