Gynaecology

Here we provide hospital care for conditions affecting the female reproductive organs – the womb, ovaries, fallopian tubes, vagina and vulva.

If you have a general gynaecological problem that needs specialist input your GP may refer you to our general gynaecology clinic. We commonly see, investigate and treat women with problems such as:

• Heavy or painful periods
• Irregular bleeding
• Fibroids
• Pelvic pain and endometriosis
• Ovarian cysts
• Pain during intercourse
• Sterilisation contraception

You may get asked to complete a diary of your symptoms or attend for a scan or blood test. Sometimes lifestyle advice or medication may be given to help your symptoms. Occasionally, we recommend surgery to investigate your problems further or treat your condition.

We care for women with emergency gynaecological problems, where women need to be seen quickly.

The emergency Gynaecology Assessment and Treatment Unit (GATU) is based on ward 25 at Bradford Royal Infirmary and cares for women who are referred there directly from GPs, A&E and outpatients for assessment and treatment. The GATU contact number is 01274 383225.

Our day case surgery service is based on ward 5 at Bradford Royal Infirmary. It provides care for women undergoing minor surgery where an overnight stay in hospital is not routinely required.

Ward 25 is located on level 1 of Bradford Royal Infirmary. It cares for women with gynaecological conditions who need overnight hospital admission. This includes women who have had routine gynaecology surgery and those who require prolonged emergency admission.

Our outpatient clinics are based at the Women’s and Newborn Unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary, although we also have hysteroscopy clinics at Westwood Park Diagnostic Treatment Centre. For more information, visit our Hysteroscopy Service page.

Here we treat women with a wide range of pelvic floor disorders such as prolapse and incontinence (leaking of urine). For more information, visit our Urogynaecology Clinic page.

At Colposcopy we are able to diagnose and treat precancerous changes of the cervix that might develop as a result of an HPV infection.

For more information visit our Colposcopy page.

Dr Sue Calvert and Dr Hema Dadi run the vulval service.

In these clinics we look after ladies with vulval skin conditions including:

• Vulval eczema
• Lichen sclerosus
• Lichen planus
• Superficial dyspareunia – painful intercourse where pain is primarily at the opening of the vagina
• Vulval pain
• Vulval lumps and bumps
• Patients with a concern about the size of their labia (the vulval lips)

Most patients are diagnosed by simple examination and can be managed with moisturising creams and steroids. If the diagnosis is in doubt or there are concerns about more serious disease, a biopsy may be needed – this is done at the Vulval Colposcopy clinic under local anaesthetic.

The Vulval Colposcopy service is a special clinic where we see the following patients:

• All patients referred with a possible diagnosis of vulval cancer
• Patients needing follow up for VIN – this is a pre-cancer condition of the vulval skin
• Patients who need a biopsy or who have small vulval lesions that need to be excised

We have close links with our colleagues in Dermatology and through them can arrange for patch testing (to look for sensitivity to certain products). For patients with vulval pain syndromes or difficulty with intercourse, we also have access to a specialist physiotherapy team. We teach patients to use vaginal dilators and offer Botox where appropriate when pelvic floor spasm is contributing to vulval pain or sexual difficulties.

We care for women with cancer of the womb, cervix, ovary and vulva.

Please visit our Gynaecological Oncology page for more information.

We care for women experiencing fertility or recurrent miscarriage problems.

For more information please visit our Reproductive Medicine clinic page.

The Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) is based on ward 25 at Bradford Royal Infirmary, and cares for women who are referred directly from GPs and A&E for an ultrasound scan in early pregnancy.

Visit the Early Pregnancy page to learn more.

We offer termination of pregnancy for women up to 12 weeks, six days gestation.

For more information please visit the Lilac Clinic page.

If you have been scheduled for an elective operation (day case or inpatient) you will be asked to attend a pre-assessment clinic at Bradford Royal Infirmary or St Luke’s Hospital.

You will be seen by one of our specialist nurses. You will be asked to bring you medication with you, and will be given advice on the medication you need to take in relation to your surgery, as we may ask you to stop taking certain tablets. You will also be given advice about when to stop eating and drinking before your surgery.

You also may be asked to have additional tests, such as a blood test, heart test (ECG/echocardiogram) or x-ray.

Here at Bradford Teaching Hospitals, we are a research-active teaching hospital. Research helps us to find the evidence we need to provide high quality, best-care outcomes for women. We have a women’s research team and a specialist gynaecology research nurse, and you may be offered the opportunity to take part in studies that are relevant to you.

If you would like more information about our research, please visit the Research pages on our website or contact the team on 01274 364506. Alternatively, email Jennifer.syson@bthft.nhs.uk