Gynecology

Gynecology is the medical care of the female reproductive system. This system includes your vagina, vulva and your internal reproductive organs: your cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus. Gynecologists are OB/GYNs, but some focus their practice solely on providing gynecologic care rather than treating women who are pregnant and delivering babies. At Ochsner, our obstetrics and gynecology teams work together when you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. But gynecological care involves so much more than pregnancy.

Starting in their teenage years, most women need regular gynecological care. Annual well-woman visits with an Ochsner gynecologist can help you remain in the best health. These visits may include:

• Breast exams

• Cervical cancer screenings

• Conversations about your sexual health and contraceptive options

• Pelvic exams

• Screening for domestic violence and mental health issues

• Testing for sexually transmitted infections

• Vaccinations to prevent hepatitis, HPV and other diseases

Your OB/GYN can help you with a wide range of problems that you might write off as just part of being a woman. However, a women’s health provider can diagnose and treat many of these conditions and help improve your health and quality of life.

Ochsner has gynecology offices and practitioners available throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. Find a location near you.

There’s no gynecological problem too big or too small for Ochsner gynecologists. We specialize in diagnosing and treating a wide range of gynecological conditions, including:

• Abnormal uterine bleeding — bleeding or spotting between periods

• Endometriosis — a condition that can cause painful cramping and infertility

• Fertility issues

• Heavy periods

• Human papillomavirus (HPV)

• Irregular menstrual cycles

• Menopause —phase that begins one year after your last period

• Ovarian cysts —a solid or fluid-filled sac within or on the surface of the ovary

• Pain during sex

• Pelvic floor disorders — a group of conditions that can cause incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, shifting of one or more organs in the pelvis that occurs when the muscles and tissues holding the pelvic organs in place become loose or weak

• Pelvic inflammatory disease — an infection of one or more of the female reproductive organs

• Pelvic pain

• Perimenopause — before menopause, marked by symptoms, such as hot flashes and emotional changes, as your hormones change

• Polycystic ovary syndrome — a hormonal disorder that causes ovarian cysts and can impact fertility

• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder — a severe form of premenstrual syndrome

• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) — when hormonal changes before your period cause mood swings and other symptoms

• Sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea and syphilis

• Unusual vaginal discharge

• Urinary incontinence — loss of bladder control

• Urinary tract infections — an infection in any part of the urinary system

• Uterine fibroids — benign tumors in the uterus that can affect your menstrual cycle

• Vaginal dryness

• Vaginitis — an inflammation of the vagina that can cause itching and pain

• Vulvar disorders, which may cause burning, itching or pain

• Yeast infections

Treating gynecological disorders can be complex. Some conditions may require a mixture of lifestyle changes and medications, while others may need surgery. At Ochsner, our gynecological team works with women to find treatment plans that work with their other needs, such as a desire to have children in the future or their sexual health needs. Treatment and diagnostic options may include:

• Biopsy

• Cryotherapy to remove abnormal cervical cells

• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), including vaginal estrogen creams and suppositories

• Hysterectomy — surgical removal of the uterus

• Hysteroscopy — using a miniature camera to examine the cervix and uterus

• Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) to remove abnormal cervical tissue

• Myomectomy — surgical removal of fibroids that leaves the uterus intact

• Ovarian cyst removal

• Pelvic floor therapy

• Pelvic prolapse surgery — corrects when the pelvic organs are no longer supported and drop down

• Removal of painful scar tissue

• Sterilization for permanent birth control

• Uterine fibroid embolization — a minimally invasive treatment to shrink fibroids

• Uterine polyp removal

Ochsner offers advanced surgical options for patients who need gynecological surgery. Whenever possible, we provide minimally invasive surgery with smaller incisions that speed healing time. Many surgeries are performed robotically, which allows surgeons to perform delicate and complex operations with increased precision.

Patients with gynecologic cancers have access to the wide expanse of Ochsner oncologic treatments, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation. Some patients may also qualify for our clinical trials.

According to research published in JAMA, 87% of women choose to use contraception at some point during their lifetime. For most women, these needs change over time. Your Ochsner gynecologist can help you decide which birth control methods work with your lifestyle and prescribe contraception such as:

• Cervical cap or diaphragm that you can insert in the vagina to cover your cervix

• Contraceptive patch, which may be placed on the skin weekly to deliver hormones

• Implant, or a rod that your provider inserts under your skin

• Intrauterine device, or IUD, which is implanted into the uterus

• Oral contraceptives, or birth control pills

• Sterilization (tubal ligation)

Your gynecologist can also help you assess the pros and cons of over-the-counter birth control methods, such as condoms for your partner. Your provider can also share information about when to stop prescription contraception before trying to get pregnant.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, girls should first see a gynecologist between the ages of 13 and 15. A gynecologist can help teens with period problems and answer questions about sex that a child may feel are too awkward to ask a parent. A gynecologist is also a great resource for questions about gender and sexuality. If your older teen is sexually active, a gynecologist can ensure they find the right birth control.

Recommendations for Pap tests (Pap smears) have changed in recent years, and you may not need one as frequently as you did in the past. A Pap test is performed during a pelvic exam and screens for abnormal cells on the cervix, which can be a sign of cervical cancer. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women start cervical cancer screenings at age 21 and get a Pap test every three years until age 29. Beginning at 30, women should get a Pap test every three years, a high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) test every five years, or a combined high-risk HPV and Pap test every five years. Most women over 65 do not need screening for cervical cancer.