Menopause isn’t just about getting older.

Understanding Menopause and Premature Menopause

Natural Menopause
Menopause is different for every woman. For most women, menopause begins a year after her last menstrual cycle, but symptoms typically begin 1-2 years before that occurs. This stage is called perimenopause, and usually lasts for several years, as the ovaries start to make less estrogen. When the ovaries stop making eggs, a woman enters menopause. This can bring on the more well-known menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, vaginal dryness and mood swings.

Once a woman has passed through this stage and moves into postmenopause, those symptoms begin to ease. However, as a consequence of the hormonal changes associated with menopause, this is the time when a woman’s risk for osteoporosis, heart disease, and vaginal dryness increase significantly.

Premature Menopause
Surgery that removes both ovaries will begin menopause prematurely. This is also known as induced menopause. Induced menopause can also result from damage to the ovaries caused by radiation or chemotherapy. Premature menopause can also be related to a genetic condition or autoimmune disorder.

Tailored Hormone Replacement Therapy
Symptoms of menopause can cause difficulty in women’s lives, whether natural or premature. Lifestyle modifications are an option for women with mild symptoms, but often, Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an important step to managing more severe symptoms. Treatment options should be evaluated based on the patient’s age, whether or not she has had a partial or full hysterectomy, or if her uterus is intact. 

CIGC Specialists can help women understand their specific HRT needs, and start the right treatment plan.

Call 888-SURGERY to schedule an appointment with Paul MacKoul MD, Bethesda, Natalya Danilyants MD, or Britton Chahine MD, physicians of The Center for Innovative GYN Care.

Get to know more about CIGC Lead Physician and Senior Partner Dr. Paul J. MacKoul -LinkedIn.

Dr. Paul J MacKoul wants you to Learn all the Facts before your GYN Surgery

Robotic GYN procedures have more complications than DualPortGYN surgery. When robotic surgery is recommended, patients need to get a second opinion from a GYN specialist.

Most patients take off more time for recovery due to increased pain. Robotics uses larger and more incisions than standard laparoscopic surgery or DualPortGYN procedures. These are delicate surgeries, and there are better, more sophisticated surgical options.

Paul J. MacKoul, MD - Bethesda and Natalya E. Danilyants, MD use retroperitoneal dissection in the DualPortGYN approach, which helps to visualize the entire anatomy surrounding the uterus and ovaries, providing a roadmap and minimizing complications.

Any time Robotic surgery is used for GYN treatment, there is an increased risk of damage to surrounding areas, including nicks to the bowel and the ureter, often requiring additional surgery to correct. With better options for recovery and pain, if your OB/GYN recommends robotic surgery, contact CIGC for a consultation to review alternative surgical options. Learn more about Dr. MacKoul and CIGC from Dr.Paul MacKoul presentations.

• The American Congress of OB/GYN (ACOG), the premier society in Obstetrics and Gynecology: OB/GYN’s should be using other types of procedures such as standard laparoscopy instead of robotics.

• The American Association of GYN Laparoscopic Surgeons (AAGL), the largest and most well regarded society for minimally invasive GYN surgery worldwide: Robotic surgery should not be used if standard laparoscopy and vaginal hysterectomy are available.

LESS PAIN FROM GYN SURGERY GETS PATIENTS BACK TO THEIR LIVES FASTER

Shorter Recovery Times, Less Pain

If you are concerned about how long GYN surgery will keep you out of work, there are several important things to consider, and the first is choosing the right specialist. Fellowship-trained laparoscopic GYN surgeons like Paul J MacKoul MD  focus solely on minimally invasive procedures, reducing your down time from surgery to days instead of weeks. Smaller incisions and fewer of them means patients can often have surgery and return home the same day.

Many patients don’t have short-term disability, so getting back to a normal life, including returning to work, within a few days after a procedure can mean a huge difference to patients who face unpaid leave.

Procedures with less pain and fast recovery are the focus of Dr. Paul J. MacKoul, MD and Dr. Natalya E. Danilyants, MD at The Center for Innovative GYN Care (CIGC). Dr. MacKoul and Dr. Danilyants redefined minimally invasive treatments to 2 or fewer 5 millimeter incisions for all of the GYN surgical procedures they perform.

See how this compares with other procedures:

 

For cancer patients who need to begin additional treatments after surgery, faster recovery means therapy can start sooner. Knowing that treatment can happen quickly can have a positive effect on a patient’s outlook while going through chemotherapy and/or radiation. That positive outlook can also have an overall effect on total recovery.

As you decide which surgeon will perform your procedure, understand your options, including experience, techniques, the recovery times associated with each, and potential complications. Learn more about Dr. Paul MacKoul – highly trained, advanced laparoscopic specialist – and call CIGC to schedule your first appointment today.

RECOVER FASTER FROM GYN SURGERY

Shorter Recovery Times: Choosing the right surgeon can make all the difference

If you are concerned about how long you will be out of commission after GYN surgery, there are options that can reduce your down time from weeks to days.

Choosing a fellowship-trained laparoscopic GYN like Dr. Paul J Mackoul - Gynecologist is important for fast recovery. These specialists focus solely on minimally invasive procedures. At the Center for Innovative GYN Care, smaller incisions and fewer of them gets patients back on their feet faster. This is especially important for patients who face leave from work without pay. Not every company offers short-term disability insurance, and many who are self-employed can’t risk long recoveries without taking a huge financial risk.

The specialists at The Center for Innovative GYN Care have redefined minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Paul J. MacKoul, MD and Dr. Natalya E. Danilyants, MD at CIGC have developed GYN procedures with 2 or fewer 5 millimeter incisions for all of the surgeries they perform.

See how this compares with other procedures:

CIGC surgeons NEVER perform open or robotic-assisted surgery. Robotic surgery has been proven to increase the risks of complications. Damage to surrounding areas are common with these surgeries, and often require having additional surgeons available to repair nicked bowels or ureters.

Be clear on all of your options. Ask about experience, techniques, the recovery times associated with each procedure and potential complications. As a patient, you have every right to ask for a second opinion, and knowing that you will have less worry as a result of going to an experienced specialist can make all the difference in your recovery. Read about Dr. Paul MacKoul MD, FACOG, Physician and Senior Partner at The Center for Innovative GYN Care, with locations throughout the DC Metro Area.

BEST INFORMED GYN PATIENTS: Why Choose a GYN Specialist Over a Generalist?

Focus and experience for your specific GYN surgery needs sets specialists apart.

When advocating on behalf of yourself or a loved one in a healthcare environment, it can be daunting to know whether or not you have gotten the best advice or heard all of the options available. Knowing the facts about minimally invasive surgery and how they compare to robotic or open surgeries is an important step to choosing your GYN surgeon.

CIGC performs more than 400 GYN surgeries each year. Over his career, Dr. MacKoul has performed more than 22,000 laparoscopic procedures. Perfecting gynecologic procedures that redefine minimally invasive care and in turn allow patients to recover better and faster is our sole focus.

CIGC surgeons have developed two unique minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques called DualPortGYN and LAAM. Based off of decades of experience, and a deep understanding of the main challenges of existing laparoscopic surgery techniques, DualPortGYN and LAAM are the highest level of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries, using only 2 small incisions (or fewer) versus 3-5. All procedures offer faster recovery time, a higher level of safety with the ability to control blood loss, while identifying and being sensitive to all major structures during surgery, thus avoiding unnecessary harm to the patient.

Patients recover faster with minimal pain. Many have their procedure and go home in the same day. Learn more about Dr Paul MacKoul and innovative surgical techniques used at CIGC to ensure the fastest recovery and best cosmetic result for all of our patients.

Increase Your Chances to Get Pregnant with Minimally Invasive Solutions by Paul MacKoul MD

Paul MacKoul MD at The Center for Innovative GYN Care provides safe and efficient options for fibroid removal to women dealing with infertility due to uterine fibroids. Fibroids located near the uterine cavity can affect pregnancy rates, while removal of fibroids helps increase the chances of the embryo implanting. CIGC trained physicians currently provide minimally invasive options to safely remove fibroids and increase women’s chances to get pregnant.

Laparoscopic Assisted Abdominal Myomectomy or LAAM is fibroid removal with preservation of uterus for fertility and it is performed through only 2 small incisions in the belly button and at the bikini line. This approach allows for safe removal of fibroids no matter the size and provides quick recovery for patients, who are able to get back on their feet and back to work within days. While LAAM is the best minimally invasive option available, a second approach is hysteroscopic myomectomy, however this can only be performed on fibroids located in the uterine cavity. If the patient is a good candidate for this type of procedure, she will benefit from even faster recovery – only one to two days.

If you are a patient struggling with fibroids and looking to get pregnant, don’t hesitate to reach out to Paul J. MacKoul MD in Bethesda, MD and schedule an appointment at The Center for Innovative GYN Care to find out more about the best and least invasive options for your gynecologic condition and how you can increase your chances to finally get pregnant.

A Decade of Pain Relieved with Minimally Invasive Surgery, by Dr. Paul J. MacKoul, MD

Paul J. MacKoul MD at The Center for Innovative GYN Care uses advanced laparoscopic techniques to treat severe gyn conditions and relieve pain. Kristen suffered from severe pain for years, when she finally came to see Dr. MacKoul she had all her symptoms relieved through minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery that provided quick recovery and the smallest incisions possible. Click to learn more about innovative surgical techniques provided by Dr. Paul MacKoul at CIGC.

Paul J. MacKoul MD at CIGC Provides Highly Personalized Care

Surgeons of The Center for Innovative GYN Care prioritize the care they provide and make sure every patient is treated as a unique individual. Advanced laparoscopic surgical specialists at CIGC provide the highest level of minimally invasive procedures and offer customized consultations including a full overview of options and recommendations. CIGC physicians illustrate the condition and explain specific symptoms as well as available treatment options, educating the patient with the necessary knowledge to make important decisions about their health.

Paul J MacKoul MD has developed unique surgical techniques at CIGC, based on decades of experience and a deep understanding of minimally invasive approach to gyn surgery. DualPortGYN and LAAM are a remarkable advance in gyn surgery due to outstanding benefits like faster recovery time, safer approach, fewer and smaller incisions and less pain. The ability to control blood loss while identifying major structures during surgery is another great benefit of these techniques.

Visit innovativegyn.com to learn about DualPortGYN and LAAM innovative approach to gyn surgery and schedule an appointment with Dr. Paul MacKoul today to learn more about your options.

Founder and Lead Physician at The Center for Innovative GYN Care

Paul MacKoul, MD, FACOG, is the founder and director of TheCenter for Innovative GYN Care in Bethesda, Maryland, a nationally known private practice that specializes in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. Dr. MacKoul is a respected advanced laparoscopic surgeon, board certified in Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology and a leader in the field of laparoscopy. He is credited with developing the DualPortGYN and LAAM approaches to minimally invasive GYN surgery, allowing for the fastest recovery, least amount of pain, and smallest size and number of incisions for gyn procedures. 

In addition to his current role with CIGC, Dr. Paul MacKoul is the Director of Minimally Invasive GYN Surgery at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, MD and former Director of GYN Oncology at George Washington University Hospital and Washington Hospital Center. Dr. MacKoul graduated from Medical School at Tufts University and completed his fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the University of North Carolina. He is particularly sought after for his expertise in the surgical management of fibroids and endometriosis, and is often consulted for the most difficult and complex cases requiring advanced laparoscopic surgical care.