Gynaecological symptoms are common and most can be adequately resolved in the primary healthcare setting (general practitioner's surgery). The majority of general practitioners have speciality interests. General practitioners, who have had postgraduate training in gynaecology, should be encouraged to use their special skills for the benefit of patients. Those, who have interests outside gynaecology, should feel comfortable in referring their patients to a specialist relatively early.
In the United Kingdom, the initial evaluation of your symptoms should be with your general practitioner; consultants (the senior hospital specialists) should generally see patients with non-urgent conditions only at the re quest of their general practitioners.
Your general practitioner is best placed to advise you on the appropriate specialist after considering the clinical problem. If you have a particular specialist in mind your general practitioner may be happy to agree unless there are special circumstances where another specialist would be more appropriate. Your general practitioner can provide an invaluable summary of the problem to date for the consultant with details of investigations already undertaken as well as other essential background information. Once hospital diagnostic and surgical procedures have been completed, patients can be encouraged to return as early as appropriate to the care of their general practitioner for further monitoring and treatment.
Please click on the required question.
- 1 Which doctor should I see?
- 2 What are symptoms and signs?
- 3 How can we be certain whether an abnormality that my doctor has found is the cause of my problem or an incidental finding?
- 4 How do doctors arrive at a diagnosis?
- 5 What does a gynaecologist do during a consultation?
- 6 What is the purpose of the pelvic examination?
- 7 Will a blood test to assess a hormone level provide a guide to treatment.
- 8 I have a phobia about blood tests. What should I do?
- 9 What is pelvic ultrasound?
- 10 What are CAT and MRI scans?
- 11 Will my general practitioner receive information from my specialist gynaecologist?
- 12 Will I see the same specialist every time I attend the out-patients clinic?
- 13 What is known about emotion. Information?
- 14 Could my emotional problems be of hormonal origin?
- 15 Does my doctor understand my anxieties and concerns about my gynaecological problem?
- 16 How much information do patients want about their condition?
- 17 Will the doctor listen to my views on how my problems should be managed?
- 18 How do doctors decide on the best treatment?
- 19 How do doctors decide on the best hormone treatment?
- 20 How long will my hormone treatment be effective?
- 21 What are the risks of surgery?
- 22 How long do gynaecological operations take?
- 23 Have there been advances in gynaecological surgical treatment?
- 24 I have been offered a choice of treatments. How can I decide which will be best for me?
- 25 What is the place of support groups?
- 26 Where can I obtain more information?
- 27 Are there any dangers in acquiring health information on the internet?
- 28 Support Groups.
Thank you for choosing to visit us.
This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.
I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.
