Women’s Health Exams in Syracuse, NY

The routine GYN yearly exam has entered this century with a new look and a new name, “Well Woman Visit”. This new look includes a comprehensive history that provides the opportunity to counsel patients about a healthy lifestyle and identify health risks. The history will inform us if certain aspects of the physical exam are indicated including breast, pelvic and pap smear exam. The well woman visit will allow for shared decision making about the exam and a discussion about the patient’s reproductive life plan and any problems she encounters during perimenopause and menopause. We are excited about the opportunity to individualize care plans for each of patient. Schedule your women’s health exam in Syracuse today.

References:

ACOG Committee Opinion Well Woman Visit, number 755

Contemporary OB/GYN Virtual Well Woman Visit, September 2020, Volume 64, num 09

Pelvic Exam

Personal /Family History and symptoms determine need for pap smear and STI testing

Breast Cancer Screening

Breast exam: Shared decision based on family history. CBE every 1-3 years ; Age 19-39; 40 and older yearly with mammogram

Cervical Cancer Screening

Risk Assessment / screening per ASCCP guidelines. Shared and informed decision making

Contraception

Assess contraception needs with shared decision making after informed consent.

STI

All patients offered risk assessment and prevention counseling. Insurances recommend cultures annually until age 26.

Mental Health

Yearly screening. Post Partum patients screened at each visit for the first year post partum

Alcohol/ Tobacco/ Substance Use

Yearly screening and cessation plan if needed

Genetic Screening

Family history evaluation; genetic testing if indicated.

Immunization

ACIP schedule 

Obesity/ Heart Disease/ Metabolic   Syndrome

lifestyle modifications, screening, blood pressure monitoring

Sexual Health

Annual discussion of questions and concerns

Intimate Partner Violence

Annual screening.  

There are good resources to many commonly asked questions here:

Bedsider.org

Whoopsproof.org

If you are 40 years of age or older, be sure to schedule a yearly mammogram to screen for breast cancer.

Bone Density Screening is also important if you are post menopausal or have certain risk factors.

 A minor surgical procedure to remove a small piece of tissue that is then examined under a microscope. In some cases the biopsy can be accompanied by another procedure, for example, colposcopy or endometrial biopsy 

 If you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, please notify your provider as screening for breast cancer should begin earlier. 

 Vaginal infections are characterized by discharge, itching and/or burning.  Some vaginal infections are sexually transmitted while others are not.  Some common non-sexually transmitted infections are Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) or Yeast Infection. See our tab on vaginal health located under the "Well Woman" tab above. .

 Most women can become pregnant from the time they are teenagers until they are in their late 40s or early 50s.  This means that for 30-40 years of a woman's average lifetime, she is exposed to the possibility of becoming pregnant.  Contraception gives a woman the option to decide when she wants to become pregnant.  We can discuss with you your concerns, and what contraception works best for you 

 Whether you have heavy, painful, or irregular periods we are here to help. We also offer on-site sonography to make it more convenient for you and to ensure proper and quick diagnosis of your concern 

 For a woman to be diagnosed with PMS or PMDD her doctor must confirm a pattern of symptoms that occurs the same time in the woman's cycle month after month.  Treatment can help relieve certain symptoms of PMS or PMDD.  It may involve lifestyle changes, medical treatment or both. 

 Vulvodynia is chronic pain of the vulva.  Symptoms may include burning, stinging, rawness, itching, aching, soreness or throbbing.  To diagnose vulvodynia, your doctor will do an exam with tests.  There are many treatments that may relieve your symptoms. 

  Uterine fibroids are benign (not cancer) growths that occur in about 20 - 25% of all women.  Fibroids may or may not cause symptoms and usually do not require treatment.  If you have fibroids or have had them in the past, you should be checked by your doctor on a regular basis.  Getting regular checkups and being alert to warning signs will help you be aware of changes that may require treatment.

 PID is the infection of a woman's uterus, fallopian tubes, or other pelvic structures.  It is caused by bacteria, including Gonorrhea and Chlamydia.  PID can damage or destroy the delicate fallopian tubes.  Symptoms often involve severe abdominal pain, fever and tenderness of the uterus and ovaries.  Other symptoms may include abnormal discharge; longer, heavier, more painful periods or bleeding between periods; fatigue; weakness; nausea; vomiting; and painful intercourse.  When Chlamydia is the cause of PID infection, symptoms may be mild or none at all. 

 Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue that looks and acts like the inner lining of the uterus is found outside of the uterus in the lower abdomen.  The tissue is affected by female hormones as if it were in the uterus.  This tissue bleeds, but since the fluid cannot be flushed out of the body, it builds up inside.  It causes pain that begins several days before the beginning of menstrual bleeding.

 Couples are considered infertile if they have been unable to conceive after 12 months of having sex without the use of any form of contraception.  More than one factor may be causing the infertility.  A woman may be infertile because of hormone imbalances or problems with the reproductive tract.  A man may be infertile because he does not have enough sperm; because the sperm are not active enough; because the passage is blocked; or due to problems with ejaculation.  Some causes are easily diagnosed and treated, while others are not.  Infertility treatments can be expensive, and is not always covered under insurance .

  At menopause, a woman's body makes less hormones (estrogen and progesterone) and she stops having menstrual periods.  These hormones can be replaced after menopause.  Women who have a uterus need to take both hormones, and those who have had their uterus removed can take just estrogen.  Hormone replacement therapy can relieve the symptoms of low estrogen - hot flashes and vaginal dryness.  The major benefits of therapy is that it prevents osteoporosis and protects against heart disease.  The average age of menopause is 45-55. 

 Osteoporosis is a potentially crippling disease characterized by the loss of bone tissue and a susceptibility to fracture.  It afflicts an estimated 25 million Americans, 80% of whom are women 

 Incontinence does not always mean that a woman leaks often.  Tell your doctor if you have ANY leakage of urine.  Proper diagnosis and treatment may correct your problem and ease your symptoms.  Here is a worksheet that you can complete and bring with you to your appointment. 

 A common medical disorder that affects many people and, in most cases, can be treated with success.  Depression has many possible causes.  There is nothing "wrong" with being depressed.  Symptoms may include hopeless and negative feelings, worry, anxiety, headaches or other aches and pains, digestive or sexual problems. 

We have a large selection of information. 

Please feel free to visit our patient information areas in our women's health office in Syracuse, NY. 

In addition, our staff is always happy to answer any questions that you may have.