Gynecologic Surgery
Advanced Gynecologic Surgery, Close to Home
Our surgeons perform the most gynecologic procedures in Montgomery County, delivering advanced care with comfort and convenience.
At Holy Cross Health, you will find the region’s leader in advanced robotic and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery – close to home. We perform more gynecologic procedures than any other hospital in Montgomery County – combining clinical expertise with state-of-the-art technology and a team of experienced surgeons and skilled clinicians to deliver the highest level of care.
Our advanced robotic technology and minimally invasive techniques set us apart. Using the latest da Vinci 5 robotics system, our surgeons benefit from a highly detailed, 3D view and precise, delicate control through robotic arms – helping to ensure the best possible outcomes for you.
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Why Choose Holy Cross Health
Trusted Expertise and Compassionate Care
You are in expert hands at Holy Cross Health. Our surgeons are regional leaders in robotic surgery, using the latest da Vinci 5 system alongside advanced laparoscopic and hysteroscopic techniques that minimize the need for traditional open surgery. Supported by a dedicated team of surgical nurses and clinicians, our surgeons perform more gynecologic procedures at Holy Cross hospitals than any other hospital in Montgomery County.
Our commitment to clinical excellence is recognized by the Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology (COEMIG), which has accredited our gynecologic surgery program. This prestigious designation reflects our outstanding performance in surgical volumes, exceptional patient outcomes, ongoing staff training and state-of-the-art equipment – ensuring you receive the highest-quality, safest and most efficient care possible.
The Holy Cross Health minimally invasive gynecologic surgery program is also a hub for physician education and training. We collaborate with:
- George Washington University School of Medicine
- Washington Hospital Center Residency Program in Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Students from five additional medical schools
This ongoing commitment to education ensures that our patients benefit from the latest techniques and innovations in women’s surgical care.
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Conditions We Treat
Care Designed for Your Needs
Our specialists tailor care to your unique needs, combining deep expertise and extensive experience to effectively treat a wide range of gynecologic conditions. Using minimally invasive surgical techniques, we provide effective treatment that helps you heal faster and with less discomfort – all while keeping your care focused on you and your conditions, including:
- Gynecologic cancers (uterine, cervical and ovarian)
- Pelvic floor disorders
- Urinary incontinence
- Uterine fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Ovarian cysts and masses
- Pelvic adhesions
When the diagnosis is cancer, our gynecologic specialists team up with the comprehensive, multi-specialty cancer resources at Holy Cross Health – including medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgery, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work and more.
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Surgical Solutions
Blending Technology and Expertise
Our expert team offers safe, minimally invasive surgeries for gynecologic cancers and non-cancerous conditions, from uterine fibroids to incontinence. By combining advanced technology with skilled gynecologic surgeons, gynecologic oncologists and urogynecologists, we help women experience faster recoveries, less pain, fewer complications and better outcomes.
Using cutting-edge robotics, your surgeon leads the surgical team and precisely controls the robotic technology to perform your procedure. Every surgery is tailored to your unique needs, with options including robotic, laparoscopic, hysteroscopic or traditional surgery when appropriate. At Holy Cross Health, our specialists are highly proficient in all these techniques.
Robot-assisted surgery has transformed the treatment of gynecologic conditions. Using small incisions, your surgeon operates specialized instruments and a high-definition camera through robotic arms – fully controlled and guided by your surgeon’s hands. This advanced approach offers greater precision and visualization – resulting in smaller incisions, less pain and blood loss, faster recovery, fewer complications and better outcomes.
Common gynecologic procedures performed with robotic assistance include:
- Hysterectomy for fibroids, uterine cancer and cervical cancer.
- Myomectomy to remove fibroid tumors from the uterus.
- Lymph node removal in gynecologic cancers.
Holy Cross Health is home to several state-of-the-art surgical robots, including the newest da Vinci 5 system, which enhances your surgeon’s ability to see, feel and treat with exceptional accuracy. It is a safe, efficient and highly effective option for a wide range of gynecologic procedures.
Your surgeon will make as few as two small incisions through which surgical instruments and a tiny video camera are inserted. The camera displays an image of the surgical site on a video screen, which your surgeon monitors while performing the procedure. Incisions in minimally invasive surgeries are small—1/2 to 3/4 of an inch long—resulting in less pain, shorter hospital stays, fewer complications, faster recovery, and smaller scars.
Common procedures using laparoscopy include:
- Cyst, fibroid, stone and polyp removals
- Small tumor removals
- Biopsies
- Tubal ligation and reversal
- Ectopic pregnancy removal
- Endometriosis surgery
- Urethral and vaginal reconstruction surgery
A minimally invasive treatment for abnormal uterine bleeding, endometrial ablation works by removing or destroying a thin layer of the uterus lining (endometrium), which helps reduce or stop bleeding altogether.
Using a slim probe inserted through the vagina and cervix, your doctor may use one of several techniques to treat the lining, including:
- Heat (via radiofrequency energy or heated fluid)
- Electrical energy (using a special tool called a resectoscope with a loop, rolling ball or spiked ball tip)
- Cold therapy (freezing)
This outpatient procedure typically takes less than 45 minutes, and most women recover quickly with minimal side effects.
While many gynecologic conditions can be treated with minimally invasive techniques, some complex cases may require open surgery. This approach may be necessary for advanced cancers, large tumors, extensive scar tissue from prior surgeries or when multiple abdominal procedures are needed at once. Though recovery may take longer and involve more discomfort, open surgery can be the safest and most effective solution – offering the access and precision needed to treat complex conditions successfully.
- At Holy Cross Health, women facing gynecologic cancers receive expert, personalized care close to home. Our experienced surgeons at Holy Cross Hospital and Holy Cross Germantown Hospital perform more gynecologic and gynecologic oncology surgeries each year than any other health system or hospital in Maryland.
In the videos below, Albert Steren, MD, Medical Director of Gynecologic Oncology, and James Barter, MD, Medical Director of Gynecologic Oncology Research, share how Holy Cross Health delivers advanced treatment options for women’s cancers—combining surgical excellence, innovative therapies, and compassionate care to support every woman through her journey. - Videos from https://www.holycrosshealth.org/services/gynecologic-surgery/videos-treating-womens-cancers
- Hear from patients who trusted Holy Cross Health for their gynecologic surgery care.