The Annual Well Woman Exam

March 27, 2015 by fcadmin

The annual well women exam is a fundamental part of the women’s health.

Well women exam aids in identifying medical problems, recognizing certain risk factors for specific diseases, and promoting healthy life style and preventative screenings.

Almost all insurance companies cover the cost of the annual exam without co-pays or deductibles. Women ages 21 and older are recommended to have pap smear test yearly. The best time for the annual exam is the week after your period ends. Pap smear cannot be obtained if you are menstruating. It is also recommended not to have intercourse or use vaginal creams 24-48 hours before your visit.

The annual well women exam is composed of:

Obtaining the patient’s vital signs (height, weight, BMI, blood pressure)
Updating the patient’s health history. (You will be asked about your illnesses, surgeries, allergies, medications, hospitalizations, family history, contraceptive history, the last time you had pap smear and mammogram, the first day of your last period and any complaints you have at the time of the visit)
Obtaining a urine specimen and urine dipstick test (Your urine will be tested for the presence of glucose, nitrite, albumin, blood, leukocytes, urobilinogen, pH, and specific gravity)
Clinical breast exam
Obtaining pap smear and HPV
Pelvic exam to examine the uterus and ovaries internally and abdominal exam if indicated
Counseling specific to patient needs such as birth control, protection from STD’s, menopause etc.

The Pap smear test is done to detect any abnormal cervical cells. If the result comes positive, it does not mean that you definitely have cervical cancer. If the result is abnormal, the physician may want to perform colposcopy or repeat the pap smear. Colposcope is a special magnifying device helps the physician to observe the cervix closely. A small tissue sample (biopsy) is taken from the cervix if the physician identifies any abnormality.

If your physician feels any lumps or abnormality during the clinical breast exam, he may order mammogram or breast ultrasound. Patients ages 40 and over will be prescribed a baseline mammogram.

Preventative screenings are very important for early detection. Health problems that are caught early can be treated more effectively. Schedule your annual visit with your gynecologist to ensure your physical and reproductive well being.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

February 2, 2015 by Yasemin

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

HPV is short for human papilloma virus and is consistent of more than 150 related viruses.

The most important step is that we inform you about HPV.

Men and Women?
Yes! Both men and women are equally susceptible to HPV. Nearly half of sexually active beings will be exposed to this virus at least once in their lifetime.
High Risk vs Low Risk
One detection of having Low Risk HPV, for both genders, would be genital warts. Most of the time the body clears itself of the virus and there’s no chronic damage. High Risk HPV, although most of the time it can lead to cancer, may not show any evidence at all of having it. In males, this can lead to cancer of the genitals, anus, or rectum. In females, this can lead to cervical cancer. It is very important that you give every attempt to prevent the transmission of HPV so that you and your sex partner, whether male or female, have one less cancer to worry about.
Transmission
Whether you are practicing vaginal or oral sex, the human papilloma virus can be spread through contact from infected genital skin, body fluids, and mucous membranes.

The next step should be to help prevent HPV from being spread or transmitted.

Testing
Visual Exam:to check for warts
PAP Smear: to sample cells taken from the cervix or vagina and analyze those cells to detect cancer or the chance of having cancer.

Here are some tips so you can possibly put a stop to being diagnosed with HPV.

avoid having sex at an early age
avoid having multiple sex partners
avoid any sex partners who you think might have had multiple sex partners

True Labor Symptoms

February 2, 2015 by Yasemin

True Labor Symptoms

If you are pregnant, one of your first concerns might be what labor and delivery are like. Here is the some true labor

This information will help answer the most common questions about true labor symptoms.

Spotting

This red flag usually occurs during 37 to 40 weeks of gestation. If spotting is present you should call the office of FirstChoice ObGyn, LLC at 201-441-9300 and make an appointment so that you and Dr. Copur can consider the next step. However, if a large amount of blood is present, this may be a sign of complication with your pregnancy and should be addressed immediately with the most recent available appointment. If the office is closed during the time of your emergency, any pregnant patient who is 16 weeks or less into their gestation will go to the Emergency Room and any patient who is greater than 16 weeks into their gestation will see their way to the Labor & Delivery Department.

Yellow Vaginal Discharge

Discharge is considered the fluid that is expelled from the vagina to carry away bacteria that may cause infection. In this case, your pregnant and let’s face it with all the hormonal changes going on in your body you are very prone to strange things growing; like bacteria for example. The presence of pinkish/brownish discharge is one way of knowing your vagina is doing it’s job to keep you and your baby safe from infection. It could also mean the first sign of infection. For this case you would want to make an appointment with Dr. Copur, and if necessary, a specimen will be collected from the vagina to analyze for any growing culture of bacteria that needs to be treated.

Losing Mucus Plug

Also known as “the bloody show”, this ring of mucus protection will drop from the cervical opening usually with just a short time frame away from the beginning of your labor. This mucus plug is stationed at the cervical opening to protect your baby from bad bacteria and ultimately from infection. You can differentiate this mucus plug from regular discharge because it will be very thick and compact. Perhaps get the hospital bags ready because labor and delivery could be just a short 72 hours away.

Amniotic Sac Ruptures

Everyone knows that if your water breaks, your baby is just minutes away from coming into this world. Well, that’s not always the case. After your water breaking labor can take up to 12 hours or more before actually delivering your little bundle of joy. It is however important that you report to the hospital as soon as possible to prepare for labor. Leaving your baby exposed with no amniotic fluid to protect him or her increases the risk of infection.

Thinning and Dilating Cervix

Your cervix will go from 3-4 centimeters to 10 full centimeters. The doctor will do a vaginal exam to estimate the length of your dilating cervix and feel the thinning of your cervix as well. This stretching, thinning, and dilating are preparations your cervix needs to fulfill in order to move to the next step which is labor.

True Contractions VS Braxton Hicks

Braxton Hicks contractions are known for their pranks. If your contractions aren’t happening every 10 minutes, for a continuous amount of time despite your physical activity, then they’re most likely Braxton Hicks. “True” contractions are continuous and will remain during and after labor. False runs to the hospital are not to be shunned. There’s no shame in practicing.

Preterm Labor

If you’re less than 37 weeks and are experiencing any early signs of labor than report to Labor and Delivery

Dealing With Morning Sickness

January 31, 2014 by fcadmin

For many women, the toughest part of early pregnancy is morning sickness. If you are suffering from nausea, vomiting, or both, you need safe measures that will bring you some relief. Your best course of action for managing morning sickness is home treatment. By following a few proven guidelines, you are likely to gain significant relief from nausea and vomiting. Home treatment measures for morning sickness include:

Changing what, when, and how much you eat.
Taking ginger, vitamin B6, or vitamin B12, which may reduce nausea and/or vomiting during pregnancy.
Avoiding foods and smells that make you feel sick.
Trying acupressure, which seems to work for some women.
Taking doxylamine with vitamin B6, which you can buy without a prescription. Talk to your doctor before taking this remedy.

If you have severe, persistent nausea and vomiting, see your doctor or nurse-midwife immediately. This uncommon complication of pregnancy can lead to dehydration and malnutrition, sometimes requiring prescribed medicine or hospitalization.

What is morning sickness?

Morning sickness can range from mild, occasional nausea to severe, continuous, disabling nausea with bouts of vomiting. Symptoms may be worse in the morning, though they can strike at any time of the day or night.
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Labor and Delivery

January 31, 2014 by fcadmin

What is labor and delivery?

At the end of the third trimester of pregnancy, your body will begin to show signs that it is time for your baby to be born. The process that leads to the birth of your baby is called labor and delivery. Every labor and delivery includes certain stages, but each birth is unique. Even if you have had a baby before, the next time will be different.
Giving birth to a baby is hard work. It can also be scary, thrilling, and unpredictable. Learning all you can ahead of time will help you be ready when your time comes.

What are the stages of labor?

There are three stages of labor. The first stage includes early labor and active labor. The second stage lasts through the birth, with the baby traveling down and out of the birth canal. The third stage is after the birth, when the placenta is delivered.

Stage one. The muscles of the uterus start to tighten (contract) and then relax. These contractions help to thin (efface) and open (dilate) the cervix so the baby can pass through the birth canal.
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