Gynecology

Abnormal or heavy bleeding is a very common reason for a woman to visit her gynecologist. Abnormal bleeding can have many different causes.

During your assessment your provider will want to perform a detailed medical history and physical exam. It is helpful to have a detailed or calendar history of when your bleeding has occurred (i.e., after intercourse, one week prior to your menstrual cycle).

There are many different causes of abnormal bleeding. Some are age specific. The most common causes of bleeding are uterine fibroids, polyps, side effects from contraception (including birth control pills, IUDs, Depo Provera), pregnancy/miscarriage and hormonal changes related to menopause.

You may be asked to perform blood work and have a radiologic exam such as an ultrasound to help determine the cause of your bleeding. In addition, your physician may wish to sample the lining of your uterus through an in-office biopsy. Depending on your final diagnosis, treatment plans may include observation, hormonal therapy, in office surgery or definitive treatment with a hysterectomy. To learn more, click here.

The first gynecologic visit should be between the ages of 13-15. Although the majority of these visits will not require a pelvic exam, they offer an opportunity to establish continuity with a provider regarding female-specific issues. In addition to these routine visits, we offer preventative maintenance exams, treatment for abnormal uterine bleeding, birth control and screening for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). We also offer the Gardisil vaccination for prevention of cervical cancer. Click here to learn more about adolescent gynecology.

All of our physicians offer annual well woman exams, which include a physical, breast exam, pap and pelvic exam. This exam is an excellent time to discuss any sexual or reproductive questions you may have with your physician. This is also an excellent opportunity to discuss which birth control option is best for you. Should your pap smear be abnormal, we offer management with initial colposcopy evaluation and, if needed, treatment with cryo-ablation, LEEP and/or repeated pap smears all in an office setting.

Abnormal Pap Smear

• Colposcopy
• LEEP
• HPV vaccination

At Women’s Healthcare of Western Colorado we offer both temporary and permanent birth control methods.  As there are many different types of birth control, we work with each patient to find a method that is suitable for her needs.  To learn more about birth control and your options, visit here.

Non-permanent birth control

• Condoms
• Birth control pills
• Patch (Ortho Evra)
• Vaginal Ring (Nuvaring)
• IUDs (Mirena and Paragard)
• 3 month Injectable (Depo Provera)
• Hormonal implant (Implanon)

Permanent birth control

• Essure tubal occlusion
• Laparoscopic tubal ligation

Occasional leakage of urine or urinary incontinence is common for any woman to experience. When leakage of urine is frequent, uncontrolled and interferes with daily activities, it is time to seek a medical evaluation.

There are several different types of incontinence. Stress incontinence occurs with sudden increases of abdominal pressure such as a cough, laugh or sneeze. Urge incontinence occurs when you have a strong sensation to urinate, but are unable to reach the restroom before leakage occurs. Mixed incontinence is a combination of both stress and mixed incontinence.

During your evaluation, your physician will conduct a detailed history and physical. She may also perform in-office bladder testing in order to decide which treatment is appropriate. For more information, click here.

The inability to become pregnant may be a frustrating time for you and your partner. At Women’s Health Care we evaluate for both female and male infertility and offer diagnosis and treatment. At your first office visit, it is important for both you and your partner to be present to discuss medical and surgical histories.  We will likely order laboratory and radiologic studies to evaluate for hormonal and structural problems leading to infertility. Once a diagnosis has been made, we offer treatment with medications and/or inseminations to achieve pregnancy. 

If your infertility issues require specialty care with a reproductive endocrinologist for in-vitro fertilization, we help facilitate the necessary lab work and ultrasounds so that your travel is minimized. We work with a number of reproductive endocrinologists in both Denver and Salt Lake City. If needed, we can help facilitate your referral to one of these specialists. 

Click here to learn more about infertility.

Menopause and perimenopause are times of great change and are experienced differently by each woman. Symptoms experienced by many women include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, insomnia, short-term memory loss, emotional changes and bleeding problems. We are happy to provide personalized consultations for the management and treatment of any of these symptoms you’re experiencing.

During these changes, we also believe it is important to focus on the prevention of important health issues including bone loss, breast health and cardiovascular health. Your annual exam is an excellent opportunity to address these important topics

Pelvic pain is a common complaint for any woman to have. When pain in your pelvic region disrupts your daily activity, it is important for you to contact your physician for an evaluation of its cause.

At your visit, your physician will need to conduct a detailed medical history and physical exam to help determine the cause of your pain. In addition to your office visit, you may be asked to have a radiologic study such as ultrasound or CT scan performed to examine your uterus, ovaries and lower abdomen for specific causes.

Gynecologic causes of pelvic pain include infection/pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, adenomysis and ovulatory pain. Some non-gynecologic causes of pelvic pain include: intestinal issues (constipation, irritable bowel), urologic or bladder causes (urinary tract infection, interstitial cystitis), muscular pains and depression.

You may be asked to keep a pain diary to help narrow the causes of your pain. Things you will be asked to document are specifics on timing of your pain with your menstrual cycle, intercourse, physical activity, bowel movements and urination. Click here for more information.

We provide screening and treatment for the following infections:

• Urinary tract infections
• Vaginal infections, including bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast
• Sexually transmitted diseases

We provide screening and treatment for the following STDs:

• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• Herpes
• HPV (including genital warts)
• Pubic lice/crabs
• Syphilis
• Trichomoniasis

If you feel that you are experiencing symptoms of any of these infections please call for an appointment for evaluation and treatment.

For more information on STDs, click here.