Services Provided
Well Woman Exams
Most insurance companies include coverage for an annual "well" exam which includes a pap-smear, pelvic exam and breast exam. These annual exams are important to protect your health during all stages of life. You provider will prescribe or refill prescriptions and provide routine information about health maintainance during these visits. If you are having a significant problem, or wish to discuss a health issue at length, please schedule a separate "problem visit".
Problem Visits
Our providers are well qualified to diagnose and treat a variety of female related problems. (Please note: due to insurance company rules, a problem visit usually cannot be scheduled at the same time as a well woman exam)
Pregnancy Care and Delivery
Confirmation of Pregnancy: This is a visit to confirm pregnancy when you have missed your period. It includes a pregnancy test, an ultrasound, and a whole bag full of samples of prenatal vitamins, information about pregnancy, risk factors, and other information specific to your situation. This visit is best scheduled at 7-8 weeks after your last period.
High-Risk OB Care
Dr. Reed and Dr. Garnier are both very experienced and comfortable caring for mothers with health issues and complicated pregnancies. We work closely with Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialists when their expertise is needed. High risk pregnancies include those complicated by:
- Multiple gestation
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Thyroid disease
- Maternal age 35 years or more
- Genetic disorders
- Previous pregnancy loss
- Previous preterm delivery
- Other medical disorders
Services for Patients with Bladder Problems
Specialists for Women providers have a comprehensive program for diagnosing and treating various bladder problems. From Over Active Bladder (OAB) to urinary incontinence or Interstitial Cystitis (IC), our group understands the female perspective and we are here to help. You are not alone!
Urodynamics/Cystometrics
A urodynamic study is a series of tests designed to evaluate problems with urination. This study may be recommended if you are having problems storing or voiding urine, if you leak or cannot empty your bladder completely, if you have urgency/ frequency or persistent urinary tract infections. Cystometrics testing is done in the privacy of our clinic by trained specialists who will put you at ease as you discuss this sensitive subject. The test is a painless procedure which will take up to one hour, and requires no medications. When the study is complete, a report will be given to your doctor who will then discuss with you the results and your treatment plan.
Biofeedback/Pelvic Floor Therapy
Biofeedback therapy is a patented, FDA approved, non-invasive program to rehabilitate and strengthen weakened pelvic floor and urethral muscles. This method uses computer technology to translate the contraction from the pelvic muscles intoa signal that can be seen as a graph on a computer monitor. It is a teaching tool to learn how to control the pelvic floor muscles, thus restoring continence, healthy living and an active life-style.
The program consists of six weekly sessions that last approximately 30 minutes. You will learn techniques and exercises to practice and use at home that are simple but amazingly effective. Successful treatment is within your reach!
Potassium Sensitivity Testing
Pelvic pain, urgency and frequency can be symptoms of a bladder condition called Interstitial Cystitis (IC). Women who suffer from this condition may also report low back pain, leg pain and pain with intercourse . . . symptoms not usually associated with the bladder. Specialists For Women now offers Potassium Sensitivity Testing (PST) to diagnose IC at an early stage so that we may treat the problem successfully.
Normal bladders have a water-tight lining, but in IC the lining of the bladder becomes porous and allows particles in the urine, such as potassium, to seep into the muscle. When this happens, inflammation begins, nerves are irritated and sensations of pain are transmitted. Along with dietary modifications and medicine, we employ a "rescue therapy" to help get pain under control and return the bladder lining to normalcy.
Whatever your bladder problems may be, don't suffer in silence any longer. Successful treatments are closer than you think. Talk to your provider at Specialists for Women today. We can help!
Bone Density
We offer full-body Bone Density Screening for osteoporosis screening in the office. This is recommended for all women aged 50 or over, or for younger women with risk factors:
- Female gender
- Menopause (decreased estrogen levels predispose to increased bone loss)
- Surgical menopause (removal of the ovaries) without hormonal replacement
- Diet low in calcium
- Race (White and Asian women are at greatest risk)
- Lack of exercise
- Slender build
- Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia)
- Family history
- Medications (certain diuretics, steroids, anticonvulsants, excessive thyroid)
- Excessive alcohol use
- Smoking
If you have any of these risk factors, the test can be performed to determine whether your current bone density is normal for your age group. This information can then be used to determine what preventive or therapeutic options are reasonable for you.
Minor Surgical Procedures Provided In Office
- Endometrial ablation procedure
- Essure female sterilization procedure
- Hysteroscopy
- Colposcopy and Cervical Biopsy
- LEEP Procedure (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure)
- Endometrial Biopsy
- IUD insertion and/or removal
- Polyp removal
- Incision and draining of abscesses
- Pessary fitting and insertion
- Biopsy of skin lesions
HPV Vaccination (Gardisil)
HPV or Human Papillomavirus is a common virus that affects men and women. HPV is contracted through any kind of sexual activity. Some people with HPV will not show any symptoms of the virus and can continue to transmit the disease without knowing. HPV is quite common, approximately 20 million Americans had genital HPV in 2005, and 6 million new cases are diagnosed in the United States every year. Most people clear HPV through their body's own defenses. Some HPV types can cause genital warts and other types can cause abnormal changes in the cells lining the cervix that can later turn into cervical cancer.
Most women are diagnosed with HPV through abnormal pap-smear findings. The pap-smear is included as part of your well-women exam. A more thorough analysis of the pap is done by the lab to find out if a patient has HPV. In most cases HPV testing is covered by insurance every three years for women over thirty, but check with your insurance to see if you are covered.
Injections are now being offered to protect the body from the four types of HPV that cause cervical cancer. The vaccination is available for girls and women 9 through 26 years of age. In some cases the vaccine can be administered to people that already have HPV because most people do not have all four types of HPV that the vaccine protects against. This means that at least the patient can prevent contracting some additional types of HPV. You will need to talk to your healthcare provider to see if this injections is right for you. Due to poor reimbursement for this vaccine (less than our costs to purchase and administer the vaccine) you may be asked to pay for this service and then request reimbursement from your insurance carrier.
(This information was compiled from: 1)The Center of Disease Control and Prevention. Genital HPV infection fact sheet. Accessed by Merck and Co. on July 22, 2005. 2) Walboomers JMM, Jacobs MV, Manos MM, et al. Human papillomavirus is a necessary cause of invasive cervical cancer worldwide. J Pathol. 1999;189:12-19. 3) National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Prevention. About HPV infections. Accessed by Merck and Co. on July 22, 2005. 4) Merck & Co. Patient Information about GARDASIL. June 2006.)
Weight Loss Program
We now offer an FDA approved weight loss program targeting quick weight loss without the hunger, loss of muscle mass, and rebounding associated with most diets. It is also a great diet for those suffering from High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, and/ or Diabetes. It has been found that in many cases these individuals have been able to either reduce or eliminate their medications after a period of time on this particular diet. To find out more give us a call, or take a look at the website: http://www.idealprotein.com
