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...
