Advanced Women’s Care of Pittsburgh Offers State-of-the-Art Imaging Technology and Advanced GYN Procedures In-Office

By Nancy Kennedy

At Advanced Women’s Care of Pittsburgh (AWC), an exemplary team of obstetrician-gynecologists provides personal, comprehensive, state-of-the-art health care to women throughout the greater Pittsburgh region, including Washington and Allegheny counties and beyond. AWC physicians provide individualized, whole person OBGYN care to their patients at every life stage, from adolescence through the senior years. Their services includes prenatal and pregnancy care, gynecological treatments and surgery, health screenings and a broad range of additional, specialized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, utilizing the most advanced technologies and diagnostic methods.

One of those specialty services is in-office hysteroscopy, a procedure that utilizes a state-of –the-art imaging technology called Endosee. Mary Sims, M.D., explains that this minimally invasive procedure makes it possible for the physician to look at the interior of the uterus, for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The Endosee device consists of a thin instrument with a camera which can be inserted through the dilated cervix, allowing the doctor to view the endometrial lining of the uterus. It uses no radiation and there is no incision.

“Hysteroscopy is a common procedure but it’s normally done in the hospital, in the OR,” Dr. Sims explains. “At AWC, we give our patients the option of having it here, in our offices, in order to avoid hospitalization and an operation which requires anesthesia. It’s typically well tolerated when a patient takes over-the-counter medication prior to the procedure. You usually can resume your regular activities the next day.”

Hysteroscopy is mostly used to diagnose abnormal uterine bleeding. It can be useful in locating structural masses in the uterus, such as fibroids, polyps, and cancer and in repositioning IUDs. The procedure is completed without sedation.

Dr. Sims says that the greatest advantage of this procedure is that with the Endosee camera’s special sensitivity and clarity, the physicians can see real-time images and achieve very specific results. Advanced Women’s Care has been offering in-office hysteroscopy for the past six years, and all of the board-certified physicians on the medical staff – Kristen Peske, D.O.; Michelle Harvison, M.D.; Amy Turner, D.O.; Stephanie Shaw Brown, M.D.; Mary Sims, M.D.; and Karrah Dattilo, D.O. – perform the procedure.

Dr. Sims encourages women who are interested in the procedure to speak to their AWC OBGYN about the advantages of in-office hysteroscopy. “You can have a conversation about it with me or one of my colleagues. It’s an option. We can give you a general overview of the procedure and answer your questions.”

Established in 1986, Advanced Women’s Care of Pittsburgh has three locations, in McMurray, Caste Village and at St. Clair Health. To learn more about Advanced Women’s Care or to make an appointment, call (724) 941-1866 or visit www.advancedwomenscareofpgh.com.