Gynecological Services


Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence/Urodynamic Study Your lower urinary tract has two main functions: storing and emptying urine. Urinary incontinence is defined as the involuntary loss of urine. There are many factors that contribute to the development of urinary incontinence: being female; having given birth vaginally; white race; aging; menopause and the lack of estrogen; obes...

Pelvic Pain

Chronic female pelvic pain is classified as pain below the belly button lasting longer than 6 months. The pain can range from mild to severe, dull to sharp and may come and go or be constant. It is usually a symptom of another condition. Pelvic pain can be a result of several different causes, many of which can be successfully treated.   Although the cause of pelvi...

Ovarian Cancer Screening

Women can screen for ovarian cancer by undergoing annual pelvic exams, which can help detect any abnormalities or changes to the ovaries as soon as possible. Women who have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer should be aware of their risk and discuss the best prevention method with their doctor. Early detection is important in achieving effective results fro...

Osteoporosis

What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become thin, brittle and weak. From childhood until 30 years old, bone is formed faster than it is broken down. After age 30, bone starts to break down faster than it is made. A small amount of bone loss after age 35 is normal in all women; however, too much bone loss can result in osteoporosis. In so...

Menopause

At a certain time in every woman's life, the ovaries cease production of eggs and the menstrual cycle ends. A woman is born with a finite number of eggs that cause the menstruation and ovulation process. Once these eggs run out, those processes end as well. This event brings about physical and emotional effects for women as their bodies adjust to the changes. Menop...

Menstrual Disorders

Menstrual disorders can turn your monthly period from a minor hassle to a major, debilitating inconvenience. These disorders can cause physical and emotional symptoms and can severely disrupt your daily life for days or weeks at a time. Menstrual cycle disorders can cause symptoms like: Heavy bleeding Abdominal pain Nausea and vomiting Missed periods Mood swings ...

In Office Procedures

Southern Women's Health offers a wide variety of gynecological services to meet the specific healthcare needs of you, our valued patient. Gynecology services and procedures range from the first gynecologic office visit to the difficult and challenging problems that might occur in menopause. These services are provided by our physicians with expertise in all aspects...

In Office Laboratory

At Southern Women's Health, we perform blood tests and other routine laboratory procedures right in our office, eliminating the hassle of visiting a separate testing lab before or after your appointment. LIPIDS | Hemoglobin, Cholesterol, and Glucose What do these numbers mean? Hemoglobin is a protein based component of red blood cells which are primarily responsibl...

Infertility

The standard definition of infertility is the inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse. Today, this has been modified to take age into account, and now women over 35 may be considered infertile if they have failed to conceive after trying for six months. Once a couple is diagnosed as infertile, the doctor will perform tests to determi...

Hormone Imbalances

As you get older, your body slowly ceases to produce estrogen and progesterone. These hormones protect the body from developing uterine cancer and osteoporosis. The decrease is also responsible for many symptoms of menopause. Since these hormones are valuable to our health, many women choose to replace them through a pill, patch, cream, or pellet implant and reta...

Gynecological Surgery

We offer the following gynecological surgery procedures: D&C (Dilatation and Curettage) - Dilation involves widening the opening of the lower part of the uterus (the cervix) to allow insertion of an instrument. Curettage involves scraping the lining and removing uterine contents with a long, spoon-shaped instrument (a curette). The doctor may also use a cannul...

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a medical condition in women in which the uterine lining (endometrium) moves out of the uterus and into other parts of the pelvic area such as the ovaries, pelvic lining or behind the uterus. This condition affects about five million women in the US and is one of the most common gynecological problems. It is generally not a serious or harmful condi...

Bone Density Screening

DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) is an enhanced X-ray image of the skeleton that provides the most accurate measurements of bone density available. Bone density tests are used to determine whether patients have osteoporosis or osteopenia, a condition in which bones are weakened and fracture easily. During the procedure, a beam of low-dose X-rays is targeted ...

Body Mass Index (BMI)

What is BMI? Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on a person's height and weight. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fat for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems. BMI can be used to indicate if you are overweight, obese, underweight or normal. What is my BMI supposed to be? A healthy BMI s...

Birth Control Methods

How does birth control work? A birth control pill is a daily pill which will need to be taken at the same time every day to be effective. The birth control patch is a thin, beige, plastic patch that sticks to the skin. Both the patch and the pill contain hormones that prevent pregnancy by possibly preventing ovulations, including a thickening of cervical mucus tha...

Annual Exams

Yearly pelvic exams are important in monitoring your gynecologic health and screening for infection, inflammation or other abnormal cells that may indicate disease. Early detection is important in treating any disease and especially important for cervical cancer and other potentially life-threatening diseases. Annual exams are recommended for women of all ages. D...

Abnormal Pap Smears

An abnormal pap smear doesn't necessarily indicate a condition like HPV or cervical cancer. Pap smears are constructed to detect any changes within the cervical cells, and abnormal results may indicate other conditions such as inflammation, hyperkeratosis, or atypical squamous or glandular cells. False positives are also common from Pap smears, but we take every pr...