When was the last time you decided to visit a healthcare provider? Regardless of feeling healthy, scheduling an appointment at least twice a year is essential. Consulting a provider allows medical wellness to be updated and detect any problem that might be underlying. Particularly for women, consulting an obstetrician and gynecologist (OB/GYN) like Dr. Elaine Eustis Mount Pleasant is vital to keep complications with your reproductive health at bay. If you are concerned about when you should see an OB/GYN, the following are reasons you should visit these practitioners regularly.
Managing Menopause
Menopause can contribute to several symptoms that sometimes feel uncomfortable, devastating, and mortifying. However, you do not have to go through this tough period alone. OB/GYN can assist you in managing its symptoms, such as night sweats, vaginal dryness, and hot flashes. The provider starts by comprehensively evaluating your body before recommending a treatment. After examination, some treatments they can recommend include hormone therapy, biofeedback, and natural herbal over-the-counter options if needed.
Monitoring Your Fertility
Regardless of whether you do not intend to give birth right now or are not to get pregnant soon, OB/GYN can aid you in managing your fertility. If you are interested in preventing pregnancy, these specialists are dedicated to helping you choose the right type of birth control for your lifestyle and personal needs. Besides, they help you prepare your body for conception if you plan to have children soon. OB/Gyn screen your for any issue that might complicate your conception and provide solutions.
Irregular Menstruation
Irregular periods can result from pregnancy, health conditions, and stress. If a woman is concerned about her menstrual period, she must immediately make an appointment with an OB/GYN. Ignoring the condition can contribute to reproductive complications later on. If you have stopped seeing your periods, or become irregular, informing the provider is integral. OB/GYN can offer various medications, including oral contraceptives with the hormone progesterone and estrogen, to assist in managing your periods.
Pap Smear Treatment
You should receive a pap smear to prevent cancer and other health complications. Females aged 21 years and above should consider visiting an OB/GYN regularly for this simple and faster procedure. While it may seem common sense, several women who fail to receive a Pap smear, as suggested by providers, regret it. Therefore, it is high time to visit your OB/GYN specialist to enjoy the benefits of a Pap smear procedure.
Receiving Pelvic Examination
Your OB/GYN will inspect your interior and exterior vagina and reproductive organs. They use a speculum to open the vagina’s walls and peer inside. While feeling your cervix and vagina, the doctor will press down your belly and ask for any tenderness and pain you may encounter. You might be prone to infection or other problems if you notice these symptoms. Even though this visit may appear uncomfortable, it is essential to get screening for any enlargements, tumors, cysts, and other potential abnormalities.
This article has expounded on some important reasons to schedule an OB/GYN specialist appointment, including Pap smear tests, irregular periods, and menopause management. Now, you should select the right provider you are satisfied with to create a bold relationship and make regular appointments. This process will enable your provider to have an understanding of your health and medical history, making treatment an easy task. While discussing your reproductive status feels complex and worrying, you should not hesitate to inform an OB/GYN because they aim to help and not judge.