Three months ago, Dr Anshumala Kulkarni, consultant gynaecology, laparoscopic and robotic surgeon at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital at Andheri (W), recommended Robot-assisted hysterectomy — removal of the uterus — to Poonam Bagwe (name changed on request) from Pune. Twenty eight year-old Bagwe had been suffering from fibroids (non-cancerous tumours) in her uterus and endometriosis (thickening of uterus lining) since the age of 18, but preferred to ignore the side effects, such as pain and heavy bleeding during her menses, instead of opting for surgery to have the fibroids removed.

“I was really scared of undergoing surgery at that age. I didn’t want any scars either. Eight years later, however, she had no choice. She finally went for her first surgery to get rid of the multiple fibroids.