A businesswoman who claims she can no longer have sex following a disastrous operation by one of Britain's leading gynaecologists is suing the doctor for damages.
Marilyn Howland, 51, has decided to speak publicly about the surgery on her vagina, claiming it has been a 'nightmare' which has 'destroyed her life'. Mrs Howland hopes that her decision to talk about this 'deeply sensitive' subject will help many other women who suffer in silence after similar operations.
The Observer has learnt that June Swinhoe, the consultant gynaecologist who carried out the surgery on Mrs Howland, has been suspended by the General Medical Council ahead of a 'fitness to practise' hearing.
Miss Swinhoe denies any wrongdoing and says that she was suspended because of ill health.
'What happened to me should never happen to anybody,' said Mrs Howland. 'At least I can pay for lawyers and am prepared to stand up and talk about it. I suspect that most women simply are too embarrassed to mention the subject or without the funds to challenge the medical profession. This woman ... sewed up my vagina in a way that it can never be used again.'
In October 2001 Mrs Howland left Britain and moved to France to start a new business with her husband. Two years later, she noticed a small lump at the opening of her vagina and was diagnosed by her French doctor as having a moderate vaginal prolapse.
This is a common condition, particularly among women aged over 50. It occurs when the vaginal walls weaken and other organs such as the bladder or uterus protrude into the vagina. The operation to correct a prolapse is regarded as routine.
Miss Swinhoe is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at King George's Hospital in Ilford, east London, although Mrs Howland saw her privately at the Holly House Hospital in nearby Buckhurst Hill. After the operation, according to the court claim, Miss Swinhoe reassured Mrs Howland that the surgery had gone well but, two months later, Mrs Howland found the lump was still present and that sex with her husband was 'impossible'.
Miss Swinhoe agreed to re-examine her with a colleague. But Mrs Howland said: 'She told me it was all in my mind and there was absolutely nothing wrong with me. I felt humiliated.'.
The patient returned to France highly distressed. 'I went into my room and hardly came out for eight months. Nobody believed me, including my husband. I thought I was going mad. I spent hours each day crying and crying.'
Mrs Howland claims her French doctor confirmed all was not well. 'He took one look at me down there and said he was horrified at what they had done.'
She returned to London and got an independent second opinion. According to her claim, this revealed that Miss Swinhoe had performed an 'unorthodox' operation on her vagina to which she had never consented, and she had not been warned of possible risks. The result was that her vagina was effectively closed up.
In January 2005 Mrs Howland underwent expensive corrective vaginal surgery on the NHS. While this alleviated some of the discomfort, she is still unable to have penetrative sex. Medical experts who have examined her now say there is little more they can do.
Mrs Howland believes that one problem in discussing such personal issues is that people think women over a certain age shouldn't be interested in sex.
Linda Parkinson-Hardman, director of the Hysterectomy Association, said she feared Mrs Howland's experiences were common. 'Many women do suffer in silence because the subjects are not the type of thing brought up during the coffee break at work and they feel inhibited in case they are "the only one".
'It is common for women to be told that any problems they do experience after a hysterectomy or similar operations "are all in their mind". There seems to be little willingness on the part of the medical profession to admit mistakes.'
Lawyers acting for Miss Swinhoe issued a statement to The Observer saying: 'Miss Swinhoe is an experienced and highly regarded surgeon who has treated women with gynaecological complaints with great success for many years.
'Mrs Howland's treatment was carried out in accordance with standard procedures and a good outcome was fully anticipated. Miss Swinhoe was very sorry to learn from Mrs Howland that she still had problems and was unhappy with the outcome of her surgery. Miss Swinhoe is fully co-operating with the GMC investigation, and due to the forthcoming hearing and civil case is unable to comment further at this time.'
