Self-Breast Exam: The Right Way
Knowing your body is one of the single best ways to stay healthy, since it allows you to recognize and address issues early, when they’re easier to treat. That’s why it’s so important to examine your breasts regularly and to do it correctly. Here’s how: 1: Look in the mirror Stand topless in front of […]
Thinning Hair: More than a Cosmetic Concern?
By Dr. Stephanie Brazus Riverview Health Physicians OB/GYN Concerned about thinning hair? Talk to your healthcare provider about what’s normal and what’s not, since losing hair may be telling you something important about your health. First things first: Losing some hair every day is natural. In fact, losing hair is a sign that your body […]
Bleeding After Menopause? Don’t Ignore It.
Dennis Pippenger, MD Riverview Health Physicians OB/GYN Before you reach menopause, chances are you’ll experience some irregular bleeding patterns. After menopause, any bleeding is reason to see your healthcare provider. Here’s why. Bleeding after menopause or postmenopausal bleeding is when vaginal bleeding resumes at least six months after a woman experiences her last menstrual period. […]
No-Embarassment Zone
By Dr. Polly Trainor Riverview Health Physicians OB/GYN Be honest. How would you rate your health when it comes to intimacy, with 5 being “Doing great” to 1 being “The pits.” But don’t answer yet. First, let’s talk about what health in this part of a woman’s life (really) means. According to the formal definition, […]
What’s a Breast Duct Papilloma?
By Dr. Stephanie Brazus Riverview Health Physicians OB/GYN Here’s one more reason to do regular self-breast exams: It’s a way to find lumps called breast duct papillomas that may not be visible on your mammogram. Most commonly found in women ages 35 to 55, a breast duct papilloma is generally a noncancerous, solitary tumor most […]
Uterine Fibroids: What You Need to Know
Fibroids are the most commonly seen tumors of the female reproductive system. For some women, they cause no symptoms. For others, uterine fibroids can cause severe bleeding and other symptoms. But an important thing to know about fibroids is that in the vast majority of cases, fibroids are not cancerous. While we can’t pinpoint the […]
Chronic Pelvic Pain? Don’t Suffer in Silence
Burning. Stinging. Stabbing sensations. These are just some of the ways women have described chronic pain in the vulva, a condition known as vulvodynia. For some women, every aspect of their lives is affected by this constant pain. For others, the pain is caused by pressure or contact, making sitting for long periods of time […]
Your Pap Test Was Abnormal. Now What?
By Dr. Polly Trainor Riverview Health Physicians OB/GYN A Pap test, sometimes called a Pap smear, is often part of a pelvic exam. The test is designed to check the cells on your cervix for any changes that might lead to cancer. If you’re told your Pap test is abnormal, here are some things to […]
The HPV Vaccine: What to Know
By Dr. Katheryn Moreira Riverview Health Physicians OB/GYN Did you know that the human papillomavirus (HPV) infects about 14 million people—including teenagers—each year? Or that HPV infections cause nearly 31,000 cancers a year? The good news, though, is that the HPV vaccine can prevent most of those cancers from occurring in the first place. Some […]
When Silence Isn’t Golden: What to Ask Your OB/GYN
By Dr. Stephanie Brazus Riverview Health Physicians OB/GYN Knowledge is power when it comes to taking charge of your reproductive and breast health. To get the most out of your appointments, you should have an open and honest exchange with your healthcare provider—and that requires a little prep work on your part. First, keep in […]