Welcome to Γυναικολογία.gr!

After working for the NHS in the United Kingdom for ten years it is very obvious to me that the doctor-patient relationship model is no longer what it used to be. As a result of the improved standard of living and access to information, patients are now much more demanding with regards to the quality of the health services they receive. Doctors are expected not only to suggest the right treatments but very importantly also explain the condition to the patient, its consequences, alternative treatments and possible side-effects and complications. Patient choice and informed consent are no longer a luxury - they are central to the practice of Medicine.

Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Γυναικολογία in Greek) is probably at the forefront of this change of attitudes. Women nowadays visit the Gynaecologist with a good understanding of their condition and expect high quality services. In order for the physician to rise to their expectations they require more than knowledege and experience. They need to be able to explain, advise, provide time for questions and in the end, make the patient active participant in their own treatment. As relevant studies have shown this approach succeeds in maximising the tretment's effectiveness.

in Obstetrics, more and more couples refuse to accept the traditional approach which views pregnancy almost as an illness. They are looking to avoid stress, needless restrictions, medical tests without clear indications, drugs with no proven benefit. They need support so that they can deliver their baby in a natural way, minimising unnecessary interventions. These wishes of parents-to-be need to be respected particularly regarding nutritonal choices (e.g. vegetarianism), drug avoidance or birthing choices such as natural birth or vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC).

Through this website I hope to help you become active participants in your own treatment by informing you in simple language about issues of your chosing. The aim is to provide you with clear, plain-language information and empower you to make your own choices which will adapt your treatment to your personal needs and expectations. As you will see, selected conditions and subjects are discussed in the Articles' page with information on what the particular condition is, how it can affect you and how it is usually treated. The subjects are chosen mainly from among the submitted questions when these are of general interest. If the issue you are looking for is not already included or you wish for a second opinion on your particular condition you can send me, without obligation, a personal message through the Contact page. My reply will always be based on my personal experience and internationally accepted medical practice.

Finally, in other pages, I invite you to find information on my CV, the services I offer as well as links to other interesting websites.

I hope you can find here the answers you are looking for!

Sincerely

Dr George Michalopoulos