Reduce Your Risk of Getting an STI
Reduce your risk of getting an STI Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) is a risk that can be reduced. While the only way to completely prevent STIs is sexual abstinence, many adult women are sexually active, and a healthy sex life is important to many. Our Grapevine and Fort Worth ObGyns want you to know the facts to better protect yourself from STIs. Facts to Help You Reduce Your Risk An STI is spread in several different ways. It’s important to understand how you can get an STI. Most of you know that having vaginal, oral or anal sex without a condom spreads STIs if you or your partner, male or female, has an infection. But to reduce your risk of getting an STI, you need to know that simply touching an infected person’s genitals can spread herpes. In addition women can spread an STI to their baby during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Certain factors increase your risk Having more than one sexual partner or having a partner who has had more than one partner increases your risk, as does having sex with an infected person or a person with a history of STIs. Using intravenous drugs yourself or having a partner who uses them is another risk factor. Sexually active adults can reduce their risk of getting an STI. Our Grapevine and Fort Worth ObGyns offer the following tips to reduce your risk of getting an STI. The best way to reduce your risk is to use a condom every time you have sex – it is the only birth control method that will protect you from STIs. If you are in a monogamous relationship in which you know your partner’s history, it is not necessary to use a condom. Know your partner’s sexual history and get tested for STIs. Limit your sexual partners. Avoid sexual practices that may tear or break your skin. If you are age 26 or younger, get the vaccination that protects you against HPV and hepatitis B. Our Grapevine and Fort Worth ObGyns are always open and available for frank discussions about how to reduce your risk of getting an STI. Contact us today for an appointment. HPV: The Most Common STI HPV or human papillomavirus is the most common STI. Ninety percent of HPV infections clear up naturally within two years, but the remainder do not, and, left untreated and unmonitored, the virus can lead to serious health issues. –Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats/sti-estimates-fact-sheet-feb-2013.pdf
Infertility affects one in eight couples
Many patients who see our Grapevine and Fort Worth ObGyns worry about their ability to get pregnant. Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after having unprotected intercourse for 12 months. Patients should always bring any concerns to our physicians, and a woman should always consult us if she falls under the guidelines below. If she is under the age of 35 and has not conceived after having unprotected sexual intercourse for one year If she is age 35 or over and has not become pregnant after trying for six months If she has a history of fertility issues If she has risk factors for infertility, including: sexually transmitted disease; endometriosis; irregular periods; polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS; or a history of pelvic inflammatory disease, PID Causes of infertility Approximately one-third of the time, infertility is due to women’s issues; another third is due to male factors; and the remaining third of cases of infertility are a combination of men’s and women’s issues. Infertility can be caused by anatomical or hormonal issues. Female infertility is often due to one or a combination of the following: Age Ovulation problems Physical problems, such as damaged fallopian tubes Hormonal issues Diagnosis and treatment Our experienced physicians can conduct several basic fertility tests at our Grapevine and Fort Worth ObGyn offices. We begin by performing basic lab work, usually blood tests and urinalysis. Often, we test hormone levels, too. Another test we perform is an ovarian reserve test, which determines the remaining supply of eggs the woman has available. If our physicians suspect that a woman has physical issues that are causing her infertility, we may perform an ultrasound examination, sonohysterography, hysteroscopy or a hysterosalpingogram. Optimizing natural fertility Many patients who are trying to get pregnant, particularly those who are under 35, may benefit from a discussion about optimizing natural fertility. A preconception counseling appointment provides our Grapevine and Fort Worth ObGyns with the opportunity to discuss any health issues a woman may have, and to provide her with advice on optimizing natural fertility. There are infertility issues that require fertility treatment, but optimizing natural fertility can help many women who are trying to conceive. During a preconception appointment, women will be reminded to: Consult our physicians about any chronic health problems. Determine when ovulation occurs by tracking menstrual cycles or using an ovulation predictor kit. Have sex every 1 to 2 days during the fertile window, which usually occurs during the six days prior to ovulation. Make important lifestyle changes: quit smoking; eliminate alcohol and recreational drugs; and limit caffeine. Exercise and eat a healthy, balanced diet to get to an optimal weight. If you are worried about infertility, consult our physicians. We can provide evaluation, testing and treatment. Contact us for an appointment.
Optimizing Natural Fertility
The truth about optimizing natural fertility When you’re ready to get pregnant, you may talk to friends or look to the internet for tips on optimizing natural fertility. Unfortunately there are many myths out there and tips you don’t need to follow, including the ones below. You don’t have to lie flat on your back with your legs in the air after sex. Your sexual position during sex will not help you get pregnant. You don’t have to eat certain foods to improve your chances for conceiving. Basically, one of the most important things to know about getting pregnant is to seek knowledge and ignore myths. Our Grapevine and Fort Worth ObGyns are here to tell you the truth about optimizing natural fertility. Three important facts about optimizing natural fertility It’s important to know when you are ovulating. For optimizing natural fertility, the very best time to have sexual intercourse is the six days prior to ovulation, known as the fertile window. Most experts recommend that couples have sex every one or two days during the fertile window in particular. Ovulation usually occurs 14 days before the next menstrual period during a regular cycle. Couples can purchase ovulation prediction kits to help them determine when ovulation occurs. Certain lubricants may negatively affect your fertility. Many couples may not realize that certain lubricants that are frequently used during sex may adversely affect sperm’s motility or movement. Optimizing natural fertility means avoiding popular lubricants like Astroglide®, KY® and others. Instead, use natural lubricants like canola or mineral oil or Pre-Seed® brand when you are trying to get pregnant. Lifestyle choices matter. One of the most important things couples can do when optimizing natural fertility is to make smart lifestyle choices. This includes adopting several good habits. Both partners should avoid smoking. Women should eliminate alcohol and reduce caffeine use; men should reduce alcohol and caffeine use. Neither partner should use recreational drugs. Women should begin taking a prenatal vitamin every day. Optimizing natural fertility isn’t difficult once you understand the truth and ignore the myths. Our Grapevine and Fort Worth ObGyns are here to help you with preconception counseling appointments, the ideal opportunity for you to get helpful and honest advice. Contact us today for an appointment.
Travel during Pregnancy
Planes, trains and automobiles: Travel during pregnancy We live in a busy world, and many women have questions for our Grapevine ObGyns about travel during pregnancy. We’re providing some general information and tips about travel, but every woman’s pregnancy is unique, and she should always consult her physician. General tips for travel during pregnancy Most women who are having a healthy, routine pregnancy can safely travel during pregnancy. Many women find that the ideal time for travel is during the second trimester. For the majority of women, morning sickness, nausea and vomiting have ended, and they are not concerned about pre-term labor or being able to move or sit for long periods comfortably (that happens in the third trimester!). Here are a few general tips for women who are hoping to travel during pregnancy. Try to travel with a companion. Carry a copy of your medications, medical records and your ObGyn’s name and phone number. Don’t forget to pack medications and vitamins in an easily accessible bag. Check into which medical facilities are available at your destination. Talk to your health insurance provider about what your insurance covers when you are away from home. International travel International travel can present different concerns than domestic travel during pregnancy, and you should consult with our Grapevine ObGyns before embarking on your journey. Check to see if there are travel alerts or vaccinations you should be aware of for your destinations. This information is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Do not travel to an area that is affected by the Zika virus during your pregnancy. Talk to your insurance provider to determine if you need to purchase travel insurance for international health care. Determine if adequate medical care is available if you should need it for travel during pregnancy. Travel by air or car Most trips occur in an airplane or a car. Our Grapevine ObGyns offer these notes for travel during pregnancy. During air or car travel, get out of your seat regularly. Walk and stretch your legs to avoid blood clots. Check with your airline to determine the cut-off date for travel during pregnancy. Always wear your seat belt. Our Grapevine ObGyns are always willing to have a more in-depth conversation and give advice about travel during pregnancy. Contact us for an appointment.
4 Things You Should Know About Breastfeeding
4 Things You Should Know About Breastfeeding Our Southlake and Fort Worth ObGyns recommend that mothers breastfeed their babies during the first six months of life. Breastfeeding has many benefits for both mother and baby. We’ve outlined four things you should know about breastfeeding to highlight the reasons why we recommend it to our patients. [clear] Breastfeeding provides the elements your baby needs for his or her growth and development. Your breast milk is truly special because it contains the perfect amount of minerals, sugar, protein and water that a baby needs for growth and development. It also contains DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and other fatty acids that researchers believe are important for your baby’s brain and eyes as they develop. The breast milk your body provides through breastfeeding changes as your baby grows. In the days following a baby’s birth, breast milk is a thicker, yellow substance called colostrum. Colostrum provides your baby exactly what he or she needs in the first few days, including antibodies and nutrients. Three to four days after you give birth, the colostrum changes to breast milk that completely covers a baby’s nutritional needs. As your baby’s appetite grows, your body will produce more breast milk to satisfy those needs. Even if you are only able to breastfeed for a short time, it will benefit your baby. Our Southlake and Fort Worth ObGyns encourage moms to breastfeed for the first six months, but we also tell moms that any amount of breastfeeding provides benefits. Breastfeeding is beneficial for moms, too. When you breastfeed, the amount of oxytocin in your body increases, which can help your uterus return to its original pre-pregnancy shape and size. There are other benefits, too. Breastfeeding helps decrease postpartum bleeding. It may reduce your risk for developing breast and ovarian cancer. It burns additional calories. Clearly, breastfeeding is beneficial for both mother and baby. Our Southlake and Fort Worth ObGyns know that you may have questions and concerns, and we’re here to help. We deliver babies at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine, and they offer breastfeeding classes to help moms-to-be prepare. La Leche League is also a good resource. [bsbutton size=”btn-lg” color=”btn-wih” fa=”fa-envelope” url=”https://womensintegratedhealthcare.com/contact/” target=”_parent”]Contact us to learn more about breastfeeding and your baby.[/bsbutton]
Decisions to Make Before Giving Birth
Four important decisions to make before giving birth Our Grapevine and Fort Worth ObGyns encourage women to make a birth plan to ensure that they have the labor, delivery and birthing experience they want. With that in mind, we’re highlighting four important decisions to make before giving birth. What kind of atmosphere will you prefer during labor and delivery? This is one of the first decisions to make before giving birth. It’s important for you to be as comfortable and relaxed as possible during labor and delivery. Think about who you want present during labor and delivery, and what items – music, extra pillows, audiobooks – would make you feel comfortable. It’s important to make decisions about your labor and delivery experience. There are many decisions to make before giving birth. For example, would you like to watch your baby’s birth? Do you want to give birth in a certain position?Do you want your partner to be with you if you need a C section? Do you want to avoid fetal monitoring during labor? You need to discuss the type of pain relief, if any, you think you might want during labor and delivery. It’s time to talk about the kinds of labor and delivery pain relief methods you want before, during and after delivery. You may consider epidural and spinal blocks, local anesthesia during the delivery, or no pain relief methods at all to experience natural childbirth. Finally, when the baby is born, there are decisions about his or her care that you should make before giving birth. Some important decisions to make before giving birth are related to what happens to your baby right after he or she is born. There are several things to think about. Do you want your partner or someone else to cut the umbilical cord? Are you planning on cord blood banking? Would you like for the baby to be laid on your chest immediately after birth? Are you interested in circumcision for your male child? During pregnancy, we know there is a lot to consider. We hope that knowing in advance some important decisions to make before giving birth will help make your experience better for you, your partner and your baby. Contact us for more information about obstetrics care.
