Services:
Annual Exams
Contraception
Bladder Disorders
Pelvic Disorders
Infertility
Uterine Disorders
In-office Procedures
Aesthetic Services

Annual Exams

Good gynecologic care plays a critical role in a women’s overall health. The annual exam represents the first line of defense in identifying potential problems in the earliest stages. An annual exam is recommended for all women who are sexually active or over the age of 21.

Your physical exam includes a comprehensive breast exam and a pelvic exam. A pap smear will be taken to screen for cervical cancer. An HPV test may also be performed. HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus, a common, sexually transmitted virus which can lead to cervical cancer and genital warts.

Other Important Health Screenings
As we age, our risk of developing certain health concerns increases. Specialized tests can help identify potential problems at their earliest stages when treatment is most effective. Your provider may recommend one or more of the following tests depending on your health history.

Osteroporosis Screening
Osteoporosis is a disease that robs the body of bone strength making the bones fragile and prone to breaks. Women are four times more likely to develop this than men. Postmenopausal women are at the highest risk. A simple, painless screening procedure know as a Bone Mineral Density (BMD) scan is used to measure bone health. If you are over 50 with one or more of the risk factors for osteoporosis, your doctor may order a BMD scan. BMD or Dexa scans are performed in our office by our ISCD certified technician. For more information on risk factors, visit the National Osteoporosis Foundation or call our office.

Breast Cancer Screening
In addition to the clinical breast exam we conduct during your annual exam, the American Cancer Society recommends a yearly screening mammogram for breast cancer beginning at age 40.

Colon Cancer Screening
A colon cancer screening called a colonoscopy is recommended at age 50.

Contraception

Choosing the best birth control method for your lifestyle can be a daunting task. Aethena Gynecology Associates’ practitioners are experts in all methods of birth control and consider helping you navigate this often confusing area of medicine a top priority. Some important considerations for most women include safety, convenience, affordability, effectiveness and future pregnancy plans.

While your practitioner can help you understand the pros and cons to all methods of contraception, knowing your options in advance will make it easier for you to ask the right questions.

Birth Control Pills are a safe, convenient and effective form of birth control. Most must be taken daily. Many brands offer added benefits like reducing menstrual cramps, lightening periods and even reducing acne. Most oral contraceptive pills contain a combination of estrogen and progesterone, two hormones used to prevent ovulation and regulate menstrual cycles.

Depo-Provera is an injection of a hormone that prevents pregnancy for up to 3 months. It is safe, effective and particularly convenient for women who do not want to take a daily pill. The medication used is progesterone only, and can be administered to women who cannot take estrogen.

NuvaRing is the brand name for a small, flexible ring that is inserted into the vagina once a month to prevent pregnancy. It is left in place for three weeks and taken out for the remaining week of the month. A new ring is then inserted. Like the pill, it works by steadily releasing estrogen and progesterone hormones to prevent pregnancy.

Ortho Evra is a thin, plastic patch that sticks to the skin. A new patch is applied once a week for three weeks, followed by a patch-free week. It is safe and effective though there are indications the patch may be less effective in women weighing over 198 pounds. The patch contains both estrogen and progesterone.

IUD, short for Intrauterine Device, is a small T-shaped device inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancies. Unlike the IUD’s used in the 1970′s, today’s new generation of IUD’s are small, safe and highly effective devices. Aethena Gynecology Associates offers the ParaGard IUD, a hormone free device which is effective for 12 years and the Mirena IUD which is effective for 5 years and contains hormones (progesterone). Both Paraguard and Mirena are two of the least expensive and longest lasting forms of birth control available today.

A Diaphragm is a latex cup with a flexible ring that covers the cervix and acts as a barrier to prevent sperm from entering and fertilizing the egg. While it is not as convenient as some of the other birth control methods discussed, it has no effect on a woman’s natural hormones and can be a good lifestyle choice for less sexually active women.

Permanent Sterilization is currently the second most prevalent form of birth control used by American women. The most common method of permanent sterilization is tubal ligation, a surgical procedure that closes the fallopian tubes preventing sperm from being able to fertilize the egg.

An exciting new choice for permanent birth control is the Essure sterilization system approved by the FDA in 2002. It is a safe, simple and effective procedure without the risks of general anesthesia or the inconvenience of a lengthy recovery period. Soft flexible coils called micro-inserts are passed through the body’s natural pathways into each fallopian tube. The micro-inserts work with the body to form a tissue barrier that blocks sperm from reaching the egg.

Bladder Disorders

Over 35 million Americans suffer from bladder disorders. The term is used to cover a wide range of problems that can cause pain, urinary incontinence or symptoms which impact quality of life. Women are particularly susceptible to bladder disorders.

Aethena Gynecology Associates’ practitioners are experts in the diagnosis of bladder disorders including:

Incontinence. Many women are embarrassed by this problem and choose to suffer in silence rather than seek help. Urinary incontinence is a very common problem and there are many effective treatment options. If you are experiencing problems with incontinence, we urge you to be proactive in seeking help. Treatment options can be minimally invasive using the DaVinci robot.

Bladder/Urinary Tract Infections (UTI). Most bladder infections are caused by external bacteria traveling up the urethra. Because the female urethra is short, bacteria can easily enter the bladder. This partially explains why women are so much more likely to develop UTI’s than men. Bladder infections, when diagnosed early, can be easily treated with medication.

Pelvic Disorders

Pelvic disorders are among the most frequently misdiagnosed conditions in women’s health. Aethena Gynecology Associates practitioners have a high degree of expertise in this area, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to diagnosis.

Problems may include one or more of the following:

Endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus, the endometrium, grows in abnormal places in the abdominal cavity. The most common sites for endometriosis to grow are the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, and the lining of the pelvis, especially behind the uterus. It is characterized by pain during periods and intercourse and is also a frequent cause of infertility.

Pelvic Floor Disorders. Pelvic floor disorders occur when the pelvic muscles and connective tissues that hold the pelvic organs in place are weakened or injured. Because of the great stress pregnancy and childbirth exert on the pelvic floor muscles, pelvic floor disorders are very prevalent in women who have had multiple childbirths. The most common type is prolapse, or a dropping down of the uterus or bladder. Vaginal prolapse occurs when the top of the vagina loses support and can drop through the vaginal opening. Prolapse can effect the bladder, the uterus and cervix, the vagina, and the rectum. Treatment can range from exercise to physical therapy to surgical intervention, depending on the type and severity of the disorder. Treatment options can be minimally invasive using the DaVinci robot.

Infertility

Aethena Gynecology Associates diagnoses and treats a variety of conditions which can cause infertility. Our practitioners use a systematic approach consisting of a thorough history and physical exam, laboratory data, and imaging to help identify the cause of infertility. We then recommend management, either with medical intervention or surgery or a referral to an infertility specialist.


Uterine Disorders

Irregular or heavy menstrual bleeding is often the first sign there may be a uterine disorder. Aethena Gynecology Associates physcians have a high level of expertise in evaluating and treating uterine disorders including:

Adenomyosis. Adenomyosis is a very common condition found in women with heavy and/or painful periods. Menorrhagia is the medical term for heavy flow. Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for painful flow. Adenomyosis occurs when glandular endometrial cells, normally found lining the uterine cavity, invade the muscle of the uterus. This causes the uterine muscle to function abnormally. Many women with adenomyosis complain of very heavy menstrual flow and painful menstrual flow, often accompanied by passage of large blood clots vaginally.

While the exact cause of adenomyosis is unknown, some believe the condition occurs as a result of previous uterine surgery, such as a cesarean delivery. Adenomyosis typically does not respond well to management with medication. The definitive cure for adenomyosis is hysterectomy.

Fibroids. Fibroids are muscular tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus. They are almost always benign (non-cancerous). Fibroids are most common in women in their 40′s and early 50′s and can have a significant impact on a woman’s life. Moderate to severe pain, heavy menstrual bleeding and painful intercourse are common. Fibroids may also put pressure on the bladder or rectum, causing frequent urination, or rectal pressure respectively. Depending on the severity of symptoms, treatment for fibroids can range from medication to surgical removal or hysterectomy.

Polyps. Uterine polyps are formed by an overgrowth of normal tissue and are most common in women in their 40′s and 50′s. They are generally benign but in rare instances can contain cancerous cells. Symptoms include irregular or heavy menstrual bleeding, bleeding between periods or bleeding after menopause. Polyps are generally removed in a procedure called a hysteroscopy. A thin, flexible, lighted telescope (hysteroscope) is inserted through the vagina and cervix into the uterus. Your physician visually examines the inside of the uterus and removes any polyps. Tissue samples are sent to a pathologist who evaluates the polyp to ensure the specimens do not contain cancerous cells.

Uterine/Endometrial Cancer. There are two basic types of uterine cancer: uterine sarcomas and endometrial cancer. Uterine sarcomas grow in the muscles in the uterus and account for less than 5% of cancers of the uterus. Endometrial cancer begins in the tissue lining the uterus. It is the fourth most common cancer in American women. Most endometrial cancer develops in post-menopausal women, however precancerous conditions can be diagnosed earlier in life. It is a slow growing cancer and very treatable when diagnosed in its early stages. Risk factors include obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and a family history of endometrial cancer.

The most notable symptom of endometrial cancer is vaginal bleeding between periods or after menopause. Hysterectomy is generally recommended.

In-Office Procedures

Aethena Gynecology Associates board certified gynecologists are experts in minimally invasive approaches to a wide range of gynecologic problems including abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic pain, fibroids, sterilization and urinary incontinence. In-office procedures available at Aethena Gynecology Associates include:

We also offer the following in-office testing:

  • Urodynamics
  • Diagnostic Ultrasound
  • Bone Mineral Density (DXA)
  • Total Body Composition (DXA)

Aesthetic Services

We are pleased to offer the following Obagi Skin Care products for purchase at Aethena Gynecology!

Elastiderm eye cream or gel

Obagi Decolletage System

Obagi Rosaclear (Rosacea Treatment)

Obagi Clenziderm Acne Treatment

Professional C Serum (Antioxidant Facial Serum)

For information and prices, contact a member of our staff at 360.693.7878 or visit www.obagi.com

Begin your skin transformation today!