Welcome! The obstetrics and gynecology professionals at Palm Valley Women's Care are pleased to welcome you to our practice. We want our patients to be informed decision makers and fully understand any health issues you face.
Doctor/Practice Overview
•To provide personalized care to women and where appropriate, to their partners.
•To offer the latest technology and cost effective related medical services.
•To provide patients and their family with a friendly and comfortable atmosphere.
•To build strong relationships between patient, doctor and staff
Obstetrics
We provide care to women during their pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum (the period shortly after birth). Our practice has a prenatal package which consist of all prenatal visits, delivery, the actual delivery and one visit following delivery. Please note: our packages do not include any hospital fees.
Gynecology Adolescent
We are able to address the special gynecologic needs of adolescents. We cover topics that are especially important to teens such as risks of sexual activity, abstinence, pregnancy prevention and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Your daughter’s first visit to the gynecologist should be a positive experience. All examinations conducted are age-appropriate and are provided by a sensitive and caring specialist. Educational resources are available to patients and their families. Our entire staff is available to answer any questions and concerns our patients and their families may have.
Therapy Infertility
While some couples have the good fortune of realizing their dream of conceiving a child, others are faced with the trials of infertility. Fortunately, in the majority of cases, infertility is treatable. We provide infertility examinations, along with male factor evaluations. Our practice may also provide fertility drug treatment. If our patients are in need of extensive testing and evaluations, we will provide them with a referral to a caring reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist.
Urodynamic Testing
This simple and painless study, is a series of tests that allows your physician to evaluate any problems your bladder may have with storing or emptying urine. The reasons the test may be offered to a patient are symptoms of urinary incontinence (urine leak), incomplete emptying of bladder, frequent urination, intermittent or weak urine stream and persistent urinary tract infections.
Hormonal Therapy
We offer the “Power of Pellets”, for male and female patients. Pellet therapy uses natural “bio-identical” estrogen and testosterone hormones derived from plants. Bio-identical means that the hormones are exactly the same ones produced by the human body. This means they are NOT synthetic, simulations, or replicas. Each pellet is the size of a grain of rice and is placed beneath the skin, typically in the buttocks area of the body. The procedure takes less than five minutes and needs only to be repeated every four to six months. Using mild anesthetic, the pellets are placed beneath the skin. There may be some soreness at the spot of insertion for a few days. Some benefits of therapy for women have been feeling more in control of their bodies, increased libido, mental clarity and reduced menstrual migraines. Our male patients have also benefited from therapy with a restored sex drive, increased energy levels, mental clarity and focus and relief from hormone-related depression. After securing a set of blood tests for verifying your current levels of various hormones, the pellets are inserted and your new life begins.
Essure
This gentle, non-surgical procedure can be performed in the comfort of a doctor’s office in minutes. Most women are able to resume their normal activities within one day of the procedure.
Essure blocks the egg and sperm from meeting, so conception never occurs. During this time, you must continue using another form of birth control. After three months, your doctor will perform a test to confirm that the fallopian tubes are fully blocked and that you can rely on Essure for permanent birth control. Essure is proven to be 99.74% effective.
The Essure procedure avoids the risks and discomfort of surgical procedures like tubal ligation and vasectomy. While this may be a painless procedure, please keep in mind it is not reversible. This is permanent so be sure that your family is complete.
Endometrial Ablations
Many women suffer from heavy periods. The causes can be hormonal imbalance, uterine fibroids or polyp, infections, bleeding disorders and uterine cancer. The type of procedure your provider will perform is individualized to each patient.
For patients that suffer with heavy periods we offer the following procedures.
The Genesys HTA System treatment uses a sheath that is employed by your physician to perform an endometrial ablation. The system allows saline heated to 90 degree C to be circulated in the uterus. After slight dilation of the cervix a slim procedure sheath will be placed in your cervix. You uterus will be filled with room temperature saline. The saline will conform to your uterus and circulate through the procedure. Your physician will then look inside your uterus with a hysterscope or a small camera that fits inside of the procedure sheath as the heated saline become in contact with the uterine walls, the saline will begin to heat the endometrial. The heat is intended to destroy the endometrium. This treatment cycle takes about 10 minutes. After the treatment cycle has been completed the uterus will be flushed with cool saline. The cool saline is drained and the procedure sheath is removed. For more information visit www.bostenscientific.com/gynecology
Thermachoice is another type of endometrial ablation that stops or reduces heavy bleeding by removing most, if not all of the lining of the uterus. It requires no incisions and may even be performed in your doctor’s office under anesthesia. How does Thermachoice work? a small soft, flexible balloon attached to a thin catheter(tube) is first inserted through the vagina and cervix, and then placed gently into the uterus. No incision is required. The balloon is made of silicone material, which eliminates the risk of allergy for latex-sensitive women. The balloon is then filled with fluid so that it inflates to the size and shape of the uterus. The fluid is then heated and circulated in the uterus for 8 minutes while the lining of the uterus is treated. When the treatment is completed, all the fluid is withdrawn from the balloon and it is removed. Nothing remains in the uterus. The treated uterine lining will slough off, or shed, like a period. For more information visit www.PelvicHealthSolutions.com.
NovaSure is an endometrial ablation procedure that can reduce or stop menstrual bleeding. It works by permanently removing the endometrium, or the lining of the uterus(the part that causes the bleeding), with a quick delivery of radio frequency energy. Your doctor slightly opens your cervix (the opening to the uterus), inserts a slender wand and extends a triangular mesh device into the uterus. The mesh expands, fitting to the size and shape of your uterus. Precisely measured radio frequency energy is delivered through the mesh for about 90 seconds, then the mesh device is pulled back into the wand, and both are removed from the uterus.For more information visit www.novasure.com.
Other In-Office Procedures
Below is a list of procedures that we offer in our office. By providing procedures in office versus an outpatient or hospital setting we are able to save our patients high deductible, coinsurances or copay amounts. Most patients prefer procedures to be done in our office to avoid early check in hassles and the intimidating environment of surgical setting.
Colposcopy is a medical diagnostic procedure to examine an illuminated, magnified view of the cervix and the tissues of the vagina and vulva. Many premalignant lesions and malignant lesions in these areas have discernible characteristics which can be detected through the examination. It is done using a colposcope, which provides an enlarged view of the areas, allowing the physician in cases to visually distinguish normal from abnormal appearing tissue and take directed biopsies for further pathological examination. The main goal of a colposcopy is to prevent cervical cancer by detecting precancerous cells early and treating them.
Hysteroscopy: During a hysteroscopy, your healthcare provider uses a hysteroscope(thin, telescope-like instrument) to see inside the uterus. Depending on what is found, treatment may be done during D&C, or later, during a separate procedure. Anesthesia is used during this procedure and depending on your health you may be a candidate to have this procedure done in the office with sedation, otherwise it will be performed in a hospital setting.
Cold Knife Conization: If your pap test or other tests revealed abnormal cells in your cervix (the lower end of your uterus) your healthcare provider may want to treat you with a Cold Knife Conization. During a cone biopsy, tissue is removed from the cervix and sent to the lab to be studied. During a cone biopsy you will be given anesthesia before your biopsy to keep you comfortable during surgery. Your doctor then puts a speculum into the vagina to hold it open. This allows your doctor to see the cervix. Then a cone-shaped piece of tissue is removed from the cervix. The tissue is cut from the opening up into the canal. This may be done with a small knife or with a laser. The tissue that is removed is then sent to the lab. The lab studies the tissue and makes sure the abnormal cells have been cut away. New tissue grows back in the cervix 4-6 weeks.
Dilation and Curettage D&C: This common procedure helps your healthcare provider learn more about problems inside the uterus. In many cases, D&C is used to find the cause of abnormal bleeding. During a D&C, the cervix (opening of the uterus) is widened. This process is called dilation or dilatation. Tissue samples are then removed from the endometrium (lining of the uterus) with an instrument called a curette. A D&C may be performed either in the office under sedation or in a hospital setting.
LEEP: If your pap test or other tests revealed abnormal cells in your cervix (the lower end of your uterus), you’ll be glad to know that the problem is often easily resolved. Abnormal cell growth, called dysplasia, can be treated. Your doctor can remove dysplasia with LEEP (loop electrosurgical excision procedure). Just as with a Pap test, you’ll place your feet in stirrups and your healthcare provider will insert a speculum(a small, tubelike instrument) into your vagina. You will have the choice of using local anesthetic which numbs your cervix or being put to sleep by sedation. A fine wire loop with a special high-frequency electrical current allows your provider to removal the abnormal tissue from your cervix. To reduce bleeding after the procedure, a medicated solution may be applied to the cervix.
Striving to exceed expectations in providing quality healthcare by addressing the healthcare needs of women at each stage of life.
