Womens Healthcare

i've got...

• Adenomyosis
• Bacterial vaginosis
• Candidiasis (thrush)
• Cervical cancer
• Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB)
• Endocrine problems
• Endometrial cancer
• Endometrial polyps
• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Functional incontinence
• Menopause
• Normal for you (dysmenorrhoea)
• Ovarian cancer
• Ovarian cysts
• Pelvic infection
• Perimenopausal bleeding
• Period problems
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Precancerous cells in cervix
• Pregnancy
• Stress incontinence
• Subfertility
• Urge incontinence
• Uterine adhesion
• Uterovaginal prolapse
• Vulval cancer

which means...

Ovarian cysts

The ovary produces an egg by producing a small cyst (often called a follicle). When the cyst bursts the egg pops out. Sometimes the cyst does not burst and goes on to get bigger and bigger, causing problems with pain and bleeding. There are other benign and cancerous cysts that can also cause problems. Your doctor can arrange an ultrasound scan to check the status of your ovaries.

Ultrasound & ovarian cysts

An ultrasound scan uses echoes from a transducer (probe) to create an ultrasound picture. By using many echo pulses many times a second and processing the information through a powerful computer we can produce a real time image of internal organs. With ultrasound the nearer you are to the object you want to examine, the better the quality of the picture that can be obtained. By using a transvaginal probe we can visualise the uterus and ovaries in great detail.

Above: Ultrasound image of a normal uterus, with pointers to myometrium and endometrium. This allows us to diagnose problems in early pregnancy, including the investigation of threatened miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.

Above: Ultrasound image of an ovarian cyst (simple). Simple or functional ovarian cysts should have no echoes inside.

Complex cysts (see picture 6 next page) are commonly secondary to endometriosis (see painandbleeding), teratomas or dermoids. Endometrial cancer is also a cause, particularly in older women. Further investigations, usually including laparoscopic removal of the cyst is recommended.

Pelvic infection can cause fluid collection and swollen, damaged tubes (hydrosalpinx), which can be seen with an ultrasound scan. It is important to remember that ultrasound can spot when all is not right in the pelvis; it is only when the surgeon operates or reviews the histology (microscopic examination of tissues removed) that we can be certain about the problem that a woman may have.

Above: Ultrasound image of 'suspicous cyst with papillary projections'.

Getting help

If you wish to make an appointment to seek further advice and or treatment, please contact Dr Harrington's secretary.

how its treated...

• Hysteroscopy

  A hysteroscopy is where a small, fibre-optic 'telescope' is used to see the internal organs. The small fibreoptic telecope passes through the cervix, so your abdomen (tummy) does not have to be opened.

  More information »
• Laparoscopy

  A laparoscopy is where a small, fibre-optic 'telescope' is used to see the internal organs. After filling the abdomen with gas (carbon dioxide), a telescope is passed through the belly button (umbilicus), so the contents of the pelvis can be visualised.

  More information »