Procedures

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the U.S. according to the secondCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. Statistics show about 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer over their lifetime. Although it is not always possible to prevent breast cancer, it can be detected early with breast care processess. Finding breast cancer through mammography often allows localized cancers to be removed without resorting to mastectomy (breast removal).

What Is A Mammogram?

A mammogram is a type of low-dose x-ray that enables a radiologist to identify changes in the breast tissue. These tests are often recommended to women as they get older to detect and diagnose breast disease, as well as to women with complaints of breast pain, lumps or nipple discharge. Mammograms usually detect breast cancers, cysts and benign tumors before they can be detected by palpation.

There are two main forms of mammograms: screening mammograms and diagnostic mammograms. Screening mammograms typically are used to find signs of breast cancer in women who have not experienced any symptoms. During a screening mammogram, x-rays are taken of the breasts from different angles to get an in-depth view of the tissues.

Diagnostic mammograms are used to look at the breasts if a woman has experienced certain symptoms or if a change was seen on a screening mammogram. During a diagnostic mammogram, the radiologist takes extra images of the breasts for diagnostic purposes. In some cases they will look at the breast with ultrasound as well. Diagnostic mammograms may also be used for women who previously have been treated for breast cancer.

Women have received mammograms for more than 30 years. Over the past 15 years, there have been many incredible technological advancements that have greatly improved the techniques used and the accuracy of the results.

Why Should You Get A Mammogram For Breast Care?

Breast cancer may develop long before you feel a lump. Mammograms are an invaluable tool for detecting breast cancer early. When diagnosed early, localized breast cancer has a 99 percent five-year survival rate according to the American Cancer Society.

The average mammogram takes about 20 minutes, making it a worthwhile investment of time to potentially save your life. Mammograms drastically reduce the risk of needing a mastectomy. A mastectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all breast tissue as a way to prevent or treat breast cancer.

In the early stages of breast cancer, a patient may receive several treatment options in addition to mastectomy such as a lumpectomy. A lumpectomy is a breast-conserving surgery in which only the tumor is removed from the breast. While both procedures are effective for preventing breast cancer, a lumpectomy is not suitable for all patients with breast cancer.

Women who have experienced abnormal breast pain or other symptoms should undergo a mammogram. Mammograms allow your physician to evaluate breast pain when patient histories or physical examinations are not conclusive. New lumps in the breast or armpit, thickening or swelling of the breast, dimpling or irritation of breast skin, pulling in of the nipple, flaky or reddened skin around the nipple, or nipple discharge (including blood) may be symptoms of breast cancer.

Who Should Get A Mammogram?

According to the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) and the American College of Radiology (ACR), women should start receiving annual mammograms starting at age 40. Mammograms should be performed yearly until 54 when mammograms can be extended to every two years if desired.

Women at an increased risk of breast cancer, such as patients using hormone replacement therapy or those with a family history, past breast cancer or genetic tendency, should speak with their healthcare provider about the benefits of more frequent mammograms.

Are Mammograms Safe?

Mammograms are considered safe as they only expose the breasts to a small amount of radiation. The benefits of undergoing a mammogram usually outweigh any possible harm caused by radiation exposure. Today, mammogram machines emit only a low radiation dose to create high-resolution images.

If there is a chance that you may be pregnant, it is important to tell the x-ray technologist. However, mammograms usually can be performed safely during pregnancy if a woman is suspected to be at risk for breast cancer.

Schedule An Appointment Today For Your Breast Care

To prepare for a mammogram, it is important to first choose a certified mammogram facility. Schedule a time for the test when your breasts are least likely to be tender such as two weeks after your last period.

Bring any prior mammogram images you may have to the facility and do not wear deodorant before the test. The metallic particles in creams, lotions, perfumes and antiperspirants will be visible on your mammogram. For more information or to schedule a visit, contact Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness, PA.

Mammograms save lives by detecting breast cancer in its earliest stage when treatment is still a viable option. A mammogram is a noninvasive x-ray used to check breast tissue for abnormalities long before symptoms can be felt.

Regular mammograms help improve a woman’s odds of survival in the event that she is diagnosed with breast cancer. They can also help prevent the need for extensive treatment if breast cancer is detected early.

According to the American College of Radiology (ACR), for every 100 women who undergo a screening mammogram, approximately 90 will be told that their results are normal and 10 will be asked to return for an ultrasound or additional mammogram. Out of these 10 patients, six will be reassured that their results are normal, two will be asked to schedule a six-month follow-up and two will be recommended to have a biopsy.

While mammograms are often performed on women over age 40, breast cancer can affect women of all ages. It is important to understand the best time to start getting mammograms and how women of all ages can practice proper breast care over their lifetimes.

The Risk of Breast Cancer in Women Under 40

Many young women are under the misconception that they are not at risk for breast cancer. Although breast cancer is not as common in women under 40, this devastating medical condition can develop at any age.

Breast cancer for women in their 20s and 30s accounts for less than five percent of all cases, according to the American Cancer Society. Since many women in this age group do not undergo mammograms, breast cancer is not usually diagnosed until its later stages, and is usually more aggressive.

There are several factors that increase a woman’s risk of developing this dreaded malady, such as a personal or family history of breast cancer. A woman may also be at an increased risk for breast cancer if she has a history of radiation therapy to her chest, an Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry due to mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 or a family history of a genetic syndrome that places her at a higher risk. Never having a full-term pregnancy, being overweight and drinking alcohol can also increase this risk.

One of the biggest disadvantages of getting a mammogram too early is that the results are not always reliable. Young women tend to have denser breasts with more breast tissue and less fat, making it difficult for a mammogram to clearly detect any cancers. Because of this, and due to the overall low risk of developing breast cancer at a young age, mammograms are generally recommended to women over 40.

How Often to Get Mammograms After Age 40

The American Cancer Society recommends that women between the 40 and 44 begin annual breast cancer screenings with mammograms if they are comfortable doing so. Between 45 and 54, mammograms should be performed once a year.. Women who prefer a yearly visit can continue visiting their provider.

How to Perform a Breast Self-Exam at Home

Performing a breast self-exam at home is one of the best ways to detect possible changes in breast tissue or other signs of breast cancer. While a self-exam is not a substitute for regular mammograms, it can be a useful tool for women wanting to consistently evaluate their health in between visits to their doctors. Performing a breast self-exam at home is simple, pain free and takes just a few minutes.

1. Stand in front of a mirror and remove your shirt and bra. With your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips, look for changes in breast size, color or shape. In the mirror, check for abnormal symptoms, such as puckering, dimpling or bulging of the skin, redness, soreness, swelling or a nipple that has inverted or changed position.
2. Raise your arms above your head and look for these same changes. Check to see if any discharge leaks from one or both nipples, such as a milky, watery, or yellow fluid or blood.
3. Lay down flat and use your right hand to feel your left breast. Using a firm touch, move your fingers in a circular motion starting from the top of the breast moving to the bottom, examining one side and then the other. Start with a light touch, followed by a medium touch and then a deeper touch. Take note of any unusual lumps in the breast tissue. Next, check your right breast.
4. Feel your breasts while in a standing or sitting position. Look for the same signs and symptoms as in previous steps, using the same type of hand movements.

Schedule Your Mammogram Today

Mammograms are the best method to screen for breast cancer. To learn more about the optimum time to start a mammogram or to schedule one, contact Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness.

A nurse practitioner is a highly trained nurse. Becoming a nurse practitioner takes many years and a demonstrated commitment to providing quality healthcare in nursing. The services they provide are invaluable to the medical profession and their patients alike. Nurse practitioners help provide access to quality health services, which is important in areas experiencing the departure of primary care physicians faster than they can be replaced.

What Does It Take to Become a Nurse Practitioner?

To become a nurse practitioner, a person must first earn a bachelor’s degree from college and obtain a registered nurse’s license. After working as a registered nurse for several years and getting the necessary clinical experience, the nurse must then complete a master’s program to learn advanced clinical skills. Then, the aspiring nurse practitioner must pass a state-administered nurse practitioner licensing exam and achieve certification from a national organization such as the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.

After receiving a master’s degree, some nurse practitioners earn a doctor of nursing practice. A doctorate degree is becoming the preferred level of preparation for a nurse practitioner.

It can take anywhere from three to nine years to become a fully certified nurse practitioner. The role of a nurse practitioner generally is to help prevent disease and promote the health and well-being of the patient.

Nurse Practitioner Responsibilities in General

A nurse practitioner’s experience and education qualify the nurse to help with advanced aspects of patient care. The responsibilities of a nurse practitioner and those of a doctor may overlap in some areas. Depending on the practice and the patients’ needs, a nurse practitioner can help the doctors diagnose and treat patients. A nurse practitioner also may work independently in many states. In other states, they work alongside a doctor or as part of a fully-staffed team of healthcare providers. Nurse practitioners can practice in clinics, doctors’ offices, healthcare centers, hospitals and rehabilitative care facilities.

Nurse Practitioners Help Patients Heal

A nurse practitioner can conduct physicals on their patients, order tests and in some cases, they can serve as a primary healthcare provider, and prescribe medications under the supervision of the attending doctor. Nurse practitioners are often called upon to provide continuing healthcare services to patients who have chronic illnesses.

Nurse Practitioners Can Conduct Diagnostic Tests

An important skill that nurse practitioners bring to any practice is their ability to order and perform diagnostic tests. The type of diagnostic test they may perform depends on their training, but it can include x-rays, electrocardiograms (EKGs), MRIs, or any kind of test to be done in a lab.

Nurse Practitioners Can Perform Minor Medical Procedures on a Patient

Doctors rely on nurse practitioners to perform various medical procedures that do not require a doctor. For example, nurse practitioners can clean wounds, place casts on broken bones, and perform certain types of biopsies.

Nurse Practitioners Educate Patients about Their Treatment

Nurse practitioners excel at educating patients about preventative care and helping their patients understand their prescribed treatments.

Nurse Practitioners Often Specialize in a Medical Field

While pursuing a master’s or doctorate degree, the nurse practitioner will select a specialized field where their skills and passion can help them excel. They usually pursue a career in that specialty area after they become certified. A nurse practitioner can specialize in almost any medical category, such as:

• Pediatric Care
• Women’s Health
• Geriatrics
• Family Practice
• Oncology.

What a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Does

Among the many specialty areas available to nurse practitioners is the specialty of women’s health. A nurse practitioner who specializes in women’s health may provide a wide range of medical services. Their patients will be predominantly women.

Some patients may first seek treatment from the practice when they are young. Those patients may be needing reproductive health care, a contraceptive procedure, or obstetric care. Throughout the patient’s life, the nurse practitioner’s practice is likely to focus on gynecology.

The women’s health nurse practitioner can expect to perform wellness exams, prescribe contraception, diagnose and treat sexually transmitted diseases, and perform relatively minor medical procedures like pelvic exams, pap tests, endometrial biopsies and breast exams and biopsies, and procedures involving contraceptive devices. The practice may also require the nurse practitioner to provide prenatal care and educate the patient about good self-prenatal care.

Contact Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness For More Info On Nurse Practitioner Services

At Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness, the nurse practitioners are exceptionally skilled in all aspects of women’s health. They are compassionate and personable while also being analytical and able to work well in uncertain situations. They enjoy spending time with their patients and the other professionals at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness. You can contact them to discuss any of your health care questions and schedule an appointment.

Permanent contraception is often a responsible choice for people who have reached their personal goals regarding the number of children they want or can support, or if health considerations make pregnancy unsafe, or for adults who for any other reason know they never want to become a parent. Permanent contraception is a significant life decision that should be carefully considered.

Permanent Contraception Options

Permanent contraception procedures are highly effective in preventing pregnancy. However, these procedures are permanent and are difficult, if not impossible, to reverse. Some people experience regret over having permanent contraception. The people who suffer from regret most often are less than 30 years old at the time of the procedure. The younger a woman is, the more likely she is to regret the decision.

Accordingly, you should consult with a healthcare professional about this decision, especially if you are not yet 30 years old, or if you have recently had significant complications giving birth, or you are having relationship problems. You can postpone your decision for a while, and in the meantime, use a non-permanent but effective long-term method of contraception that is easily reversible.

Each permanent contraception option involves a procedure performed by a qualified healthcare provider. All procedures are available on an out-patient basis. You should consult with your healthcare provider to determine which option is best for you and your lifestyle.

Tubal Ligation

The most common permanent birth control procedure for women is a tubal ligation, also known as “having your tubes tied”. Tubal ligation is a relatively simple procedure that can be done either in a hospital or at an outpatient center where most patients go home the same day.

In a tubal ligation procedure, the doctor will cut both of the fallopian tubes. The fallopian tubes funnel eggs from the ovaries to the uterus, where an egg can be fertilized by sperm. Once cut, your doctor will seal them closed using heat, rings, or clips. This procedure can be performed within 24 hours of giving birth or during another surgical procedure.

The procedure can also be done laparoscopically, which requires general anesthesia. Once the patient is anesthetized, the surgeon will make a small incision in he belly button and insert a small camera (called a laparoscope) to view the fallopian tubes. The surgeon will then close the tubes using heat, rings or clips.

Bilateral Salpingectomy

With this procedure, both of the fallopian tubes are removed.

Minilaparotomy

A minilaparotomy is performed on a woman one to two days after childbirth. Under general or local anesthesia, the patient will have a part of both of her fallopian tubes removed.

Vasectomy

A vasectomy is a male sterilization procedure. It is a fairly simple procedure that takes about 30 minutes to complete. The patient can go home immediately after the procedure.

In a conventional vasectomy, the doctor will make small incisions into the scrotum to access the vas deferens. The vas deferens is a narrow tube that connects the testicle to the urethra, and they are the passageways for sperm to mix with semen during ejaculation. Each testicle has a vas deferens.

The doctor may close off the vas deferens in a couple of different ways. The doctor may remove a small piece of each tube or use heat to sear each end. Closing off the vas deferens prevents sperm from being able to mix with semen. Although the man’s testicles will continue to produce sperm, his body simply reabsorbs it.

A vasectomy may also be done without a scalpel. In the non-scalpel procedure, the doctor will feel for each vas deferens under the scrotum. Using a clamp to hold it in place, the doctor will make a tiny hole in the skin, open it enough to lift out each vas deferens, then cut it and seal it with heat or stitches, or both.

A vasectomy is not immediately effective. It may be several months before the man’s semen contains no sperm. During that time, the man and his female sex partners should use another form of birth control.

Contact the Women’s Health Experts at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness for More Information About Contraceptive Options

The specialists at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness are available to consult with you about whether permanent contraception is a good choice for you, or whether another form of contraception might be the better choice for your stage of life. Contact them today to discuss your options and schedule an appointment.

You have many options when it comes to choosing which type of contraceptive is best for you. Among the many considerations, you have to weigh are the side effects that a contraceptive option presents and the impact it could have on your health.

Barrier Contraceptives And Their Side Effects

If you plan to use an effective contraceptive, you should anticipate experiencing some side effects. Part of the decision-making about your contraceptive choice involves understanding the different contraceptives’ side effects.

Nearly every type of contraceptive has side effects. Barrier contraceptives have the most minor side effects. Barrier contraceptives work by blocking the sperm’s access to an egg. The condom is an example of a barrier contraceptive. Condoms may cause minor itching, burning, and irritation, especially when used regularly with a spermicide. These side effects are not serious and they are easily remedied.

Other types of barrier contraceptives are the diaphragm and the vaginal cap. Using these devices can increase your risk of developing urinary tract infections. If you leave them in place for longer than 24 hours, you run an increased risk of having toxic shock syndrome.

Even though barrier contraceptives are easy to get without a prescription, safe, and have minimal side effects, they are less effective than hormonal contraceptives in preventing pregnancy. One of the reasons barrier contraceptives are less effective is that their effectiveness depends on proper use. The risks of human error include incorrect use, damage to the device, or simple failure to take the time to put the device on properly, or at all.

Types Of Hormonal Contraceptives

To obtain a hormonal contraceptive, you will need an appointment with your healthcare provider and get a prescription.

As compared to barrier contraceptives, hormonal contraceptives can cause more pronounced side effects. However, not all women experience the same side effects or experience them to the same degree of intensity.

The types of hormonal contraceptives include:

• Birth Control Pills (the leading contraceptive choice for women under thirty years old)
• Hormonal IUD
• Patch
• Implant
• Depo Provera
• Vaginal Ring

Depending on which device you use, your hormonal exposure will be either continuous or intermittent.

Side Effects Of Hormonal Contraceptives

Whether you use birth control pills or other forms of hormonal contraceptives, the side effects are very similar. All hormonal contraceptives consist of various formulations of progestin or a combination of progestin (a form of progesterone) and estrogen. They prevent pregnancy in one or more of the following ways:

• Preventing ovulation, meaning your body does not release an egg.
• Thickening of the cervical mucus so that the sperm cannot reach an egg.
• Thinning of the uterine lining (endometrium) so that a fertilized egg cannot implant itself.

Since the time that hormonal contraceptives in the form of the birth control pill entered the market in 1962, medical advances have led to improvements that resulted in safer products and reduced the dosage of hormones.

Notwithstanding the improvements in safety in hormonal contraceptives, they can still cause negative side effects for some women. Those can include:

• Changes in menstrual cycle
• Break-through bleeding
• Breast tenderness or swelling
• Nausea
• Weight gain
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Acne
• Changes in facial skin pigmentation (melasma)

Many of these side effects subside after the first few months of use.

On the positive side, not all of the side effects are negative. Hormonal contraceptives can help you regulate your period. They may be prescribed to treat an irregular menstrual cycle. They can also be used to alleviate painful cramping or PMS symptoms or to control heavy menstrual bleeding. Many women who use a contraceptive containing the progestin hormone experience no periods at all.

Health Risks

Women with certain health conditions should avoid certain types of hormonal contraceptives. Your healthcare provider will evaluate your health profile before prescribing any hormonal contraceptives to ensure that they are safe and appropriate for you to use. The health conditions that could put you at risk include:

• Blood-clotting tendencies
• Coronary heart disease
• Breast cancer
• Stroke

Hormonal contraceptives that contain a combination of hormones should not be used by women who are breastfeeding. They can reduce the amount of breast milk along with the concentration of proteins and fat in it. Also, breast milk will contain traces of the hormones from the contraceptive.

Women who smoke cigarettes may need to quit before using hormonal contraceptives. Smoking increases your risk of heart attacks, blood clots, and strokes while on hormonal contraceptives. This risk is more significant in women over 35 or those who smoke more than 15 cigarettes each day.

Contact The Women’s Health Experts At Raleigh Gynecology And Wellness

It is important that you understand what side effects you can expect when using any form of contraception. Learn about which options are best for you by consulting with the women’s health specialists at Raleigh Gynecology and Wellness. They are available to answer your questions and schedule an appointment.