Gynecology and obstetrics

The aim of cancer screening is to detect cancers or their precursors as early as possible. This is recommended regularly, every 3 years. In our practice, we offer you a comprehensive range of modern examination methods as part of cancer screening. This includes examination of the female organs with inspection and palpation as well as taking a PAP smear from the cervix. If necessary, we can also recommend our specialised dysplasia consultation for further diagnostics. For more detailed information on this topic, we invite you to take a look at our dysplasia consultation subsection.

In addition to manual examination of the breast and armpits, we also offer the option of sonography for these areas. For a detailed consultation, we recommend taking a look at our breast consultation.

Additional gynaecological screening examinations are also available, such as HPV smear tests and vaginal sonography using a state-of-the-art ultrasound machine.

In the course of the fourth decade of life, women experience a remarkable shift in their hormone balance. The concentration of oestrogens decreases, while the sex hormone "FSH" increases. This process ultimately leads to the absence of monthly menstruation. During this phase of life, typical menopausal symptoms often occur, including lack of energy, sleep problems and hot flushes. These physical changes can be detected with the help of laboratory tests. There are various options available to counteract these symptoms, whether through lifestyle changes or the use of hormonal preparations.

There are various options available to protect yourself from unwanted pregnancies, from the pill to condoms, from hormone implants to diaphragms. The choice of the right contraceptive method should be tailored to your individual situation and relationship. Factors such as the menstrual cycle, puberty, the menopause and protection against sexually transmitted diseases should also be taken into account. I will be happy to provide you with information about the various methods and how they work and to help you decide which one best suits your needs.

A cancer diagnosis initially brings with it a considerable change in life. Once the first phase of treatment (primary therapy), which may include surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, has been completed, tumour aftercare begins. If you have been diagnosed with a malignant disease of the mammary gland or abdomen, we will support you sensitively and competently during and after your treatment and work with you to develop a personalised aftercare plan. This usually begins with examinations at three-monthly intervals. Breast examinations, transvaginal and abdominal sonographies and blood count checks (including tumour marker determinations) are carried out. If necessary, further imaging examinations are also arranged in close co-operation with Imamed Radiologie Nordwestsschweiz.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with around 6500 new cases in women in Switzerland every year. There are no guaranteed measures to prevent these diseases, but regular and early screening can have a positive influence on the course and chances of recovery. 

The ultrasound examination enables a more precise distinction to be made between palpable or incidental findings. If a more precise clarification, for example between benign tumours and suspicious findings, is not possible using ultrasound, we offer you the option of a tissue sample using a high-speed punch biopsy after the affected area has been locally anaesthetised. This enables a targeted treatment decision to be made based on the results of the tissue sample. We also offer breast sonography as part of follow-up care after breast cancer, in addition to clinical examination and mammography.

If you experience pain in the breast or notice a discharge from the nipple, we recommend a differentiated sonographic examination and, if necessary, a mammogram.

One of the main causes of such changes in the epithelium is infection with human papillomaviruses (HPV). These viruses are usually transmitted through sexual contact and almost the entire population comes into contact with them in the course of their lives. Why only some women develop dysplasia or even cervical cancer is not yet fully understood. There are over 150 different types of HPV, most of which are harmless. However, around 15 of these are considered high-risk viruses. In our practice, we offer comprehensive testing for HPV infection. In combination with regular cancer screening (Pap smear), this offers a high level of safety in the early detection of precancerous stages and the prevention of cervical cancer.

Examination and therapy procedure
The cell changes have the ability to regress spontaneously. However, repeated abnormal Pap smear results require a more detailed examination, which is carried out as part of a gynaecological examination using colposcopy. Here, changes in the cell layers are visualised using diluted acetic acid and iodine and, if necessary, a targeted tissue sample can be taken. The tissue samples are analysed at the Department of Pathology at the University Hospital Basel. Depending on the results of the tissue sampling, further monitoring may be considered for early dysplasia. In the case of advanced changes, removal of the dysplasia is advisable. In our practice, we offer a gentle removal procedure using electrical snare excision (high-frequency surgery). This operation is performed under short anaesthesia in our outpatient day clinic.

Prevention vaccination
For some time now, a vaccination has been available to prevent HPV infections, which can also protect against the development of genital warts, also known as condylomas. This vaccination is particularly recommended for girls between the ages of 11 and 14 and the costs are covered by health insurance companies. We will be happy to carry out the vaccination for you in our practice.

Pelvic floor complaints are widespread and do not only affect older women, but can also occur in younger women, especially after childbirth. Causes of pelvic floor weakness can include pregnancy and childbirth, physical strain, age-related tissue changes and hormone deficiency. The symptoms can be varied and can manifest themselves in the form of a feeling of pressure or a foreign body in the vagina. Sometimes a prolapse can also be felt in the vaginal entrance area. Difficulties urinating, problems with bowel movements and increased bladder infections are the consequences.

Another aspect is urinary incontinence, be it stress urinary incontinence or overactive bladder syndrome with or without incontinence. All of these symptoms can affect your quality of life to varying degrees and should therefore be treated with the aim of improving your quality of life.

Successful treatment is always preceded by a thorough diagnosis, which may include a gynaecological examination, an ultrasound examination of the pelvic floor and a bladder pressure measurement (urodynamics).

Depending on the type of disorder, the extent of your symptoms, your age, possible previous operations and, last but not least, your level of suffering, a personalised treatment is recommended. Various options are available. Conservative treatment can include exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor, the use of pessaries, tampons and, if necessary, localised hormone therapy. Various surgical procedures are also available, either vaginally or through minimally invasive laparoscopy.

We are here to advise you and decide together with you which therapy is best suited to your specific situation. Please do not hesitate to contact us, especially if you continue to have symptoms after the end of the postpartum phase, as an early start to conservative measures can be particularly important.

We offer a wide range of outpatient operations in our outpatient day clinic.

Treatment spectrum

• Endoscopy of the uterine cavity to clarify bleeding disorders
• Endoscopy of the uterine cavity to remove polyps and/or fibroids
• IUD insertion or removal under short anaesthesia
• Removal of a cone of the cervix (so-called conisation) for dysplasia
• Removal of cysts or abscesses on the external genitalia
• Ausschabung nach Fehlgeburten

If you have any questions or need treatment, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Unwanted childlessness is a widespread problem nowadays, and in Switzerland it affects around one in five couples. We speak of involuntary childlessness or reduced fertility if pregnancy does not occur within a year despite a desire to have children and regular unprotected sexual intercourse. When clarifying this situation, we place particular emphasis on examining the female cycle in order to identify hormonal disorders and associated problems with egg maturation. We then rule out pathological findings in the area of the uterus and ovaries, for example by checking the patency of the fallopian tubes. We also investigate possible congenital causes or chromosomal disorders.

The external framework conditions, such as occupation, lifestyle, diet and environment, also play a role and should be improved. 

As it is assumed that one in two couples who wish to have children have combined problems on both sides, it is important that both partners are diagnosed. There are special examinations for men who wish to have children, which should be clarified by experts in the field of male fertility diagnostics (urologists).

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

As part of routine prenatal care, we will accompany you in accordance with the current maternity guidelines. Blood pressure, weight, urine sample and a physical examination are carried out at every examination during the course of your pregnancy. We also use the latest generation of ultrasound equipment to carry out regular examinations of your baby.

From the 30th week of pregnancy, your child's heartbeat, the position of the baby and possible contractions are also recorded using a CTG (cardiotocogram). For further information, please refer to the section on prenatal diagnostics.

Extended prenatal care through:

• 1st trimester examination (nuchal fold measurement combined with a blood test (PAPP-A, free HCG) to rule out chromosomal disorders, as well as the determination of early markers for possible pre-eclampsia (pregnancy poisoning) in the course of the pregnancy
• Non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT), chromosome examination from maternal blood
• 2nd trimester screening: Ultrasound for organ diagnostics between the 19th and 22nd week of pregnancy
• Doppler sonography for the early detection of foetal diseases

Kein Test ist 100%ig! Lassen Sie sich über die Bedeutung und die Konsequenzen von mir beratung und entscheiden Sie, welche zusätzlichen diagnostischen Verfahren Sie in Ihrer Schwangerschaft durchführen lassen möchten.

Basel Medical Emergency Call Centre:
061 261 15 15

Bethesda Hospital delivery room:
061 315 22 22

Delivery room, University Hospital Basel:
061 265 90 49

FamilyStart Helpline:
0848 622 (daily 08:00 - 20:00. Telephone counselling and mediation of midwives 

www.swissmom.ch
(Information on pregnancy)

www.stillen.ch

www.muetterberatung-bl-bs.ch

www.hebamme.ch
(List of freelance midwives)

www.fpk.ch
(Specialist centre for miscarriage and perinatal infant death)

www.travail.ch
(Information on maternity protection)

www.firstlove.ch
(Questions about puberty, sexuality, contraception and gynaecological examinations)

www.tschau.ch
(Internet counselling for young people)

www.lilli.ch
(Counselling for young women and men on sexuality and sexual violence)