LOG IN | HOME
Physician & Allied Healthcare Providers  |  Patients & Consumers  |  Newsroom  |  Healthcare Corporations

Patient Education Topics

Gathered here are a collection of incisive articles, created for women, to focus on subjects relating to women's physical and emotional health and well-being. Topics under gynecologic conditions include causes, diagnosis, symptoms and possible treatment options of various issues in gynecologic health. Topics under the treatment category include a description of techniques and procedures in treatment options of gynecologic conditions.

It is our hope that this section may serve as a resource, helping you to be an informed partner in your own healthcare. The information is not intended for diagnostic or therapeutic treatment.  While the information has been carefully reviewed, it is not intended to take the place of a discussion with your physician. The AAGL encourages you to contact your own physician for the appropriate care and treatment of your health.

The development of this patient education was supported by unrestricted educational grants by the healthcare companies listed below. We appreciate their support in allowing the AAGL to continue its mission to educate you about the quality healthcare options that are available.

American Medical Systems
Boston Scientific
Conceptus
Ethicon Endo-Surgery
Ethicon Women's Health & Urology
Intuitive Surgical
Karl Storz Endoscopy, America

CONDITIONS | TREATMENTS

Cryotherapy
Cystectomy

Cystectomy

Cystectomy is the surgical removal of a cyst. Ovarian cysts usually do not require surgery, with some exceptions:

  1. When they do not go away after several weeks
  2. When they continue to grow and/or are very large
  3. When cancer is suspected
  4. When they cause severe pain

Benign cysts can be removed using laparoscopic surgery, or a "minilaparotomy" which are minimally invasive and allows a speedy recovery. Usually a laparoscopic cystectomy can be done on an outpatient basis (you leave the hospital the same day) and normal activities can be resumed in a week or two. Because of new advances in laparoscopic instruments and techniques, even the entire ovary can be removed this way if the need arises, for example, if the cyst is very large and has destroyed the ovary.

When cancer is suspected, a laparotomy will be performed so that the surgeon can directly see and feel the surrounding tissues.

References
 

  1. Parker WH. A Gynecologist's Second Opinion. (c) 2003; A Plume Book; Published by the Penguin Group, New York, NY.2.
  2. Parker W. The case for laparoscopic management of the adnexal mass. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 1995;38:362-69.

Reviewed:  March 2008.

D&C
Endometrial Ablation
Fibroid Treatments
Hysterectomy
Hysteroscopy
Incontinence Treatments
Laparoscopic Surgery
Laparoscopy
Laparotomy
Laser Surgery
LEEP (Loop Exectrosurgical Excision Precedure)
Oophorectomy
Operative Hysteroscopy
Ovarian Vein Embolization
Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) Treatment
Polypectomy
Presacral Neurectomy
Sterilization
Transcervial Resection of The Endometrium