Well Woman Visit

What should I think about when choosing a birth control method?
To choose the proper birth control method for you, consider:

How well it prevents pregnancy—Read Effectiveness of Birth Control Methods.

How easy it is to use—Learn what is required for each method below.

How easy it is to get—Some types of birth control require a prescription, and you have to see a health care professional or go to a clinic to get them.

Whether it protects against STIs—If you are having sex, you also need to protect yourself from STIs.

If you have any health problems, some birth control methods may not be recommended if you have certain diseases or medical conditions. It would help if you talked with your health care professional about any possible risks and the safety of each method to find the best option for you.

What should I do if I am having a hard time losing weight?
Talk with your health care professional if you have trouble losing weight and keeping it off. You also can try one or more of the following strategies:

Do not start a diet that you cannot realistically stick with for the rest of your life. If you only plan to follow a specific plan until you lose weight and then return to your “normal” way of eating, you may regain all of the weight you lost.

Vary your fitness routine. Alternate exercise builds endurance, like fast walking or cycling, with exercise that builds muscle mass, such as weight training.

Get at least 8 to 9 hours of sleep a night.

Instead of reducing portions of all foods, eat larger portions of foods low in calories, such as vegetables, salads, and broth-based soups, and smaller portions of high-fat, high-sugar, and high-calorie foods, such as french fries, desserts, and fatty meats.

Menopause is the time in your life when you naturally stop having menstrual periods. Menopause happens when the ovaries stop making estrogen. Estrogen is a hormone that helps control the menstrual cycle. Menopause marks the end of the reproductive years. The average age that women go through menopause is 51 years.

What is hormone therapy?
Hormone therapy can help relieve the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Hormone therapy means taking estrogen and, if you have never had a hysterectomy and still have a uterus, a hormone called progestin. Estrogen plus progestin sometimes is called “combined hormone therapy” or simply “hormone therapy.” Taking progestin helps reduce cancer risk in the uterus when estrogen is used alone. If you do not have a uterus, estrogen is given without progestin. Estrogen-only therapy sometimes is called “estrogen therapy.”

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections spread by sexual contact. STIs are very common and easily spread. Some STIs can be treated and cured, but others cannot be cured. By knowing the facts, you can take steps to protect your health.

Cancer screenings are tests that look for possible signs of disease in people who do not have signs or symptoms. As your primary women’s health provider, we are here to navigate all questions and concerns you may have about various types of cancers and screening tests available to be proactive in taking care of your health.

What kind of doctor treats fertility?
When you seek infertility treatment, you may start with your ob-gyn. Or you may see a reproductive endocrinologist, an ob-gyn with special training in infertility. It is essential to find a specialist you are comfortable with.

What treatment options are available for infertility?
Your treatment options will depend on the type of problem found. Recommendations may include:

Lifestyle changes

Surgery, or

Medication

Some treatments may be combined. In some cases, infertility can be successfully treated even if no cause is found.

Many things can cause heavy menstrual bleeding. Some of the causes include the following:

• Fibroids and polyps
• Adenomyosis
• Irregular ovulation—If you do not ovulate regularly, areas of the endometrium (lining the uterus) can become too thick. This condition is common during puberty and perimenopause. It also can occur in women with certain medical conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hypothyroidism.
• Bleeding disorders—When the blood does not clot properly, it can cause heavy bleeding.
• Medications—Blood thinners and aspirin can cause heavy menstrual bleeding. The copper intrauterine device (IUD) can cause heavier menstrual bleeding, especially during the first year of use.
• Cancer—Heavy menstrual bleeding can be an early sign of endometrial cancer. Most cases of endometrial cancer are diagnosed in women in their mid-60s who are past menopause. It is often diagnosed early when treatment is the most effective.
• Other causes—Endometriosis can cause heavy menstrual bleeding. Other causes include pregnancy-related, such as ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) also can cause heavy menstrual bleeding. Sometimes, the reason is not known.

What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence means leaking urine. Incontinence can range from leaking just a few drops of urine to completely emptying the bladder.

What other symptoms occur with urinary incontinence?
It is common for other symptoms to occur along with urinary incontinence:

• Urgency—Having a strong urge to urinate
• Frequency—Urinating (also called voiding) more often than what is usual for you
• Nocturia—Waking from sleep to urinate
• Dysuria—Painful urination
• Nocturnal enuresis—Leaking urine while sleeping