Editing Gynaecology (section)

==Therapies==

=== Surgeries ===
As with all surgical specialties, gynaecologists may employ medical or surgical therapies (or many times, both), depending on the exact nature of the problem that they are treating. Pre- and post-operative medical management will often employ many standard drug therapies, such as [[antibiotics]], [[diuretics]], [[antihypertensives]], and [[antiemetics]]. Additionally, gynaecologists make frequent use of specialized [[hormone]]-modulating therapies (such as [[Clomifene]] citrate and [[hormonal contraception]]) to treat disorders of the female genital tract that are responsive to [[pituitary]] or [[gonad]]al signals.

{{For|lists of gynaecological drugs (by the [[ATC classification system]])|ATC code G01|ATC code G02}}

[[Surgery]], however, is the mainstay of gynaecological therapy. For historical and political reasons, gynaecologists were previously not considered "surgeons", although this point has always been the source of some controversy. Modern advancements in both general surgery and gynaecology, however, have blurred many of the once rigid lines of distinction. The rise of sub-specialties within gynaecology which are primarily surgical in nature (for example urogynaecology and gynaecological oncology) have strengthened the reputations of gynaecologists as surgical practitioners, and many surgeons and surgical societies have come to view gynaecologists as comrades of sorts. As proof of this changing attitude, gynaecologists are now eligible for fellowship in both the [[American College of Surgeons]] and [[Royal College of Surgeons|Royal Colleges of Surgeons]], and many newer surgical textbooks include chapters on (at least basic) gynaecological surgery.

Some of the more common operations that gynaecologists perform include:<ref>{{cite web|title=Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialty Description|publisher=American Medical Association|url=https://www.ama-assn.org/specialty/obstetrics-and-gynecology-specialty-description|access-date=24 October 2020|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028210552/https://www.ama-assn.org/specialty/obstetrics-and-gynecology-specialty-description|url-status=live}}</ref>
# [[Dilation and curettage]] (removal of the uterine contents for various reasons, including completing a partial miscarriage and diagnostic sampling for dysfunctional uterine bleeding refractive to medical therapy)
# [[Hysterectomy]] (removal of the uterus)
# [[Oophorectomy]] (removal of the ovaries)
# [[Tubal ligation]] (a type of permanent sterilization)
# [[Hysteroscopy]] (inspection of the uterine cavity)
# Diagnostic [[laparoscopy]]&nbsp;– used to diagnose and treat sources of pelvic and abdominal pain. Laparoscopy is the only way to accurately diagnose pelvic/abdominal [[endometriosis]].<ref name="Imaging">{{cite journal | vauthors = Nisenblat V, Bossuyt PM, Farquhar C, Johnson N, Hull ML | title = Imaging modalities for the non-invasive diagnosis of endometriosis | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 2016 | pages = CD009591 | date = February 2016 | issue = 2 | pmid = 26919512 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.cd009591.pub2 | pmc = 7100540 }}</ref>
# Exploratory [[laparotomy]]&nbsp;– may be used to investigate the level of progression of benign or malignant disease, or to assess and repair damage to the pelvic organs.
# Various surgical treatments for [[urinary incontinence]], including [[cystoscopy]] and sub-[[urethra]]l slings.
# Surgical treatment of pelvic organ [[prolapse]], including correction of [[cystocele]] and [[rectocele]].
# [[Appendectomy]]&nbsp;– often performed to remove site of painful [[endometriosis]] implantation or prophylactically (against future acute [[appendicitis]]) at the time of [[hysterectomy]] or [[Caesarean section]]. May also be performed as part of a [[Cancer staging|staging]] operation for [[ovarian cancer]].
# Cervical Excision Procedures (including [[cryosurgery]])&nbsp;– removal of the surface of the cervix containing pre-cancerous cells which have been previously identified on [[Pap smear]].

=== Recent discoveries ===
Newer advancements in gynecology are using integration of AI in clinical practice, specifically with diagnostics and predictive analytics. AI algorithms are able to interpret complex gynecological imaging and pathology data, which improves diagnostic accuracy. These technologies are especially used in identifying cervical and ovarian cancers and predicting treatment outcomes.<ref>Sufriyana, H., Wu, Y. W., Su, E. C. Y. (2024). ''Artificial Intelligence–Assisted Gynecology: Emerging Applications and Future Directions''. ''Journal of Clinical Medicine'', 13(4), 1061. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13041061</ref>

In terms of surgery, research has led to minimally invasive approaches, such as vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES). This technique allows surgeons to access the pelvic cavity through the vaginal canal, reducing recovery times,  postoperative pain, and complication rates in comparison to traditional methods.<ref>Dückelmann, A. M., & Maia, L. (2023). ''vNOTES in Modern Gynecology: A Review of Current Evidence and Outcomes''. ''Healthcare'', 13(7), 720. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13070720</ref>