You Have Options

The Women’s Center at St. Luke’s helps women facing gynecologic problems or surgery. Whether you’ve been told you need a hysterectomy and want a second opinion—or you want to explore less invasive surgery — our health care team can help.

Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

Our physicians have expertise in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. They use laparoscopy to diagnose and treat conditions including:

• Pelvic pain
• Infertility
• Bladder incontinence
• Painful menstruation
• Abnormal bleeding

With laparoscopy, a very small incision is made in the patient’s abdomen, usually in or below the belly button to insert a laparoscope—a tiny telescope that transmits pictures from inside the body to a video monitor. If a surgical procedure is required, the physician will make additional small incisions in the lower abdomen to insert and manipulate small surgical instruments to perform the operation.

Advantages of minimally invasive OB/GYN surgery include less post-operative pain, a quicker recovery and shorter hospital stay. Most procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis, with the patient returning home the same day. Additionally, because the incisions are so small, there is less scarring and the result is more cosmetically pleasing.

For women who’ve been told they need a hysterectomy, a minimally invasive option called hysteroscopy is often an alternative. With this procedure, a tiny telescope is inserted through the cervix and into the uterus to remove fibroid tumors, uterine polyps, or treat heavy periods.

Our Team

Lisa Everson, M.D. joined the staff of the Women’s Center at the St. Luke’s Campus of California Pacific Medical Center in 2006. Prior to this position, she practiced for eight years at the University of California San Francisco, where she was also a member of the clinical faculty in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Everson did specialized fellowship training in urogynecology and pelvic reconstructive surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz. She earned her medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and completed an internship at West Suburban Hospital and a residency in OB/GYN at University of Iowa College of Medicine. Her office can be reached at 415-647-1030.

Michelle Bourgault, M.D. is a board certified gynecologist with more than 14 years in private practice, ten of which have been at St. Luke's. Her practice of general gynecology includes an emphasis on minimally invasive surgery (hysteroscopic and laparoscopic procedures), infertility and female urinary incontinence. Dr. Bourgault combines the latest technology and knowledge with a personalized
approach to healthcare. Her office can be reached at 415-641-2540.

Gynecologic Problems or Seeking a Second Opinion?

Call us:
Women's Center
1580 Valencia Street, Ste. 508
San Francisco, CA 94110
Tel. 415-285-0448