Department of GynecologyGynecology is the medical specialty that diagnoses and treats conditions of the uterus, vagina, ovaries, and cervix. You may hear the term OB/GYN, which refers to obstetricians and gynecologists. Obstetricians are the physicians who deal with pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. Because the two deal with the female reproductive system, many gynecologists are also obstetricians. The Department of Gynecology at La Peer Health Systems uses minimally invasive techniques and procedures to screen for cancer, growths, and to promote the health of the female reproductive system. The term 'minimally invasive' is used to describe the technique whereby specialized equipment is used to operate on a very small area. This is used as opposed to making a large incision in the skin, but requires particular skill and precision to both operate, and interpret what is shown on screen. You see, minimally invasive gynecological surgery uses camera equipment to project an internal image for the surgeon to see. Dubbed 'keyhole surgery', all procedures on the minimally invasive gynecology program use cutting-edge equipment to ensure the patient suffers as little scarring and as little pain as possible. Many even say that with post-op pain relief, there is no pain at all. We treat a variety of conditions at La Peer. Here is a short list of the conditions treated and procedures available at La Peer: Medical Conditions
The Department of Gynecology at La Peer Health Systems offers an advanced Gynecology Program that will take patients from the diagnosis through treatment to regular check-ups. An accurate diagnosis is just as important as treatment, as are follow up appointments and routine exams to ensure you are healthy. If you are interested in the Department of Gynecology at La Peer Health Systems, please call (310) 360-9119 or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Conditions Treated at La Peer Polyp: Polyps are smooth, red growths that can occur in different parts of the body. The can grow in the female reproductive organs including the vagina, cervix, and the uterus. Many times, women will not even realize they have polyps because there are no symptoms. However, some women do experience symptoms including bleeding between periods or pain. The majority of the time, these polyps are not cancerous, but your doctor may send it to pathology to test for malignancy. The treatment for polyps is to remove them. The placement of the polyps will determine the procedure. If the polyp is in the vagina, it is easily cut off. If the polyp is in the cervix, then a procedure called dilation and curettage (D&C) will be used to open the cervix and remove the polyp. The procedure should not take long and is typically done as an outpatient. Stress urinary incontinence: Stress urinary incontinence is a condition when a person leaks urine due to strenuous activity, sneezing, coughing or laughing. The amount leaked varies from person to person; it can be a little bit or enough to soak your clothes. The cause of stress incontinence is weak muscles that hold the bladder and urethra in place. Women often experience stress incontinence in higher numbers than men because childbirth is often a contributor to stress incontinence. Fortunately, stress incontinence is very treatable. The first line of treatment involves Kegel exercises and strengthening the muscles in the pelvic floor. If further treatment is necessary, a transobturator sling might be necessary to lift the urethra. This will completely treat stress urinary incontinence. Ovarian cysts: An ovarian cyst is a fluid filled sac located inside an ovary. The size of a cyst can be as small as a pea and as large as a piece of fruit. Women at any age can develop cysts and the majority of them are benign. The symptoms of ovarian cysts are pain, bloating in the abdomen, pain during bowel movements, pelvic pain, and pain during intercourse. If you experience sudden pain, nausea, and vomiting, it can be a sign that the cyst has ruptured The treatment for functional ovarian cysts is to just let them go away. They typically go away within 8-12 weeks. Birth control pills are also used for 4-6 weeks to help them not get any bigger. If the cysts are larger, laproscopic surgery may be performed to remove the cyst. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Polycystic ovary syndrome is very common condition where many small cyst grow on the ovaries. It normally occurs in women during the childbearing age. The cause of polycystic ovary syndrome is unknown. Common signs of the condition include painful periods, difficulty getting pregnant, excess hair growth, weight gain, irregular periods, and acne. The treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome is medication. Birth control pills are used if you are not trying to become pregnant. This will allow your body a break from the excessive hormones you are producing. If you are trying to become pregnant, medication may be prescribed to make you ovulate. If you do not respond to ovulation, then laproscopic surgery may be performed to help your body ovulate. Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a painful condition where the lining of the uterus grows on other parts of the body - the rectum, the fallopian tubes, the ovaries, the bladder, or the intestines. The most common symptom is pain before and after menstrual cycles, pain in the lower abdomen, pain during or after intercourse. painful bowel movements, or lower back pain. The cause of endometriosis is unknown but it is known that if a relative has the condition, there is a higher likelyhood of developing the condition. Endometriosis is a common cause of infertility. The treatment for endometriosis depends on whether you would like to get pregnant in the future and your age. If you are not interested in having children, then the condition may just be monitored every 6 months. However, if you do want to become pregnant, then birth control pills will be prescribed to stop the spread of the endometriosis. This will relieve the pain associated with the condition. Surgery is also used on more severe cases, laproscopic surgery is used to remove some of the excess lining and scar tissue. Fibroids: Fibroids are benign growths that occur in the uterus. It is very common for women to develop fibroids during their childbearing years. The cause fibroids is unknown, but it is suspected that their developement is related to the hormone estrogen. Many women experience no symptoms when they have fibroids, but some women experience heavy bleeding, painful menstrual cramps, a feeling of fullness in the lower abdomen, a need to urinate more often, and painful intercourse. The treatment for fibroids Procedures Vaginal Polyp Removal: This procedure is used to remove small growths inside the vagina. This procedure is normally an outpatient procedure. Hysteroscopy Polypectomy Dilation and Curettage: A hysteroscopy polypectomy dilation and curettage is the procedure where the uterus is dilated to remove polyps in the uterus. A local anesthesia will be used during the procedure to numb the sensation of pain. Laparoscopic Bilateral Ovarian Cystectomy: This procedure is a minimally invasive procedure to remove an ovarian cyst. This procedure is done laproscopically, as opposed to an open procedure, which decreases the incision size, the healing time, and the risk of infection. Dilation and Curettage: Dilation and curettage is a procedure where the cervix is dilated and the cervix is biopsied or the contents of the uterus are scooped out. This procedure is often used for diagnostic purposes including abnormal bleeding, polycystic ovary syndrome, and polyps. If the procedure is not for diagnostic purposes, it is often used to remove leftover pieces of placenta after birth, excess lining as a result of polycystic ovary syndrome, or to remove an incomplete miscarriage. The procedure is often done under local or general anesthesia. Transobturator Sling: A transobturator sling is a treatment for stress incontinence. The procedure is minimally invasive and is done under local anesthesia. It is a relatively new procedure with a low risk of bowel and bladder injury. There is very little risk of major bleeding because the procedure is done in a region with no major blood vessels. The procedure has a high success rate of treating stress urinary incontinence. La Peer Health Systems - Department of Gynecology
(310) 360-9119 DoctorsDr. Peyman Banooni MD practices obstetrics & gynecology in Beverly Hills, California and Los Angeles, California. Dr. Banooni graduated with an MD 12 years ago. readmore |
