Over the years I have noted a substantial number of my patients particularly with endometriosis have been taking antidepressant and antianxiety medication. These drugs predominantly belong to a class known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These agents are not without side effects and most patients would experience some issues. Additionally, people become in essence…
Patients are often interested in the status of their fallopian tubes and quite understandably are concerned as to whether they may be blocked or not. Superficially this sounds like a very reasonable and logical question. Indeed, one of the tests often performed by fertility specialists is to demonstrate tubal patency. Simplistically it is easy to…
Hardly a week, and sometimes hardly a day goes by without a patient telling me she has been diagnosed with stage IV endometriosis. I normally try to cross reference this claim with operative images or video. I am becoming increasingly concerned that many patients are told or led to believe that they have severe and…
Some years ago I wrote a brief blog where I outlined my belief that our current definition of endometriosis was far too simplistic and created significant difficulties for both patients and medical practitioners. A fabulous thought-provoking Review Article in the Lancet earlier this year by the highly respected Prof Hugh Taylor who incidentally I have…
In recent days Johnson and Johnson have lost their appeal in the high-profile class action in relation to the use of vaginal mesh for incontinence procedures. I have had the unfortunate experience of dealing with a number of patients who have experienced shocking complications and believe this Court result is entirely appropriate. After training in…
An interesting article from New Scientist In the current Covid 19 pandemic it has been apparent that this is a disease that particularly hits the elderly harder although it has emerged that there is another risk factor, being male. The first signs of a sex difference in severity emerged in Wuhan after the city entered…
I am often asked by patients what would be the best age to start trying for a family. As most people appreciate, fertility prospects decrease with age. In broad terms there is a slow decline until approximately the age of 35 and then the situation deteriorates reasonably rapidly until the age of 40 at which…
Exciting new research in mice ovaries has revealed that it might be possible to rejuvenate egg quality in human females as they age. It has been known for many years that human egg quality deteriorates from the age of 35 accelerating from the age of 40. This results in falling spontaneous pregnancy rates and increasing…
Whilst surfing the internet over the weekend I came across an article about endometriosis and robotic surgery written by one of the legends of gynaecological laparoscopic surgery, Dr Harry Reich. A man who I am delighted to have met and can call a friend and who has in many ways shaped my surgical career. He…
I have recently seen a patient who has been placed in a most unfortunate position. This lady has been in a happy, stable relationship for over 15 years and has been attempting to conceive unsuccessfully for most of that time. Aged 41 when I first met her, she was born with a congenital bowel issue…