FAQs

The average age of menopause in the United States is between 48 and 51. The classic definition of menopause is one year without any periods, however, symptoms can occur much earlier. The classic symptom of menopause is the hot flash. Problems that arise because of decreased estrogens at menopause are significant. The most worrisome is an increase in coronary heart disease and stroke, but there are other significant problems such as osteoporosis (thinning of the bones), urinary bladder and pelvic support problems, Alzheimer’s disease, etc. We know that estrogen replacement therapy will markedly reduce or eliminate many of these problems. For this reason we offer estrogen replacement to all women at menopause unless there is a medical reason that precludes its use. Please call today to schedule an appointment with our providers.

Well woman exams are the foundation for wellness, health promotion and disease identification and management throughout your life. It is no secret that healthy living and early detection of disease increases not only your length of life but, more importantly, your quality of living. A periodic well woman exam for all ages is not just about good medical care, but it also gives you the opportunity to learn more about beneficial health habits, counseling and community support services as well as an overall view of the best ways to take care of yourself and your family for a lifetime.

If you have just started your cycle or if you period is light, we can still perform your well woman exam. If you are encountering heavy bleeding, please call the office at (314) 292-7080 to reschedule your appointment.

Without proper diagnosis, you may be failing to treat your problem correctly. It is always best to call the office at (314) 292-7080 and schedule an appointment.

If you feel that you have an infection, please call the office at (314) 292-7080. We will request that you come to the office and provide a urine sample to determine the type of infection you have. Your provider may then prescribe an appropriate course of treatment.

Some spotting or breakthrough bleeding may occur as your body adjusts to the new medication. Continue to take your birth control as prescribed. It is important to take progesterone only pills at the same time every day. If you take them late, your spotting may increase and the medication’s effectiveness may decrease. If there is any unusual pain associated with your bleeding, it is best to call the office and schedule an appointment.

A Pap smear is a screening test for cancer, however; the vast majority of abnormal Pap smears are not due to cancer. Some abnormalities are due to inflammation or inadequate numbers of cells, and may be managed merely by repeating the Pap smear following treatment of the cause of the inflammation. Pap smears showing atypical or precancerous cells are best evaluated by a procedure called colposcopy. During this procedure, the provider examines the cervix, vagina, and vulva using magnification. Areas of abnormality are sampled and a management plan is developed. Many minor abnormalities are merely observed by means of frequent Paps combined with periodic colposcopy. Some abnormalities are treated using electrical, Laser, or infrequently cryosurgery. If cancer can’t be ruled out by means of colposcopy, then a more extensive biopsy of the cervix called a conization needs to be performed. When you have a Pap smear done, be sure that you know the results and follow any instructions our provider gives you.

Colposcopy is a simple, 10- to 15-minute painless procedure that is painless and performed in a gynecologist’s office. You are positioned on the examination table like you are for a Pap smear, and an acetic acid (such as common table vinegar) is placed on the cervix.

Your physician will use a colposcope a large, electric microscope that is positioned approximately 30 cm from the vagina to view your cervix. A bright light on the end of the colposcope lets the provider clearly see the cervix.

During the colposcopy, the provider focuses on the areas of the cervix where light does not pass through. Abnormal cervical changes are seen as white areas, the whiter the area, the worse the cervical dysplasia. Abnormal vascular (blood vessel) changes are also apparent through the colposcope.

If your physician can view the entire abnormal area through the colposcope, a tissue sample or biopsy is taken from the whitest abnormal areas and sent to the lab for further evaluation.

Cervical conization refers to a biopsy of the cervix in which a cone-shaped sample of tissue is removed from the mucous membrane. Conization may be used either for diagnostic purposes, or for therapeutic purposes to remove pre-cancerous cells.