Thinking about gynecologic surgery? 4 things every patient should consider By Sawsan As-Sanie, MD, MPH and Courtney Lim, MD

Many women consider undergoing gynecologic surgery for a variety of conditions such as abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain, ovarian cysts, fibroids or endometriosis.  Historically, these surgeries were often done through large abdominal incisions requiring long hospitalizations and recovery time, increased scar tissue and increased risks of bleeding and infection.

In contrast, many women now have the option of having these procedures performed with minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques.  MIS techniques are usually associated with less pain, quicker recovery, and lower risks of infection and bleeding.  These surgical methods include vaginal surgery, laparoscopy and hysteroscopy.

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Endometriosis and Gastrointestinal symptoms By Iris Kerin Orbuch, M.D.

Did you know that Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are as common as gynecological symptoms in women with endometriosis? Over 90% of women diagnosed with endometriosis initially present with GI symptoms. Bloating is the most common presenting symptom, and is typically reported by 83% of women with endometriosis. In addition to bloating, other GI symptoms, including diarrhea, constipation, painful bowel movements, nausea, and/or vomiting, are also common in women with endometriosis. It is interesting to note that GI symptoms are often independent of location of endometriosis lesions in relation to the bowel. This means that you can have GI symptoms without endometriosis actually infiltrating into the bowel. In other words, your endometriosis lesion(s) may be close to your bowel but not necessarily be on your bowel. It is nonetheless important to remember that for some women, endometriosis can infiltrate the bowel, distort intestinal anatomy, or alter normal bowel physiology, which can lead to constipation, bloating, painful bowel movements, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. ( READ MORE )