Surgeries
We provide elective surgery for a variety of gynecologic health issues such as fibroids, infertility, abnormal bleeding, ovarian cysts, pelvic pain and many other conditions.
Our surgeons are experts in minimally invasive surgical techniques. Innovations in minimally invasive surgery allow surgeons to complete complex surgeries through tiny incisions (less than 1cm) in the abdomen, or through the vagina (no abdominal incisions). This translates into less post-operative pain, fewer complications, and faster recovery.
Most of our procedures are 'daycare' procedures, meaning that you will go home the same day of the surgery.
The development of this program was made possible by a transformational donation from Leslie, Lauri & Jill Diamond to the BC Women's Health Foundation.
A dilatation and curettage is where the cervix (opening to the uterus) is stretched and then tissue lining the uterus is removed with a spoon-like instrument. This procedure is used to diagnose causes of abnormal bleeding, or sometimes to ensure that miscarriage is complete.
A hysteroscopy is a procedure where your doctor inserts a narrow telescope (hysteroscope) through the cervix (opening of the womb) into the uterus. This allows your doctor to look into your uterus to identify causes of abnormal menstrual bleeding, infertility, recurrent miscarriage, and causes of abnormal bleeding in menopause.
If necessary, surgery can be carried out through the hysteroscope to treat abnormal menstrual bleeding, infertility, recurrent miscarriage, or postmenopausal bleeding. Common hysteroscopic procedures include removal a lost intrauterine device (IUD), uterine polyps, fibroids, uterine septae, or scar tissue (adhesions).
This is a hysteroscopic procedure used to treat heavy menstrual bleeding. During this procedure, a device is inserted inside the uterus and uses either thermal energy (heat) or electrical energy to damage or inactivate the cells in the lining of the uterus (endometrium). This drastically reduces menstrual flow and has minimal downtime; women can return to normal activities within one or two days.
Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure where the doctor makes a small incision (cut) in your belly button and two or three more incisions in your lower abdomen. A narrow (5 mm) telescope-like instrument with a video camera, is inserted into the abdomen allowing the surgeons to look at your uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and other pelvic organs. Small instruments are used to perform various surgeries such as removal of endometriosis, fibroids (myomectomy), or ovarian cysts and even hysterectomy.
This is a novel minimally invasive treatment for fibroids that are associated with bulk symptoms or heavy menstrual flow. This is done as a day surgery (home the same day), and has fewer complications and shorter recovery compared to alternative treatments of fibroid embolization or myomectomy. Safety of this procedure when planning future pregnancy has not been well studied and this procedure is therefore not recommended if future pregnancy is desired.
This type of surgery involves a larger incision in the abdomen, often at the bikini line (similar to a C-section), or in the midline of the abdomen. This is performed typically for hysterectomy or myomectomy (fibroid removal) in the setting of large uterine fibroids or if there are significant adhesions from prior surgeries.
