Gynaecology

As part of cancer screening and early detection I recommend check-ups every six months (for patients on hormone replacement therapy) to once a year. At Privatpraxis Hannover Mitte I carry out all gynaecological screening examinations.

The time after a cancer diagnosis and its treatment can be extremely demanding and bound up with various fears, worries and questions. It matters a great deal to me that my patients feel thoroughly cared for and advised during this phase. I therefore carry out guideline-based examinations as part of cancer follow-up, initially every three months, then every six months and later once a year. These include a physical examination and, where required, an ultrasound examination.

In addition I take the time to discuss worries, complaints and possible supportive measures individually, in the context of holistic medicine. Some of these measures can already be helpful during ongoing treatment. They include nutritional and sexual-medicine aspects, acupuncture, infusion therapies, coping with stress and anxiety, physical activity and much more.

Psychosomatics looks at the particular interplay of body, mind and soul. During my specialist training I obtained the qualification in basic psychosomatic care. My particular interest here lies in supporting women who suffer from premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

At around 30 per cent of all cancer cases, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Germany, with most cases diagnosed between the ages of 55 and 65. However, breast cancer can also occur earlier or later. Treatment options have improved considerably in recent years, which means that although breast cancer is the most common, it is not the most fatal cancer in women. Early detection is decisive for the prognosis and can be supported by measures such as monthly self-examination of the breasts and by breast cancer screening for women between 50 and 75, an effective monitoring method to which women are invited every two years. In addition, breast ultrasound offers radiation-free imaging at yearly intervals.

Endometriosis is a benign, often painful and chronic condition in which uterine lining (endometrium) occurs outside the uterine cavity. Depending on its location, endometriosis causes very different symptoms – the cardinal symptom is painful menstruation. Because the clinical picture is so varied, an average of six years passes between the first symptoms and the diagnosis, sometimes considerably longer. In Germany around two to six million women between puberty and the menopause develop endometriosis (with a high number of unreported cases). That is roughly 7 to 15 per cent of women in this phase of life. The incidence in Germany is around 40,000 women per year.

Nevertheless the condition still receives too little attention. I want to avoid that in my consultation, because early diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis matters: an early stage of the disease responds better to hormone therapy than an advanced one, for example because of its higher metabolic activity. A differentiated history and physical examination including gynaecological ultrasound or ultrasound of the kidneys can often already raise the suspicion of endometriosis. A definitive diagnosis is usually confirmed histologically during a diagnostic laparoscopy at an endometriosis centre.

Taking your personal situation into account – in particular the question of family planning and your specific complaints – I then draw up an individual treatment concept, matched to the different forms of endometriosis and, in the spirit of holistic medicine, considering aspects such as hormone therapy but also acupuncture, nutritional advice, micronutrient therapy, osteopathy and more.

Uterine fibroids are among the most common benign tumours of the female reproductive organs and can be detected in up to 40 per cent of women of childbearing age. More than every second woman is affected by this complex condition by the age of 80. Fibroids grow in a hormone-dependent way and, depending on location and size, the symptoms vary widely. They can significantly restrict quality of life, but are sometimes asymptomatic and detected incidentally during transvaginal ultrasound. My aim is to advise and accompany my patients on the various individual treatment strategies – regular ultrasound monitoring of size, medication, interventional therapy, surgical care – in a way that suits their personal circumstances.

With a prevalence of 15 per cent, polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrine condition in women of fertile age. It is a complex endocrinological, gynaecological and internal-medicine picture whose cause has still not been clearly established. Affected women frequently suffer from cycle disorders, metabolic problems accompanied by insulin resistance and excess weight or obesity, and signs of hyperandrogenaemia (male hair pattern, hair loss, acne). The consequences can be far-reaching, from unfulfilled desire for children through to the sequelae of metabolic syndrome.

Timely diagnostic investigation and long-term, multimodal treatment adapted to the individual situation are essential. As a gynaecologist and nutritional physician I stand for a holistic treatment concept in which I offer guideline-based hormone therapies where appropriate, but also comprehensive lifestyle advice, which should form the basis of every PCOS treatment. This includes nutritional aspects of weight reduction, metabolic analyses using continuous glucose monitoring, exercise-based approaches, micronutrient analyses and infusion therapies.

For many young people, the first visit to a gynaecological practice takes some courage. In the teenage consultation I offer a space specifically for young people to ask all their questions.

Sensitive topics such as sexuality, contraception, the female cycle or the changes the body goes through in puberty can be discussed with us in confidence. A gynaecological examination is usually not necessary at the first appointment and takes place only at the patient’s wish or if there are complaints.

The subject of wanting children raises many questions: does the diet need adjusting, and which supplements should be taken? When should contraception be stopped, and which vaccinations need refreshing? I am glad to answer these and many other questions in a personal conversation, to which you are of course welcome to bring your partner.

Almost one in ten couples in Germany (aged 25 to 59) is involuntarily childless. The causes can lie with the woman, with the man or with both. Part of the diagnosis and treatment can be carried out in our practice. This includes cycle monitoring and gynaecological ultrasound, determining hormone status to investigate the cycle and thyroid metabolism, and assessing the supply of nutrients and vitamins. Depending on age, I recommend a consultation after six to (at the latest) twelve months of regular unprotected intercourse without a pregnancy.

From the age of 35, women’s sensitive hormone systems can lose their balance, which can cause a wide range of symptoms. Unfortunately few women think of a possible hormonal cause for their complaints at this point. They feel generally less resilient and suffer from states of exhaustion. Later in life further symptoms of the menopause often appear that are due to the developing hormone deficiency, such as hot flushes, joint complaints, sleep disorders, heart problems and depressive moods. The problem is that many women are reluctant to talk about these symptoms and to seek help. The menopause is still a social taboo, even though there are increasing awareness campaigns intended to support and inform the nine million women affected in Germany.

In my hormone consultation I want to help inform, educate and, where appropriate, treat women. In the past considerable uncertainty arose around hormone replacement therapy, above all because of a large American study (the WHI study) from 2002, which was carried out mainly with synthetic, non-bioidentical hormones and showed various side effects. The results were not communicated in a differentiated way to the public and to this day lead to an unfounded fear of hormone replacement therapy.

As with other symptoms and illnesses, women should also have the option of being treated for complaints during the menopausal transition. In my hormone consultation I look not only at the sex hormones but also, holistically, at other organ systems, at the nutrient supply and at the individual demands of each phase of life. If, after thorough information and weighing up of risks and side effects, hormone replacement therapy is wanted, I prescribe exclusively bioidentical hormones, which are identical to the body’s own and are produced from the yam root.

If you are pregnant or currently breastfeeding and wonder what to bear in mind – above all with regard to a healthy lifestyle with which you can already influence your child’s long-term health preventively – I am glad to advise you. A comprehensive micronutrient analysis, examination of the microbiome and information about individual supportive measures are part of this consultation.

Acupuncture is a proven method for treating a wide range of health problems. Its positive effects in chronic pain (such as migraine and painful menstruation), sleep disorders and stress are documented by numerous studies. Using the finest needles, the flows of energy in the body are brought back into balance in order to promote well-being. Acupuncture can help in particular with sleep disorders, stress, states of anxiety, chronic pain, migraine and digestive problems. In gynaecological complaints such as PMS, cycle disorders, bladder infections or an unfulfilled desire for children, acupuncture can also be an effective form of treatment.