American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
This official website of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists provides patients education and much more.
If you would like to find more patient education on a variety of Women’s Health topics, please visit the ACOG Patient Education Pamphlets page.
Important Information About HPV and YOUR PAP
Infection with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is very common in both women and men. There are more than 100 types of this virus and some of these have been linked to genital warts and cancer of the cervix. There is a vaccine that prevents the two types of the HPV that cause the most cases of cancer and the two types that cause most genital warts. Please visit https://www.acog.org/Patients to find out more about:
* What is HPV
* The link between HPV and cancer
* Who should get the vaccine and why
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Testing
Since the 1940’s, when the Pap smear was first introduced, the death rate for cervical cancer in the US has declined by nearly 70 percent. However, more the 15,000 new cases if invasive cervical cancer are diagnosed and nearly 5,000 women die of the disease each year. Prevention of cervical cancer is possible by finding out if you have a virus called the human papilloma virus (HPV). Certain “high-risk” types of HPV are known to cause most cases of cervical cancer.
THE PAP SMEAR
Cervical cancer is almost 100% curable when it is diagnosed early and treated promptly. The Pap smear is one of the methods for identifying abnormalities in the cervix that could develop into cancer. Unfortunately, many studies have shown that the Pap smear can fail to detect an abnormality early enough to prevent cervical cancer. The first Pap smear should be done by age 21, or earlier if you become sexually active. Most women are advised to have a Pap smear once a year.
THE HPV TEST
The HPV Test, when combined with the Pap smear, improves screening for pre-cancerous changes of the cervix, if you have HPV. The HPV test is approved by the FDA and uses advanced technology to detect the genetic (DNA) code of HPV. If you are over the age of 30 (when cervical cancer is most likely to occur), it is recommended that you have the HPC test along with a Pap smear to increase out ability to protect you against cervical cancer. Early detection means early treatment. If you are under 30, we may order an HPV test if your Pap smear result is unclear or abnormal. Learn more about the HPV test by going to the website at www.thehpvtest.com.
HPV VACCINE (Gardisil™)
Gardisil is the first FDA-approved vaccine that has been shown to protect against the most common types of HPV viruses. It is available for women up to 26 years of age. It is a series of three injections over a 6 month period. Learn more about the vaccine by visiting the web site at www.gardisil.com.
Menopause and Peri-menopause
Menopause is what happens to all women as their ovaries quit producing eggs. The ovaries decrease production of estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones. The loss of these hormones is accompanied by multiple clues from their body- they can be mild and transient to severe and interfere with your lives. It’s a time in a women’s life that is different. No more menses, no more ovulating, no more PMS, no more pregnancies. This can be a wonderful time in your lives; if you first understand what has happened and second, have control over how we want to manage it.
It might have been a rough ride for some women just getting to this point. The peri-menopause was what was happening for a few years leading up to menopause. At that time, there are unpredictable periods, breast tenderness, bloating and swelling, hot flashes then and maybe now. Sleep disturbance, vaginal dryness and painful intercourse may add to your discomfort. Concentration is often difficult and it brings on headaches which are common. Pregnancy is still possible during the peri-menopause years because you may still ovulate, it is infrequent and unpredictable. Contraception still must be used until menopause has been confirmed- usually until one year of no bleeding.
First thing you must do as a woman going through menopause, is to take care of yourself. Eat right, exercise, get an annual exam and mammogram, stop smoking and limit alcohol intake. Take a multiple vitamin and calcium supplements as directed. Calcium supplements are important because bone loss accelerates with the menopause, so prevention is important. Soy products help many women, as do some over the counter herbal products. Some women feel that these simple steps get them enough relief and the discomforts resolve. Other women seek help for the discomfort if it becomes too disruptive. Hormone replacement therapy has been available for many years. Recent research has bombarded the press and medical journals with conflicting and confusing information. Just remember, if you choose to take HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) these is a right way and a wrong way. You should discuss this with your health care provider. You also should discuss the risks as well as the benefits of HRT with your provider. Ask questions! There are many prescription brands of HRT available now and many are covered by most insurance plans.
Of note in the past several years is the availability of Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement therapy (BIHRT). Think of it as a customized formula made based on your symptoms. Please see the information at the top of this page. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact us to make an appointment.