The Hygeia Obstetrics and Gynecology Department is designed to offer integrated care from a dedicated team of professionals, addressing women’s health at every stage of life. This department provides the full range of gynecological and obstetric medical services, including routine gynecological check-ups, pregnancy planning and monitoring, high-risk pregnancies, prenatal education courses for mothers and couples, childbirth and neonatal care, menopause management, as well as laparoscopic surgeries and successful surgical treatment of oncological cases.
The team of Greek and Albanian doctors—most of whom have been trained and specialized at top universities in the UK and the US—works closely with talented nurses and midwives. Assisted by the latest medical technologies and equipment, they provide every woman with personalized and high-quality care using the most advanced treatment techniques.
The gynecological surgeons in this department are specialized in minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques, which are applied in most surgical procedures, offering patients faster recovery, less pain, and minimal scarring.
Laparoscopy is a type of endoscopic surgery that enables specially trained surgeons to perform diagnostic or operative procedures. This surgical method avoids the large traditional incisions used in open surgery (laparotomy).
Laparoscopic surgery is an alternative to laparotomy and offers a number of advantages for patients, which is why it is increasingly used in gynecology.
Gynecological conditions treated laparoscopically include:
- Removal of uterine fibroids (myomas)
- Hysterectomy – partial or total
- Removal of ovarian cysts
- Ovarian removal
- Treatment of endometriosis
- Inspection of Fallopian tubes
- Tubal ligation (as a contraceptive method)
- Ectopic pregnancies
Advantages of laparoscopy:
- Small incisions that reduce postoperative pain
- Shorter postoperative rehabilitation, with many patients discharged the same day and returning to daily activities quickly
- Faster healing and shorter hospital stays, minimizing the risk of thrombosis and hospital-acquired infections
- Minimal risk of postoperative adhesions
- Minimal risk of postoperative hernias
- Excellent cosmetic results—laparoscopic incisions (5–10 mm) are incomparable to those of open surgery
At Hygeia Hospital, nearly all procedures for benign gynecological conditions, as well as a number of cancer treatments, can be performed endoscopically (laparoscopically).
Hysteroscopy is usually performed on an outpatient basis under mild anesthesia. During hysteroscopy, the surgeon examines the inside of the uterus using a camera inserted through the vagina and cervix, without any incisions.
Hysteroscopy can be diagnostic or operative.
Diagnostic hysteroscopy takes about 5–10 minutes and is used to investigate:
- Abnormal uterine bleeding
- Prolonged menstrual periods
- Bleeding between periods
- Postmenopausal bleeding
- Unexplained or recurrent miscarriages
- Unsuccessful in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts
Operative hysteroscopy, used to treat specific abnormalities, lasts about 20–25 minutes and is applied to:
- Improve IVF success rates
- Remove endometrial polyps
- Remove submucosal or intracavitary fibroids
- Correct congenital uterine anomalies, such as uterine septum
- Locate and remove intrauterine devices (IUDs) that are misplaced
- Remove uterine adhesions (scar tissue)
After the procedure, it’s normal to experience mild cramping and some bleeding for a few days, depending on the complexity of the intervention.
Patients can usually eat and drink normally and return to daily activities the following day. Sexual activity should be avoided for about a week or until bleeding stops, to reduce the risk of infection. Antibiotics are commonly prescribed.
Hysteroscopy is generally considered very safe, but as with any procedure, there are small risks of complications:
- Uterine perforation – rare, but may require blood transfusion or corrective surgery
- Heavy bleeding during or after the procedure
- Uterine infection
In general, laparoscopic and hysteroscopic procedures are considered safe, with fewer side effects compared to open surgery.
Dr. Andreas Bazeos, MSc, FRCOG, Endoscopic Surgeon and Director of the Obstetrics-Gynecology Department, trained in London, UK, has performed over 5,000 laparoscopic and hysteroscopic procedures in both England and Greece. He and the rest of our experienced Endoscopy Team are happy to discuss your case in detail.