Overview
The Section of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery at Cleveland Clinic is committed to providing patients with innovative and personalized surgical care for a wide range of benign gynecologic conditions. Minimally invasive surgery includes hysteroscopic, laparoscopic, robotic, vaginal and single site surgical approaches, which are associated with quicker recovery, shorter hospital stays, less blood loss and scarring, as well as fewer infections. We also offer the convenience of office hysteroscopy for the diagnosis and treatment of intrauterine pathology.
Why Choose Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic's Ob/Gyn & Women's Health Institute is proud to serve as a national leader in minimally invasive gynecologic options and techniques. Our team is highly trained to offer both medical and surgical options for a variety of benign gynecologic conditions including fibroids, endometriosis, abnormal uterine bleeding, chronic pelvic pain and ovarian masses. We value a conservative approach and only offer surgical intervention when indicated and appropriate.
Our team includes high volume, minimally invasive gynecologic surgeons who are trained to treat very complex pathology through minimally invasive techniques. Our conversion rate to laparotomy is less than 1%. Our practice is dedicated exclusively to complex benign conditions. We routinely collaborate with an excellent multidisciplinary team including colorectal surgery, urology, vascular surgery, interventional radiology, pain psychology, physical therapy and cardiothoracic surgery to optimize patient outcomes and recovery.
To further enhance patient care the following multidisciplinary centers allow focused, specialized care:
- Center for Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain
- Center for Menstrual Disorders, Fibroids, and Hysteroscopic Services
Treatment Outcomes
Cleveland Clinic's Ob/Gyn & Women's Health Institute provides Treatment Outcomes that offer detailed information to help patients and their physicians make informed decisions about treatment for a wide-range of medical diseases and conditions related to women's health. This includes minimally invasive surgical procedures performed by our gynecological staff.
Conditions & Treatments
Conditions
- Abnormal uterine bleeding (heavy or irregular periods)
- Abnormal bleeding after breast cancer treatment
- Abnormal bleeding after solid organ transplant
- Adenomyosis
- Cesarean scar defects (isthmocele)
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Endometriosis
- Fibroids
- Mullerian anomalies (rudimentary horn, vaginal and uterine septums, etc.)
- Ovarian masses and cysts
- Postmenopausal bleeding
- Uterine polyps
Surgical Procedures
- Hysterectomy
- Laparoscopic
- Robotic
- Vaginal
- Hysteroscopy with removal of fibroids or polyps
- Laparoscopic cerclage placement
- Laparoscopic excision of endometriosis
- Bladder
- Bowel
- Ureteral
- Laparoscopic fallopian tube reanastamosis (tube reversal)
- Laparoscopic isthmocele repair
- Laparoscopic myomectomy (removal of fibroids)
- Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy
- Laparoscopic ovarian transposition
- Laparoscopic presacral neurectomy
- Laparoscopic rudimentary uterine horn excision
- Laparoscopic salpingo oophorectomy
- Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy
- Laparoscopic trachelectomy
- Office hysteroscopy
- Removal of ectopic pregnancy (including cornual and cervical ectopic locations)
- Removal of foreign body
- Removal of products of conception
- Uterine and vaginal septoplasty
Surgical Injections
- Botox injection for pelvic muscle spasm
Our Providers
Our Doctors
Advanced Practice Providers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon?
Minimally invasive gynecologic surgeons have typically received additional fellowship training in medical and surgical techniques for complex benign gynecologic conditions in addition to an Obstetrics and Gynecology residency. This extended training provides additional knowledge and skill to allow safe and personalized care for a broad range of treatment options. Common conditions that we treat include abnormal uterine bleeding, fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian masses, chronic pelvic pain and mullerian anomalies. We value a conservative approach and offer surgery only when it is indicated and appropriate. Surgical intervention may include hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, robotic, vaginal, or single site surgical techniques depending on the condition and patient preference. The minimally invasive gynecologic surgeons at Cleveland Clinic are all high-volume surgeons and are dedicated to exclusively treating complex benign conditions.
What questions should I ask my surgeon?
When considering surgery it is important to perform adequate research on your surgeon to make certain you are receiving the best possible care. We encourage you to ask questions to ensure that you are comfortable with your surgeon and recommended procedure. Questions that you should always ask your surgeon include:
- Surgical volume: It is important to find a surgeon who specializes in the surgery you need. Ask your surgeon how many procedures she performs each month and about his or her areas of expertise. Research has shown that the more surgeries a physician performs, the better patients tend to do. The MIGS physicians at Cleveland Clinic are high-volume surgeons.
- Surgical outcomes: You should ask your surgeon about his or her complication rate in regard to bowel injury, bladder injury, vaginal cuff dehiscence and conversion to laparotomy. The conversion rate of our MIGS team from laparoscopy to laparotomy is less than 1%.
- Minimally invasive options: Always ask your surgeon about minimally invasive options including hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, robotic, vaginal and single site surgery. The vast majority of surgeries for benign disease can be performed through minimally invasive techniques. If your surgeon offers an open abdominal procedure, ask for a second opinion from a minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon. Some second opinions can be obtained through virtual visits for your convenience.
Where can I learn more information about the Center for Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain?
The Center for Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain includes a team of physicians, nurses, psychologists, counselors, physical therapists and occupational therapists to address concerns related to endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. We have initiated a comprehensive imaging protocol to be able to diagnose endometriosis pre-operatively in order to facilitate shared decision making and to plan surgical treatment. If surgical intervention is necessary, we collaborate with colorectal surgery, urology, vascular surgery and cardiothoracic surgery to optimize patient outcomes and recovery.
Where can I learn more information about the Center for Menstrual Disorders, Fibroids and Hysteroscopic Services?
The Center for Menstrual Disorders, Fibroids and Hysteroscopic Services includes an interdisciplinary team of physicians and nurses to streamline your visit and evaluate your problem. We have the ability to perform office hysteroscopy as well as saline infusion sonography within our office to quickly evaluate the uterus, endometrial cavity and adnexa. Retained intrauterine devices can also be removed in the office with office hysteroscopy.
I have an upcoming appointment to see a physician within the Section of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery. What can I expect and how can I prepare to optimize my visit?
We understand that a gynecology visit with a new physician can be stressful and we do everything we can to make your visit as relaxing and efficient as possible. It is extremely helpful for you to obtain your previous medical and surgical records before your appointment, including previous operative reports, pathology reports and imaging. If your previous surgeon has given you operative pictures, it can be helpful to bring those with you to the appointment. This will allow us to perform a full consult at your initial visit and offer our immediate recommendations. At your new patient visit, our team will talk with you first to learn about your history and area of concern. We will often recommend a physical exam at this visit so we can assess your muscles, nerves, bladder, bowel and gynecologic organs. We will then discuss our findings and provide education regarding options for treatment. We greatly value shared decision making and prioritize your input regarding future treatment as we make a plan together.
I have an upcoming procedure with a surgeon within the Section of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery. Where can I access postoperative information online?
Appointments & Locations
Appointments
To make an appointment with a minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon, please call 216.444.6601.
Locations
The following locations are available for minimally invasive gynecologic surgery:
Refer a Patient
To learn more about referring a patient for a minimally invasive surgical procedure, please contact our Referring Physician Hotline at 855.733.3712.
Research & Education
Research & Innovations
In the section of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery we are active in research, which allows our patients access to various clinical trials. We are invested in providing the most up-to-date and innovative technologies for our patients.
Education
Medical and surgical education is also a top priority and we take great pride in teaching residents and fellows in the clinic and operating room. We have an AAGL approved Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship and are active in surgical education research to improve our learners’ surgical skills and assessments in the simulation lab.
Our faculty are also active in professional education seminars around the country and internationally to assist colleagues in understanding surgical techniques within hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, robotic and vaginal surgery.
