Gynecology Specialist

What is included in gynecology services?

You receive access to a wide range of gynecological care at the Center for Women’s Health, including:

• Well-woman care with health maintenance exams and cancer screening
• Comprehensive family planning, birth control, and IUD insertion
• Adolescent gynecology
• Evaluation and management of abnormal PAP smears and HPV infections
• Diagnosis and treatment of menstrual disorders
• Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries
• Menopause management, including hormonal and non-hormonal treatments
• Diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis
• Surgical and nonsurgical treatment of urinary incontinence

When should a woman first visit the gynecologist?

An adolescent girl should make her first visit to a gynecologist between the ages of 13 and 15, according to the American College of Gynecologists (ACOG). This visit generally does not include a pelvic exam but allows her to establish a relationship with her doctor and learn healthy habits. 

The team at the Center for Women’s Health has extensive training and experience in adolescent gynecology. They can obtain a thorough health history, address any medical concerns, and answer any questions she has about her period or sexuality.

This appointment is also a good time to discuss the HPV vaccination, which is given starting at age 9 through age 26.

What gynecological disorders require medical attention?

The team of experts at the Center for Women’s Health has considerable expertise in diagnosing and treating a wide variety of gynecological problems. These include:

Pelvic pain

Pelvic pain can be a symptom of numerous conditions that affect not just your reproductive system, but your digestive tract and musculoskeletal system as well. The most common gynecological causes of pelvic pain are dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), endometriosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). The experience of your OB/GYN combined with the sophisticated diagnostic technologies available at the Center for Women’s Health provides an accurate diagnosis that ensures you receive the most effective treatment. 

Abnormal uterine bleeding

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a condition that results in irregular bleeding from your uterus or bleeding that lasts longer than usual. You might experience lighter or heavier bleeding than you typically would during menstruation, and you might bleed when you wouldn’t usually, such as after sex, between periods, or after menopause. Causes include uterine fibroids or polyps, infections, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Vaginitis and yeast infection

Vaginitis is an inflammation of your vagina that can cause itching and soreness. It develops because of a disruption in the balance of beneficial vaginal bacteria. This can be due to taking antibiotics, douching, changes in hormone levels, or infections. Yeast infection (candidiasis) is a common cause of vaginitis. You might have a lumpy, white discharge and feel intense irritation in your vagina or vulva if you have a yeast infection.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

STDs don’t always cause outward symptoms, so if you’re sexually active it’s essential to get screened. Left untreated, STDs can cause serious problems like infertility, and in some cases, STDs can be life-threatening. You can be tested for a number of STDs such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, HIV/AIDS, human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis, and trichomoniasis.

Vulvodynia

Vulvodynia is pain affecting your vulva that lasts for three months or more and isn’t due to an infection or skin disorder. The pain might be burning, stinging, aching, or soreness, and cause throbbing and swelling of your vulva. The causes of vulvodynia include nerve damage, inflammation, genetic disorders, and reactions to infections. Sometimes the causes are difficult to identify with precision, but the experienced OB/GYN team at the Center for Women’s Health has expertise in diagnosing and treating vulvodynia.

Urinary incontinence

Experiencing an involuntary leaking of urine or an uncontrollable need to urinate can be distressing and interfere with your quality of life. Passing small amounts of urine when you cough, laugh, sneeze, or exercise is called stress incontinence. If you get a strong urge to urinate but can’t control your bladder, that’s called urgency incontinence. You can also have both types together, which is mixed incontinence. Common causes of incontinence include urinary tract infections (UTIs) and pelvic floor disorders.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue that lines your uterus, called the endometrium, starts growing outside the uterus. These areas of tissue are known as implants and can develop on the outside of organs like your bladder or uterus, on your ovaries and fallopian tubes, and other areas such as the intestines and rectum. Endometriosis causes pain, which can often be severe, and may lead to irregular menstruation and infertility. 

Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is the name for painful periods. Many women find their menstrual cycle causes them few problems, but for more than half of all women, menstruation can cause severe, disabling pain that lasts for the first few days of their period before gradually easing off. The pain of primary dysmenorrhea is due to the release of prostaglandins, natural chemicals produced by your uterus. Secondary dysmenorrhea could have other causes, such as fibroids or endometriosis.

Ovarian cysts

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form on the ovaries. Most often, they’re harmless and disappear without you ever being aware they were there. Your OB/GYN at Center for Women’s Health might find you have an ovarian cyst when carrying out a routine exam or when you undergo diagnostic testing for another condition. If the cyst isn’t causing any symptoms, treatment isn’t usually necessary, but your doctor monitors the cyst to make sure it doesn’t develop into a more serious problem.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a hormonal disorder that causes menstrual irregularities, obesity, and infertility. Symptoms can include excessive hair growth, acne, and oily skin. Many women with PCOS also have numerous cysts on their ovaries. PCOS is linked to the overproduction of hormones called androgens, as well as insulin resistance, which causes diabetes. Having PCOS also increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV is a common sexually transmitted disease that sometimes causes genital warts. There are multiple strains of HPV. Certain strains can cause changes in the cells on your cervix, so having HPV is a risk factor for developing cervical cancer. Your provider at the Center for Women’s Health can run tests to see if you have HPV, as well as a Pap smear to check for signs of cervical cancer. If you’re 45 or younger, they can also vaccinate you against HPV infection. 

Uterine fibroids

Fibroids are benign masses that grow in the uterus. They can be tiny or grow large enough to make your uterus swell. You can have one or many fibroids, and they can be a mixture of sizes. Your OB/GYN at the Center for Women’s Health might find fibroids during a routine exam, as women who have fibroids are often unaware of them because they don’t experience any symptoms. When they do have symptoms, fibroids can cause irregular bleeding and pelvic pain. 

Genital herpes

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause sores and blisters on your genitals, lips, and anus. Many people who have genital herpes aren’t aware of it, because the infection doesn’t cause any symptoms. You might experience flu-like symptoms a few weeks after infection, which then clears up. The blisters and sores crust over and disappear, but the virus is still in your system, and you can pass it on to other people. Testing for genital herpes is essential if you’re sexually active.

Pelvic organ prolapse

Your pelvic floor is a network of muscles and ligaments that supports the organs in the pelvic region. Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when your pelvic floor can no longer adequately support some of the pelvic organs, causing them to drop down and sometimes protrude from your vagina. This prolapse causes pain and a feeling of heaviness, and it may also result in incontinence, backache, and problems having bowel movements. Weakening of the pelvic floor can happen because of pregnancy and childbirth or from repeated straining of the pelvic region.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

PMS is a condition that causes both physical and psychological symptoms. Physical symptoms include bloating, sore breasts, fatigue, and cravings. Psychological symptoms include depression, irritability, anxiety, mood swings, and difficulty concentrating. PMS typically begins several days before the start of your period and ends a few days afterward. It can significantly interfere with your ability to function normally and have a serious effect on your quality of life.

Pap smears

Pap smears are tests your OB/GYN at the Center for Women’s Health carries out to screen for cervical cancer. Taking a sample of cells from your cervix for Pap smear testing is the best way to identify changes in the cells that could indicate cancer. A Pap smear result indicates any abnormal changes in the cells, most of which aren’t cancerous. But having regular Pap smears ensures you can begin treatment for cervical cancer as soon as it starts to develop, offering you a far greater chance of a positive outcome. 

Painful intercourse

Pain during intercourse can result from physical or emotional causes. Gynecological conditions causing painful intercourse could be related to lack of lubrication that leaves your vulva and vagina dry, a common problem for women entering menopause. Conditions such as endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can cause pain during sex, as can systemic issues like diabetes and thyroid disorders. You might also experience painful intercourse because of vaginismus, which causes the muscles of your vagina to contract.  

IUD insertion and removal

An intrauterine device (IUD) is a form of long-term contraception that your OB/GYN at the Center for Women’s Health inserts into your uterus. There are two types of IUD. Those made of copper work by disabling any sperm that try to reach the egg. Hormonal IUDs contain progestin, which thickens your cervical mucus and prevents sperm from reaching the egg. IUDs can remain in place for up to five years (hormonal) or 10 years (copper). They require expert insertion and removal.

Infertility

Infertility is the inability to become pregnant. Most healthy couples who are having regular sexual intercourse without using birth control can expect to conceive a child within 12 months. If you’ve been trying for a baby for a year without success, you might need help with optimizing conception using ovulation charts, or you many benefit from treatment for any underlying conditions, such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids. The team at the Center for Women’s Health provides both infertility evaluations and treatment.

Birth control

Birth control helps you make your own decisions about when you want to start a family. There are many different types of contraception, and it can be difficult to know which is best for your situation. The Center for Women’s Health team provides contraception counseling and a wide variety of birth control options, including birth control pills, implants, and intrauterine devices (IUDs).

Menopause

Menopause is the natural change women go through when they reach the end of their fertility. The fall in estrogen and progesterone levels that happens in the years leading up to menopause, a time called perimenopause, can cause some women to experience unpleasant symptoms such as hot flashes, fatigue, depression, vaginal dryness, dry skin, and thinning hair. The team at the Center for Women’s Health can help you manage your menopausal symptoms using both hormonal and nonhormonal therapies. 

To learn more about the extensive gynecology services available at the Center for Women’s Health, call the office nearest you or request an appointment online.