Your questions answered

A gynaecologist is a specialist doctor who diagnoses and treats conditions affecting the female reproductive system.

A gynae-oncologist undertakes around 17 years of training from medical school through to final specialist surgical examinations, including specialist training in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of cancers of the female reproductive system, including ovarian, cervical, uterine (endometrial), vulval and vaginal cancers. Their advanced surgical expertise also means they are often called on to manage complex non-cancerous gynaecological conditions.

Dr Yvette is both a specialist gynaecologist and gynae-oncologist, with extensive experience in complex gynaecological and advanced laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery. Her additional surgical training is also valuable in the management of complex non-cancerous gynaecological conditions.

No. While Dr Yvette is a specialist gynae-oncologist and treats women with gynaecological cancers, she also sees women with non-cancerous gynaecological conditions that require specialist investigation, a procedure or surgery. 

This includes conditions such as ovarian cysts and masses, abnormal cervical screening results, uterine polyps, fibroids, abnormal bleeding and vulval conditions.

Dr Yvette’s practice is focused on gynaecological conditions that may require a procedure or surgery. These include:

• gynaecological cancers, including ovarian, endometrial, cervical, vulval and vaginal cancers

• ovarian cysts and masses

• abnormal cervical screening results and cervical abnormalities

• post-menopausal or abnormal uterine bleeding where investigation or surgical treatment may be required

• uterine polyps

• fibroids

• vulval and vaginal conditions requiring specialist investigation or treatment

• other gynaecological conditions where a procedure or surgery has been recommended or may need to be considered.

Dr Yvette does not provide ongoing medical management for conditions such as menopause, PMOS (formerly PCOS) or pelvic pain where a procedure or surgery is not required. She also does not see patients with urogynaecological conditions such as bladder weakness or prolapse.

Your GP is the best place to start. They may refer you to Sorella if your condition requires specialist investigation or there is a possibility you may need a gynaecological procedure or surgery. 

If you or your GP are unsure whether Sorella is the right service for your needs, please contact our team. We’re happy to help before you make an appointment.

Yes. Sorella welcomes women from Newcastle, the Hunter, Central Coast and further afield. 

Dr Yvette grew up in a small country town and understands some of the additional challenges involved in accessing specialist care when you live outside a major centre. We regularly care for women travelling to Newcastle from regional and rural areas and will do what we can to make the process as straightforward as possible. 

Where appropriate, Dr Yvette may offer a video consultation to minimise the burden of travel. Our team can let you know whether a video consultation is suitable for you when arranging your appointment.

Yes. Your GP or specialist can provide a referral to Dr Yvette. Once we receive your referral, Dr Yvette will triage the urgency of your condition and our team will arrange your appointment.

We see women with a range of gynaecological conditions and understand that some require more urgent investigation or treatment than others.

All referrals are triaged according to medical need. Our highest-risk patients can usually be seen within one to two weeks, while appointments for less urgent conditions are scheduled according to their clinical priority.

Please bring your Medicare card, private health insurance details and any relevant scans, test results or other information you have been asked to bring. It can also be helpful to have a current list of your medications. If there is anything else we need before your appointment, our team will let you know.

We understand that seeing a gynaecologist – particularly when you’re worried about what might be wrong – can be daunting.

Your first appointment will usually begin with a conversation. Dr Yvette will take your medical history, listen to your concerns and talk with you about why you have been referred.

If an examination, test or procedure is recommended, we’ll explain what is involved and why before going ahead. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions at every stage.

Our aim is for you to feel comfortable, informed and in control of decisions about your care.

Absolutely. If having a partner, family member, friend or other support person with you would make you feel more comfortable, you are very welcome to bring them.

Sometimes it can also be helpful to have another person there to listen, ask questions and help you remember information afterwards.

An abnormal cervical screening result does not necessarily mean you have cervical cancer, but some results need further investigation.

If your result indicates that you need to see a specialist, your GP may refer you for a colposcopy. A colposcopy allows Dr Yvette to look more closely at your cervix and, if necessary, take a small sample for further testing.

If abnormal cells are identified and need to be removed, we’ll explain the recommended treatment and what happens next.

If surgery is recommended, Dr Yvette will explain why, what the procedure involves and what you can expect before, during and after your hospital stay.

You’ll have time to ask questions and understand the proposed treatment before making a decision.

The Sorella team will help guide you through the process, including preparing for your procedure and providing the information you need for your recovery and follow-up care.

Dr Yvette operates at Newcastle Private Hospital and John Hunter Hospital. Our team will let you know where your procedure will take place and provide the information you need to prepare for your admission.

Yes. Sorella Women’s Health is a private practice and does not bulk bill.

Because Dr Yvette’s practice is focused on conditions that may require treatment in a private hospital, you need to have appropriate private hospital insurance to be seen at Sorella.

If you’re unsure whether your level of cover is appropriate, please contact our team before making an appointment.

Consultation fees vary depending on the type of appointment and whether you need an examination or procedure such as a colposcopy or biopsy.

We’ll let you know the expected consultation fee when your appointment is made, so you know what to expect before you attend.

Sorella does not bulk bill, and all patients must be covered by private health insurance.

Full payment is required after your appointment, and we can electronically submit your Medicare claim on your behalf.

If a specimen is sent to an external pathology provider for testing, there may also be a separate pathology fee.

Yes. There will be out-of-pocket costs associated with your surgery.

The surgical fees charged by Sorella are at or below those recommended by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and reflect the costs associated with running a specialist medical practice and delivering a high standard of care.

Before your operation, we’ll provide you with written informed financial consent outlining the fees charged by our practice, so you know what to expect before proceeding.

No. Due to the constraints imposed by private health insurance companies, Sorella does not participate in no-gap cover schemes.

Before your surgery, you’ll receive written informed financial consent outlining the out-of-pocket fees charged by our practice. This will also include a fee for your anaesthetic care.

These fees are separate from your hospital excess and any other costs that may apply under your private health insurance policy. We recommend checking directly with your insurer, so you understand your cover and any additional costs before your procedure.

A medical gap is the difference between the fee charged for your medical care and the combined amount paid by Medicare and your private health insurer.

Medicare rebates have not kept pace with the increasing cost of providing medical care. As practice costs have risen, Medicare rebates now cover a smaller proportion of the actual cost of providing many medical services.

Sorella’s surgical fees are at or below those recommended by the Australian Medical Association. You can find out more about why medical gaps occur from the Australian Medical Association.