Gynecology Services

Regular Well-Woman Exams with CHOICES' Gynecology doctors and other medical professionals will make sure you are healthy and stay that way – and diagnose and treat any problems you may have. If you are sexually active, or are considering becoming sexually active, schedule an appointment to discuss birth control options – or how to take care of yourself for a good pregnancy. Your health and age will determine how often you should see a CHOICES GYN, ranging from six months, to once a year or every other year.  

Knowing what to expect and how to prepare for the exam will help make your CHOICES experience a good one; being prepared to raise your questions and concerns will help your gynecology specialists and doctors give you the best care possible. And that’s what we’re here for.  

If you are thinking, “what is going on down there?”, it may be time to schedule a special appointment with a CHOICES Gynecologist. Symptoms like painful vaginal sex, pelvic pain, extremely painful or heavy periods, abnormal looking or smelling discharge, abnormal redness or spots anywhere around your vagina, vaginal itchiness, or hormonal changes, could be indicators of something that needs treatment. 

It is important to get symptoms checked out and treated as soon as possible, as untreated infections or diseases can lead to chronic pain, infertility, or other more serious diseases. Even if you are not experiencing any symptoms but have recently had unprotected sex or have multiple sexual partners, it is important to get tested for STIs/STDs. 

Menstrual pain is any pain or cramping caused by your menstrual cycle (your period). There are many different treatment options, so it is important to discuss your symptoms with your provider to determine what’s best for you. The birth control pill can often help reduce cramping and promote more regular cycles, while some hormonal IUDs may temporarily get rid of your period all together. Anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil and Aleve can also be used to treat pain.  

The most important thing to remember with menstrual pain is that while some pain or cramping is normal, severe pain along with other symptoms may be a sign of an underlying problem – including endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) – that needs to be treated. Your regular periods should not be keeping you home from school or work, or from completing daily tasks.

CHOICES has pledged to remain a part of our patients’ healthcare throughout the passage of time and cycles of life and offers a list of services especially for seniors. For women, CHOICES is here to guide you through the pre-menopausal and menopausal changes that you experience.   

Our senior and mid-life services include hormone level testing, hormone replacement, nutritional counseling, counseling for age-related psychological problems, sexually transmitted disease screening and treatment, medical and holistic treatments for emotional and physical problems and referrals for osteoporosis screenings and mammograms.  

While some pain and cramping during your menstrual cycle is normal, severe pain that affects your day-to-day life is not. It may be a sign of an underlying issue. Endometriosis is one of the most common causes of pelvic pain, affecting more than 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years. Symptoms can include severe cramping and very painful periods, heavy bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, pain during sex, digestive/urinary issues, difficulty getting or staying pregnant, and hormonal issues. If left untreated, endometriosis can lead to infertility and severe chronic pain. While there is no cure yet, endometriosis can be treated hormonally (oral hormone pills or hormonal IUDs) and surgically (removal of endometrial tissue) to dramatically reduce most symptoms.  

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus. Fibroids are common (as many as 1 in 5 women will have them during childbearing years) and most commonly occur in women between the ages of 30 and 50. While some women may never know they have uterine fibroids and have no symptoms, some women may experience pelvic pain, pain with vaginal sex, heavy, painful, and long periods or irregular bleeding between cycles, frequent urination, and difficulty getting pregnant. Some uterine fibroids can just disappear on their own, but others may continue to cause severe symptoms or continue to grow and need medical treatment.  

A CHOICES Gynecologist can diagnose fibroids during a GYN visit with the use of sonogram imaging. Treatment for fibroids includes hormonal medication, non-invasive procedures that cut off blood supply to fibroids, or surgery in more severe cases. Because many fibroid symptoms can be very similar to symptoms of endometriosis and other reproductive health issues, it’s important to make an appointment for an evaluation. 

A Pap test (also known as a Pap Smear) is a test for cervical cancer. It is one of the most important gynecology tests a woman should have on a regular basis to keep healthy. In an examination room, the doctor gently swabs a tiny sample of cells from the patient’s cervix (the opening of the uterus). The sample is then sent to a lab to test for any abnormal cells. Abnormal cells do not mean the patient has cervical cancer, but further tests may be needed. 

Who should get a Pap Test?  

Women aged 21–29 years should have a Pap test alone every 3 years. Women aged 30–65 years should have a Pap test alone every 3 years or a PAP Test and an HPV test (co-testing) every 5 years (preferred). Over 65 years, no screening is needed.