Partners | Obstetrics & Gynecology
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We are an OBGYN group devoted to the care of womenshealth throughout all stages of life.Our goal is to provide the best possible health outcomes for you.
Partners | Obstetrics & Gynecology
4y ago
ALCAT Testing
What is a food allergy?
A food allergy is when your immune system reacts to certain foods. Your body makes IgE antibodies to these foods. Food allergies can very serious: reactions include hives, sneezing, angioedema or swelling . Food allergies can also trigger anaphylaxis, which can lead to trouble breathing and can be life-threatening. Common foods that make up most food allergies are: cow’s milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts and wheat. There are several validated tests accepted for the evaluation of food allergies however ALCAT ..read more
Partners | Obstetrics & Gynecology
4y ago
Prevention of Osteoporosis and Vitamin D Deficiency
Osteoporosis is a disorder of the bone that makes it more likely to break. Osteoporosis prevention should start when women are young and continue throughout their lifetime. Of course, calcium and vitamin D is better if it comes from your diet, but if this is not possible, then a supplement would be recommended.
The Institute of Medicine recommends the following amounts daily:
Age (years)
Calcium recommended dietary allowance (mg/day)
Vitamin D recommended dietary allowance (IU/day)
9-18
1300
600
19-50
1000
600
51-70
1200
600
71 and ..read more
Partners | Obstetrics & Gynecology
4y ago
Having a Baby Means Sharing Everything: Why Carrier Screening Matters
When you think about having children, you might think about what you’ll pass down to your children. Your height? Your eye color? But did you know that there are certain aspects of you that can be passed onto your children that you may not even know about. Genetic carrier screening allows us to look at your genes to understand aspects about you that could potentially affect your baby’s health.
What is Carrier Screening?
Carrier screening is a type of genetic testing that looks at your genes to see if you are a carrier for cer ..read more
Partners | Obstetrics & Gynecology
4y ago
How much exercise do I need?
Poor diet and physical inactivity, resulting in an energy imbalance (more calories consumed than expended), are the most important factors contributing to the increase in overweight and obesity in this country.
So Americans need to make time to exercise and find a way to work the recommended amount of physical activity into a busy schedule, whether its 30 minutes or 90. The good news: you can do it in bits and pieces!
For most healthy adults, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends these exercise guidelines:
Aerobic activity. Get at least 150 minute ..read more
Partners | Obstetrics & Gynecology
4y ago
What is GBS?
Group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GBS) is a common type of bacteria that is often found in the reproductive tract, urinary tract or digestive tract of healthy women and men. This means that the bacteria is supposed to be present in these areas. This bacteria does not usually cause serious illness and most individuals with the bacteria do not show symptoms. One in four adult women will be colonized with GBS vaginally or rectally. GBS is not sexually transmitted.
Why do we test for GBS during pregnancy?
A woman who has GBS later in pregnancy can potentially pass GBS on to her ba ..read more
Partners | Obstetrics & Gynecology
4y ago
Everyone talks about chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV. But there is another STI (Sexually transmitted infection) that is much more common — HPV, or Human Papillomavirus.
What is HPV?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. Nearly all sexually active women and men will have HPV at some point in their lives. There are over 150 types of HPV. Low risk types of HPV cause genital warts while high risk types of HPV can lead to cancers including cancer of the cervix, vagina, vulva, mouth/throat, anus/rectum and penis. HPV is spread by intimate skin-to-skin co ..read more
Partners | Obstetrics & Gynecology
4y ago
In recent months there has been a surge (pun intended) of media and patient interest in energy-based devices to treat gynecologic symptoms such as vaginal laxity, pain with intercourse, vaginal atrophy, dryness, itching, urinary incontinence and other concerns related to menopause and sexual function. There are two main categories of these devices: laser technology and radiofrequency energy. The underlying principle is to promote the body’s natural collagen production process and improve cellular integrity, tone, function and lubrication.
In early research, radiofrequency energy de ..read more
Partners | Obstetrics & Gynecology
4y ago
Drs. Kohls and Votel spent a week in Honduras working with One World Surgery which functions within an organization called NPH, Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, “our little brothers “. NPH has ranches in Mexico and Central America that house orphaned children as well as those whose parents cannot care for them and gives them education, health care and instruction in trades through high school. The kids can continue to college and even beyond if they so choose. A few in NPH Honduras have done that and have come back to work on the ranch and at the Holy Family Surgery Center which is ..read more
Partners | Obstetrics & Gynecology
4y ago
Many women have taken a pregnancy test. But what is being tested when you pee on a stick? Is it a hormone? Is it a chemical, like estrogen or progesterone, or maybe testosterone if the baby is a boy?
The urine pregnancy test is looking for a chemical called beta hCG. This is actually secreted by the embryo. The beta hCG then passes into the mother’s bloodstream and is eventually filtered through the kidneys. From the kidneys, the chemical passes in the urine. Hence, it can be detected in the urine and in the blood. Except in rare cases, a positive beta hCG in the urine or blood mean ..read more
Partners | Obstetrics & Gynecology
4y ago
There has been a recent discussion and trend towards gentle cesarean sections. The question is what does this mean? What happens during a cesarean section?
For those of us who have had cesarean sections (me included, I’ve had three), the experience can be disconnected. Or in other words, a little surgical. I’ll use myself as an example. When the decision was made to have a cesarean section with my first, I was wheeled into the operating room, given a re-bolus of my epidural. They laid me down, tilted me to the left, and then wiped my belly clean with sterile solution. Then the drapes went o ..read more