Let’s talk about the importance of women’s health. From menstruation to pregnancy to menopause and everything in between, our bodies and hormones are constantly adjusting and changing throughout these life transitions.
All too often, women might experience undesirable symptoms that come with these major life events. Menstruation can bring heavy bleeding and painful cramps. Pregnancy and childbirth can lead to a frequent urge to urinate. Menopause comes with a long list of side effects, the most notable being hot flashes.
You can always see a gynecologist in Jacksonville, NC, for help managing and treating these symptoms. But did you know you can also visit Coastal Carolina Internal Medicine P.A. for gynecology services from a member of our team? Although we are not gynecologists, we have certified Physicians Assistants who can perform Pap smears, annual physicals, and much more.
Let’s discuss why consulting a healthcare professional about your women’s health symptoms is crucial before we delve into our services.
The Importance of a Conversation
As your body changes, you might explain your symptoms away as “just being a woman” or as “nature taking its course on your body.” Even if it’s a normal or common occurrence in many women, that doesn’t mean you have to deal with it, and we encourage you to come to us with any concerns, discomforts, or questions. With support from a team of women who have had similar experiences, we promise to listen, educate, and guide you about your body’s changes.
We provide you with a safe, open space to speak about the most vulnerable topics. Although many women struggle with problems like leaking pee, vaginal dryness or itching, painful intercourse, and abnormal bleeding, they often don’t feel comfortable talking about it, not even to a gynecologist in Jacksonville. However, when you come to our internal medicine practice, we can validate your concerns and create a tailored treatment plan to help you. The first step starts with an annual physical or Pap smear, so we can assess your overall health.
Annual Physical Exam
A woman’s annual physical targets everything, not just your reproductive health. This includes a medical history review, a physical examination, and discussions of any concerns that you would like to bring up. We want to hear it all. Although it’s called a physical exam, we can discuss mental health conditions that are preventing you from living your life to the fullest.
Related Reading: Depression Treatment in Jacksonville
For your physical exam, we may conduct routine blood tests to monitor your health. This appointment gives us a blueprint for creating a personalized treatment plan.
We can determine the best services to help support your overall health, including, but not limited to:
- Stress management
- Nutritional guidance
- Immunizations
- Smoking cessation
We believe that providing you with this holistic and medical approach to women’s health can empower you to live a healthier lifestyle. While our team provides you with the support and resources you need, ultimately, your health and decisions are all under your control.
Pap Smears
You don’t always need to see a gynecologist in Jacksonville, NC, to receive a Pap smear. Starting at the age of 21, anyone with a cervix should begin receiving these routine tests to detect abnormal cervical cells, which can help catch cervical cancer early on. At Coastal Carolina Internal Medicine, P.A., we can perform Pap smears during your regular appointment.
For your comfort, we walk you through the entire screening process and explain its importance. Although you shouldn’t feel any pain during your Pap smear, many women still feel uncomfortable with the invasive nature of this test. We understand that, and do our best to make sure you’re comfortable and prepared for this quick, life-saving test.
Your provider will inform you about the procedure, the areas of contact, and the sensations you can expect at every stage. At most, you’ll feel light pressure or cramping, but not pain. Fortunately, you don’t need a Pap smear every year. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, your age determines the frequency of your cervical cancer screening:
- 21 to 29: Every 3 years
- 30 to 65: Every 5 Years
- Ages 65+: You can stop having pap smears if you have never had abnormal cervical cancer cells or cervical cancer, alongside 2 or 3 negative screenings in a row.
However, we may recommend more Pap smears or refer you to a gynecologist in Jacksonville, if you have a history of the following:
- Cervical Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Cervix Irregularities
- Organ Transplants
Abnormal Pap Smears: Next Steps
If we find any abnormalities, we will send a referral for you to visit a specialized gynecologist.
Common Concerns Among Women
As a team of nurses dedicated to helping men and women improve their health and quality of life, we’ve heard it all. We say this to re-emphasize the importance of vulnerability during your consultation, physical, or Pap smear. Although these symptoms may feel embarrassing or isolating, they are usually common and treatable.
Frequent Urge to Urinate
You may dread coughing or sneezing. Not because it indicates allergies or a cold, but because a little bit of pee leaks out when you do these actions.
This frequent urge may even wake you up multiple times a night, preventing you from getting a restful 7 to 9 hours of sleep. Many women struggle with urine leakage or the sudden, intense urge to urinate, but they just don’t talk about it.
You don’t need to see a gynecologist in Jacksonville, NC, for relief. Our team can explain why you constantly need to pee and how to fix it. Sometimes, this could indicate a urinary tract infection (UTI), which can be resolved with a round of antibiotics. Other times, certain medications or supplements act as diuretics, which make you pee frequently to help move extra fluid out of your body. Other times, your pelvic floor muscles can weaken, often due to pregnancy and childbirth. For this, we employ the use of the Emsella chair to stimulate and strengthen your muscles.
Vaginal Dryness and Irritation
From menstruation to menopause, most women have experienced vaginal dryness for various reasons. Although common, especially during menopause, you should seek medical care when experiencing it. Usually, this indicates a hormonal imbalance due to declining estrogen levels, which is a hormone responsible for keeping your vaginal lining moisturized and lubricated.
Vaginal dryness and itching not only affect your physical comfort, as it can cause pain when sitting, moving, and peeing, but it also takes a toll on your sexual wellness, causing pain during sex and preventing you from feeling fully aroused.
While this may seem like a concern to bring to a gynecologist in Jacksonville, our team can also address and treat this condition. For some women, restoring their hormone levels with hormone replacement therapy should help. For others, we will suggest the Emfemme vaginal rejuvenation device to tighten the vaginal tissues and reduce itching and dryness.
Want to learn how Emfemme works? Read this blog!
Contraceptive Management
Most notably, female contraceptives help sexually active women prevent pregnancy. With a variety of options, we can help you decide which birth control method works best for you. At Coastal Carolina, we offer the following:
- Oral Pills – Taken at the same time daily, these contraceptive pills contain estrogen and progestin to regulate your menstrual cycle and stop or slow ovulation.
- Contraceptive Implants – Placed under the skin of your arm, this birth control method releases progestin only, which thickens your cervical mucus and makes it harder for sperm to reach the egg. These require replacements every 3 years.
- Hormonal IUD – We place this T-shaped device into your uterus, where it releases progestin to prevent pregnancy for 3 to 8 years.
- Non-Hormonal IUD – Some women choose to use the copper IUD instead, because it doesn’t affect hormones. The copper creates an environment in the uterus that is unsuitable for fertilization. This birth control option can last up to 10 years.
You don’t need to see a gynecologist in Jacksonville, NC, to help you decide which contraceptive is right for you. Depending on your lifestyle and preferences, we can talk you through the benefits and side effects of each option. It’s also worth noting that hormonal birth control pills offer benefits beyond pregnancy prevention. For some women, they can offer menstrual pain relief, clearer skin, and reduced risk of ovarian or uterine cancers.
Menopause Symptoms
You would think the end of your menstrual cycle would bring relief—no more cramps, bleeding, or acne. Unfortunately, this end marks the beginning of your next stage of life: menopause. Women experience mood swings, night sweats, trouble sleeping, and much more. Based on your lab work and symptoms, we have a range of tailored options to help you find relief. While we mentioned some, like Emfemme and Emsella, other options are available as well. Sometimes, it’s as simple as lifestyle adjustments like exercise and diet to help ease the symptoms of declining estrogen.
Find Relief Through Vulnerability
You don’t have to suffer in silence, and you don’t have to wait to visit a gynecologist in Jacksonville, NC. Instead, you can speak to our nurses and team to help you find relief fast. It all starts with a conversation, where you will speak to another woman who listens attentively and educates you on your symptoms and treatments. To get started, you can try our treatment planning tool. Once we receive your submission, we will reach out to you with potential treatment options and available appointment times.
Alternatively, you can wait to speak with our provider face-to-face when you request an appointment.
