As a woman’s health nurse practitioner, one of the most common questions that I am asked is when young women should first visit a gynecologist.
While the answer to this question is not the same for everyone, there are some guidelines to follow.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommends that girls first see an …

Most women have had or think they have had a yeast infection. The usual symptoms are a thick white vaginal discharge and profound itching. So why do they occur? The organisms that normally live in the vagina include many different forms of bacteria and some yeast. The pH or acidity of the vagina is what …

The well woman exam, or annual exam, is often the only preventative care that women regularly receive. It is an important visit because many aspects of health, wellness, and prevention should be addressed. Unfortunately, it is a visit that many women postpone and then routine assessment is delayed or overlooked. The components of an annual …

Weight loss is always a top New Year resolution. We are bombarded with weight loss plans and pills. So what works? Many diet pills and supplements work by causing a decrease in appetite. They may also decrease the absorption of food or increase metabolism. The problem with supplements is that they can cause unwanted side …

There are many reasons why cesarean deliveries are performed. Women who have had a cesarean delivery often ask if a vaginal delivery is a possible option for future pregnancies. Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) has the advantage of decreased maternal discomfort and recovery time. Unfortunately, VBAC is not without risk. During a cesarean, the uterus …

Uterine cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States. Fortunately, the majority of cases are diagnosed at an early stage when surgery alone is often curative. The most common form of uterine cancer arises from the inner lining of the uterus or endometrium. The development of this type of cancer is felt …

Thirty or so years ago, mothers did not have the option of ultrasound in pregnancy. Now with advances in technology, ultrasounds or sonograms have become the standard of care. Ultrasound is a useful tool for monitoring the health of the unborn baby and allows parents a peak at their unborn child. The terms ultrasound and …

The only truly life threatening risk in taking birth control pills or other hormonal contraception is the risk of the development of blood clots. Thankfully, a serious blood clot only occurs in approximately 20 out of 100,000 women who use hormonal contraception. In the past, when clotting events occurred, women were simply told not to …

There are currently three methods of permanent contraception. These methods are vasectomy, tubal sterilization, and hysteroscopic sterilization. Hysterectomy of course will also result in permanent sterilization but is not performed for this reason alone. Vasectomy is a procedure performed on men during which the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles are cut. This procedure …