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Topics (click to jump to a topic)

Cervical Cancer
Endometriosis
Gynecology
Gynecology for Teens
Mammography
Obstetrics
Thyroid Disease
Urinary Incontinence

Cervical Cancer

A woman's cervix (the opening of the uterus) is lined with cells. Cancer of the cervix occurs when those cells change, which can affect deeper cell layers or spread to other organs and cause damage. If cervical cancer is found and treated early, as many as 90% of woman who have it can be cured. Cancer of the cervix can occur at any age. It is found most often in the women older than 40 years, but can occur in younger women. However, it rarely occurs in women younger than 21 years. Your risk for cancer of the cervix depends on your sexual history, your immune system, your health and your lifestyle. The Human Papilloma Virus, commonly known as HPV, is the single most important factor for cervical cancer. The virus is passed from one person to another during unprotected sex.

The HPV Vaccine

There are now vaccines that can protect people against certain types of HPV. Right now vaccines are only used to prevent, not treat, an HPV infection. The vaccine now in use is given as a series of 3 shots over 6 months. Side effects are mild. Due to the cost of the vaccine, you may want to check first to see if the vaccine is covered by your insurance. To be most effective, the HPV vaccine should be given before a person starts having sex. The American Cancer Society recommends that the vaccine be given to females aged 11 to 12 (and as early as age 9 if the doctor recommends it). The Society also recommends that "catch-up" vaccinations should be given to females aged 13 to 18 who have not yet had the vaccine. Women age 19 to 26 should talk to their doctors about whether or not the vaccine is right for them. It is important to know that the vaccine doesn't protect against all cancer-causing types of HPV so pap tests are still needed.

Two HPV vaccines are currently on the market: Gardasil and Cervarix. To read more on the vaccines, click here: Gardasil | Cervarix

Endometriosis

The lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. Sometimes, endometrial tissue grows elsewhere in the body. When this happens it is called endometriosis. Endometriosis can cause pain before and during the menstrual period. For some women, the pain is mild. For others, it can be severe. Endometriosis also may lead to infertility.

The Endometrium
The lining of the uterus responds to changes that take place during a woman's monthly menstrual cycle. The cycle usually is about 28 days. First, the endometrium grows and thickens to prepare for a possible pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the endometrium is shed by bleeding and then thins. These changes are triggered by hormones (estrogen and progesterone) made by the ovaries.

What Is Endometriosis?
With endometriosis, endometrial tissue is found in other areas of the body. It looks and acts like tissue in the uterus. It most often appears in places within the pelvis:

Endometrial tissue may attach to organs in the pelvis or to the peritoneum, the tissue that lines the inside of pelvis and abdomen. In rare cases, it also may be found in other parts of the body. Endometrial tissue that grows in the ovaries may cause a cyst (also known as an endometrioma) to form. Endometrial tissue outside the uterus responds to changes in hormones. It breaks down and bleeds like the lining of the uterus during the menstrual cycle. The breakdown and bleeding of this tissue each month can cause scar tissue, called adhesions. Adhesions can cause pain. Sometimes, adhesions bind organs together. The symptoms of endometriosis often worsen over time. In many cases, treatment may help keep the condition from getting worse.

Who Is at Risk?
Endometriosis is most common in women in their 30s and 40s, but it can occur any time in women who menstruate. Endometriosis occurs more often in women who have never had children. Women with a mother, sister, or daughter who have had endometriosis also are more likely to have it. Endometriosis is found in about three quarters of the women who have chronic pelvic pain.

Symptoms
The main symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain. Pain may occur with sex, during bowel movements or urination, or just before or during your menstrual cycle. Menstrual bleeding may occur more than once a month. Endometriosis also may cause infertility. Although these symptoms may be a sign of endometriosis, they could also be signs of other problems. If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor. No one is certain of the cause of endometriosis. For most women, a small amount of blood and cells flow through the fallopian tubes into the abdomen during their periods. For women with endometriosis, the cells in the blood that flows through the tubes attach to other places and grow. Endometrial cells also may be carried through blood and lymph vessels. The amount of pain does not always tell you how severe your condition is. Some women with slight pain may have a severe case. Others who have a lot of pain may have a mild case. Many women with endometriosis have no symptoms. In fact, they may first find out that they have endometriosis if they are not able to get pregnant. Endometriosis is found in about one third of infertile women. Women often find that symptoms are relieved while they are pregnant. In fact, many of the drugs used to relieve symptoms of endometriosis are based on the effects of hormones produced during pregnancy.

Diagnosis
If you have symptoms of endometriosis, your doctor may do a physical exam, including a pelvic exam. If other causes of pelvic pain can be ruled out, your doctor may treat endometriosis without doing any further exams or surgery. Endometriosis can be mild, moderate, or severe. The extent of the disease can be confirmed by looking directly inside the body. This can be done by laparoscopy. Sometimes a small amount of tissue is removed during the procedure. This is called a biopsy. The tissue then will be studied in a lab. You will be given general anesthesia for these procedures. Endometriosis also can be treated during a laparoscopy. If endometrial tissue is found during the laparoscopy, your doctor may decide to remove it right away.

Treatment
Treatment for endometriosis depends on the extent of the disease, your symptoms, and whether you want to have children. It may be treated with medication, surgery, or both. Although treatments may relieve pain and infertility for a time, symptoms may come back after treatment.

Click here for diagrams that help you understand how endometriosis develops in the female anatomy.

Gynecology

During your annual visit your gynecologist will perform the following exams:

  1. Pelvic Exam
  2. Pap Test
  3. Breast Exam
  4. General Physical Exam:
    • Weight Evaluation Control
    • Lipid Evaluation
    • Colon Health
    • HPV Evaluation
    • Blood Pressure Monitoring
    • Bone Health (prevention of Ostioporosis)

Pap Test: a test in which cells are taken from the cervix and vagina, and examined under a microscope. Your doctor will be checking for abnormal cells that could lead to cervical cancer.

Pelvic Exam: a manual examination of a woman's reproductive organs. A pelvic exam may be uncomfortable but should not hurt. Your doctor will be checking the size, position and shape of internal pelvic organs. It will also help the doctor find any abnormalities: fibroids, cysts, or tumors.

Gynecology for Teens

A gynecologic visit focuses on the female reproductive organs and functions. Young women should have their first gynecologic visit between the ages of 13 years and 15 years.

What to expect...

At your first visit, your doctor will ask you a lot of information about you and your family. Some questions may seem personal, but it is important that you answer these questions open and honestly so that your doctor will know how to care for you and keep you healthy. Your first visit may just be a talk with your doctor. However, some doctors will perform a series of exams depending on your age, if you have had sex, or if you have any problems.

At your first visit, exams may include:

  1. General Physical Exam
  2. Breast Exam
  3. Pelvic Exam
  4. Pap Test

Click here for an in depth website about your first visit to the Gynecologist

Mammography

Mammography is an X-ray technique used to study the breasts. It can help doctors find breast cancer at an early stage (when treatment is more likely to succeed). About 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer during their lives. Most cases of breast cancer occur in women who are past menopause. By age 40 years, mammography should be a regular part of your health care. This is because the risk of breast cancer increases as a woman ages. In addition to age, if a woman has any of the following risk factors, she may be at increased risk for developing breast cancer:

For more information on mammography, click here.

Augusta GYN Announces State-Of-The-Art Mammography - Augusta, GA

Augusta GYN is proud to announce that it now has enhanced diagnostic capabilities with a new, state-of-the-art Full-Field Digital Mammography System. MAMMOMAT NovationDR enables physicians and clinicians to better pinpoint disease and plan treatment. This system provides improved screening image quality while the x-ray dose exposure is reduced.

Although breast self-examination is always encouraged, regular mammograms continue to be the most important and effective tool currently available for the early detection of breast cancer. Mammography can detect problem areas far earlier than any other method. Early detection provides the best chance for a favorable outcome and valuable information if treatment is required.

"Our new mammography system will help Augusta GYN provide women of the CSRA with the best possible exams. In addition to increased diagnostic capabilities, it is also designed to reduce the discomfort often associated with mammography." said a practice spokesperson.

Augusta GYN has provided sound medical services to women throughout Georgia and South Carolina since 1972. The staff spans three generations and has over 200 years of combined medical experience treating the individual needs of each patient ~ medically, personally and professionally.

For more information on MAMMOMAT NovationDR, click here.

Obstetrics

Prenatal Care
Planning your pregnancy can help you make wise choices that will benefit both you and your baby. Many women don't know they are pregnant until several weeks after they have conceived. These early weeks are key for the baby growing inside you. During those early weeks, your health and nutrition can affect your baby's growth. Good health and health care before you become pregnant- also called preconception care - will help you throughout your pregnancy.

If you are planning to become pregnant, make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor will try to identify things that may pose risks to you or your baby. You may be asked questions about your diet and lifestyle, medical history, use of birth control, past pregnancies, medications, and any diseases that may run in your family. Be open and honest when you respond to these questions. Your answers will help find out if you need to make any changes to prepare for pregnancy. You also can plan for any special care that may be needed during pregnancy.

Your doctor may ask about your family life, work, and lifestyle to learn if you could be exposed to a risk. He or she may ask about hobbies, eating and exercise habits, as well as things at home and work that could affect your pregnancy.

Your doctor will review your diet. He or she may suggest changes in areas such as:

If you are planning to have a baby, you should try to reach a healthy weight before you become pregnant. A woman who is slightly underweight can gain a few pounds to prepare for pregnancy. An overweight woman should try to lose weight before pregnancy. Dieting during pregnancy could deprive a baby of nutrients that are needed to grow and develop.

Good health depends on both a proper diet and exercise. If you follow a fitness routine before you conceive, you can improve your chances of having a comfortable and active pregnancy. The sports and exercise you can do during pregnancy depend on your health and how active you were before you became pregnant.

Tips for Healthy Living

Click here for an in-depth look at prenatal care.

Routine Tests During Pregnancy
A number of lab tests are suggested for all women early in prenatal care. Some of these tests are performed on samples of your blood and urine and cells from your cervix and vagina. You also will be tested for infections such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The results of these tests are used to check for potential problems for you and your baby. If found, many problems can be treated during pregnancy.

Some tests are done to see if you or your baby are at risk of certain problems. These are called screening tests. They may be offered based on your age, history, or ethnic background.

Other tests are done to find problems that may occur during your pregnancy. These are called diagnostic tests. They may be offered based on your medical history, family background, ethnic group, or results of other tests. Some tests will be done more than once. If you have concerns about any test, talk to your doctor. No test is perfect. There may be a problem even if a test result does not show it. A problem may not exist even if a result reveals one (the result may not be right). Your baby also may have a problem that tests were not designed to find.

Click here for information on tests and screenings that may occur during pregnancy.

How Your Baby Grows

To view a month by month outline of how your baby develops during pregnancy, click here.

Thyroid Disease

Hyper and Hypothyroidism
The thyroid is a gland that controls key functions of your body. Disease of the thyroid gland can affect nearly every organ in your body and harm your health. Thyroid disease is eight times more likely to occur in women than in men. In some women it occurs during or after pregnancy. In most cases, treatment of the thyroid disease is safe and simple.

The Thyroid Gland
The thyroid gland is located at the base of your neck in front of your trachea (or windpipe). It has two sides and is shaped like a butterfly. The thyroid gland makes, stores, and releases two hormones-T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). Thyroid hormones control the rate at which every part of your body works. This is called your metabolism. Your metabolism controls whether you feel hot or cold or tired or rested. When your thyroid gland is working the way it should, your metabolism stays at a steady pace - not too fast or too slow.

The thyroid gland is controlled by the pituitary gland (a gland in your brain). The pituitary gland makes thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH tells the thyroid gland to make more hormone if needed.

If there is not enough thyroid hormone in the bloodstream, the body's metabolism slows down. This is called hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). If there is too much thyroid hormone, your metabolism speeds up. This is called hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). Certain disorders can cause the thyroid gland to make too much or too little hormone. Women at risk include those who have or have had an autoimmune disease (such as diabetes). These women may need to be tested regularly for thyroid disease.

Diagnosing Thyroid Disease
Thyroid disease is diagnosed by your symptoms, an exam, and tests. Symptoms of thyroid disease can be much like symptoms of other health problems. Your doctor will examine your neck while you swallow. The thyroid gland moves when you swallow. This makes it easier to feel. Your doctor also may examine your skin and eyes and check your weight and temperature.

Your doctor will use tests to help find the exact cause of the problem. You may have:

During a thyroid scan, you must drink a small amount of radioactive iodine. A special camera then detects the areas of thyroid gland that absorb the radioactive iodine. These are the problem areas. This will not be done if you are pregnant.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
The symptoms of hypothyroidism are slow to develop. You may have the condition but not have any symptoms for months or years. Common symptoms of hypothyroidism are:

If your lab tests show that the hormone levels are normal, some other condition may be causing your symptoms.

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
The more common symptoms of hyperthyroidism are:

Sometimes a condition called thyroid storm may develop in women with hyperthyroidism who also have another health problem (such as a major infection). Thyroid storm is a condition that can cause fever, rapid heart rate, and changes in the way your brain works (such as confusion, seizures, restlessness, and coma).

Click here for information regarding treatment for Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism.

Urinary Incontinence

About
Many women leak small amounts of urine at times. These leaks can occur with certain physical activities or with other stress, such as coughing. Women may lose urine when they hear the sound of running water or when their hands are in water. Some women feel the urge to urinate and cannot control it. Others leak urine only while they are pregnant. When leaks become frequent or severe enough to be a problem, it is called urinary incontinence, or loss of bladder control.

Types
There are five types of urinary incontinence:

  1. Stress
  2. Urge
  3. Mixed
  4. Overflow
  5. Functional

Stress Incontinence, which is the most common type of urinary incontinence in younger women, occurs when the pressure in the bladder is greater than the pressure in the urethra. This causes a loss of urine when a woman coughs, laughs, or sneezes. Leaks also can happen when a woman walks, runs, or does aerobics. It is caused when the tissues that support the bladder or the muscles of the urethra get weak. With Urge Incontinence, a woman has a sudden strong urge to void and leaks urine before she can get to the bathroom. It is sometimes called overactive bladder. It occurs if the muscles of the bladder are too active and contract too often. This leads to leakage of urine. It also can be caused by problems with the nerves that send signals to the bladder. Mixed Incontinence occurs when a woman has both stress and urge symptoms. This combination may cause more urine to leak than either type alone would. Overflow Incontinence occurs when the bladder does not empty all the way during voiding. It happens when the bladder muscle is not active enough or when the urethra is blocked. This allows steady leaks of small amounts of urine. Functional Incontinence causes leaks to happen because other health problems keep a woman from getting to the toilet in time.

Conditions that cause it include:

Symptoms
In addition to leaking urine often, a woman with incontinence also may have other symptoms:

Click here for more information on causes and treatment of urinary incontinence.