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Annual gynecological exams are preventative tools available to help women identify and treat complications that pose a threat to their health as early as possible. By getting annual exams, women can also learn to maintain a healthy lifestyle and adopt habits that facilitate long-term health. Exams for women often screen for sexually transmitted diseases and include the administration of vaccinations for common diseases like HPV, hepatitis, and the flu. As women age, annual exams may also include discussions about using hormone supplementation to manage the symptoms of, as well as the use of supplements to prevent osteoporosis.
that your annual gynecological exam is an excellent opportunity to discuss family planning with Dr. Zann? Sunshine State can offer fertility counseling, as well as education about ovulation and improving your chances of conception. If you are not yet ready to start a family or are finished having children, you can speak with Dr. Zann about your options for birth control.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that you begin getting breast health exams at age 19 and annual pelvic exams with pap smears at age 21. Once your reach age 30, you will still need breast and pelvic exams each year but may space pap smears every two years so long as all previous pap smears have been normal.
Your annual exam will begin with an assessment of your weight and blood pressure, as well as a discussion of any symptoms or health changes you may have experienced since your last visit. Dr. Zann will palpate your breasts to check for lumps or unusual changes to breast tissue. The pelvic exam will also include a manual and visual examination of the cervix, uterus, and vagina. If you are getting a pap test, Dr. Zann will swab your cervix to check for the presence of abnormal cells.
Dr. Zann will advise you on any changes you may need to make following your exam. For example, you may be advised to modify your diet, exercise habits or the types of supplements you should be taking each day.
Many women undergo hysterectomies every year to remove part or all of their reproductive organs. The reasons vary from uterine fibroids, endometriosis, uterine prolapse, and other disorders. There are many different ways of performing a hysterectomy, although more women than ever are undergoing minimally invasive operations, such as the revolutionary new incisionless single-site hysterectomies. These procedures are robotically assisted for greater precision. A single 2-centimeter incision is made in the belly button, through which the entire uterus is removed in sections. Patients awaken to shorter recovery time, less pain, and a lower risk of post-surgical complications.
that hysterectomy is the second most commonly performed operation among women of reproductive age? As the number of incisionless hysterectomies go up, the number of traditional inpatient procedures have been quickly going down. In fact, the rate of inpatient hysterectomies in the U.S. was just 3.3 women per 10,000 in 2008 compared with 4.6 per 10,000 in 2002.
Only Dr. Zann can tell you if incision-less bellybutton hysterectomy is for you. However, you may qualify if you have an indication for hysterectomy and are interested in making a faster recovery. For more information about this procedure, contact our office to schedule a consultation.
Incision-less hysterectomies are typically performed in a hospital while patients are under general anesthesia. You will be asleep for the procedure, during which time a small incision will be made into your abdomen through your bellybutton. Your surgeon will insert a scope that reveals the surgical site in great detail. The robotic system is controlled by Dr. Zann at all times. He will remove the uterus in sections and then stitch the incision site.
Recovery after minimally invasive hysterectomy is far less complicated than traditional surgical hysterectomies. Most women can go home the same day as their procedures, making a near-complete recovery in just days instead of weeks. Because the incision site is so small, there is very little risk of infection or other complications following the operation.
Women who take control of their health empower themselves to live longer, disease-free lives. A lifetime of good health starts with prevention, including annual wellness exams and screenings. A women’s health doctor can be your greatest partner in prevention, offering you advice for healthy living and providing important screenings designed to identify complications and illnesses during their earliest stages. From adolescence to post-menopause, a woman’s health demands care and attention at all stages of life.
that female health screenings have significantly reduced the number of deaths from certain diseases, such as cervical cancer? Unfortunately, not all women adhere to guidelines for health screenings such as mammograms and pap smears. The Centers for Disease Control reports that only 67 percent of American women over age 40 have had a mammogram to screen for breast cancer in the last 2 years, and about 73 percent over age 18 have had a pap smear in the past 3 years. But periodic screening can identify cancer at its earliest stages, vastly improving long-term prognosis and 5-year survival rates.
Yes. Women’s healthcare is for all females of reproductive age or older. If you are healthy and symptom-free, Dr. Zann can help keep you that way with periodic screenings, immunizations, and advice for healthy living. Keep in mind that sometimes underlying health problems present no symptoms at all; so it is important to see Dr. Zann each year for a routine wellness exam.
The components of your visit will vary according to your age. Young women, for example, require annual pap smears, pelvic exams, breast exams, and possible immunization against HPV. Ladies over age 25 may begin to get pap smears less frequently, although they will begin mammogram screenings by age 40. Your doctor will also speak with you about your health concerns, the risk for certain diseases, and contraception needs if applicable.
Possibly. Every woman is unique, so only Dr. Zann can tell you whether you need to make changes to your lifestyle or eating habits following your appointment.
One of the main priorities for Dr. Zann is to provide a safer alternative to traditional open surgery by using a minimally invasive approach when indicated and whenever possible based on the disease we are treating, the patients’ anatomy, and the patients’ overall medical condition. This offers the following benefits to our patients:
These surgeries are minimally invasive treatments for the following conditions:
Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if minimally invasive surgery is right for them. Other options may be available and appropriate. Only Dr. Zann can determine whether surgery is appropriate for a patient’s situation. Patients and Dr. Zann should review all available information on both non-surgical and surgical options in order to make an informed decision.
Contact us today to learn more.
The gynecology specialty covers conditions of the internal female reproductive system, which includes the uterus (womb), ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, and vagina. When your reproductive system develops a problem, it can affect many aspects of your health and quality of life. Gynecologic conditions such as severe pelvic pain, endometriosis, fibroids, abnormal bleeding, pelvic organ prolapse, and cancer are common and may require medical care. When lifestyle changes, medicine, and other options do not ease your symptoms, surgery may be recommended.
Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if robotic-assisted surgery is right for them. Other options may be available and appropriate. Only Dr. Zann can determine whether surgery is appropriate for a patient’s situation. Patients and Dr. Zann should review all available information on both non-surgical and surgical options in order to make an informed decision.
Contact us today to learn more.