The Well Woman Exam is a yearly physical evaluation of a woman’s breast and reproductive health. The exam consists of a breast and pelvic exam, and any questions related to your menstrual cycle.

During your breast exam, expect your physician to check for lumps or irregular tissue. She or he may, depending on your age or symptoms, order a mammogram, which gives a better picture of the inside of the breast.

A pelvic exam allows your physician to examine the external and internal reproductive organs. During this part of your visit, she will most likely do a pap test to check for cancer, or test for sexually transmitted diseases and human Papilloma virus (HPV), depending on your age and sexual history.

Your physician will want to discuss issues that impact your health and well-being, such as:

• Exercise
• Nutrition
• Smoking and alcohol use
• Sexual activity and concerns – We will use this information to determine if testing for sexually transmitted diseases is needed
• Menstrual cycle – Are you experiencing regular periods?
• Family Planning – We can help you explore birth control options or help you plan for pregnancy

You can also expect your physician to ask you about your family history, any medications you’re currently taking, as well as any issues you may be experiencing in your personal life or at work.

You can prepare for your annual exam by making a list of any concerns or issues you might have regarding your reproductive health.

If it’s been a year or more since your last breast and pelvic exam, or if you have recently become sexually active, schedule your today.

If you are one of the 10 million women suffering from abnormal uterine bleeding, perhaps polyps or fibroids, which grow inside the uterine cavity, are to blame. Often heavy or irregular bleeding between menstrual cycles is due to polyps, while heavy, irregular, or prolonged bleeding during the time of your period can be caused by fibroids.

Polyps – Polyp chances increase with age and most peak between ages 40 to 50. Usually polyps are not cancerous; however the risk goes up with age, family history of cancer, and other risk factors such as post-menopausal bleeding. It is important to discuss the treatment of polyps if you plan to become pregnant as they can lead to infertility.

Fibroids – Fibroids sometimes go unnoticed, but often cause back pain, pelvic pain, and heavy or prolonged or frequent bleeding. Fibroids are not typically associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and they rarely develop into cancer. However, fibroids are a common health issue. Fibroids which grow and bulge into the uterine cavity have been associated with infertility.

Abnormal uterine bleeding can include the following:

• Prolonged bleeding
• Irregular bleeding
• Heavy or irregular period bleeding
• Post-menopausal bleeding

TRUCLEAR Procedure – In the past, a doctor may have prescribed hysterectomy or cauterization of the tissues as the appropriate solution to uterine fibroids and polyps. Today, your choice is a lot better thanks to the TRUCLEAR Procedure. With the TRUCLEAR Procedure, your physician can remove fibroids and polyps while keeping your uterus intact, which is important to many women and an increasingly popular alternative to the traditional treatments.

Uterine Ablation – Ablation destroys the lining of the uterus with the goal of reducing heavy bleeding. No incisions are needed for uterine ablation, and the procedure can be done in the office or as a surgical procedure. Your physician will evaluate factors such as the condition and size of your uterus to determine which option is best for you.

You might be a candidate for Uterine Ablation if:

• You have unusually heavy periods
• Bleed enough with each period to soak through a pad or tampon every hour
• Experience problems with anemia due to excessive blood loss

Your physician will discuss your symptoms with you and will be able to recommend the appropriate treatment. Be sure to ask her about the TRUCLEAR Procedure or Uterine Ablation to see if you are a candidate. Your physician will talk through the procedure and answer any questions you might have.

If you or a loved one is experiencing prolonged, irregular, heavy, or post-menopausal bleeding, make an appointment to discuss your options and the TRUCLEAR Procedure or Uterine Ablation with a physician today.

Essure is the safest and most effective method of permanent birth control available to women who have completed their family or chose not to have children. Essure does not require any incisions, general anesthetic, or hospitalization, and can be done in the comfort of your physician’s office.

During the Essure procedure, your physician will place a small device, about the thickness of a toothbrush bristle, into the fallopian tube, essentially plugging it when the device expands and anchors into the walls of your fallopian tubes. Over the next 2 to 3 months, your body will form scar tissue around the device, completely sealing off the fallopian tube and blocking the release of the egg and any incoming sperm. During this time you will need to use a secondary method of birth control. The procedure takes 10 to 15 minutes and requires only local anesthetic.

A physician can help you decide if Essure permanent birth control is right for you.