You may have heard of HPV. Perhaps you’ve even received the HPV vaccine. But how much do you really know about this important sexual health topic? For example, do you know that HPV, which stands for human papillomavirus, is the most common sexually transmitted infection in America? Do you realize that HPV...
Bleeding and pain are a normal part of menstrual periods. But if your periods subject you to very heavy bleeding and intense pain, you may be experiencing conditions known as menorrhagia (unusually heavy bleeding) or dysmenorrhea (significant menstrual pain). Don’t be tempted to just grit your teeth and put up...
Hysterectomy, a serious but fairly common procedure to remove a woman’s uterus, offers a safe, effective treatment option for various conditions. In some cases, a hysterectomy also includes removal of the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and/or cervix. At Virtuosa GYN in San Antonio, Texas, Susan Crockett, MD, and our team specialize...
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are surprisingly common. Approximately 1 in 5 Americans has an STD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Here at Virtuosa GYN in San Antonio, Texas, Susan Crockett, MD, and her all-female team of gynecology care providers believe that having accurate knowledge is...
Your uterus is lined with a type of tissue known as endometrial tissue. This tissue is supposed to grow only within your uterus. But in women with endometriosis, endometrial tissue develops outside your uterus, in such places as your ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, or even your intestines. At Virtuosa GYN...
Having urinary incontinence means you can't hold your urine, right? That's true, but it doesn't tell the whole story. Women can experience various types of incontinence. And although the different kinds of incontinence share some common features, they are also somewhat different in their causes and symptoms. The first step...
In the past, surgery for certain women's health conditions required surgeons to make significant incisions in a patient's abdomen. A cut would have to be large enough for the surgeon to insert their hands and any necessary tools needed to perform the procedure. Fortunately, advances in surgical tools and techniques...
Ovarian cysts are a very common women's health condition. In fact, as many as 18% of women have them at some point in their lives. There’s a chance you may develop an ovarian cyst and there’s so much misinformation out there about what they are and how they may affect...
Perhaps you release some urine when you laugh, sneeze, or go for a run. Maybe you can't sleep through the night without having to go to the bathroom several times. Or you may experience sudden urges that send you searching desperately for a restroom in the grocery store or on...
Your pelvic region contains a variety of organs, including your bladder, cervix, rectum, urethra, uterus, and vagina. These organs are supported by tissue and muscles that form a structure known as your pelvic floor. When your pelvic floor cannot adequately support your pelvic organs, you may experience a condition known...
During the years leading up to menopause, your body produces lower levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. This normal part of aging leads to the cessation of your monthly menstrual periods. Some women get through menopause and perimenopause (the 5-10 years before menopause) without uncomfortable symptoms. But others...
Your uterus is lined with a specific type of tissue that should only grow inside your uterus. This is known as endometrial tissue. But in women with a condition known as endometriosis, endometrial tissue grows in places where it shouldn't, such as your fallopian tubes, ovaries, bladder, rectum, and elsewhere...
If you’ve never heard of vulvodynia, you’re not alone. Most women can’t explain what the word “vulvodynia” means. But they may know how it feels, even if they don’t know what it’s called. Vulvodynia is a condition that results in chronic pain in the area around the vulva, which is...
You probably know that urinary incontinence is a condition in which you can’t control your bladder as well as you used to. But you may not realize that there are different types of urinary incontinence with different causes and treatments. One type of urinary incontinence is known as overflow incontinence....
Is your vagina feeling different than it used to? Changing hormones levels could be to blame. Hormones are chemicals made by your endocrine system. They act as messengers in your body and have an impact on many of your body’s functions, including reproduction, growth, and metabolism. Female sex hormones —...
Heavy menstrual bleeding is more than just an inconvenience. Having longer-than-normal periods and periods that result in excessive blood loss can interfere with your quality of life. They can even cause health problems if you lose so much blood that your iron levels sink and you develop anemia. When you...
You may think of a gynecologist as the specialist who performs your yearly pelvic exams. You’re right — she is. But gynecologists do so much more than that, overseeing every aspect of a woman’s health. If you have a yearly well-woman visit coming up, don’t think of it as just...
Aging, childbirth, excess weight, and hormonal changes can put pressure on the muscles and tissue in your pelvis. In some women, this pressure can lead to a condition known as pelvic organ prolapse. When pelvic organ prolapse occurs, organs in your pelvic area may drop downward from their normal position....
Ovarian cysts — fluid-filled or solid sacs that develop in or on a woman’s ovaries — are quite common in premenopausal women. Most ovarian cysts are small and cause no noticeable symptoms. But as many as 8% of women develop ovarian cysts that are large enough to require treatment. Here...
When you hear the phrase “robotic surgery,” you may picture a science fiction scene in which a Star Wars-type robot stands at an operating table performing surgery. Although it’s funny to think of C-3PO doing operations, the reality of robotic surgery looks much different. Despite what its name implies, robotic...
A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes your uterus. It is an effective treatment for various types of women’s health conditions. But having a hysterectomy could increase your chances of developing incontinence, a condition in which you leak urine. Here at Virtuosa GYN in San Antonio, Texas, our caring...
There are many ways to help keep your vagina healthy: practicing safe sex, having yearly well-woman check-ups, exercising regularly, and having any infections treated as quickly as possible. But you may not realize that eating a healthy diet and choosing certain foods can also promote vaginal health. At Virtuosa GYN...
Beginning at around age 21, you should have a Pap smear as part of your annual gynecologic well-woman exam. A Pap smear checks for changes in your cervix that could eventually develop into cervical cancer. A Pap smear is a simple but important test. In the past, cervical cancer was...
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are surprisingly common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are about 20 million new STDs in the United States each year. Of these, about 9 million cases occur in women. About half of these infections occur in people ages 15-24. You may...
During your annual gynecology exam, you may receive a Pap test, also known as a Pap smear. A Pap test is a screening exam that looks for the presence of abnormal cells in your cervix that could be associated with cervical cancer. Chances are, your Pap test results will be normal. For...
Women make choices about birth control based on a variety of factors. One of the top considerations is their effectiveness. When it comes to preventing pregnancy, birth control pills and implants are both very effective. But which is better? Here at Virtuosa GYN in San Antonio, Texas, our care providers know...
Uterine fibroids are muscular growths that develop in a woman’s uterus. Also known as leiomyomas or myomas, uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that are common in women of childbearing age. Here at Virtuosa GYN in San Antonio, Texas, our women’s health care providers have extensive expertise in diagnosing and treating...
Premenopausal women bleed each month as part of their menstrual cycle. On average, periods last up to about eight days and occur every 24-38 days, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Some women experience abnormal bleeding. This can occur when you have bleeding or spotting between periods,...
During your menopausal years, your ovaries make increasingly lower levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Decreasing hormone levels can cause a variety of menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and vaginal dryness. For some women, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can relieve menopausal symptoms and help restore quality of life. HRT...
Your pelvis contains several important organs, including your bladder, vagina, rectum, urethra, and uterus. A group of muscles known as the pelvic floor muscles hold these organs in place. When your pelvic floor muscles and the tissues connecting them can’t adequately support your pelvic organs, a condition known as pelvic...
Pelvic pain can occur anywhere below your belly button and between your hips. It may include your abdomen, genitals, or lower back. Pelvic pain can cause more issues than just discomfort. It can interfere with your intimate relationships and quality of life. Your pain may be mild and occasional, or...
Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes a woman’s uterus. After a cesarean section, it is the most frequently performed surgical procedure among women of reproductive age in the United States. Here at Virtuosa GYN, we’re experts at determining whether you need a hysterectomy. Our OB/GYNs have extensive experience performing...
Endometriosis is a medical condition that occurs when the type of tissue that lines the inside of your uterus grows in places where it doesn’t belong. Endometrial tissue may grow on your ovaries, fallopian tubes, or even your intestines or bladder. Endometriosis, which affects about 10% of women in the...
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop within a woman’s uterus. They are fairly common, especially among women in their 30s and 40s. Uterine fibroids are not cancer, but having them could lead to serious complications and frustrating symptoms, including pain, heavy periods, or infertility. However, treatment can help. If...
You’re at work, feeling fine, doing your job, and suddenly you’re hit with an internal heat wave. It’s a menopausal hot flash. Without warning, your face feels flushed and sweat gathers on your face and body. You’d give anything to cool off in front of a fan. Hot flashes are...
How familiar are you with human papillomavirus (HPV)? If you don’t know much about it, you probably should, because it affects about 80% of women at some point in their lives. At Virtuosa GYN in San Antonio, Texas, we believe all women should educate themselves about HPV. We would like...
May is National Osteoporosis Month, which means that now is the time to make sure you’re doing everything you can to help protect your bones. Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones become thin, weak, fragile, and prone to breaking. Approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and another 44...
In the past, surgeons performed most gynecology operations via open surgery, which requires a large incision in a woman’s belly. But now, thanks to exciting advances in surgical techniques, many types of gynecological surgery can be performed with much smaller incisions. For example, laparoscopic surgery uses several tiny incisions rather...
If you’re experiencing any kind of pain in the lower part of your abdomen — an area known as your pelvic region — it’s important for you to have a medical checkup. Pelvic pain can signal serious medical conditions that require care. And treatment can relieve pain that interferes with...
If you’ve ever leaked urine or had trouble getting to the bathroom quickly enough, you’re not alone. Almost half of all women leak urine at some point in their lives — a condition known as urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence can be frustrating and embarrassing. Fortunately, treatment can make a difference....
Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue in your uterus grows where it doesn’t belong. For example, it may grow on the outside of your uterus or on your ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, or intestines. Unfortunately, endometriosis may interfere with your ability to get pregnant or carry a pregnancy...
Women going through menopause can experience a variety of unpleasant symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, urinary incontinence, sleep problems, mood changes, decrease in libido, and memory problems. Many of these changes are linked to a decreased production of the female hormone estrogen. Some women with annoying menopause...
If you’re unfamiliar with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), you’re not alone. Many women don’t know much about it, although it affects as many as 10% of those of childbearing age. And, unfortunately, women with PCOS, which can interfere with fertility, may not realize they have the condition until they try...
Ovarian cysts are solid or fluid-filled sacs that form within your ovaries. Many women develop ovarian cysts at some point in their lives. These cysts typically form during ovulation, which is the time during your monthly cycle when one of your ovaries releases an egg. Ovarian cysts sometimes cause pain...
Each month, the lining of your uterus thickens to ready itself for pregnancy. If you don’t conceive and a fertilized egg doesn’t implant in your uterine wall, your uterus sheds its lining and a menstrual period occurs.During a menstrual period, your body loses an average of about 2.7 ounces (60...
Many women experience pelvic pain at some point in their lives. According to some estimates, close to 40% of women of reproductive age report pelvic pain to their primary care physicians. Some women have come to expect pelvic pain, especially during their monthly periods, and while pelvic pain is a...
Each year, about 600,000 women in the United States have a hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the uterus. It is second only to cesarean section as the most commonly performed surgery on women. Women receive hysterectomies as a treatment for variety of conditions, including uterine fibroids, endometriosis, uterine prolapse, abnormal...
