Hymenoplasty is a surgical procedure that repairs and reconstructs a woman's hymen.

Usually, the hymen is broken during sexual intercourse or when involved in certain physical activities like sports. Hymenoplasty is done to reconstruct the broken hymen.

Hymenoplasty is a simple surgery that takes less than 30 minutes to complete.

Hymenoplasty does not have any side effects. However, one might experience spotting and discomfort during the initial days (2-3days) after the procedure.

There are no risks and complications involved with the Hymenoplasty procedure. There would be mild bleeding and swelling in the outer region because of the suture that usually gets healed quickly.

After Hymenoplasty surgery, avoid sexual intercourse or using tampons for at least 6 weeks after the surgery and avoid wearing uncomfortable and tight-fitting underwear.

Hymenoplasty surgery does not cause any disturbance to the routine menstrual cycle. The procedure involves the surface level reconstruction and thus does not impact the menstrual cycle.

A myomectomy is a surgical procedure to remove fibroids from a woman’s uterus. Fibroids are benign growths in the uterus. Based on the location of growth in the uterus, they are categorised into different types.

The exact reason why fibroids form is unknown. They may be caused because of genetics or hormonal imbalances.

Most fibroids do not cause any symptoms and are harmless. However, when the fibroids grow too large, they cause symptoms like:

• Heavy bleeding

• Pain in the abdomen, lower back and pelvis

• Irregular or longer-lasting periods

• Pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse

• Frequent urination or constipation

Fibroids in the uterus can be detected by tests like:

• Pelvic exam

• MRI

• Ultrasound

• Hysteroscopy

The different types of myomectomy are:

• Hysteroscopic myomectomy

• Robotic myomectomy

• Laparoscopic myomectomy

• Abdominal myomectomy

This procedure is applicable only for submucosal fibroids which are in the uterine cavity. The fibroids in the uterine wall cannot be removed through this procedure.

Flow of the procedure:

• Patient is given general anaesthesia for the procedure

• A 1-2 inch incision is made in the vagina

• An instrument called a hysteroscopic resectoscope is passed through the vagina into the uterine cavity

• The fibroids are removed through the vagina

• The incision is taped and the patient is taken to the recovery room

In this procedure, a tiny robot is inserted through an incision in the vagina to remove the fibroids.

Flow of the procedure:

• Patient is given general anaesthesia for the procedure

• 4 small incisions are made in the abdomen

• A tiny robot is inserted through one of the incisions

• The camera footage is visible on a screen that guides the doctor to perform the surgery

• The fibroids are cut into smaller bits and removed through the incisions

• The incisions are taped and the patient is taken to the recovery room

This procedure can be used to remove smaller fibroids. If you have large or several fibroids, this procedure is not advisable.

Flow of the procedure:

• Patient is given general anaesthesia for the procedure

• Several small incisions are made

• Surgical and viewing instruments are inserted into the incisions

• The fibroids are removed through one of the incisions

• The incision is taped and the patient is taken to the recovery room

This is an open surgery in which the fibroids are removed directly from a large incision made in the lower abdomen.

Flow of the procedure:

• Patient is given general anaesthesia for the procedure

• A large incision is made in the abdomen

• The fibroids are removed from the large incision

• The incision is sutured using several stitches and the patient is taken into the recovery room

Abdominal myomectomy is a major surgical procedure. The other procedures are relatively simple procedures which don’t involve complications.

Abdominal myomectomy is a complicated procedure. There is a risk of haemorrhage, anaemia, wound sepsis, pelvic adhesions and uterine rupture in subsequent pregnancies.

You may need about 4 to 6 weeks to fully recover. Do not lift anything heavy while you are recovering so that your incision and your belly muscles can heal.

After myomectomy surgery, most women experience relief of bothersome signs and symptoms, such as excessive menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain and pressure.

Depending on the type of surgery, you can return to work within two to six weeks (abdominal myomectomy takes the longest recovery time)

The swelling will take several weeks to go down. It may take about 4 to 6 weeks to fully recover.

The procedure is done under local or general anaesthesia. So, you will feel very pain or discomfort during the procedure.

DNC is an outpatient procedure and you can be back to your normal routine in one or two days.

Sometimes after a DNC, scar tissues may form inside the uterus. These tissues may cause infertility. However, the chances of this happening are very low.

It is normal to experience some discomfort and cramping after the procedure. However, this will last only for one or two days.

Dilation and Curettage is a simple procedure using which the uterine lining and tissues are removed. The cervix is first dilated and using a curette, the tissue is removed. This procedure is done after a miscarriage or pregnancy termination. It is also done to diagnose or treat fibroids or cancer.

The most common cause of miscarriage or abnormal bleeding is infection. Another reason is hormonal imbalance. This hormonal imbalance also causes polyps and uterine cancer.

The doctor will recommend a DNC procedure based on the situation. Very heavy bleeding, cancer diagnosis are some of the situations that would need a DNC.

• The patient is given general or local anaesthesia for the procedure

• The doctor uses rods to dilate your cervix

• Using a spoon-shaped instrument, the doctor scrapes out the uterine lining and tissue

• If there are polyps or fibroids to be removed, it is done through the vagina

• The patient is then taken to the recovery room

DNC is an outpatient procedure that does not require a hospital stay. One can resume work within a day or two after the procedure.

Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure to reduce the size of labia minora, the inner flaps of the vulva on either side of the genital opening.

A female with excessive tissue on the labia (4-5cms) is an ideal candidate to go for a labiaplasty.

The labiaplasty procedure is performed under local anaesthesia.

It takes less than an hour for the completion of labiaplasty.

Labiaplasty may carry certain risks, such as numbness in the treated area, chronic dryness, reduced vulvar sensitivity, and scarring.

One can recover within a week of the labiaplasty procedure. The doctor would prescribe antibiotics to minimize the risk of infection.

It is advised to wear loose-fitting clothing to avoid pain and excessive friction on the treated skin. Any kind of rigorous exercises and physical activities should be avoided and avoid using tampons for at least 4 to 6 weeks after the procedure.

The risk of giving birth to a child after labiaplasty is very minimal. There is a slight risk of experiencing an additional laxity and stretching in the labial tissues.

Uterine fibroids are abnormal, noncancerous growths that develop in the walls of the uterus.

Painful menstruation, frequent urination, lower back pain, abdominal bloating and constipation are common symptoms seen in those with uterine fibroids.

The exact cause of uterine fibroids remains unclear. However, it is believed that estrogen and progesterone hormones stimulate the growth of fibroids.

Most commonly, uterine fibroids develop during childbearing years, i.e., mostly between 30-40 years of age. However, some women are diagnosed with uterine fibroids even before 30 years.

An ultrasound scan investigates uterine fibroids. An MRI scan might also be needed to detect the location and size of the fibroids. It is mostly done in women who are approaching the menopausal stage.

Most of the time, uterine fibroids do not interfere with ovulation and impact the ability to become pregnant. However, submucosal fibroids can make it difficult for the pregnancy to sustain.

Uterine fibroids rarely lead to complications. One of the major complications is anaemia (drop in the red blood cells).

It is not possible to prevent the development of uterine fibroids. However, practising healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating a good amount of fruits and vegetables, regular exercise, and maintaining healthy body weight, can reduce the risk.

Usually, cysts disappear on their own. However, ignoring symptoms like pain, abdominal bloating can make the cyst rupture. Rupturing of the cyst may cause a life-threatening immune system response called sepsis.

The procedure takes only about 1-2 hours and is practically painless. You might have mild discomfort after the procedure.

After a laparoscopic cyst removal surgery, you can return to work after two to three weeks. You can resume daily activities a day or two after the surgery.

An ovarian cystectomy is a procedure to remove one or more cysts from the ovaries. In women, ovaries are reproductive organs where the eggs mature. Sometimes, fluid fills on the surface or inside the ovary forming a cyst. If the cyst causes serious health problems, an ovarian cystectomy is done to remove the cyst.

Ovaries have a sac called a follicle where the eggs develop and mature. When the egg is released, the follicle should break. If the follicle does not break, the fluid inside it is retained which forms the cyst.

Usually, ovarian cysts are harmless. They develop and disappear on their own. But, sometimes they may result in symptoms, such as:

• Pain in the pelvic area

• Bloating and heaviness in the abdomen

• Fever, nausea, chills

• Painful bowel movements

An ovarian cyst is diagnosed by pelvic examination and an ultrasound scan is done to confirm the cyst.

After surgery, it is recommended to take:

• High fibre foods

• Anti-inflammatory foods and spices, including tomatoes, turmeric, etc

• Lean proteins like fish, egg, and chicken

Ovarian cysts can be treated by laparoscopic surgery or by a laparotomy.

It takes 1-2 weeks of time to recover from laparotomy surgery.

In a laparoscopic procedure, the cyst is removed through a small incision near the navel.

• The patient is given general anaesthesia for the procedure

• A small incision is made near the navel

• Using small laparoscopic instruments, the cyst is removed through the incision

• The incision is taped or sutured and the patient is taken to the recovery room

• The cyst is immediately tested for cancer

• If the cyst is found to be cancerous, the ovaries are also removed.

In this procedure, a large incision is made in the abdomen to remove the cyst.

• The patient is given general anaesthesia for the procedure

• A large incision is made in the abdomen

• The cyst is removed through the incision

• The incision is sutured and the patient is taken to the recovery room

• The cyst is immediately tested for cancer

• If the cyst is found to be cancerous, the ovaries are also removed.