FAQs

To prep your daughter for her first visit, check out our page for new patients here.

Not unless you give us permission to! When you first visit the gynecologist, and fill out new patient forms, you will have the option to share information with your guardian or not – even if you’re under 18. However, if you are under your parents’ insurance you may receive a statement in the mail detailing the services you receive.

For more information on adolescent health and wellness, check out girlshealth.gov  

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.

If you’re having trouble sleeping and it’s not simply your hot flashes waking you up, it may be due to your menopause. However, insomnia is common in women over 50 years of age, and it could be due to sleep apnea, stress, anxiety, or other medications you may be taking. Try setting a sleep schedule, avoiding caffeine and dark chocolate, and making sure your bedroom is nice and cool. If you are still having trouble, talk to your doctor about options.

Some of the changes occurring in your body during menopause contribute to vaginal dryness, specifically the decrease in estrogen in your body. If your vaginal dryness is causing you discomfort, you may consider trying a vaginal moisturizer or lubricant. You should also ensure that you do not use soap or powder on your vagina, and try avoiding panty liners and pads, as well as fabric softeners on your underwear. If you continue to experience dryness after your menopausal symptoms have gone away, tell your doctor.

Both men and women generally experience lower sex drives as they age. Menopause by itself shouldn’t lower your sex drive, but since vaginal dryness is common, you may not enjoy sex as much due to pain or discomfort. If the decline in your sex drive is bothering you, tell your doctor so you can find a solution that works for you and gets you back where you want to be sexually.

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 the risk of cancer of the uterus that occurs 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.”

Pain associated with menstruation is called dysmenorrhea. We may recommend medications to see if the pain can be relieved. Pain relievers or hormonal medications, such as birth control pills, hormonal suppression often are prescribed. Some lifestyle changes also may help, such as exercise, getting enough sleep, and relaxation techniques. If medications do not relieve pain, treatment will focus on finding and removing the cause of your dysmenorrhea. You may need surgery. In some cases, a mix of treatments works best.

Yes.

Most health insurance plans fully or partially pay for the majority of birth control methods. Check with your health insurance provider to find out what birth control methods are covered for you.

The amount of weight gain that is recommended depends on your health and your body mass index before you were pregnant. If you were a normal weight before pregnancy, you should gain between 25 pounds and 35 pounds during pregnancy. If you were underweight before pregnancy, you should gain more weight than a woman who was a normal weight before pregnancy. If you were overweight or obese before pregnancy, you should gain less weight.

Although there have been many studies on whether caffeine increases the risk of miscarriage, the results are unclear. Most experts state that consuming fewer than 200 mg of caffeine (one 12-ounce cup of coffee) a day during pregnancy is safe

Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy has many causes. Some are serious, whereas others are not. Bleeding can occur early or later in pregnancy. Bleeding in early pregnancy is common. In many cases, it does not signal a major problem. Bleeding later in pregnancy can be more serious. It is best to contact us or other healthcare professional if you have any bleeding at any time during pregnancy.

For most women, traveling during pregnancy is safe. As long as you and your fetus are healthy, you can travel safely until you are 36 weeks pregnant.

The best time to travel is the middle of your pregnancy—between week 14 and week 28. Most common pregnancy problems happen in the first and third trimesters. During midpregnancy, your energy has returned, morning sickness usually is gone, and it is still easy to get around. Paying attention to the way you feel is the best guide for your activities.

Travel is not recommended if you have certain pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, and preterm labor. Travel also may not be a good idea if you are pregnant with more than one fetus.

We recommend that you do not dye your hair or perm your hair while pregnant, specifically during the first trimester (the first three months). There is not enough information on either procedure to know how much dye or chemicals is absorbed into your body during this process.

We do not recommend tanning booth use during your pregnancy and we also do not recommend tanning booth use for non-pregnant women, as it can cause skin cancer. We also recommend using high SPF during pregnancy (and always) as pregnancy can make your skin more sensitive.

Yes! Exercise is recommended during pregnancy unless you are facing complications. If you are healthy and your pregnancy is normal, it is safe to continue or start most types of exercise, but you may need to make a few changes. Physical activity does not increase your risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, or early delivery. However, it is important to discuss exercise with your obstetrician or other member of your healthcare team during your early prenatal visits. Your doctors will let you know if they don’t recommend that you exercise. However, we don’t recommend trying any new exercises while pregnant – stick to your normal routine.

We are open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

We accept the following insurances:

• Aetna
• Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
• CareFirst
• Cigna
• Coventry
• First Health
• Great West
• Medicare
• Multiplan
• Mutual of Omaha
• OneHealth
• PHCS
• Southern Health
• Travel Care Services
• United Healthcare

Completing your paperwork ahead of time will make your first visit quicker and easier. You can find the new patient paperwork here. If you plan on filling out your paperwork in our offices, please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment.