Caring for your reproductive health helps enhance quality of life and minimize women’s health risks, such as endometriosis and infertility. An experienced obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) offers screenings and treatments to address health concerns and can educate patients on promoting reproductive health at home. Here are five ways an OB/GYN helps promote women’s health:
Diagnosing and Treating Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens the bones gradually, causing them to break or even bend. Anyone can develop osteoporosis, but women are at a higher risk for the condition, especially those with low estrogen levels. Women who smoke, consume alcohol excessively, have undergone gastrointestinal surgeries, or have cancer or kidney problems also risk suffering osteoporosis. A gynecologist checks for symptoms such as stooped posture, back pain, and lost height. OB/GYNs often treat this condition through hormone therapy and medications and may recommend diet or lifestyle changes.
Screening and Treating Uterine Bleeding
Women who experience abnormal uterine bleeding bleed outside their regular cycle, but it can also include short or long cycles, heavy bleeding during a period, and bleeding after menopause. Abnormal bleeding may indicate chronic women’s health problems, such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, ectopic pregnancy, or uterine cancer.
When determining the cause, an OB/GYN performs various tests, such as ultrasounds, MRI and CT scans, endometrial biopsy, or pregnancy tests. Treatment for abnormal bleeding is cause-dependent. An OB/GYN may recommend medication to reduce menstrual flow or surgery to treat fibroids.
Testing for Sexually Transmitted Diseases
OB/GYNs can test for various sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including gonorrhea, HIV, genital warts, or syphilis. Symptoms of STDs usually include painful urination, vaginal discharge, rash, and bumps on the genitalia. Specialists use pap tests, tissue swabs, and urine or blood samples to determine if you have an STD. Early STD screening and treatment minimize the risk of complications, such as infertility, organ damage, or cervical cancer.
Diagnosing and Treating Dyspareunia
Dyspareunia causes women to experience burning, deep, and continuous pain before, during, or after sex. Some potential causes of this health complication include a scarred cervix, medical conditions, or vaginal wall spasms. Dyspareunia can also be caused by stress, anxiety, or depression, as these emotions lessen your body’s arousal response, leading to uncomfortable sex.
An OB/GYN asks about your sexual and medical histories and the type of pain you feel during sex. Pelvic exams help specialists identify anomalies like scars on the vaginal walls. An OB/GYN may recommend ovarian cyst treatments, vaginal muscle relaxations, vaginal rejuvenations, sex therapy, or safe sexual lubricants to address the problem.
Providing Expert Birth Control Help
A gynecologist tailors birth control to help you avoid unplanned pregnancies for either personal or medical reasons. Birth control types include hormone blockers to prevent ovaries from releasing eggs, barriers to prevent sperm from reaching the egg, and sterilization by severing the Fallopian tubes. OB/GYNs can also offer guidance on natural birth control, teaching patients how to monitor their cycles to know when pregnancy is most likely to occur.
Visit a Women’s Health Specialist
An obstetrician-gynecologist helps improve women’s health and increase their chances of fertility by diagnosing and treating reproductive complications. Specialists address issues including vaginal discharge, vaginal dryness, early menopause, and endometriosis. They also offer quality prenatal care to promote healthy pregnancy and safe child delivery. Book an appointment with a professional OB/GYN specialist for quality screenings and treatments today.
