Patient Information

Obstetrics is the care of women and their baby in pregnancy, labour and birth. It includes care in the postpartum period, generally the first 6 weeks. You may see an obstetrician for pre-pregnancy counselling and planning.  

Gynaecology is the field of medicine concerned with the study and management of conditions of the female reproductive system.  Gynaecologists treat a wide range of issues. 

Your doctor will take a full history and discuss your concerns with you. You may need a physical examination on the day, and this may involve an internal pelvic examination or ultrasound. Please discuss with your doctor if you have any concerns about this. A chaperone is always available for examinations. 

Treatment is always individualised for your specific needs. Your doctor may order further tests which will need to be reviewed before treatment begins, and you may need a follow up appointment. Sometimes we can begin treatment or consider surgery right away. Sometimes you may want to take the information given and consider the options, and this is ok too. 

Yes – if the bleeding is light and you feel comfortable having an examination. 

If you are scheduled for a colposcopy (careful check of the cervix with a microscope), heavier bleeding can make it difficult to see and it may be better to reschedule for another day.

If you have any concerns please contact our nurses to discuss.

The theatre coordinators at SW O&G will be in contact with you to confirm your theatre date and ensure you complete all the necessary paperwork. In some cases, you may need to see the Anaesthetist prior to your surgery – this will be confirmed with you if so. The hospital will be in contact closer to the surgical date to confirm the exact time you need to fast and come into hospital.

Please remember that fasting means NO food or drink before your surgery. This includes tea, coffee, juice and chewing gum. If you have not fasted properly it is not safe to have an anaesthetic and your surgery will be cancelled.

Please contact our theatre coordinators if you have any queries.

SW O&G does NOT use mesh for pelvic floor repairs. Mesh was previously used to help treat pelvic floor prolapse, and though it worked well for many women, some have had serious complications. For this reason, pelvic mesh implants have been withdrawn in Australia. See TGA information.

There is a different operation called a Mid-Urethral Sling which uses a very small tape of mesh to treat stress urinary incontinence. This is very different to pelvic prolapse repair with a large piece of mesh. This sling or “TVT” procedure has been studied extensively and is proven to be safe and effective. SW O&G does offer this surgery to treat incontinence. See the RANZCOG statement on mid-urethral slings here.