What is PID?
Every sexually active woman should know of PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease). Most women diagnosed with this infection are under the age of twenty five. Unfortunately, many women find out that they have had this infection, years later, when they are diagnosed with...
C-Section on request
Across the nation about 30% of deliveries are done by caesarean section (c-section). Most c-sections are performed at the recommendation of an obstetrician, but in recent years, more women have asked to be delivered by caesarean and have optedout of labor. Women...
Do you have Herpes?
Last week I had a heated debate with a friend of mine over what she feels is the nonchalant attitude of physicians over the topic of genital herpes. I have a colleague, a gynecologist, no less, who feels that testing people who have never had any symptoms of herpes...
A Note to Women for Father’s Day
My dad quit smoking years ago. He often fell asleep on the couch while ashes from a lit cigarette fell to the floor. The fact that his bed once caught afire, did not temper his cravings. Today, in addition to being a cigarette Nazi, he takes to the treadmill...
The Big M
Menopause is one of the biggest turning points in women's lives. It is defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation. Some women make smooth transitions, while others face torrents of hot flashes accompanied by perfuse sweating, mood swings and debilitating...
Do you really need a pap smear?
The answer is "yes" but not necessarily every year and not at every age. Here is why... Now that we have clearer understanding of how HPV (human papillomavirus) affects the cervix at different points in women's lives, we can now target certain women while reducing...
Those Three Letters…HIV
It is such a frightening topic to read about. Some mistakenly believe that the danger has been subdued. One could possibly go an entire week without hearing it mentioned on the news. Even so, in America, it is the 5th leading cause of death for women between the...
In english, what is preeclampsia?
Have you ever heard of preeclampsia? I chose this topic because recently I had several patients who were diagnosed with this syndrome and most of them had no idea of what this disease meant for them or for their unborn child. Simply, Preeclampsia is a type of high...
Old Eggs?
I had a patient today who insisted on staying on birth control because she was terrified of getting pregnant. She's fifty three. I have come to realize that many women believe, fiercely, that they are still fertile way into their 40s and 50s. They believe that spin...
Below his belly button…erectile dysfunction
Interestingly enough, even as a gynecologist, I hear a lot about erectile dysfunction (ED)—the inability to achieve or maintain an erection to complete sexual activity. Women do get frustrated when their sexual partners cannot perform. Keep in mind, men suffer from...