Women’s Care

Women’s Care

Women’s health refers to the branch of medicine that focuses on the treatment and diagnosis of diseases and conditions that affect a woman’s physical and emotional well-being.

Information

Women’s health includes a wide range of specialties and focus areas, such as:

  • Birth control, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and gynecology
  • Breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and other female cancers
  • Mammography
  • Menopause and hormone therapy
  • Osteoporosis
  • Pregnancy and childbirth
  • Sexual health
  • Women and heart disease
  • Benign conditions affecting the function of the female reproductive organs

Preventative Care & Screenings

Preventative care for women includes the following services:

  • Regular gynecological checkups, including a pelvic exam and breast exam
  • Pap smear and HPV testing
  • Bone density testing
  • Breast cancer screening
  • Discussions about colon cancer screening
  • Age-appropriate immunizations
  • Healthy lifestyle risk assessment
  • Hormonal testing for menopause
  • Immunizations
  • Screening for STIs

Breast self-exam instruction may also be included.

Breast Care Services

Breast care services include the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, which may involve:

  • Breast biopsy
  • Breast MRI scan
  • Breast ultrasound
  • Genetic testing and counseling for women with a family or personal history of breast cancer
  • Hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy
  • Mammography
  • Mastectomy and breast reconstruction

The breast care services team may also diagnose and treat noncancerous conditions of the breast, including:

  • Benign breast lumps
  • Lymphedema, a condition in which excess fluid collects in tissue and causes swelling

Sexual Health Services

Your sexual health is an important part of your overall well-being. Women’s sexual health services may include:

  • Birth control (contraceptives)
  • Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of sexually-transmitted infections
  • Therapies to help with problems with sexual function

Gynecology & Reproductive Health Services

Gynecology and reproductive health services may include the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions and diseases, including:

  • Abnormal Pap smears
  • Presence of high-risk HPV
  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding
  • Bacterial vaginosis
  • Endometriosis
  • Heavy menstrual cycles
  • Irregular menstrual cycles
  • Other vaginal infections
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
  • Pelvic pain
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Uterine and vaginal prolapse
  • Vaginal yeast infection
  • Various conditions affecting the vulva and vagina

Pregnancy & Childbirth Services

Regular prenatal care is an important part of every pregnancy. Pregnancy and childbirth services include:

  • Planning and preparing for pregnancy, including information about proper diet, prenatal vitamins, and review of pre-existing medical conditions and medicines used
  • Prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care
  • High-risk pregnancy care (maternal-fetal medicine)
  • Breastfeeding and nursing

Infertility Services

Infertility specialists are an important part of the women’s health services team. Infertility services may include:

  • Testing to determine the cause of infertility (a cause may not always be found)
  • Blood and imaging tests to monitor ovulation
  • Infertility treatments
  • Counseling for couples who are dealing with infertility or loss of a baby

Types of infertility treatments that may be offered include:

  • Medicines to stimulate ovulation
  • Intrauterine insemination
  • In vitro fertilization (IVF)
  • Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) — Injection of a single sperm directly into an egg
  • Embryo cryopreservation: Freezing embryos for use at a later date
  • Egg donation
  • Sperm banking

Bladder Care Services

The women’s health services team can also help diagnose and treat bladder-related conditions.

Bladder-related conditions that may affect women can include:

  • Bladder emptying disorders
  • Urinary incontinence and overactive bladder
  • Interstitial cystitis
  • Prolapse of the bladder

If you have a bladder condition, your women’s health specialist may recommend that you do Kegel exercises to strengthen the muscles in your pelvic floor.

Other Women’s Health Services

  • Cosmetic surgery and skin care, including skin cancer
  • Diet and nutrition services
  • Psychological care and counseling for women dealing with abuse or sexual assault
  • Sleep disorders services
  • Smoking cessation