Obstetrics & Gynecology at Orlando Health

Obstetrics & Gynecology

It’s true: A woman’s work is never done. But don’t let that keep you from seeing your obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) specialist regularly. Your OB-GYN provides vital routine screenings and exams to keep tabs on your health. They also treat conditions that are specific to women’s health, and offer expert guidance and care through every stage of life: from teenage years to family planning, pregnancy, menopause and beyond.

Want to learn more about which birth control option is best for you? Or how to be your healthiest before pregnancy? Maybe you just want to run, laugh and sneeze without embarrassing bladder leaks. Orlando Health OB-GYNs are here to help.

Prevention and Wellness

Your OB-GYN provider is an essential partner in your health. They can tell you which
well-woman preventive services are right for you, when to begin certain screenings, and how often you should have them based on your personal and family health history. Think of your OB-GYN as your personal women’s health and wellness coach.

Annual Exams and Screenings

You may be wondering why you need to see an OB-GYN specialist annually if you aren’t planning to get pregnant or if you already see your family doctor for an annual exam. But, if you have questions or concerns about your menstrual cycle, your reproductive health, urinary incontinence or menopause, your OB-GYN is the best person to talk to.

An annual gynecological exam (or well-woman exam) is also your opportunity to be screened for common cancers that affect women and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Every well-woman exam includes a general health screening for high blood pressure, body mass index, and a review of personal and family health history. From there, you and your OB-GYN provider will work together to customize your care. Your preventive care is based on your age, health and family history, and other risk factors.

Depending on your needs, your annual well-woman exam may include:

• A pelvic exam is a routine checkup to assess your gynecologic health. During the exam, the doctor will check your vulva, vagina, cervix, ovaries, uterus and pelvis for any abnormalities

• A pap smear to check for cervical cancer or HPV (the virus that causes most cases of cervical cancer)

• A breast exam to check for breast abnormalities

• A discussion to help you choose the right birth control for you

• A discussion about lifestyle choices that could hurt your reproductive and general health

• Immunizations for HPV, the flu, Tdap and more

• Pre-pregnancy counseling

• Screening for STDs

• Skilled counseling and treatment for female health problems such as:

  • Irregular or painful periods

  • Painful intercourse

  • Menopause symptoms

  • Bladder control

  • Trouble getting pregnant

  • Prenatal and postpartum depression

  • Domestic abuse

  • Other concerns you may have

Pregnancy Care and Screenings

If you’re pregnant, make an appointment with your OB-GYN now to begin prenatal care and screenings. Special care and screenings help you have the healthiest pregnancy possible. Part of your pregnancy care will include advice on nutrition, exercise and any vitamins you might need. Screenings help spot risks or conditions early on, before they cause complications for you and your baby.

You’ll have screenings throughout your pregnancy, which include:

• A complete blood count test to check for anemia (too few red blood cells) and other health problems

• Tests to check for hepatitis B and C, rubella, syphilis, chlamydia, and HIV

• Urine tests to diagnose urinary tract infections and preeclampsia (high blood pressure that’s new with pregnancy)

• A blood test to see if you have Rh-negative blood type and will need an Rho(D) immune globulin shot (prevents problems if your baby has Rh-positive blood)

• A glucose tolerance test to help diagnose gestational diabetes (high blood sugar during pregnancy, which can affect your baby’s health)

• A test to check for group B strep infection (which can affect your pregnancy and your baby’s health)

• Ultrasound imaging to check for birth defects or problems with the placenta

Setting Long-Term Health Goals

Whether or not you want to have children, it’s good to have a plan for how you’ll reach your short-term and long-term fertility goals.

Often called a “reproductive life plan,” this set of goals is your strategy for becoming a parent or preventing pregnancy. Your OB-GYN will help you make that plan and put it into practice. With a reproductive life plan in place, you’ll know exactly what kind of care you’ll need to reach your goals. This may include contraceptive, pre-pregnancy or infertility counseling.

Your OB-GYN can also help you set long term goals related to your overall health. If you have questions about diet, exercise or overall wellness, your doctor is here to help you make a plan for achieving your goals.

Ask your Orlando Health OB-GYN provider for more information about reproductive life planning and achieving any other health goals at your next appointment.

Vaccinations

Because of vaccines, many serious diseases that used to be common or deadly are now obsolete or less severe. Vaccines protect you and those around you from disease by using dead or weakened forms of bacteria or viruses to strengthen your immune system against the real thing. And if you’re pregnant, the benefits of immunizations are passed on to your baby.

Depending on your age and health history, your OBGYN provider may recommend getting the HPV vaccine to protect you from cervical cancer and genital warts. If you’re pregnant, your OB-GYN will recommend receiving the flu vaccine and the Tdap vaccine to protect your baby from the flu and whooping cough, which can be life-threatening for babies.

Orlando Health follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for vaccinations. Learn more about the recommendations for the HPV vaccine and maternal vaccines.

Questions for Your OBGYN

Your Orlando Health OBGYN is here to answer your questions. Make the most of your time during your next checkup by bringing a list of questions with you so you don’t forget to ask anything important. Some frequently asked questions are:

• Is my menstrual cycle normal?

• What tests and exams do I need, and how often do I need to have them done?

• What are all the types of birth control?

• What do I need to do to have a healthy pregnancy?

• What immunizations do I need?

• Am I going through perimenopause?