Male Infertility
You will be seen for a general physical exam, including examination of your genitals. Specific fertility tests may include:
- Semen analysis
- Hormone testing.
- Genetic testing.
Female Infertility
You will be seen for a general physical exam, including examination of your genitals. Specific fertility tests may include:
- Hysteroscopy
- Sonohysterography
- Ovulation testing
- Hysterosalpingography.
- Ovarian reserve testing.
- Laparoscopy
Infertility Treatments
Treatment of Male Infertility
At Progressive Women’s Health we evaluate and treat male infertility. Referral to assisted reproductive techniques are made when appropriate.
- Lifestyle factors. Improving lifestyle and behavioral factors can improve chances for pregnancy, including medications, substances abuse, improving frequency and timing of intercourse, regular exercise. Discontinue testosterone if pregnancy is desired.
- Medications. Certain medications like clomiphene may improve a man’s sperm count and chances of pregnancy. These medicines may increase testicular function, including sperm production and quality.
Treatment for Female Infertility
At Progressive Women’s Health we can help women conceive by following techniques. Most of our patients are able to achieve pregnancy. In some cases, referral to reproductive endocrinology is necessary.
- Ovulation induction with fertility drugs. Fertility medications usually first line treatment for women who are infertile due to ovulation disorders. These medications induce ovulation. Clomiphene and letrozole are commonly prescribed for ovulation induction
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI). During IUI, sperm are placed in the uterus around the time of ovulation and one or more eggs to be fertilized. IUI can be performed with or without the use of medications.
- Fertility Surgery. Uterine problems such as endometrial polyps, a uterine septum or intrauterine scar tissue can be treated with hysteroscopic surgery.
Polycystic ovary syndrome
PCOS can cause infertility and abnormal uterine bleeding
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS, cysts in the ovaries) is caused when certain hormones are out of balance. PCOS patients have difficulty getting pregnant. PCOS is usually associated with obesity, hirsutism, infertility, diabetes and abnormal menstrual bleeding.
At Progressive Women’s Health we want to provide a complete solution for PCOS including diagnosis, infertility evaluation, medical weight loss, and treatment. Referrals to reproductive endocrinology are also available.
Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids may have the following symptoms:
- Excessive or painful bleeding during menstruation
- Intermenstrual bleeding
- Swollen abdomen
- Frequent urination due to enlarging mass in the abdomen
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Low back pain
- Infertility
We at Progressive Women’s Health can help you with diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic fibroids. Different treatment options include hormonal suppression, Hysterectomy, Uterine fibroid embolization, Endometrial ablation (smaller fibroids).
Endometrial ablation
Endometrial ablation treats heavy menstrual bleeding
Endometrial ablation is a procedure that surgically ablates the endometrial lining of the uterus. Endometrial ablation reduces menstrual bleeding. In some women, menstrual bleeding actually stops completely.
Endometrial ablation is considered minimally invasive. No incisions are needed for endometrial ablation.
At Progressive Women’s Health we perform most of our endometrial ablation procedures in the office to keep discomfort to a minimum. In rare instances, procedures must be performed in a medical facility equipped to handle more sensitive cases.
Postmenopausal bleeding
Menopause is defined as the cessation of menstrual cycle for 12 months.
Vaginal bleeding after menopause is very alarming and should be evaluated by ultrasound. D&C, hysteroscopy is usually needed to evaluate postmenopausal bleeding.
Postmenopausal vaginal bleeding can be caused by:
- Cancer of the uterus, including endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma
- Cancer of the cervix or vagina
- Lack of estrogen leading to thinning of the lining of the uterus.
- Uterine anatomical defects like fibroids or polyps
- Infection of the uterine lining (endometritis)
- Medications such as hormone therapy and tamoxifen
- Pelvic Injury and laceration
- Bleeding from the urinary tract or rectum
If you have postmenopausal bleeding it is important to make an appointment to see an OBGYN urgently.
Menopause
All about Menopause
Menopause, a common sign of aging, marks the ending of female menstruation [period]. The term simply means the end of monthly bleeding in women. But this doesn’t happen in a day. There is an intermediary lap that occurs due to decreased production of eggs in women’s reproductive organs.
The bothersome physical and mental transitions in women during this phase are quite normal. The average age of women undergoing the aforementioned changes varies from 50-51 years, typically beginning at the age of 40 years. However, one of every 100 women encounters this phenomenon before the age of 40.
Indications of midlife crisis can be so subtle that it might not be easy for a woman to notice the fact that she might be entering menopause or early menopause. There are many symptoms that may be associated with it, such as decreased hormone production, but not all women experience the same symptoms. It’s quite common to have one or more of the following symptoms:
Some signs of Menopause – The Changes You May Experience
- Hot or cold flashes – An absurd but common evidence of menopause is experiencing hot or cold flashes. A woman experiences uncomfortable transitions in the body resulting in a sudden rise in overall body temperature undergoing this phase of life.
- Emotional roller coaster – Laughing followed by crying for petty reasons in the next is one of the most common symptoms of discontinuance of menstrual cycle. Like pre-menstrual-syndrome, see-sawing emotions, feelings of irritability or moodiness during this period is caused by natural hormonal fluctuations.
- Disrupted/disturbed sleeping patterns – Menopause can often lead to calcium deficiencies resulting in restlessness, inability to sleep, along with irregular sleeping patterns in many women. A lack of sound sleep can be very tiring and troublesome, further acting as a catalyst to many other emotional ailments such as feeling emotional or experiencing moodiness.
- Irregular or abnormal menstrual cycles – Apparently, a woman undergoes many transitions in their menstrual cycle in this stage of life, finally culminating in a failure to menstruate at all. Being unaware of the disturbances in the period cycle, many women report the unusual duration of periods, varied bleeding patterns along with skipped periods even before menopause might take place.
- Vaginal dryness – Reduction in Estrogen [female hormone] level midst the breaking of a menstrual cycle is one of the main reasons for vaginal dryness in females.
- Bloating or gastrointestinal problems – Due to hormonal imbalance in the body during menopause, many women have to endure hindrances in the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal system. For instance, changes in estrogen level and progesterone levels can cause constipation, indigestion, diarrhea, and abnormal disruptions to usual bowel pattern.
- Bodily changes – The most feared out indication of this stage is weight gain. As a natural phenomenon of aging, every woman goes through gradual loss or gain of muscle mass which further instigates hair loss, brittle nails, changes in odor and irregular heartbeat.
- Other general indications – Headaches due to muscle tension along with discomfort or tenderness in breasts and a subsequent lack of energy and weakness, in general, are common signs seen in women during this phase, which should not be ignored. Also due to drastic hormonal changes, a menopausal woman can easily get upset or shed a tear without any reason at all. This unpredictable changes in mood or emotions could be difficult to cope up with at times
All these symptoms must be looked up to with concern and consider professional help from a gynecologist throughout this point of life.
Any women experiencing menopause should adopt a healthy lifestyle which is essential in combating the majority of complications.
Also, women should acknowledge the fact that cessation of one’s menstrual cycle does not indicate closure of their innings rather it is a perfect time to pamper and reward yourselves by taking utmost care of your personal well-being.
