Gyno Reports

Gynecology related news - Powered By EZDoctor

Important health exams to schedule in your 20s- 30s

Physical Exam

Physical exams are very important, and even people 30 and younger should be getting one regularly. According to U.S. News & World Report piece by Dr. Bryan Arling, this means scheduling a physical twice in your 20s and three times in your 30s (and so on).

Other than the standards of height, weight, and blood pressure, at the physical, you can also have your doctor assure you’re up-to-date on your immunizations. For instance, as an adult woman up to age 26, if you so choose, you should have the HPV vaccination that helps, in part, fight against high-risk HPV that causes nearly 100-percent of cervical cancers, according to Women's Health. The doctor will also check your blood pressure. Knowing this number can be super helpful to your heart, brain, kidneys, and more.

Cholesterol Profile

It is recommended that women in their 20s and 30s have their blood drawn for a cholesterol test at least once every four to six years, according to WebMD. As with anything else, it should be checked more often depending on your family history and prior health records. Knowing your cholesterol number is so important. For instance, if your cholesterol is high it poses a major risk for coronary heart disease and stroke, according to the American Heart Association. To keep your heart at its utmost health, be sure to commit to this test.

Breast Exam

We all know we should be regularly visiting our gynecologist, and here’s why: These visits, like many other health exams, help both you and your doctor to understand your body, and allows your doctor to find any problems easily so that they can be treated. Part of your gyno visit should include an annual clinical breast exam, which will help identify any unusual lumps.

According to BreastCancer.org, in the US one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research, cases that are caught early lead to better prognosis, so getting checked frequently can literally help save your life. In addition to getting a clinical breast exam, you should give yourself routine self-exams once a month. This involves checking your breasts for irregular lumps or bumps, according to Women's Health. If anything seems strange, schedule an appointment ASAP.

Pelvic Exam and Pap Smear

Pap screening should begin by the age of 21, and women should have a screening once every three years, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) standards for screenings. This test will help you identify signs of cervical cancer.

Skin Screening

In the U.S., roughly 3.3 million people are treated for nonmelanoma skin cancer each year, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. In your 20s and 30s, regular visits to your dermatologist are recommended as a means of catching anything before it becomes too large a health issue. This means making an appointment for a skin screening once a year. You should also be monitoring your skin on your own. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends you check your body once a month for anything you deem strange or new. If you notice any changing moles or suspicious marks, you should make an appointment right away. As we all know, it’s far better to be safe than sorry.

Eye Exam

For those who don’t have trouble with their vision — either near or far — it’s easy to skip out on the eye doctor. But, according MedlinePlus, it is recommended that we all have an eye exam once every two to four years before the age of 40, and of course more regularly if you have vision problems. After 40, we should be seeing the eye doctor even more regularly. According to Glaucoma.org, “Early detection, through regular and complete eye exams, is the key to protecting your vision from damage caused by glaucoma.”

Dental Exam

Everyone — even those with pristine dental health — should visit their dentist at least annually for an exam and cleaning. According to experts from the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, once is year is said to be enough for those who have low risk of cavities or gum disease. For others, they may consider going twice a year for check-ups. Those in the “high risk” group are recommended to visit their dentist every three to four months. According to the Columbia experts, this includes smokers, pregnant women, diabetics, those with gum disease, those with a weak immune response to bacterial infection, and those who are prone to cavities or plaque build up.

It may seem impossible to keep up with all of these appointments, but remember that your health truly depends on it. Make these exams part of your calendar, and you’ll be sincerely thanking yourself for years to come. 

Source: Bustle.com 

Read full article: Bustle.com 

EZDoctor and April Partner to Offer Virtual Doctor Visits to International Travelers


EZDoctor, the leader in healthcare transparency and April, a global travel insurance provider have recently partnered to offer telemedicine services to patients traveling abroad that are in need of medical assistance.

The alliance between EZDoctor and April, allows patients to remotely consult with a U.S. board certified physician while traveling abroad.

With EZDoctor's support, April will be connecting their travelers from around the world with doctors anytime, anywhere needing only a webcam enabled device and a reliable internet connection.

These virtual physician consultations are not intended to treat emergency medical conditions/situations. Patients will receive primary care services, treatment for common ailments like the flu, allergies, rashes etc. and educational and informative medical advice from a trained and thoroughly screened professional.

EZDoctor and April are working together to improve the doctor-patient experience by providing on demand consultations and with doctors readily available to treat patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To serve the needs of April's global travelers patients are connected with U.S. physicians within 15 minutes and can currently request doctors that are fluent in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese.

According to the American Telemedicine Association, approximately 10 million patients benefited from using telemedicine last year. The telemedicine industry is developing quickly and becoming more prominent in societies around the world. EZDoctor and April are two leaders expanding quality telemedicine services worldwide.

"We're very excited about this partnership, we believe patients should have access to a board certified physician anywhere and anytime. As telemedicine continues to be a rapidly growing component of healthcare in the United States, we want to provide patients an accessible way to treat their healthcare needs when they are away from home," said David Marsidi, EZDoctor's founder and CEO.

"April & EZDoctor are both convenient, progressive thought leaders in the way we prioritize the patient's needs and that is what we want to deliver through this new service by offering a fast, easy, reliable and secure doctor consultations," continued Marsidi. "Together we will deliver the world-class healthcare service that patients deserve."        

EZDoctor and April patients will:

  • Have access to telemedicine services 24/7.
  • Resolve unexpected medical problems when traveling.
  • Receive virtual physicians consultations from any location worldwide.
  • Connect with a physician within 15 minutes of their request.
  • Have better outcomes because of timelier access to a physician.
  • Reduce unnecessary admissions, save time and money.
  • Receive primary care services on the go.

About EZDoctor
EZDoctor, healthcare technology business located in Florida, provides healthcare services nationwide. As an advocate for healthcare information transparency, EZDoctor developed a Carfax type of report but for doctors called EZDoctor Reports, to help patients make better decisions when it comes to choosing a doctor. With their rapid growth in the healthcare technology industry and over 1.5M+ doctor profiles, EZDoctor has radically transformed the industry by connecting healthcare consumers with the best doctors and equipping them with accurate information to make an informed healthcare decision.

About April
April has been a leading brand providing quality Travel and other Specialty Insurance programs providing services in Europe, Latin America and the U.S.
April offers comprehensive travel insurance & assistance plans covering multiple trips for frequent travelers. 

Quick Tips for Choosing a Doctor

When you choose a primary care doctor for yourself or a loved one, make sure to choose a doctor you can trust. A primary care doctor can help you make important decisions, like which screening tests and shots to get, treat many health problems, refer you to a specialist when you need more help with a specific health issue.

Here are some things you should know before selecting a physician

  • Listens to your opinions and concerns
  • Encourages you to ask questions
  • Explains things in ways you can understand

When you and your doctor work together as a team, you’ll get better health care. Try the following tips to find a doctor who’s right for you.

Research your doctor.

If you have health insurance, you may need to choose a doctor in their network. Some insurance plans may let you choose a doctor outside the network if you pay more of the cost.

What you should know about your doctor:

  • Contact information, Locations and Gender. 
  • License Information. It is important to know if your doctor is licensed to provide the care that you need.
  • Education. To learn more about your physician’s background EZDoctor Reports contain information regarding where they studied, graduation date, board certifications, as well as their internship, residency and fellowship. This will help you make an educated decision regarding your doctor’s training and ability.
  • Hospital Affiliations/Privileges.  Its common practice for a doctor to have their office in one location and perform treatment in a separate location. For example, you could go to a doctor’s office for a consultation regarding your knee and that doctor might provide treatment and/or surgery at a hospital that he is affiliated with or has privileges. By having this information before hand, it can help you in deciding whether this doctor would be the most convenient for you.
  • Procedure Pricing Information. When taking care of any health concern, one of the main things we consider is the cost associated with any procedures that might be necessary. An EZDoctor report will display an average charge for procedures performed by the physician you are reviewing.
  • Patient Referral Summary.  Primary care physicians, when needed, refer patients to a specialist. Especially when they face a diagnosis that is beyond their Scope of Practice. With an EZDoctor report you will see the  physicians referral pattern.
  • Pricing/Prescribing Habits. Is your  doctor more likely to prescribe a name brand versus a generic drug? Despite your preference, by seeing a breakdown of the most common prescriptions a physician orders you can get a clear view of his prescribing tendencies and average price per prescription.
  • Disciplinary Actions. Finding out if a physician has been sanctioned or not by a state medical board can be very useful when it comes to selecting a doctor to visit. Equally important is to know  what those infractions were related to.
  • Criminal Offenses. While federal criminal records are not available to the public, EZDoctor reports include state government records that indicate whether a physician has ever been charged or convicted of a crime. Allowing you to have this information prior to any consultation and/or treatment.
  • Malpractice Claims. You have the right to know if your physician has been involved in any incidents regarding his medical care. From surgical and medication errors to misdiagnoses, EZDoctor will provide the information you need.
  • Patient Reviews. It’s always good to know what other patients are saying about a physician. EZDoctor reports collect patient reviews from multiple sources.

Other important questions to ask about the doctor:

  • Is the doctor taking new patients?
  • Is the doctor part of a group practice? Who are the other doctors?
  • Who will see you if your doctor isn’t available?
  • Which hospital does the doctor use?
  • If you have a medical condition, does the doctor have experience treating it?
  • What languages does the doctor speak? 

You can find all the information you need on a physician by obtaining an EZDoctor Report. Go to ezdoctor.com now to get started! 

Source: healthfinder.gov

5 Supplements Every Woman Should Take



Calcium

Why You Need It: Everyone knows calcium builds strong bones, but this mineral is also crucial for other functions, such as transmitting nerve signals.Women ages 19 to 50 need 1,000 milligrams per day. Figure out how much you get from food and drink, and supplement the rest.

Daily Dose: Women ages 19 to 50 need 1,000 milligrams per day. Figure out how much you get from food and drink, and supplement the rest.


Vitamin D

Why You Need It: Not only does D help the body absorb calcium, it also might play a role in preventing colon cancer, breast cancer and diabetes.
Daily Dose: 2,000 international units (IUs) of vitamin D-3 in the winter. In summer, drop down to 1,000 IUs or skip it on days you get lots of sun.


Fish Oil

Why You Need It: Low levels of these healthy fats can lead to internal inflammation, one culprit behind heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Daily Dose: 1 to 2 grams (1,000 to 2,000 mg). Take fish-oil supplements with food, which absorbs the oil and staves off fishy burps.


Probiotics

Why You Need It: Probiotics, or good bacteria, have been shown to assuage gastrointestinal problems, like diarrhea, and even help reduce colds.

Daily Dose: One capsule with 10 billion colony-forming units (CFUs), preferably in the morning so it can aid your digestion throughout the day.


Folate

Why you need it:  You need folate to look healthy. Our cells need it to make DNA, and without DNA, cells wouldn’t function properly. Nor would they make new cells and tissue, such as skin and hair.  During pregnancy, especially the first couple of weeks when women often don’t know they are pregnant, folate is critical in preventing neural tube abnormalities in the fetus, such as spina bifida. 

Daily Dose: Healthy, non-pregnant women should look for a multivitamin supplement providing 400 micrograms daily. Pregnant women should take a prenatal supplement with 400-800 micrograms of folate. Talk to your obstetrician or gynecologist about taking folate along with other key supplements that can support a baby’s development.


Source: Allyou.com 

National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.


September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Get the Facts. Recognize the Signs.

Ovarian Cancer is one of the most deadly of women's cancers. Each year, approximately 21,980 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. In 2014, approximately 14,270 women died in the United States from this disease. It is estimated by the World Health Organization IARC department that there are over 238,000 new cases diagnosed annually and nearly 152,000 deaths worldwide.

 

This cancer typically occurs in women in their fifties and sixties with the median age being 63. Many women who are diagnosed with Ovarian cancer have a genetic history that may include carrying the BRCA mutation gene and having a strong family history of ovarian cancer.

 

Unfortunately many women don't seek help until the disease has begun to spread, but if detected at its earliest stage, the five-year survival rate is more than 93%. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often subtle and easily confused with other ailments.

 

Symptoms may include:

 

• Bloating

• Pelvic or Abdominal pain

• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly

• Urinary urgency or frequency

 

Other symptoms may include:

 

• Nausea, indigestion, gas, constipation or diarrhea

• Extreme fatigue

• Shortness of breath

• Backaches

• Weight Gain

 

There is no adequate screening test of ovarian cancer at this time which is one of the reasons that this cancer is often discovered in later stages.

Talk to your doctor if symptoms last more than 2-3 weeks. You are your best advocate.


Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis

Your doctor may order the following tests:

Physical examination - Your doctor will palpate your abdomen to look for discomfort and tenderness or abnormal fluid

Pelvic examination

Blood Test - Your doctor may order a CA-125 blood test. This test measures CA-125 in the blood. CA-125 is found on the surface on ovarian cancer cells and also normal tissue. A high CA-125 level may indicate ovarian cancer or other conditions.

Ultrasound

Biopsy


Stages of Ovarian Cancer

There are four stages of ovarian cancer. Your doctor will determine your stage of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is treated differently depending on which stage you are diagnosed with.

The four primary stages are:

Stage I: The cancer is completely contained within the ovary or ovaries

Stage II: The cancer is in one or both of the ovaries and has spread to additional organs located in the pelvis such as the bladder, colon, rectum or uterus.

Stage III: The cancer is in one or both ovaries and has spread to one or both of the following: the lining of the abdomen or the lymph nodes.

Stage IV: The most advanced stage of cancer. The cancer has spread from one or both ovaries to additional organs such as the liver or lungs, or there may be cancer cells in the fluid surrounding the lungs.

Recurrent: The cancer has returned after successful treatment.


The four stages of cancer are also divided into sub-groups.

Ovarian Cancer Risk Factors

Ovarian cancer does not discriminate. It can strike a woman of any race or at any age. We do know that women with certain risk factors may have a greater chance of developing ovarian cancer.

These risk factors include:

  • Family history of breast or ovarian cancer
  • Personal history of cancer
  • Women over the age of 55
  •  Women who were never pregnant
  • Women on menopausal hormone replacement therapy
Heredity

Studies have found that women who have a mother, daughter, or sister with ovarian cancer have an increased risk of developing this disease. Women with a family history of breast cancer, uterine cancer,  colon cancer or rectal cancer many also have increased risk.

Women with the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. 


Source: ovariancancerawareness.org

World Breastfeeding Week


This World Breastfeeding Week, WABA calls for concerted global action to support women to combine breastfeeding and work. Whether a woman is working in the formal, non-formal or home setting, it is necessary that she is empowered in claiming her and her baby’s right to breastfeed.

The WBW 2015 theme on working women and breastfeeding revisits the 1993 WBW campaign on the Mother-Friendly Workplace Initiative. Much has been achieved in 22 years of global action supporting women in combining breastfeeding and work, particularly the adoption of the revised ILO Convention 183 on Maternity Protection with much stronger maternity entitlements, and more country actions on improving national laws and practices. At the workplace level, we have also seen more actions taken to set up breastfeeding or mother-friendly workplaces including awards for breastfeeding-friendly employers, as well as greater mass awareness on working women’s rights to breastfeed.

The Innocenti Declaration (1990) recognized that breastfeeding provides ideal nutrition for infants and contributes to their healthy growth and development. There is much that remains to be done despite 25 years of hard work, particularly on the fourth Innocenti target that calls on governments to “…enact imaginative legislation protecting the breastfeeding rights of working women and establish means for its enforcement”.

WABA calls for:

  • Concerted global action to support women to combine breastfeeding and work, whether in the formal sector, non-formal sector, or at home
  • Ratification and implementation of maternity protection laws and regulations by governments, in line with the ILO Maternity Protection Convention
  • Inclusion of breastfeeding target indicators in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

With the WBW 2015 campaign, WABA and its partners at global, regional and national levels aim to empower and support ALL women, working in both the formal and informal sectors, to adequately combine work with child-rearing, particularly breastfeeding.

Various strategies exist to support women working in your country or community from long-term actions to short-term actions. 

Together, we can make it work!

Source: worldbreastfeedingweek.org 

Aromatase inhibitors 'significantly reduce breast cancer deaths'


A new study claims a class of hormonal drugs called aromatase inhibitors may significantly reduce the risk of death among postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer - the most common form of the disease.

Lead study author Prof. Mitch Dowsett, of The Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) in the UK, and colleagues publish their findings in The Lancet.

It is estimated that around 231,840 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year, and more than 40,000 will die from the condition.

Estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive) breast cancer accounts for around 70% of all cases, in which breast cancer cells contain receptors that attach to the hormone estrogen. When the hormone binds to these receptors, this can encourage the growth of breast cancer tumors.

At present, women with ER-positive breast cancer may be treated with tamoxifen - a drug that prevents estrogen from binding to receptors in breast cancer cells. The drug is primarily prescribed for women with early-stage breast cancer who have undergone surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy in order to prevent recurrence.

According to Prof. Dowsett and colleagues, taking tamoxifen for 5 years is associated with a 30% reduction in breast cancer death. But their study suggests another class of hormonal drugs - called aromatase inhibitors - may be more effective.

Aromatase inhibitors lower estrogen levels by preventing the enzyme aromatase - found in fat tissue - from changing other hormones into estrogen. As such, there is less estrogen to bind to receptors in breast cancer cells.

In the US, aromatase inhibitors are currently used to treat early-stage breast cancer in postmenopausal women who have been treated with tamoxifen for around 2-3 years.

Previous research suggests aromatase inhibitors are more effective for reducing breast cancer recurrence than tamoxifen, though how they impact survival has been unclear.

Aromatase inhibitors reduced breast cancer mortality by 40%

For their study, the team analyzed the data of nine clinical trials involving 31,920 postmenopausal women with early-stage ER-positive breast cancer. The women in the trials had either received no hormonal therapy or had used aromatase inhibitors or tamoxifen for at least 5 years.

Compared with women who had not received hormone therapy, those who received aromatase inhibitors were 40% less likely to die from breast cancer in the 10 years after treatment initiation. Women who took tamoxifen were at around 30% lower risk of breast cancer death.

"Our global collaboration has revealed that the risk of postmenopausal women with the most common form of breast cancer dying of their disease is reduced by 40% by taking 5 years of an aromatase inhibitor - a significantly greater protection than that offered by tamoxifen. 

Aromatase inhibitors remove only the tiny amount of estrogen that remains in the circulation of women after the menopause - but that's enough to have a substantial impact on a wide range of ER-positive tumors, despite their extraordinary differences at the molecular level."

However, the researchers note that treatment with aromatase inhibitors may present a number of side effects. These can include shortness of breath, chest pain, hot flashes, muscle or joint pain and depression.

"It's important to ensure that women with significant side effects are supported to try to continue to take treatment and fully benefit from it," notes Prof. Dowsett.

Earlier this month, Medical News Today reported on a study published in Nature suggesting half of breast cancers could be slowed if the hormone progesterone was added to treatment.

Source: Medical News Today

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is the abnormal growth of cells (endometrial cells) similar to those that form the inside of the uterus, but in a location outside of the uterus. Endometriosis is most commonly found on other organs of the pelvis.

Who is affected by endometriosis?

Endometriosis affects women in their reproductive years. The exact prevalence of endometriosis is not known, since many women may have the condition and have no symptoms. Endometriosis is estimated to affect over one million women (estimates range from 3% to 18% of women) in the United States. It is one of the leading causes of pelvic pain and reasons for laparoscopic surgery and hysterectomy in this country. Estimates suggest that 20% to 50% of women being treated for infertility have endometriosis, and up to 80% of women with chronic pelvic pain may be affected.

What causes endometriosis? 

The cause of endometriosis is unknown. One theory is that the endometrial tissue is deposited in unusual locations by the backing up of menstrual flow into the Fallopian tubes and the pelvic and abdominal cavity during menstruation (termed retrograde menstruation). The cause of retrograde menstruation is not clearly understood. But retrograde menstruation cannot be the sole cause of endometriosis. Many women have retrograde menstruation in varying degrees, yet not all of them develop endometriosis.

Another possibility is that areas lining the pelvic organs possess primitive cells that are able to grow into other forms of tissue, such as endometrial cells. (This process is termed coelomic metaplasia.)

What are endometriosis symptoms? 

Most women who have endometriosis, in fact, do not have symptoms. Of those who do experience symptoms, the common symptoms are:

  • Pain (usually pelvic) that usually occurs just before menstruation and lessens after menstruation
  • Painful sexual intercourse
  • Cramping during intercourse
  • Cramping or pain during bowel movements or urination
  • Infertility
  • Painful pelvic exam

Other symptoms that can be related to endometriosis include:

  • lower abdominal pain,
  • diarrhea and/or constipation,
  • low back pain,
  • chronic fatigue
  • irregular or heavy menstrual bleeding,
  • painful urination, or blood in the urine

12 Types of Birth Control


Combination pill

What it's called: Estrostep Fe, LoEstrin 1/20, Ortho-Novum 7/7/7, Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, Yasmin, Yaz.

What it does: This birth control mainstay is still 99% effective against pregnancy when taken around the same time every day. It's also known for easing hot flashes and restoring regular periods.

Who should avoid it: Smokers and those 35 or older. The estrogen may cause dangerous blood clots. If you suffer from migraines, you should also pass because it may trigger the painful headaches.

Progestin-only pill

What it's called: Micronor, Nora-BE, Nor-QD, Ovrette.

What it does: Known as the mini pill, progestin-only meds don't contain estrogen. They're safer for smokers, diabetics, and heart disease patients, as well as those at risk for blood clots. They also won't reduce the milk supply for women who are breast-feeding.

Who should avoid it: If you have trouble remembering to take your pill at the same time every day, progestin-only pills might not be your best bet. They need to be taken at exactly the same time every day; if you're more than three hours late, plan on using a backup method.

Extended-cycle pill

What it's called: Lybrel, Seasonale, Seasonique.

What it does: These pills prevent pregnancy and allow you to have a period only every three months. (Note: Lybrel stops your period for a year, but you must take a pill every day, year-round.)

Who should avoid it: There's no evidence proving it's dangerous not to have periods, but there is still no long-term research to show that it is safe.

Vaginal ring

What it's called: NuvaRing.

What it does: The ring is made of flexible plastic and delivers estrogen and progestin, just like the combination pill. You place the ring in your vagina for three weeks, and then remove it for one week so that you have a regular period.

Who should avoid it: Women who smoke, or have blood clots or certain cancers, should not use the NuvaRing.

Diaphragm

What it's called: Milex Wide Seal, Ortho All-Flex, Semina, SILCS.

What it does: Made of rubber and shaped like a dome, a diaphragm prevents sperm from fertilizing an egg. It covers the cervix and must always be used with a spermicide. Women must be fitted for a diaphragm in their doctor's office.

Who should avoid it: If your weight tends to fluctuate by more than 10 pounds at a time, the diaphragm may not work. If you gain or lose weight, you'll need to be refitted. Prone to bladder infections? You might want to consider another option. If you've had toxic shock syndrome, you shouldn't use a diaphragm.

IUD

What it's called: Mirena, ParaGard.

What it does: ParaGard is a surgically implanted copper device that prevents sperm from reaching the egg. Mirena, also surgically implanted, works by releasing hormones. Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are more than 99% effective and good for 10 years.

Who should avoid it: Some doctors recommend the device only for women who have given birth. When the device is implanted, your uterus is expanded, and this might cause pain in women who have not had children. If you're planning on having children in a year or two, look at other options. The IUD can be removed, but the high cost—up to $500—might not be worth it for short-term use.

Female condom

What it's called: Femy, Protectiv, Reality.

What it does: The female condom is made of polyurethane, or soft plastic, and protects against STDs. It is inserted deep into the vagina, over the cervix, much like a diaphragm. Unlike the male condom, the female condom can be put into place up to eight hours before sex.

Who should avoid it: Male condoms offer more protection—both against STDs and pregnancy—than female condoms, so if you and your male partner aren't in a long-term, monogamous relationship, female condoms are not a perfect substitute.

Male condom

What it's called: Durex, LifeStyles, Trojan.

What it does: Male condoms protect against pregnancy and STDs, including HIV. Worn properly, condoms prevent sperm from entering the uterus. Go with latex or polyurethane condoms; lambskins do not shield you against all STDs.

Who should avoid it: If your mate is allergic to latex or polyurethane, you'll have to find another option. And if you tend to use a lubricant that contains oil, such as hand lotion or baby oil, you'll need to switch to an oil-free option like K-Y Jelly, which, unlike oil-based lubricants, doesn't degrade latex.

Patch

What it's called: Ortho Evra.

What it does: You can place the hormone-releasing patch on your arm, buttock, or abdomen, and rest easy for one week.

Who should avoid it: If you're particularly at risk for blood clots, you might want to find a different method. The patch delivers 60% more estrogen than a low-dose pill, so you're at an increased risk for dangerous blood clots.

Implant

What it's called: Implanon, Norplant.

What it does: About the size of a matchstick, the implant is placed under the skin on your upper arm. Implants last for three years and can cost up to $800. They are nearly 100% effective.

Who should avoid it: Implanon may not work as well for women taking St. John's wort, or women who are overweight.

Sterilization

What it's called: Essure, tubal ligation, vasectomy.

What it does: Women can undergo either tubal ligation, a surgical procedure that blocks the fallopian tubes from carrying eggs to the uterus, or tubal implants (Essure), a nonsurgical technique in which a small coil is inserted into the fallopian tubes. The sterilization process is less risky for men: A vasectomy is a minor surgery in which the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles are cut.

Who should avoid it: If you plan to have children, sterilization is not an option—it's not designed to be reversible.

Emergency contraception

What it's called: Copper T IUD, Next Choice, Plan B, Plan B One-Step.

What it does: Emergency contraception is a backup for regular birth control. Plan B contains a higher dose of the same synthetic hormones found in the combination pill. It works best if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, but may work up to five days later. There's also the copper T IUD, which a doctor can insert into your uterus five to seven days after unprotected sex.

Who should avoid it: Plan B, known as the morning-after pill, is available over-the-counter at most pharmacies, but only to women 18 years and older. Minors need a prescription. Copper T IUDs can be very expensive—up to $500. Plus, they last for up to 10 years, so if you hope to get pregnant in the future, this isn't for you.

Source: health.com

The Importance of Pap Smears.


Regular preventive care is one of the most important ways to maintain your health over time. If you wait to see a doctor only when you notice a problem, it may be too late.

Cervical cancer screening is especially important for women’s health — but how and when it should be done has been the subject of debate.

Guidelines from the American Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend:

  • Cervical cancer screening should start at age 21 years.
  • Women aged 21–29 years should have a Pap test every 3 years.
  • Women aged 30–65 years should have a Pap test and an HPV test (co-testing) every 5 years (preferred). It is acceptable to have a Pap test alone every 3 years.

More research is needed to determine how the HPV test should be incorporated into our screening program, but experts say it’s not likely to replace the Pap anytime soon. For now, both ACOG and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force say Pap smears are a woman’s best bet for early detection of cervical cancer.

“Pap smears can detect early precancerous changes on the cervix,” explains Johnathan Lancaster, MD, PhD, chair of the department of women’s oncology and director of the center for women’s oncology at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, in Tampa, Fl. “These changes can be easily treated, thus dramatically reducing the risk of progression to cervical cancer.”

What Problems Can a Pap smear Detect?

“Pap smears are not designed to detect cervical cancer,” says Dr. Lancaster. “They are designed to detect cervical dysplasia, or precancerous changes [in the cervix].” When Pap smear detects abnormal cells, your doctor can take steps to figure out the culprit behind these changes and treat the condition before it turns into cancer.

How Often Should I Have a Pap smear?

“Like all medical tests, Pap smears are not 100 percent accurate,” he says. “This reinforces the importance of having regular Paps, so that even if one Pap misses an early abnormal change, it’s likely to be picked up at the next Pap.”

What if I Have an Abnormal Pap smear?

An abnormal Pap smear means abnormal cells have been identified on your cervix. Depending on the type of cells found, your doctor might recommend repeating the test in four to six months, Lancaster says. Other times, they may choose to perform a colposcopy in order to get a better look at the cervix and take tissue samples to biopsy so they can determine what types of cells are present.

During a colposcopy, a thin tube with a very small camera attached to it is gently inserted into the vagina, up to your cervix. During a biopsy, your doctor removes a small piece of tissue from your cervix to analyze it under a microscope. The results of these tests can determine the nature of the problem and guide treatment.

When Should Start and Stop Getting A Pap

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends women begin getting Pap smears within three years of the first time they have sexual intercourse, or by age 21, whichever comes first, says Lancaster.

“Some women may discontinue Pap smears after age 65, but this needs to be a highly individualized decision based on risk factors and decided in conjunction with their gynecologist,” Lancaster says.

How Should I prepare for a Pap smear?

Lancaster says the presence of any substance in the vagina can lower the accuracy of a Pap smear. He recommends women avoid douching or engaging in sexual intercourse for two to three days prior to having a Pap smear to get more accurate results. Lancaster also says it’s preferable that women not be menstruating when having a Pap smear, since this too can interfere with the accuracy of the test.

What Happens During a Pap smear?

Many people confuse pelvic exams with Pap Smears. The pelvic exam is part of a woman’s routine health care. During a pelvic exam, the doctor looks at and feels the reproductive organs, including the uterus and the ovaries and may do tests for sexually transmitted disease. Pap tests are often done during pelvic exams, but you can have a pelvic exam without having a Pap test. A pelvic exam without a Pap test will not help find abnormal cells of the cervix or cervical cancer at an early stage.

The Pap test is often done during a pelvic exam, after the speculum is placed. To do a Pap test, the doctor removes cells from the cervix by gently scraping or brushing it with a special instrument. Pelvic exams may help find other types of cancers and reproductive problems, but a Pap test is needed to find early cervical cancer r pre-cancers. Ask your doctor if you had a Pap test with your pelvic exam.

Pap smears are generally painless and usually done during a pelvic exam. The doctor will position you on the exam table and insert a device called a speculum into your vagina; the speculum opens the vaginal area wider, giving the doctor a better view of the cervical area. The doctor will then swab your cervix with a brush or cotton swab to collect cells from its surface, and then send the cells off for analysis to see if there are any abnormal cells present.

Although Pap smears can seem like an uncomfortable nuisance, they are critical to keeping women of all ages healthy. Talk to your doctor to determine how often you should have a Pap smear.