Highlands Center for Women

Gynecology

Whether you just need a routine annual exam or help with a specific medical condition, the physicians at Highlands are experts in all areas of women’s care. During routine annual exams, our physicians perform Pap tests, clinical breast exams and answer any questions you may have about your body. They also can provide guidance about birth control options, if necessary. In addition to routine exams, our physicians can treat a wide variety of gynecologic conditions. Some of the most common conditions are listed below, along with several in-office procedures that help treat them.

 

If you have prolonged or heavy menstrual periods, it could be more than just an inconvenience. Some women have inherited conditions that cause heavy bleeding, and they can cause nose bleeds, bleeding after dental procedures as well as heavy periods. The physicians at Highlands can diagnose these disorders and suggest treatment options to keep symptoms under control.

Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrial tissue, which normally grows only inside the uterus, implants in areas outside the uterus. During your monthly period, the endometrial tissue inside your uterus thickens, then breaks down and flows out of your body. When you have endometriosis, the uterine tissue implanted in other areas of your body does the same thing. However, since the tissue is not located in the uterus, it cannot flow out of your body. This can cause pain, scar tissue and cysts to form in the area of the implanted tissue.

In addition to pain and abnormal bleeding, endometriosis can cause difficulty getting pregnant. There are several treatment options for endometriosis, including medication to control pain, or laparoscopic surgery to remove the scar tissue and implanted tissues.

 

In your body, a group of muscles and ligaments make up the “pelvic floor” that holds your internal organs in their proper places. In some women, the pelvic floor may weaken, causing the internal organs to shift and drop near the vaginal area. Depending on which organs descend, symptoms can include urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, constipation, lower back pain, prolapsed organs and a variety of other symptoms.

In mild cases of pelvic relaxation, strengthening exercises can help reverse the condition. In other cases, a support can be inserted into the vagina or surgery may be needed to fully repair the relaxation.

 

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition in which multiple, small cysts appear on the ovaries. Women with PCOS often have difficulty ovulating, which causes low levels of progesterone, infrequent or missed periods and difficulty getting pregnant. PCOS can often be treated with medication, but sometimes surgery is required.

If you have received abnormal Pap results, a colposcopy may be performed to allow your physician to visually examine your cervix. The procedure is performed in much the same way as a Pap smear. During a colposcopy, a vinegar solution is placed on the cervix to make the abnormal cells more visible. (This is similar to applying peroxide to a cut and seeing the infected area turn white.) Then, a large microscope with a bright light called a colposcope is placed near your body so that your physician can clearly see the cervix. The colposcope allows your physician to see the abnormal cervical cells, and if your physician is able to view the entire abnormal area, a tissue sample may be taken and sent to the lab for further evaluation. 

 

Cryotherapy is a freezing procedure that destroys abnormal cells on the cervix. Cryotherapy is often performed during a colposcopy if the physician can see all of the abnormal cells. If your physician is unable to view the entire abnormal area, a LEEP procedure may be performed. 

 

If you have received abnormal results from a biopsy of your cervical cells, you may need a Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) to remove the abnormal cells present on your cervix. A LEEP procedure uses a thin loop of mildly electrically-charged wire to remove the abnormal cells.

As with a colposcopy, a vinegar solution may be applied to the cervix to make the abnormal cells more visible. Your physician then will numb your cervix and use the thin loop of wire to remove the cells.

With a LEEP procedure, only a small amount of normal tissue is removed along with the abnormal tissue and the tissue that is removed can be further examined to determine of other abnormalities are occurring deep into the cervical tissue. Most times, a LEEP procedure removes all of the abnormal cells and you will not require further surgery.

One of the most common surgical procedures for women is a hysterectomy, which involves the removal of the uterus. Women may require a hysterectomy due to uterine fibroids, endometriosis, abnormal uterine bleeding, or uterine prolapse. There are several surgical options available, and your doctor can discuss which one is right for you. Hysterectomies can be performed by a cut through the abdomen, a cut through the vagina, laparoscopic hysterectomy, supracervical hysterectomy and even hysterectomies completed with the help of da Vinci robotic technology. Highlands is one of the only practices in the area with a physician who specializes in da Vinci hysterectomies, which uses robotic technology and tiny incisions during surgery.