GYNECOLOGIC CARE

Gynecology Care includes problems related to menstruation, cancer detection, the reproductive system and sexuality. While your specific problem will be discussed with you in great detail, we do want to recommend to you that you maintain your good health by having an annual examination. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends a check up, including a breast exam and Pap smear, yearly before the age of 35…and after 35, a pelvic and breast exam every six months. Many impending significant problems can be detected while they are still very easy to correct.

INFERTILITY

When pregnancy is desired, a delay in conception frequently impacts a couple emotionally. If you have been unsuccessful in conceiving for over six months, Dr. Stephens recommends an infertility workup. He will want to work closely with you to achieve a satisfactory resolution to your problems.

MENOPAUSE

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when she stops having periods. The years leading up to this point are called Perimenopause. Menopause marks the end of the reproductive years that began with puberty.

The average age that women go through menopause is 47-51 years. Most women enjoy a health lifestyle for years after-ward. Dr. Stephens can explain what to expect around menopause, how to relieve symptoms of menopause, and how to stay healthy during this time.

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME    

PMS is the term used to describe a group of physical or behavioral changes that some women go through before their menstrual periods every month. No cure had been found for PMS. However, some of the individual symptoms can be relieved with various medications.  Dr. Stephens can work with you to determine the best course of treatment for your symptoms.

PELVIC PAIN

Many women have pain in there pelvic region at some point in there lives. If you have any of the following pains they should be evaluated:

1. Pain that disrupts your daily life for a day, month, or longer.
2. Pain that worsens over time.
3. Pain that has recently increase in your pelvic region.
   

Dr. Stephens can discuss with you the causes of pelvic pain, how it is diagnosed, and what can be done about it.

LASER SURGERY

Laser Surgery is a treatment that uses a concentrated beam of light to cut away abnormal tissue. Frequently, when surgery is deemed necessary it can be accomplished through laparoscopic and laser surgery, thereby decreasing the hospital stay.

LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY

Laparoscopic surgery is done with a slender telescope-like instrument, called a laparoscope, which is inserted through a small cut just below the navel. With this surgery your reproductive organs can be visualized.

Laparoscope is often used to find the cause of abdominal pain, infertility, or other problems in the pelvis.

Many problems can be corrected by the Laparoscope as out patient surgery. Dr. Stephens can discuss with you the best procedure for your problem.

HYSTEROSCOPE SURGERY

Hysteroscope is a technique used to examine the inside of a women’s uterus by using a thin, telescope-like instrument that is inserted through the vagina and the cervix. With this instrument the inside of the uterus can be seen and evaluated for any problems. Minor surgery can be done through the hysteroscope to correct these problems. The hysteroscope may also be used with other techniques, such as dilation and curettage (D&C) of the uterus.

BLADDER CONTROL

Urinary incontinence affects 10-70 % of all women. Prevalence of incontinence appears to increase gradually during young adult life, has a broad peak around middle life, and steadily increases with age.

The most common condition to cause loss of urine is stress incontinence. This is an anatomical problem caused by a fall in the urethra or bladder with increase in abdominal pressure.

The second most common condition is urge incontinence or over activity of the bladder muscle.

Dr Stephens can evaluate your bladder to determine if you are a candidate for surgery or medicine.

INOFFICE UTERINE ABLATION

Endometrial ablation of the uterine lining can now be accomplished in the office setting with little discomfort. The lining of the uterus is frozen to destroy most of the endometrium, thus stopping or dramatically reducing monthly bleeding and cramps. The procedure takes about 20 minutes and the patient is able to return to her normal routine on the next day.