Comprehensive Physical Examinations Offered
as an annual check up, this service is for women who do not have a
generalist who performs a yearly physical. (I encourage all of my
patients to have a relationship with a primary care provider for
non-gynecologic problems.) This visit includes the following:
Review your past medical and surgical history Review your family medical history Review your current lifestyle, health habits, immunization status Review need for screening laboratory, mammography, bone density exams Review your current gynecologic situation, including contraception and hormone use Measurement of height, weight, blood pressure, other vital signs as needed Examination of multiple organ systems including thyroid, heart, lungs, breasts, abdomen, pelvis, bladder, rectum Obtain specimens as indicated and arrange for necessary screening or diagnostic tests Provide advice regarding general and gynecologic health issues identified through the process of the history and physical exam Provide referral to generalist or specialist physicians for non-gynecological health issues and assist in coordinating your care Provide the results and interpretation of any testing done by mail or phone
Menopause consultation For
women preparing for or entering menopause, we provide a comprehensive
review of your menstrual status, symptoms of decreased hormones, sexual
function, and health risk factors. This is followed by a discussion of
what you need to know about your health during this important
transition in order to make appropriate health related decisions. This
consultation is primarily focused on health counseling and requires the
full appointment time. A physical examination will be scheduled
separately if needed.
Annual Pap and Pelvic This service is for women who have
a primary care doctor or other provider who does a yearly physical exam
except for the gynecologic portion. The focus of this visit is the
breast and pelvic exams and PAP smear.
Limited Gynecologic Examination
Review your past gynecologic history Review your current gynecologic situation Review need for mammography and Pap smear Examination of the pelvis (will include breast exam if not done elsewhere) Obtain specimens as indicated Provide advice regarding gynecologic health issues identified through the history and physical exam
Gynecologic Problems We evaluate and treat a wide variety of gynecologic problems.
For
minor (is ANY gyn problem minor?) problems such as bladder infections,
vaginal discharge or sores, threatened miscarriage, new breast lumps,
and STD (sexually transmitted disease) testing, we can usually schedule
your visit within 24 hours.
More complicated problems requiring
more time to evaluate should be scheduled in the usual manner. Our goal
is to have appointments available within 1 - 2 weeks of the time of
your call. Examples of these problems would include ongoing heavy or
irregular bleeding, ongoing pelvic pain, urinary leakage, and
difficulty in becoming pregnant.
Because appointment times are
held to be able to see patients with gynecologic problems in a timely
manner, routine physical exams may take up to 1 month to schedule.
Gynecologic Surgery As
an experienced gynecologic surgeon, I am able to offer a wide variety
of surgical treatments for gynecologic problems. Surgery is reserved
for those situations where there are not more conservative options, or
where more conservative options have failed to correct the problem.
Outpatient
(same-day) surgery is performed either at the Evergreen Surgery Center
adjacent to the hospital, or in the Evergreen Hospital Surgery
department. Examples include tubal ligation (permanent birth control by
having tubes "tied"), D&C with hysteroscopy (looking inside the
uterus and removing tissue for diagnosis or treatment of irregular
bleeding), and laparoscopy(looking inside the abdomen and pelvis to
evaluate pelvic pain or infertility).
Major surgery, requiring
an overnight stay in the hospital, is performed in the Evergreen
Hospital Surgery Department. Some conditions that may require surgery
include endometriosis, pelvic mass, fibroids, or urinary leakage.
For
certain problems, such as suspected cancer or reconstruction of tubes
for infertility treatment, I work in conjunction with cancer and
fertility specialists. It is my belief that my patients are best served
by specialists in those cases.
