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Itchy, red, and irritated. Those are not words women prefer to associate with their lady parts. But the reality is that 75% of women will experience a vaginal yeast infection in their lifetime. There is a delicate balance between the bacteria and yeast in the microbiome of the vagina. When disrupted, infections can fester. In this blog, we’ll discuss:
Candida is a yeast that is naturally present inside the healthy vagina along with other microorganisms, including Lactobacillus bacteria. If the balance among these microbes gets out of whack, it can cause an overgrowth in the others. As a result, a decrease in healthy bacteria in the vagina can cause an overgrowth of candida, causing candidiasis, commonly known as a yeast infection.
Certain risk factors can contribute to candida overgrowth. Hormones and medications are a common culprit to blame for disrupting the fragile microbial environment. If you’re pregnant, on hormonal contraceptives, are taking antibiotics, or have diabetes, you could be more susceptible to yeast overgrowth. Douching can also lead to infections.
Luckily, yeast infections produce pesky symptoms to alert you that your vaginal microbiome is a bit off balance. Indicators can vary from woman to woman, but generally, the common ones include:
The onset of symptoms for a yeast infection can start as mildly annoying and then quickly spiral into intense discomfort within a few days. It’s important to monitor your symptoms and get treatment as early as possible to feel better fast. If you’re unfamiliar with the signs, you can check your symptoms with online tools. If you suspect a vaginal yeast infection, testing can confirm your suspicions.
Over-the-counter vaginal health screening tests may help instantly determine whether an infection is present. These tests help you decide whether to use OTC medication‒or whether a doctor appointment is warranted. These tests are generally available at most stores that sell feminine products and can be completed and read at home. Alternatively, your doctor can order tests and collect samples to send to a lab for testing to confirm the diagnosis.
Related: How Your Body’s pH Levels Can Affect Your Health
Treatment of yeast infections is simple with antifungal medications. If you are confident that your yeast is the problem, there are a range of over-the-counter antifungal medications available in a variety of forms. CDC treatment guidelines recommend the following OTC medications for the treatment of yeast infections:
Each of these creams, ointments, and suppositories are available at most drug stores and must be inserted into the vagina with an applicator (similar to a tampon applicator) over a specified treatment period. Some treatments only require a single dose, while others require repetitive treatment for a full week. Be sure to read the instructions carefully and speak with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, get worse, or reoccur within a two-month timeframe.
Avoid sexual activity while you treat your symptoms to avoid spreading the infection to your partner or reinfecting yourself. Condoms may not be as effective while using creams or ointments because these chemicals may damage the latex material.
Your doctor can also prescribe different creams or vaginal suppositories that are not available over the counter. Some women find cream or ointment treatments can be messy and inconvenient. If you prefer to take oral medication, you can schedule an appointment with your online physician to request an oral prescription such as oral fluconazole.
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Yeast infections are common, but they don’t have to be. There are preventative measures you can take to limit your chances of yeast overgrowth. One simple change is to make sure that you are regularly wearing cotton underwear. Cotton helps absorb moisture while its breathable nature keeps your groin from staying moist‒an environment prone to yeast overgrowth.
Other quick tips for preventing yeast infections include:
Any time you are prescribed oral antibiotics, consider requesting a pre-emptive medication if you are prone to yeast infections when your bacterial flora is wiped out by antibiotics.
Related: Top 5 Tips to Maintain Vaginal Health: Things You Were Never Told
A woman’s body is a miraculous work of nature. The delicate balance that works to keep her microbiome healthy can wreak havoc when things get off-kilter. Now that you’re armed with this knowledge all about yeast infections, you can use it to keep your body balanced and healthy. As always, if you’re experiencing symptoms that concern you, our online physicians at My Virtual Physician are standing by, ready to hear from you.
Deciding to start or grow your family is a big decision that will have a significant impact on your life. Many families choose to use contraceptives to prevent pregnancy until they are ready for the commitment that raising children takes. When it comes to choosing your method of birth control, there are so many choices out there to talk with your OBGYN about, including:
In this blog, we’ll explore the fertility awareness method and why some women choose this as their go-to family planning option.
Clearly, there are a lot of options. Most of the choices above are hormone-based, which means they alter your body’s hormones and change how your reproductive system functions to prevent fertilization. The options for non-hormonal pregnancy prevention are barrier methods, abstinence, copper IUD, or the fertility awareness method.
Even though the barrier methods don’t alter your hormones, some still introduce chemicals like spermicide that can affect your health. If you’re looking for a completely natural way of family planning without foregoing sex, you might want to consider the fertility awareness-based (FAB) method. This method is also used by couples who are trying to conceive, but instead of avoiding sex on the most fertile days, they do the opposite.
The FAB method, also sometimes abbreviated FAM (Fertility Awareness Method), is when you use your body’s natural menstrual cycle to look for signs of ovulation. A woman’s body ovulates, or releases an egg, once per month and awaits fertilization. There are about nine days in each month that a woman is fertile and can become pregnant if her cycles are regular (21 to 35-day cycles are considered regular, with 28 days being the average).
The fertility awareness method aims to identify which days you are most fertile and which days you are not. There are many signs when your body is fertile if you are looking for them. Paying attention to these signs is how this method can be effective at preventing fertilization. The exact effectiveness varies based on many factors, from how regular your body’s cycles are to how many layered methods you use; current effectiveness ranges from 77 to 98%.
There are three main components to calculating your window of fertility (the week or so that you should avoid sex or use alternative contraception) with the fertility awareness-based method. Some women choose to follow only one, while others may choose to observe all three. Likely, the accuracy increases when using multiple methods in a layered approach. Here are the three methods to calculate your most fertile days:
The calendar method can give you a starting point to approximate your fertile days. This works by carefully tracking the first day of your period each month. The day you start your period is considered day one. Ovulation generally occurs about two weeks later. Since sperm can live up to 36 hours inside a woman’s reproductive system, be sure to widen your window of fertility to include at least three or four days before the calculated day of ovulation.
The basal body temperature method works by monitoring your body’s daily temperature. After ovulation, your temperature will be slightly higher than the rest of the month. Checking your body temperature as soon as you awaken with a special basal body thermometer (available at your pharmacy for a reasonable cost) will help you detect the change which is usually about a half-degree around the time of ovulation. You can use this information to establish a pattern of when your body usually releases the egg, typically two or three days before your peak basal body temperature.
Finally, the last method to nail down your ovulation window is the cervical mucus method. With this, you’ll observe changes in your vaginal discharge throughout the month. Here’s what to look for:
During sticky and wet days, you’ll want to avoid sex or use alternative protection to prevent pregnancy.
If you decide it’s time to give the fertility awareness-based method a try, be sure that you are consistent with your tracking. While you can use a standard calendar to mark your daily vitals including temperature, bleeding, and mucus, there are apps designed specifically for this purpose. If your menstrual cycles are outside of the standard range, some apps can help you determine your window of ovulation more accurately.
Working with your body’s natural cycles and signs can be an effective method of family planning when tracked consistently. Whether you’re tracking ovulation because you want to avoid traditional contraceptive medication or for other reasons, we can help you understand how your reproductive system functions. If you have questions about using the fertility awareness-based method, reach out to your online OBGYN for answers today.
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Talking about vaginal discharge can lead to an uncomfortable, even taboo, conversation. Even when talking with your OBGYN, it can feel awkward. But if we never talk about it, how are women supposed to know what’s normal? If you’re wondering whether vaginal discharge is common, we’re here to open the door for that conversation. We’ll cover what it is, why it exists, when to worry, and how to manage it.
Let’s open with the basics. When we say vaginal discharge, what are we referring to? Vaginal discharge is a fluid created by a woman’s body inside her vagina and cervix. There are many reasons why this discharge is needed, including:
Those are all very important functions that could not be carried out without the help of vaginal discharge. So now that you know why you have it, you may still be wondering — what does normal vaginal discharge look like?
Normal discharge is clear or milky white, and thick. A woman’s body adjusts the production of discharge to match her needs throughout her menstrual cycle; therefore, the look, feel, and amount of fluid will change at different points in her cycle. For example, a short-lived, watery-brown discharge after her period is a sign that a woman’s uterus is preparing for her uterine lining to replenish.
The menstrual cycle and fluctuation of hormones in your body aren’t the only things that control the ebb and flow of your fluids. Other factors may affect your vaginal secretions including:
Now that we’ve established that healthy vaginas produce regular discharge, let’s talk about when your secretions can function as a warning sign of illness.
By now, we can see that vaginal discharge serves a very important function in a woman’s body for daily health and regulation. When things start to get off course, discharge has another superpower. It’s an excellent indicator and early detector of disease.
What is your vaginal discharge telling you?
Alone, thick white discharge is not a concern. However, if you have additional symptoms like itching, redness, dryness, or irritation, and the texture resembles cottage cheese, this could be a sign of an infection.
Discharge that is yellow or green is usually accompanied by a foul odor and is a sign of a bacterial infection or possibly a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
If you notice a change in your regular cycle of discharge along with some of these other red flags, you should discuss your symptoms with your gynecologist.
If you are experiencing any of these red flags in your discharge, we recommend that you speak to your OBGYN to see if there is an underlying cause that can be treated. You can get a professional assessment in addition to testing and treatment online from the comfort of your own home with My Virtual Physician’s board-certified doctors who are standing by for your call.
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If your vaginal discharge is within the normal parameters, you might just be wondering how to practice good personal hygiene when you have vaginal fluid seemingly leaking out. If you find that your underwear has been lightly coated with a white or yellowish tint, as normal as that is, it can be a nuisance.
For days where your discharge is more bothersome, you can try using unscented, breathable pantiliners. Cloth pantiliners are a good option; they are less irritating than the disposable versions that come with an adhesive that can limit airflow. If you choose disposable liners, be sure to pick unscented to avoid irritation and upsetting your normal pH balance.
Other ways to keep your undergarments fresh include choosing breathable underwear, like cotton, and changing underwear throughout the day as needed. Be sure to avoid products that can upset your natural pH levels, like scented soaps and douching, as those may increase your discharge.
Related: Top 5 Tips to Maintain Vaginal Health: Things You Were Never Told
We hope that this article clears up any confusion about what’s normal when it comes to vaginal discharge and when it may warrant further investigation. Do you have any other tips for managing your lady part secretions? If so, we’d love to hear from you, send us a message to share your insights!
Sometimes being a woman seems unfair. Case in point: have you ever been accused of having PMS? PMS stands for premenstrual syndrome. Most have heard the term and may have used it jokingly when a woman’s emotions were high, casually alluding to the fact that her moodiness must be from imbalanced hormones during her menstrual cycle.
While it may seem like fun and games to joke about PMS, it’s a real physiological phenomenon that should be taken seriously. Nine out of ten women experience premenstrual symptoms to different degrees. If you’ve noticed your own PMS affecting other people, it might be time to consider whether you’re dealing with a more serious premenstrual disorder: PMDD.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a severe version of PMS that affects your life more significantly. In this blog post, we’ll cover the basics of premenstrual disorders and give you tips to help with your symptoms around that time of the month.
Let’s start with the basics.
Premenstrual syndrome includes a range of symptoms, both physical and emotional, that occur in a woman’s body due to changes in her body’s chemistry from the menstrual cycle. A few common symptoms can include:
Interestingly, PMS is most likely to occur in women in their 30s. Other factors that increase your chances of pre-period problems include high stress and a history of depression.
So how do you know if it’s PMS? A tell-tale sign is that the symptoms repeat at least three cycles and linger for about five days before your period begins, ending on day four of your cycle. If your PMS is more extreme and disruptive than what we described above, you may be suffering from PMDD.
Only about 5% of women of childbearing age face premenstrual symptoms so severe that they interrupt daily life. Symptoms of PMDD can include all of the physical and emotional PMS symptoms, plus more. Here are some indicators of PMDD:
If your life is completely thrown off course each month a week or two before your period, PMDD is a real possibility. There is hope — PMDD is both preventable and treatable.
If your premenstrual symptoms are mild but bothersome, you don’t just have to sit back and accept the wave of discomfort each month. Preventing PMS or PMDD may be as simple as adding self-care to your routine. Are you performing these three self-care items daily?
If those three tips are not doing the trick, you may need to move on to treatment options to cope with the symptoms. During this stage, start documenting your symptoms so that you can discuss them with your online OBGYN in the future if necessary. You can journal the old-fashioned way with pen and paper, or download a phone app. Include the date, symptom, severity, and effect on your life.
Over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications may help temporarily relieve your symptoms but they do nothing for prevention. Some vitamins and herbs may help with the prevention and reduction of premenstrual symptoms including:
So maybe you’ve already tried the preventative measures above and are still struggling with the severe effects of PMDD each month. Sometimes medication is required for treating the symptoms, including antidepressants (SSRIs), birth control pills, water pills, or pain relievers.
The great news is — finding support and treatment for premenstrual disorders is easier than ever in today’s digital world. If you need help with PMDD, you can schedule an online appointment with My Virtual Physician to discuss your symptoms with our board-certified OBGYN and make PMDD a thing of the past.
It’s important not to ignore your premenstrual symptoms if they are interfering with your life and relationships. PMDD can sometimes be a sign of a more serious problem including: depression or anxiety, ME/CFS, IBS, or bladder pain syndrome. That’s why it’s critical to see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment if the symptoms don’t dissipate on their own. Premenstrual disorders are not a laughing matter, and My Virtual Physician will always take your concerns seriously and offer help.
Did you know that every year nearly 700 women die from pregnancy-related complications in the United States? Even more shockingly, over 450 of these annual deaths are preventable! Being aware of serious complications that women face during pregnancy and postpartum is critical to saving lives.
To support this mission to save lives, the CDC has launched a campaign aimed at reducing pregnancy-related deaths. Launched in August of 2020, the campaign called “Hear Her,” is still running strong today and hopes to empower women and their support network to take postpartum concerns seriously.
Most people have heard of postpartum depression, but that’s not the only health concern that should be monitored in new mothers. In this article, we gather facts from the CDC’s Hear Her campaign to help get you up to speed on a range of postpartum concerns.
First, let’s cover the most well-known concern: postpartum depression.
Having a baby is a serious life-changing event for a woman and her family. Changing hormones and roller-coaster emotions can take their toll on a woman who is using her body to grow another human being. Sometimes a pregnant woman’s body becomes chemically unbalanced, resulting in depression. There are three levels of depression that can commonly occur during and after pregnancy:
Baby blues are a mild feeling of unease, including feelings of anger, sadness, loneliness, or anxiety experienced by up to eight out of ten new mothers. Baby blues can be caused by sudden changes in hormones and generally last only a few days after birth, no longer than two weeks.
Postpartum depression, also called perinatal depression, is a mood disorder that can be caused by a chemical imbalance. It is similar to regular depression, but occurs during the last trimester or up to a year after pregnancy and is estimated to affect up to 15% of women who gave birth. Depression is usually diagnosed when these signs are present and last longer than two weeks (and not following a traumatic event):
Postpartum psychosis is an emergency situation affecting two out of 1000 births, usually in the first month after delivery. A mother dealing with postpartum psychosis should seek medical attention immediately. Signs of this include:
For any of the three layers of postpartum depression, it’s important to speak with your doctor during your postpartum follow-up appointment. If you aren’t comfortable going to see the doctor that delivered your child, our online physicians are available to help. Schedule your appointment now with Dr. Howard, our board-certified OB/GYN.
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If you have a loved one who is experiencing signs of postpartum depression, encourage them to discuss their experience with a professional, whether it’s a therapist or a physician. Postpartum depression doesn’t always have to be treated with medication; a common treatment option is psychotherapy counseling.
Related: Talk Tuesdays - Episode 1: Postpartum Depression
It’s not just postpartum depression that affects the health and livelihood of pregnant or new mothers, there are a host of warning signs to keep an eye out for both during and after pregnancy. If addressed at an early enough time, lives can be saved.
As a pregnant or postpartum woman, report any of these signs to your doctor immediately (or as a family member, encourage your loved one to seek help):
Find more information on each of these signs or symptoms, and what they could mean, on the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) website. You can also find personal “Hear Her” stories on the CDC’s campaign page, which include video testimonials of each woman’s personal story about the life-threatening symptoms she experienced during or after pregnancy.
If you recently delivered your baby or are nearing delivery and you are suffering from any of the warning signs above, we encourage you to play it safe and bring up your concerns with your OB/GYN or another medical professional.
Postpartum Support International is an organization that can help.
They also offer online specialty support groups as well as resources for loss and grief.
If you are concerned that your loved one has any of the postpartum concerns in this article, you are in the right place. The most helpful thing you can do is to offer a listening ear and show your loved one support. Provide her with resources and encourage her to seek medical help, while offering to help set up her appointment or take her to the doctor or therapist.
This type of conversation isn’t easy, so conversation guides are available on the CDC’s campaign page to get you started. Are you ready to “hear her” and take postpartum concerns seriously to prevent unnecessary deaths? The best way you can get involved is by watching for the warning signs in your pregnant and postpartum friends and family and responding with love and persistence.
The Office on Women’s Health (OWH), a division of the US Department of Health & Human Services, has found that nearly 20% of women of childbearing age are douching. What’s the big deal? These women may not realize that douching can be potentially damaging to their health and the practice is not recommended by OBGYNs.
In this post, we will cover:
If you’ve never heard the term douche or douching as it relates to vaginal hygiene, you’re not alone. According to Merriam-Webster, douching is defined as an act of cleansing, generally using a jet of liquid to flush out a bodily cavity. You’ve got that right - vaginal douching is a cleansing solution, generally consisting of vinegar-based chemicals, that is flushed into the vaginal canal.
Douching kits can be purchased over the counter at most grocery, drug, and convenience stores. Usually found in the feminine supply aisle, they include:
Why would a woman douche? There is a common misconception that the vagina needs to be cleaned out occasionally from the inside, especially after menstruation. This is false. The vagina has a delicate natural acidity that keeps it in perfect harmony. It is self-cleaning and does not require any intervention to maintain healthy hygiene.
Read the back of any douche products and you’ll realize that there is no true benefit; companies are simply playing on women’s insecurities regarding feeling “fresh” and “clean” and “removal of odors.” On each box, you will also find a warning note indicating that douching may cause serious health problems including Pelvic Inflammatory Disorder (PID), ectopic pregnancy, and infertility.
Related: How Your Body’s pH Levels Can Affect Your Health
What’s so dangerous about douching? There are a host of health problems that can result from upsetting your vagina’s natural balance. Those problems can include:
Douching alters the pH of your vagina, upsetting the natural vaginal flora that fends off bad bacteria and other irritations. When your pH becomes imbalanced, a woman is more prone to see infections like bacterial vaginosis. Douching can also remove some of the healthy bacteria that are part of your normal vaginal flora and make you more susceptible to infections including STIs.
Even more dangerous, if you douche while you have an infection, it can push the bacteria up into your other reproductive organs including the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. An internal infection of these organs is called Pelvic Inflammatory Disorder, a serious health concern. Never attempt to self-treat vaginal discharge, foul odors, itching, pain, burning, or discomfort by flushing it out with a douche, which can make the problem worse.
If you’re having any of these symptoms, reach out to My Virtual Physician to schedule an online OBGYN appointment so we can help with proper diagnosis and treatment.
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Clearly, douching is not the best practice for vaginal hygiene. So if you’ve been douching, what is the alternative?
A healthy vagina self-maintains healthy hygiene by producing mucous that washes away any foreign substances like blood, semen, or discharge. A natural mild vaginal scent is normal; your vagina shouldn’t smell like flowers.
If you are noticing an offensive vaginal odor that is not resolved by occasional rinsing of your exterior vulva with water (or occasionally water plus mild soap), that is a clear sign from your body that your natural vaginal flora balance has been upset. Consult your online OBGYN if you need help determining what may be causing an abnormal odor.
Sometimes it’s actually the scented products, meant to mask your natural scent, that can cause your body to protest with pungent odors. Using unscented washes and menstrual products is important to keep unnecessary chemicals, which can interrupt the natural cleansing process, out of the vagina. Give your vagina some time to recover from scented products and douches and you’ll see your vaginal health return.
Related: 5 Tips to Maintain Vaginal Health: Things You Were Never Told
When it comes to menstrual and vaginal products, women are often targeted with advertising that feeds on their insecurities regarding their natural vaginal scent and cleanliness. Douching is one example of a vaginal product that is not only unnecessary and ineffective, but also has a detrimental effect on a woman’s health.
Have you been fooled into believing that douching is a necessary, normal, or acceptable way to clean the vagina? If so, you’re not alone. We hope to spread awareness around the misconception that douching is appropriate for any purpose when it comes to a clean vagina. Help us spread the word by sharing the dangers of douching with your girlfriends.
Did you know that if the entire population of the United States was tested for sexually transmitted infections today, about 20% would test positive? That’s what was found in a 2018 study of the top eight STIs.
The top 8 include:
In lockstep with the CDC releasing their new STI Treatment Guidelines last year, we’re providing relevant information in our blog regarding STIs to keep you informed. In case you missed it, here’s the scoop on Chlamydia.
Let’s take this opportunity to move on to our review of the second most common bacterial STI: gonorrhea.
Gonorrhea, like chlamydia, is a bacterial infection transmitted through sexual contact. The name of the bacteria in gonorrheal infections is called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This bacteria grows on the inner membranes of the reproductive tracts of both men and women and can also thrive in the mouth, throat, rectum, and even eyes. You can catch gonorrhea by engaging in sexual activity, including vaginal, oral, or anal sex, with someone who is infected. It can also be passed during birth from mother to child.
Gonorrhea can cause some gnarly complications. Unlike chlamydia, which tends to only cause damage to a woman’s body, gonorrhea can cause health problems for men and women alike. Some possible health effects of untreated gonorrhea are:
Those are some very concerning conditions, so how do you know if you’ve been infected?
Similar to chlamydia, most people do not have clear signs of being infected with gonorrhea, but there are a few symptoms to look out for:
Symptoms in women:
Symptoms in men:
Because most people with gonorrhea don’t have any signs or symptoms of infection, screening each year is crucial for detection, particularly for women. Men are more likely to have symptoms alerting them of infection, so testing may not be necessary. The CDC recommends regular testing for gonorrhea when it comes to:
The days of going to public health to get tested for STIs may be over. Now, you can test discreetly with your online OBGYN who can order a screening test from your local lab. Contact My Virtual Physician to order your STI testing kit today.
Gonorrhea can be detected by performing a bacterial culture on either an early morning urine sample or a genital swab. The new CDC guidelines add a recommendation for rectal and pharyngeal (throat) testing if an infection is suspected in those parts of the body and also approve of patient-collected specimens.
If you test positive, be sure to notify all sexual partners within the past 60 days so they can also be tested and treated. If they are unable to see a doctor, talk with your physician to see if they can assist in making treatment medications available for others that may be infected.
Antibiotics are used to kill the bacteria that cause gonorrhea. Sometimes your doctor may simultaneously treat you for chlamydia even if you have not been tested. With gonorrhea treatment, there is a risk of bacterial resistance; if you suspect your infection is not cured after completing your medication, call your doctor right away for a different treatment option.
Your doctor will determine whether it will be necessary to re-test after treatment. For most infections, re-testing is not required but is recommended after three months. If you had a positive throat swab, the CDC recommends testing for a negative result within 1 to 2 weeks after treatment. Both partners should refrain from sexual activity for a week after completing treatment to prevent re-infection. The CDC recommends scheduling a follow-up STI test within three months of treatment for patients who have been treated for gonorrhea.
STI testing and receiving a positive result, whether it’s gonorrhea or another infection, can be a mixed bag of emotions, but you don’t have to go it alone. Regular testing can catch the infection early on before any damage can be done to your reproductive system.
Have you received your annual STI screening for 2022? Schedule your appointment with My Virtual Physician so we can take care of your testing needs.
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Is your current birth control method working for you? Or are you trying to figure out what else is out there in the world of contraceptives? Luckily, your online OBGYN can help you sort through your options.
Family planning and reproductive function are a huge part of women’s health. Over 65% of women of child-bearing age are using some form of contraception. As soon as a woman decides to be sexually active, she has important decisions to make regarding either family planning or contraceptives.
If you’re not ready to start a family just yet, choosing the right contraceptive path might be overwhelming with all the options available. Here, we’ll cover the basics and go in-depth on one promising option available for pregnancy prevention: the diaphragm.
First things first, let’s go over the basics. The two main categories to choose from are hormonal and non-hormonal birth control.
Hormonal birth control delivers medication that alters a woman’s hormones. Hormones are in charge of regulating the menstrual cycle and instructing the body to ovulate, or release an egg each month. Some examples of hormonal birth control include:
Non-hormonal contraceptive options do not interfere with your body’s natural hormones. You can think of these as barriers that physically prevent sperm from getting to your egg. Sometimes these are used in combination with spermicide products. Examples of this type of birth control include:
You have likely heard of most of the options that are listed above. The diaphragm, one of the less commonly utilized options, may be unfamiliar. Let’s uncover the mystery.
A diaphragm is a soft and flexible silicone cup-shaped device used by women to create a barrier at the cervix, blocking sperm from entering where the egg lies. The diaphragm is placed into the vagina before sex and removed after a specified amount of time. Contraceptive gel, or spermicide, is used together with the diaphragm to improve effectiveness.
Let’s take a look at how to use a diaphragm. In this example, we’ll take a peek at the instructions for the Caya contoured diaphragm. Here are the basic steps to follow:
A few things to remember when using a diaphragm:
Removing the diaphragm is simple. Six hours after sex, you can remove the diaphragm by hooking it with a finger on the rim. Pull it out, rinse, and repeat as needed.
So why would a woman choose a diaphragm? A major factor in the decision is that diaphragms don’t contain hormonal medication. This can be advantageous for fertility reasons and makes diaphragms an option for breastfeeding mothers (beginning six weeks post-birth).
The list of side effects caused by hormonal birth control is a lengthy one with some pretty scary possibilities. Some women experience migraines, blood clots, and even strokes while taking hormonal birth control. With diaphragms, side effects are virtually non-existent. The list is very short and includes discomfort, minor irritation, and vaginal discharge for some women while wearing the diaphragm.
Some benefits of using a diaphragm are comfort and convenience. Unlike condoms, which are disposable and require many over a lifetime, diaphragms are reusable and last for up to 2 years. That means you won’t have to get monthly prescriptions, won’t have to remember to take a pill every day, and won’t have to go through a painful IUD insertion. You can insert the diaphragm up to six hours before sex and leave it put up to 24 hours.
Contraception is something that most women will manage throughout a large part of their lives. Being aware of your options can help you make the best decision when choosing which method of birth control to use. Take the time to schedule an appointment with your online OBGYN to discuss your method and your options. A prescription is required for a diaphragm, but we can help with that!
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Are you ready to make a change? My Virtual Physician has expert doctors, including board-certified OBGYN Dr. Howard, who are available and ready to discuss your contraceptive options today.
Virtual doctor appointments are replacing in-person visits; it’s the clear direction that we are headed. While telehealth has had a slow start to overcome the technological and social barriers of moving care online, the pandemic has accelerated things.
According to a study, the number of healthcare companies that plan to increase investment in telehealth development has jumped from 77% to 93%. Providers are finally putting resources into developing the full potential of telemedicine.
The benefits to online appointments for patients are clear:
With the high demand for online doctors, you must be diligent about who you trust for your healthcare needs. In the early days of telehealth, there were just a few companies that offered virtual care. But today, online doctor portals are popping up everywhere. How do you choose the right one for you?
Below we will take a look at three OBGYN women’s health options that are currently available online:
If you’re looking for the traditional benefits of sitting and discussing your health with your doctor but prefer to do it from the comfort of your own home, My Virtual Physician may be what you are looking for.
Skip the wait to see your OBGYN. My Virtual Physician is truly a full-spectrum women’s telehealth provider. Our doctors are available and ready to see you today.
The message that we saw over and over when comparing women’s health online providers was that My Virtual Physician rises above the others when it comes to genuine concern and customized care for the patient.
When you start your appointment with our doctors, you get to converse directly, face-to-face with your physician.
The comments on Google reviews show that patients who see the doctors at My Virtual Physician are overwhelmingly pleased with their experience. Here’s what patients have shared:
“Dr. Howard was patient and knowledgeable. Very available and super helpful.Gave me a thorough explanation of my treatment options and helped me make my decision on my next steps.” -Esther
“Doctor was knowledgeable, empathetic, understating and even put extra effort in trying to save me money since I have no insurance. I'm committed to having My Virtual Physician as my primary Doctor by choice. My experience was fast and easy. Way better then spending several hours in a doctors office. Doctor's follow up was great!!!” -Erica
This type of personal interaction is something that cannot be replaced by chats or forms that other providers sometimes use. My Virtual Physician values the opportunity to provide access directly to patients.
As you can see in the reviews, the doctors at My Virtual Physician are experts in their field. Getting the correct diagnosis & treatment the first time is valuable for all involved; it saves time, money, and frustration.
The services that My Virtual Physician provides are full-spectrum. You can receive the following women’s health services from our OBGYN:
In addition to the above women’s reproductive health, My Virtual Physician offers additional services in some states.
Many online doctors only offer general care; however, My Virtual Physician was founded by a specialist. Dr. Howard is a board-certified OBGYN specialist who is licensed in nearly a dozen states and is focused on realizing his dream to make accessible women’s health care a reality.
So if you truly want an expert to get your reproductive health advice from, My Virtual Physician is in a unique position to meet that need. You won’t have to wait months to see Dr. Howard as you would if you try to schedule an appointment with a local OBGYN at a physical clinic.
While My Virtual Physician has mastered bringing the traditional doctor experience online without losing the personal interactive aspect, there are a few things to know when you schedule an appointment.
So you’re ready to book an appointment with My Virtual Physician. One thing to be aware of is the availability of appointment times. Currently, there is a short window each day that appointments are scheduled.
Appointments can be scheduled:
But don’t lose hope just yet; if you need to meet with our doctors outside of the window of times available on the scheduling assistant, just give us a call to see what we can do. In most cases, we can accommodate. Our primary mission is to make sure our patients receive the care they deserve.
Because My Virtual Physician is run by a tight-knit group of physicians who are experts in their field, it is not a huge corporation that employs endless numbers of doctors. This means that My Virtual Physician is only able to provide services to patients who live in the states where the doctors are currently licensed.
Reference the map below to find out if My Virtual Physician is currently available in your state, and which services are offered.
Let’s move on to another women’s healthcare online provider: Nurx.
Nurx’s mission is to make healthcare accessible, affordable, and better. However, its use is limited to more of a prescription and delivery service rather than a full-spectrum telehealth provider. Let’s go over some things to know about Nurx.
Nurx is convenient for receiving certain regular prescriptions and tests.
Nurx is great if you already take an established birth control that works and you don’t have the desire or need to consult a doctor. Nurx provides prescription birth control and a few other recurring prescriptions.
Once you complete the initial consultation, which consists of filling out some paperwork and paying a fee, your recurring prescription will be reviewed behind the scenes. Nurx has their own pharmacy that they use to send medication to you.
Your prescription is shipped to your door on a recurring basis. This is convenient if you plan on taking the same medication long-term, but it only works if the medication is not urgent. For example, you would not want to wait on shipping for antibiotic treatments if your body is trying to fight off an infection.
Getting tested for STIs carries some stigma and is a little awkward. We like that Nurx has developed some STI testing kits that can be self-administered in the privacy of your own home.
This is a good option only for regular annual testing and should not be used if you suspect you may have been infected. There is a long delay of seven working days after you send the test kit back to the Nurx lab for results on STIs.
Some of the issues women have had with Nurx are a bit concerning. For claiming to be experts in women’s healthcare, they have some explaining to do.
While Nurx serves a purpose, its biggest downside is that it lacks direct communication between you and your doctor. In fact, you don’t have a doctor with Nurx. Your paperwork gets reviewed by a doctor along with a stack of others.
A conversation between you and your doctor is the most effective way to truly meet your healthcare needs and manage your medication competently. It is impersonal when lacking face-to-face communication with a doctor.
Nurx operates more like a lab or pharmacy than a doctor’s office. There are quite a few reviews that show some recurring problems with Nurx’s subscription model:
Of the 12 conditions that Nurx can treat per their website, only half are related to women’s health conditions, which include:
Overall, Nurx might be ok if you are simply looking to get your medication or testing and don’t need any personalized care or advice. Next up: hers.
If you like your healthcare to have some sex appeal, you might be tempted to try a prescription provider called hers. hers was created as a branch-off from the original website, hims, which provides a wide range of similar men’s products.
hers provides hair care, skincare, and supplement products as well as mental health, and now, primary care services.
If you like the products that hers offers, hers can be a convenient option for receiving prescriptions regularly.
Hers is different from most online doctors because they carry their own line of personal hygiene products. Women must pamper themselves for optimal health, both mentally and physically. The products themselves are highly rated in customer reviews.
Similar to Nurx, hers also has their own pharmacy they work with to mail birth control prescriptions and other medications directly to your door each month. All of your prescriptions will be recurring subscriptions.
While the reviews we saw regarding the actual products tended to be positive, the patient reviews of the services that hers provides were overwhelmingly bad. Out of 10 reviews at the time of this article, 70% of the reviews were 1 star. Some of the biggest complaints were:
At first glance, you may not even realize that hers is providing healthcare services. Their website gives the appearance that hers is just a skincare product line. If you look closely, there is a link for primary care services. In their sexual health section, you can find:
While a few of those options may be convenient for recurring subscriptions, it seems like hers is more of a store pushing their products than a doctor who is serving their patient’s best interests.
While providing access to birth control is a noble cause, it may be irresponsible to do so without a proper assessment and time for discussion between the patient and doctor. Similar to Nurx, hers has no face-to-face appointment for women’s health care.
Their process includes completing an online intake form, chatting with a provider (it is unclear whether this is a video or text chat), and then receiving a prescription and refills in the mail if deemed appropriate.
Women’s telehealth has great potential to change how we see our doctors and specialists. Switching to virtual doctors is a step that most patients will be taking in the near future, if they have not already begun to do so. As you can see, not all online women’s healthcare providers are created equally, and each has their own set of benefits and setbacks.
If you’re looking to replace your OBGYN, be sure to choose a full-spectrum provider who can address all of your reproductive care needs. Schedule an appointment with My Virtual Physician today to find out what makes us different!
Most women only learn about sexually transmitted infections during one short period in their lives: junior high health education class. Formerly and more widely known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), you probably haven’t reviewed the symptoms since high school, except for a quick scare a time or two when you had possible signs of an STI.
Did you know that the CDC is continually updating its recommendations on STI treatment? In 2021, the CDC released new STI Treatment Guidelines that update recommendations for diagnosing and treating STIs.
In general, from time to time, it’s a good idea to freshen up your knowledge on STI’s. So let’s begin by taking an in-depth look at chlamydia.
Chlamydia is an infection caused by a specific bacteria called C. trachomatis that is transmitted through bodily fluids during sexual contact. Chlamydia can be spread through intimate activity with an infected person during vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
If left untreated, chlamydia can cause serious complications and devastation to a woman’s body. Some of the damage that can occur with untreated chlamydia includes:
Clearly, chlamydia is a serious infection that should be treated as early as possible once detected, but how do you recognize the signs of an infection?
Although most people do not have signs when infected with chlamydia, there are some symptoms that some people experience.
Unfortunately, chlamydia can go undetected because many people, both men and women, are asymptomatic. That is why regular annual screening is critical. The demographic with the highest number of reported chlamydia cases are women under 25. The CDC’s current recommendation on who should be screened yearly includes:
Testing for chlamydia is simple and easy. My Virtual Physician can order a screening test from your local lab when you schedule an online OBGYN appointment. Typically, a urine test or genital swab is used to diagnose chlamydia; however, the new CDC guidelines also recommend rectal and pharyngeal (throat) testing if a rectal or oral chlamydial infection is suspected.
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Luckily, if you’ve tested positive for chlamydia, there is a simple cure. Antibiotics are used to kill uninvited bacteria. It is important to listen to all of your doctor’s instructions and complete the medication, even if symptoms disappear. Refraining from sexual activity for 7 days after being treated is also very important to prevent re-infection. The CDC recommends that patients who have been treated for chlamydia should schedule a follow-up STI test within three months of treatment.
Chlamydia can be a devastating diagnosis, but it doesn’t have to be. Regular testing can catch the infection early on before any damage can be done to your reproductive system. Have you had your annual chlamydia or other STI screening this year? Schedule your appointment with My Virtual Physician so we can take care of your testing needs.
Many Americans faced job losses this year. That means that a lot of families lost their health insurance. That leaves many wondering, can you make a doctor's appointment without insurance?
Doctors and healthcare facilities allow individuals to book appointments without insurance. When scheduling an appointment, patients are asked about who will pay for the services. Without health insurance, it is possible to pay out-of-pocket. If paying for treatment without insurance coverage, it is important to consider factors like necessity and cost.
Here's what you need to know when booking a doctor's appointment without insurance.
Healthcare providers, like doctors, treat patients' health concerns. When it is time to see a physician, the first step is to contact them for an appointment.
To make an appointment to see the doctor, patients will need these things:
Those who are not covered by a health insurance plan can still schedule an appointment. The doctor's office will charge the patient directly instead of billing an insurance company.
Making a doctor's appointment without insurance is just like making an appointment with coverage. In most situations, patients can receive the same treatment.
Sometimes a test or medication is very expensive without insurance. However, doctors will often discuss what treatments or procedures are necessary and how costly they may be. That is why it is good to talk with a doctor even if you don't have insurance.
A recent poll found that about 44% of Americans would not go to the doctor if sick or injured because of the cost.
Many providers offer discounts for cash-paying customers. Others may be able to arrange payment plans. There is nothing more valuable than your health. Skipping the doctor because you don't have insurance is a bad idea.
An average doctor's appointment costs between $68 and $234, according to Debt.org. The charge may change depending on how difficult the condition is and how much time the doctor spends with the patient.
One cost-saving alternative to an in-office appointment is telemedicine. Online doctors offer significant savings to patients, including the expense of time and travel. And some online doctors offer reduced visit fees as well.
Even those with insurance can benefit from saving money on gas and cutting the wait time by booking a virtual physician appointment. All of the top private health insurers offer some telehealth coverage.
My Virtual Physician offers the best in telemedicine services. They regularly add new insurance plans, but those without insurance can see a doctor today for only $49.99. Each patient at My Virtual Physician receives patient-focused, quality care with or without health coverage.
If you've experienced a job change or lost health insurance coverage, check with My Virtual Physician for a doctor near you. Book now with the secure patient portal. And get the care you need.
Many women enjoy the feel of soft-shaven skin. But the red, itchy patches that come after can be a real pain. Razor bumps in sensitive areas like the bikini line are annoying. So how can men and women deal with razor bumps down there?
Razor bumps, technically called pseudofolliculitis barbae, are a common skin complaint. Fortunately, they are preventable to some degree. By protecting skin before, during, and after hair removal, men and women can minimize the effects of razor bumps.
If you're wondering how to save your skin, check out these tips to steer clear of painful razor bumps.
Razor bumps are an uncomfortable sign of skin irritation. For those who already have them, the first step is to keep them from getting worse.
A compress made with salt water can also help soothe the skin. Saltwater cleans and heals the skin by osmosis. To make a "saline soak" at home:
Consider adding a couple of drops of an essential oil, like tea tree oil, to the saline solution for more relief.
When bumps don't go away or become more painful, it may be best to see a doctor.
A physician can tell if the problem is razor bumps or may be something else. Some doctors use antibiotic gels, steroids, or retinoids to treat severe cases.
They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When it comes to razor bumps, it's very true.
Here's how you can lower your risk of getting razor bumps from shaving.
Find more tips on how to prevent razor bumps here.
Taking care of skin before, during, and after hair removal can go a long way in preventing razor bumps.
If you've tried to treat pseudofolliculitis barbae yourself but find the situation getting worse, it may be time to check with a doctor.
Are you looking for a doctor near you to treat your sensitive issues? My Virtual Physician has board-certified physicians who can address gynecological and primary care problems via video visits.
If you would like to talk with a board-certified doctor, you can schedule your appointment online now. My Virtual Physician offers health screening, lab tests, and counseling to meet all of your healthcare needs.
Did you know that My Virtual Physician is now accepting SilverSummit Health Insurance? That is great news for residents of Nevada’s Clark and Washoe counties. Members can now book an online doctor appointment with no out-of-pocket expense.
SilverSummit Healthplan provides the best Nevada Medicaid plans. Now they are adding even more value to their services by partnering with My Virtual Physician to give members virtual doctor visits. Residents of Nevada can access doctors to treat a wide range of problems, including:
My Virtual Physician’s caring doctors treat patients right in their own home through a video visit. The office provides appointments for Obstetrics/Gynecology (OB/GYN) or Primary Care Physician (PCP) services. And patients can book safely and easily through the patient portal.
Health insurance plans are similar because they usually cover the same services. But different plans may:
Some plans are Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). These give members a list of doctors to choose from in their network. Insurance will cover services from in-network doctors, but may not cover the same services with out-of-network providers. My Virtual Physician is thrilled to add SilverSummit to their accepted Insurance Plans lineup and accept new patients.
My Virtual Physician is still adding new insurance plans to the network. But even without insurance, visits are still less expensive than an in-office visit. And the office accepts many forms of payment. Patients also appreciate booking an online doctor appointment because it is more convenient. My Virtual Physician has late evening and weekend appointments for booking. Members of SilverSummit Healthplan can schedule an appointment now at www.myvirtualphysician.com or text the office staff with questions.
To meet the physicians, simply click “BOOK APPOINTMENT NOW” to book your visit. Or visitors can text message questions about the virtual/online doctor benefits.
Every 13 minutes, a woman dies from breast cancer. Unfortunately, many women with the disease do not show symptoms. So, regular screening for breast cancer is critical for early detection and diagnosis.
Breast Cancer screening typically occurs as a part of routine preventative care. Individuals do not have to have any signs or symptoms to have a screening performed by their doctor. Manual exams, ultrasound, thermography, and mammography are a few ways patients are screened for abnormalities. A doctor can explain screening options and when it is time to consider certain tests.
To find out how breast cancer screening aids in the diagnosis of the disease, read on.
Breast cancer can be asymptomatic. In other words, it may have no symptoms. In fact, cases may show different symptoms and examination findings. That is why screening should be individualized for each patient.
Screening means looking for or testing for something when there are no signs.
Many people think that only someone with a family history should worry. Yet, about 85% of breast cancers occur in women who do not have any family history of breast cancer. Rather, genetic mutations that occur as women age increase their risk. The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are being a woman and growing older.
Doctors are trained in the latest research and guidelines. They can tell their patients about the options. And doctors help women decide when it is a good idea to be tested.
Breast cancer is typically diagnosed in one of the following ways:
Mammography is the most common screening method used today. Other testing methods include Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBI) and thermography, although these are not widely used.
According to a recent article, doctors are seeing later-stage cancer cases in younger women. This is worrisome because cancers detected in younger women in their 20s and 30s are more aggressive. And they may lead to poorer outcomes.
Doctors are seeing later-stage cancer cases in younger women. This is worrisome.
Early detection is key in cancer treatment. The cost of treatment, risks of complications including death, and length of treatment go down with earlier detection.
If not caught early, cancers can grow and spread. When cancer cells move to other organs, this is called metastasis. Thus, cancer is harder to treat.
The best way to catch cancerous changes early is through regular check-ups with a doctor and routine screening tests to help detect changes early. Online doctors or virtual gynecologists can order mammograms or other imaging tests, and tailor screening plans for women who do not usually see a primary care physician.
Medical researchers continue to look for ways to help doctors with better and more accurate tests.
In 2019, the National Cancer Institute presented a new study that showed Doctors could detect breast cancer up to five years before any clinical signs appear, using a blood test for tumor-associated antigens (TAAs).
Newer research from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine paired blood tests with other screening tests to determine whether finding and treating cancers identified by blood tests reduced mortality rates. Researchers said that “some screening may actually cause more harm than good.” And so, they used bloodwork with standard imaging procedures.
Results were promising. Researchers concluded that there is hope for a blood test that could eventually reduce deaths from cancers that typically go undetected until late stages. But “any blood test needs to complement and add to standard-of-care screening because standard-of-care screening works.”
Current recommendations encourage most women to have a mammogram beginning at age 40. Here are the most recent guidelines on screening.
My Virtual Physician can offers virtual gynecology services in many states. Women can talk with experts about individualized screening plans. Don’t worry about your risk. Talk to the doctor now.
My Virtual Physician is now accepting new patients.
My Virtual Physician has great news to share. Nevada’s favorite telemedicine provider is now in-network with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). Nevada residents looking for an online doctor may be able to book an appointment now with little to no out-of-pocket expense.
Anthem leads the health insurance industry with a strong desire to make healthcare easier and change lives. Anthem health plans serve more than 42 million families. That is why My Virtual Physician (MVP) is proud to join the Anthem Nevada provider network.
BCBS is known for offering members value-added services.
Anthem Nevada’s member support services are unmatched.
And when Anthem Nevada members need to see a doctor, that’s where MVP comes in. Their board-certified, expert doctors care for Nevada patients from the convenience and safety of home.
MVP offers Obstetrics/Gynecology (OB/GYN) and primary care services to residents of Nevada. Whether using insurance or paying out-of-pocket, My Virtual Physician’s pricing is competitive, and the patient care is unmatched.
Take a look at a few of the current online physician services they treat for Nevada residents:
Patients who need to see an online doctor can book now through a secure patient portal. My Virtual Physician is excited about the new Anthem Nevada partnership and is now accepting new patients. Virtual doctor visits are now easier than ever.
Residents of Nevada can find more information about Anthem BCBS in Nevada at www.anthem.com.
To meet our book an online doctor appointment with our physicians, simply click “Book Appointment Now” to book your visit. Or visitors can contact the office for questions about their virtual/online doctor benefits. My Virtual Physician is standing by to help.
Telemedicine is a great choice for women with gynecologic concerns. The My Virtual Physician founder, Dr. Howard, recently joined a call to explain the value of telemedicine in gynecology. So how can virtual gynecology address women's health concerns?
Irregular periods are one of the most common reasons that women see gynecologists. Here's a look at what Dr. Howard shared.
One of the most common questions about Virtual Gynecology is, "how much of gynecology can be dealt with through telemedicine?" How can diseases or conditions be dealt with through a video visit?
One of the most common reasons women see their gynecologist is irregular periods.
Some women have regular but heavy periods, which are abnormal periods. Abnormal or irregular periods are one of the most frequent reasons why a woman will go to the gynecologist. In young or premenopausal women, the most common reason for irregular periods is a hormonal imbalance. In other words, they're not ovulating regularly. Other times, the lining of the uterus is dysfunctional.
One of the most common ways in young women to fix irregular periods is to manage hormones through a trial of hormonal contraception. To be clear, this is through the use of birth control pills.
For a young woman who visits a doctor for irregular periods, the doctor will take a good history. He or she will make sure that there is not a specific reason for the irregularity. For example, if the young woman has previously had an ultrasound that showed she has fibroids, or other specific structural pathology in the uterus, that could explain the abnormal periods.
An online physician can take a thorough patient history through a video visit and prescribe birth control pills. This is one of the most common things that gynecologists do for young women: start a trial of birth control pills.
Young women with irregular periods do not need a pelvic exam initially.
However, if birth control pills fail to regulate periods, then a woman may need imaging. In some cases, a doctor may even need to look inside the uterus with a camera to see if there is any pathology. And before any invasive procedure, the doctor must do an exam to see how big the uterus is and which way it points because that will guide any surgery.
But initially, when a woman first presents with irregular periods, a video visit is appropriate because a pelvic exam is not needed up front. The doctor needs a good history followed by a trial of hormonal management. Birth control pills can be prescribed electronically, and the entire visit can be be done virtually.
After a few months, if the patient's periods are still irregular, then it may be time for a pelvic ultrasound. This test can be ordered electronically.
The patient will go to a radiology facility for an ultrasound and the report will be faxed to the physician. In some cases, the doctor will have electronic access to the images if the radiology site has a provider portal. Many facilities do. They may provide referring doctors with usernames and passwords they can use to log in and view the ultrasound results. Depending on what the imaging shows, the doctor may move forward with certain treatments.
Although many people would stereotypically think, "oh, I've got to go in," for irregular periods in a young woman, this problem can actually be dealt with through a video visit, at least initially. Depending on ultrasound results, there may ultimately be a time when a patient must go into a gynecology office. But initially, the assessment and management of abnormal periods can be done entirely through a video visit.
"A lot of people would stereotypically think, 'oh, I've got to go in,' ... you can see that actually, abnormal bleeding can be dealt with through a video visit."
- DR. DAVID HOWARD
Now consider the opposite extreme, a woman who is postmenopausal, having bleeding or spotting, the first thing the OB/GYN might do is get a pelvic ultrasound. If the uterine lining is less than five millimeters thick, a biopsy is not indicated. Current evidence shows that.
This transcript was exported on Sep 16, 2021
Still, a patient who has postmenopausal spotting should be evaluated. Since a pelvic ultrasound is not necessarily needed on a first visit, a woman can choose a video visit.
However, if bleeding is heavy, they should go to an emergency room (ER). An ER doctor can assess why the bleeding is heavy. They can assess the amount of bleeding.
If a woman has one episode of postmenopausal spotting but is worried, they can book a video visit. Through a virtual consultation, the doctor can take their history. Then a pelvic ultrasound can be ordered for the physician to review. After this, the doctor will schedule a follow-up visit by video to discuss results with the patient.
If the lining of the uterus is less than five millimeters thick, then the doctor does not have to do a biopsy. The chances of a patient having endometrial or uterine cancer then is very low.
On the other hand, if the lining of the uterus is thick, more than five millimeters, then a woman does need to go into the gynecologist's office for an exam and possibly a procedure such as a biopsy. Yet, the initial part of the assessment and management of postmenopausal bleeding can be done through video visits.
In summary, medical management for abnormal bleeding can be thought of as a three-step process:
As discussed, the first steps can be done through a video visit. At step three, that is when a woman needs to go in office to see a provider.
In short, abnormal uterine bleeding is a common condition that many women would go in to see their gynecologist for. And a lot of people would think, "how can you deal with that through a video visit?"
It is clear that a doctor can start off with a history through video and order a pelvic ultrasound electronically. In some cases, a young patient in their 20's with irregular periods can start with a trial of birth control pills. Postmenopausal women with irregular bleeding can also be treated through a video visit. In the best case scenario, the case can be managed entirely through video visits.
The uncomfortable truth is that doctors probably do too many pelvic exams. Many times they are not necessary. Sensitivity and specificity of pelvic exams, in many cases, is actually really low. Gynecologists should probably be doing a lot less pelvic exams. And when it is really necessary, physicians should be doing them in a very targeted manner.
History, imaging, and blood work, that is the trifecta that accounts for the overwhelming majority of the diagnostic process in gynecology.
"A careful history, imaging, like a pelvic ultrasound, and sometimes blood work. The combination of those three things, that's what really makes the diagnosis overwhelmingly the majority of times in gynecology."
- DR. DAVID HOWARD
Hopefully, eyes are opened as to how abnormal uterine bleeding can be managed through a video visit. A lot of people would not think that it could. Many still don't realize the value of telemedicine in gynecology.
Connect with Our Board-Certified Gynecologists online now. MVP’s founder Dr. Howard is a board-certified physician practicing in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is passionate about medicine and research. He has authored/co-authored several publications and is among the top 10% of scientific reviewers in the United States. Dr. Howard and his team are now accepting new patients.
This transcript was exported on Sep 16, 2021
One in five Americans face poor access to medical care. In some parts of the country, there are serious shortages of doctors and healthcare services. And this is the case for many women living in Georgia.
Georgia has been greatly affected by a nation-wide healthcare shortage. The need for care, specifically women’s healthcare, has increased dramatically over the past decade. Especially in the rural areas outside of major cities, Obstetrical and Gynecological (OB/GYN) services can be hard to find. Fortunately, My Virtual Physician (MVP) has been able to fill the need for some.
Why is there such a need for OB/GYN services in Georgia? And what can be done about the problem? Here's a closer look at the problem.
According to the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce, the state has:
Hence, the lack of doctors is part of the issue. Some women have no choice but to travel to other cities for care. And others even go without.
In many rural areas, there are no OB/GYNs. And in other parts of Georgia, facilities are closing. According to Becker’s Hospital Review, over 100 hospitals have closed during the past decade. Georgia ranked third for most hospitals closed, behind Texas and Tennessee.
To sum it up, a lack of doctors and hospitals is one piece of the puzzle.
Finding a doctor is one problem. But paying for services is another. Many women in Georgia do not have health insurance. Notably, Georgia's insured rate is ranked 48th in the nation.
Another problem is the state's low high school graduation rate. Lack of education is a barrier for access to healthcare. Women struggling with their health may not know where to go for answers.
Speak to one of our board certified OB/GYN virtual doctors today:
Birth control, sexual health, and menopause are sensitive topics. Women need doctors they can trust. OB/GYNs help women through complicated health changes.
OB/GYNs can treat common problems such as:
In addition to new or worrisome symptoms, gynecologists also provide preventative health services.
For example, OB/GYNs encourage women to have breast cancer screenings after age 45 and bone density scans every two years following menopause.
Without regular checkups, women may face major health concerns as time goes on.
Despite the dismal circumstances, care for women in Georgia and other states is changing.
Telemedicine providers offer a new solution. Board-certified OB/GYNs are treating women in Georgia virtually.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), patients can get the same quality care via telemedicine as they would in person. In some cases, patients say their online doctor experience is even better.
Online doctor appointments are affordable and easy to schedule. As well as that, virtual gynecology visits provide a greater sense of safety and security from the comfort of home.
It is getting easier for the women of Georgia to see top-rated doctors for the virtual gynecology care they need. Dr. Howard of MVP treats patients across the U.S., including Georgia. MVP is a multi-state, multi-specialty telemedicine provider that is quickly becoming the preferred choice for many.
Women who want an online gynecology appointment can text the office at 725-228-8277 or visit the patient portal to set up self-scheduled appointments.
My Virtual Physician offers comprehensive virtual gynecology services to address women’s healthcare needs. Our caring doctors can talk with you about your concerns and provide the experience you've been looking for.To talk with one of our expert physicians near you, book an appointment today.
Have you been looking for a Nevada healthcare provider that is in your Prominence Health Plan network? Look no further.
My Virtual Physician (MVP) is excited to announce a new partnership with Prominence Health Plan. Prominence is a respected plan provider that offers a broad network of hospital and healthcare services to its members. Together, MVP and Prominence are serving more individuals with the high quality online healthcare services they need.
Here’s what this new relationship can do for you.
Prominence Health Plan is a subsidiary of Universal Health Services (UHS), which was recognized by Fortune and Forbes as a top company in 2021.
Prominence focuses on providing their members with options for quality, convenient, cost-effective care close to home.
Prominence Health Plan began in Reno, Nevada as a commercial Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) in 1993. Since then, they have expanded to include Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and Medicare Advantage (MA) service lines in multiple states including Nevada, Texas, and Florida.
What Does Prominence Cover?
Prominence Health Plan, like most insurers, offers different types of medical plans. Health insurance plans are similar because they cover many of the same services. Yet they can be different when it comes to:
If a plan is called a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), the insurance plan gives members a list of doctors that are in the network. Choosing a provider that is not on the list may mean that the insurance will not cover any of the visit costs. Members are encouraged to choose an in-network provider so the services will be covered by the plan.
On the other hand, if a plan is called a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) the member has more options. They can pick any doctor. But choosing an in-network doctor makes services more affordable because of discounts or additional coverage for using in-network providers.
It is easy to see why it is best if your doctor is in-network with your insurance plan. This is one reason why MVP is excited to announce that they have joined the Prominence Health Plan network.
MVP and Prominence have a lot in common.
They both started in Nevada.
They are both well-respected companies.
And both work to provide options for quality, convenient, cost-effective care close to home.
Prominence Health Plan and MVP are a perfect match.
MVP is a multi-specialty telemedicine team, treating patients across the US. They provide comprehensive online doctor visits to treat patients of all ages with care for obstetrical-gynecological, primary care, and pediatric services.
Virtual physician appointments are affordable and easy-to-schedule. Plus, they offer the safety and security of being seen from your home or workplace in convenient after-hours and weekend appointment times. Now with more in-network insurance coverage, MVP’s online physician services are better than ever.
MVP’s online doctors treat gynecological issues including:
As well as primary care concerns such as:
If you need to see a doctor and you’ve been looking for the best care at an affordable price, your search can stop here.
Many health concerns can be solved with a simple online consultation. The team at MVP is available now to meet with you.
Did you know My Virtual Physician is offering a promotion for September? Book now to get a free home blood pressure kit for new patients who complete an online consultation in the month of September. Don’t wait, grab your appointment spot now!
MVP’s founder Dr. Howard is a board-certified physician practicing in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is passionate about medicine and research. He has authored/co-authored several publications and is among the top 10% of scientific reviewers in the United States. Dr. Howard and his team are now accepting new patients.
Women looking for a great Obstetrics and Gynecology provider (OB/GYN) in Las Vegas, Nevada, may have trouble. There is an OB/GYN physician shortage in Las Vegas. And the situation is getting worse.
Factors such as physician burnout, population growth, and competition from other parts of the country have created a shortage of OB/GYNs in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a result, some may have difficulty finding the perfect provider to care for their reproductive health.
Women and their partners want an OB/GYN they can trust. Issues like birth control, childbirth, and menopause are delicate matters. Unfortunately, a shortage means there are not enough providers to meet Las Vegas’ needs. Thus, those doctors who are available may be overworked or stretched thin.
Here is why it’s hard to find a good OB/GYN in Las Vegas and what to do about it.
When there are too few doctors to meet a city's demands, it can be hard to find a provider to respond to each patient’s needs. According to NBC News, America is facing an OB/GYN shortage.
Las Vegas, overall, has the most severe OB/GYN workforce shortage.
Other parts of Nevada face an even more serious situation. Some counties lack even one OB/GYN provider. Hence, patients face delays in care. In some cases they are forced to look far away to find a doctor.
Here’s why it is hard to find OB/GYN care in Las Vegas.
And while Las Vegas OB/GYNs may have it rough, the patients suffer too.
OB/GYNs offer services that women need. They provide health counseling, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, and more. From puberty to menopause, women need a health expert they can trust. Many patients depend on OB/GYN advice.
Fortunately, Las Vegas residents can now find the best OB/GYNs, right in their neighborhood.
My Virtual Physician has an answer for the physician shortage crisis. Two of the best board-certified OB/GYNs in the nation are on staff and available for appointments near you in Las Vegas.
My Virtual Physician offers OB/GYN visits in Las Vegas with flexible scheduling through telemedicine. While most providers are busy and feel the pressure to treat many patients quickly, My Virtual Physician is different. Online video visits eliminate travel time and the feel of a busy waiting room. Virtual consultations provide a relaxed, personalized, and patient-centered care experience.
During the pandemic, many patients have had questions about staying safe. Some want to know if vaccination is right for them. Women in Las Vegas can now book a visit with My Virtual Physician to discuss their concerns and get real medical advice. Booking an appointment with an OB/GYN in Las Vegas has never been easier.
Are you looking for an OBGYN near you in Las Vegas? My Virtual Physician has two board-certified physicians licensed in Nevada who can address gynecological problems via video visits.
If you would like to talk with a board-certified OB/GYN, you can schedule your appointment online now. My Virtual Physician offers health screening, lab tests, and counseling to meet all of your healthcare needs.
How much fun is dragging a sick child out of the house, trekking to your pediatrician’s office and waiting to be seen? Probably not on many parents’ top 10 list of family activities. While there is certainly no replacement for a physician’s physical exam, telehealth can be an important supplement toward attaining the best care for your child. The ongoing pandemic and public health concern has highly influenced the increased use of telemedicine, which has demonstrated its quite helpful role in assessing acute care issues and health surveillance of certain conditions. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises all children receive well child exams and immunizations through a medical office, however utilizing telehealth for common pediatric complaints may be a wonderful additional asset in order to maintain quality medical care for children.
Telehealth in a practical sense, is the method of exchanging medical advice through the use of technology. Here at My Virtual Physician, it is easy to set up an appointment to “see” a physician through our online platform, after answering the text prompt on our homepage. In some cases, telehealth also encompasses the use of special diagnostic equipment. It is private, and typically hassle-free when you consider the lack of commute time and being able to talk to a physician from the comfort of your living space. In particular for pediatrics, telehealth allows for the presence of both caretaker and child, which is sometimes difficult given conflicting work schedules or occasional need for a third party to bring a child to the office. Another perk is the lack of exposure to others’ germs that are also common visitors in office waiting rooms. One of the best uses for telehealth discovered during the pandemic, is the increased access to physician care. Many specialists are overbooked, however often times, given the flexibility that telehealth allows, they are able to accommodate telehealth appointments into their busy schedules more easily. This allows for more patients to be seen, when an ordinary wait for an appointment could be several months away. In the same light, through telehealth, underserved or rural areas are provided a way to more quickly access care without the burden of travel expenses.
A physical exam is one of the most important aspects to establish a diagnosis for most patients and especially in pediatrics, however many common conditions in children can be “seen” virtually. Some of these include cough and cold symptoms, gastrointestinal complaints like constipation, rashes, allergies, medication management, and depression/anxiety. Sometimes follow up visits from an emergency department can also be done via telehealth. These issues rely heavily on another key component to appropriate diagnosis: an accurate history. It is imperative to provide details of the complaints, including time of onset, any improvement or worsening, as well as additional symptoms, recent travel, past health problems and sick contacts. Fortunately, these are questions that can be answered in conversation over a communication platform.
Parental and caregiver guidance, often given within the context of an office visit, is unique to pediatrics and is another important avenue in which telehealth in this population can be incredibly helpful. Whether asking questions about newborn feeding, normal developmental behavior, screen time, school readiness, bath and swim safety, dental hygiene, prepubertal and adolescent concerns, immunization worries or just seeking advice on how to maintain a positive connection with your child, telehealth is a tool that can provide a safe and relatively efficient way of finding helpful answers from a pediatric expert.
There are some diagnoses that should be referred to an in-person physician. Fever, for example, is one of the most common reasons children visit their doctor. Many times this can be discussed via telehealth initially and often reveals itself to be a symptom of an illness that will pass in time. However, there are instances where telehealth is not sufficient and the child should be seen in an office for a closer look, such as when a newborn has a fever. Likewise, a cut that might require stitches as well as an injury where there is question of a broken bone or significant pain would need more than an initial televisit. It should also be noted that any condition, in which the child is having trouble breathing, is difficult to arouse or wake or is generally having worsening complaints, an in-person visit would be likely more appropriate.
As mentioned above, there really is no adequate replacement to having a physician’s exam, but telehealth certainly affords many safe conveniences that can be practical in pediatrics. Visit My Virtual Physician to learn more about how our board certified pediatricians can help you and your child!
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States, just behind prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women. Lung cancer also happens to be the most lethal cancer, accounting for approximately 25% of all cancer deaths. Each year, more men die of lung cancer than from colorectal, prostate, and pancreatic cancers combined, and more women die annually of lung cancer than from breast, cervical, and uterine cancers combined.
The main risk factor for lung cancer is cigarette smoking, associated with 85% of cases. Among smokers, the risk of lung cancer increases with number of cigarettes smoked and duration of smoking history. There is good news though: the risk of lung cancer will decrease with smoking cessation and may even approach that of the nonsmoking population after 10 to 15 years of tobacco abstinence. Meanwhile, associated risks of developing lung cancer from e-cigarettes are currently under investigation.
Each year in the U.S., up to 26,0000 lung cancer deaths occur in never smokers, with an even higher proportion in some geographic areas. This brings us to environmental risk factors of lung cancer, such as exposure to radon, a chemically inert gas from uranium decay, encountered by underground miners and less commonly, residentially, through indoor exposure in the home basement. Asbestos exposure can lead to a type of lung cancer called mesothelioma and can cause other types of lung cancer when combined with smoking.
Arsenic, chromium, nickel, air pollution, and second-hand smoke represent other occupational or environmental exposures associated with lung cancer risk. Patients with treated for breast cancer, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas with high doses of radiation to the chest have increased risk of lung cancer, especially if they smoke cigarettes. Family history is another predictor of increased risk. Other diseases associated with increased lung cancer risk include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and restrictive lung diseases, including fibrotic disorders like pneumoconiosis.
Finally, there have been dietary associations with lung cancer. An increased risk has been found with diets deficient in vitamins A and C, but supplementation with beta-carotene has been associated with an increased risk (in heavy smokers, the highest-risk populations, in 2 of 3 clinical trials).
On the basis of findings from the NLST trial, screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan is recommended for certain patients by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). See Table 1.
Table 1. USPSTF Recommendation Summary for Lung Cancer Screening
| Population | Recommendation |
| Adults aged 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years | The USPSTF recommends annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in adults aged 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Screening should be discontinued once a person has not smoked for 15 years or develops a health problem that substantially limits life expectancy or the ability or willingness to have curative lung surgery. |
Adults aged 50 to 80 years have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years should screen for lung cancer with LDCT every year. A pack-year is a way of calculating how much a person has smoked in their lifetime. One pack-year is the equivalent of smoking an average of 20 cigarettes (1 pack) per day for a year. These recommendations are available at www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org.
If you would like to learn more and connect with a board-certified physician, click to book now on My Virtual Physician. My Virtual Physician offers comprehensive medical services where you can discuss the best screening plan for you with a virtual doctor.
References
https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/lung-cancer-screening
Siegel RL, Miller KD, Jemal A: Cancer statistics, 2019. CA Cancer J Clin 69: 7-34, 2019. PMID: 30620402.
Jemal A, Thun MJ, Ries LA, et al: Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2005, featuring trends in lung cancer, tobacco use, and tobacco control. J Natl Cancer Inst 100:1672-1694, 2008. PMID: 19033571.
Omenn GS, Goodman GE, Thornquist MD, et al: Effects of a combination of beta carotene and vitamin A on lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med 334:1150-1155, 1996. PMID: 8602180.
Menkes MS, Comstock GW, Vuilleumier JP, et al: Serum beta-carotene, vitamins A and E, selenium, and the risk of lung cancer. N Engl J Med 315: 1250-1254, 1986. PMID: 3773937.
Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta Carotene Cancer Prevention Study Group: The effect of vitamin E and beta carotene on the incidence of lung cancer and other cancers in male smokers. N Engl J Med 330:1029-1035, 1994. PMID: 8127329
More than 100 million Americans are living with abnormal blood sugar. Is it possible that you could be one of them? A simple A1c screening blood test shows when levels are too high. Elevated blood sugar means higher risk for diabetes.
A glycated hemoglobin, or hemoglobin A1C, test (HbA1c) is one screening test that checks blood sugar levels. Results show how much sugar is in the bloodstream over time. Testing is accurate since values are not affected by acute illness or stress. A1c screening is recommended for certain populations, including overweight adults and those with other risk factors.
Those thinking about blood sugar testing or wondering about risk factors should talk to their doctor. Here are some common questions about diabetic screening and A1c testing.
The A1c test can detect diabetes because it measures how much sugar, called glucose, is found in red blood cells. The red blood cells give a “glycemic history” of the past 120 days.
Everyone has sugar in their blood. But diabetics have higher levels. Blood sugar that is too high leads to cell and tissue damage.
When someone is diagnosed with diabetes, their doctor will also use the A1c test to monitor how the disease is being controlled.
A1c readings are measured in percentage. Here is what A1c results mean.
Higher blood sugar levels cause greater A1c values, and they equal greater risk for diabetes.
Early detection is key in diabetes because early treatment can prevent serious complications. When a problem with blood sugar is found, doctors and patients can take steps to prevent permanent damage to the heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves, blood vessels, and other vital organs.
Here are the current recommendations for A1c screening.
The CDC suggests A1c screening to know a baseline for:
They further recommend that any woman who has ever had gestational diabetes should have an A1c check every three years even if results are normal.
The USPTF also says that adults over age 45 should be checked for diabetes using the A1c test. Furthermore, it recommends repeat testing every three years.
The ADA also recommends the A1c test, or other diabetic screening, for all adults at age 45 and over. Additionally, it advises overweight individuals with one or more risk factors to be screened, regardless of age. If results are normal, repeat screening is recommended every three years or less.
How to Get an A1C Test
If you meet some of these guidelines, you might be wondering how you can get a screening test.
A primary care doctor or other licensed provider can order this common blood test. Results take as little as a few business days.
Those who do not have a doctor to order the test, can still get this valuable screening. An online doctor or virtual physician can help. Telemedicine providers work with laboratory partners to treat patients without unnecessary trips to an office.
An online physician sends referrals and lab orders just like a brick-and-mortar doctors office. After going to a lab for blood work, virtual doctors offices schedule follow up video visits to go over the results, answer questions, and discuss treatment plans.
If you would like to talk with one of our board-certified physicians, book and appointment today. My Virtual Physician offers health screening, lab tests, and counseling to meet all of your healthcare needs.
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In the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer, after breast and lung cancer.
CRC almost always develops from precancerous polyps (abnormal growths in the colon or rectum). Screening tests can find precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening tests can also find CRC early, when treatment works best.
A screening test is used to look for a disease when a person has no symptoms. (When symptoms are present, diagnostic tests are used to find out the cause.)
Regular screening begins at age 45. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSF) recommends adults age 45 to 75 be screened. For adults age 76 to 85, the Task Force recommends asking their doctor for screening recommendations.
Talk to a virtual doctor today!
Several screening tests can be used to find polyps and/or CRC (see Table 1 below). There is no single “best test” for any person. Each test has advantages and disadvantages. Talk to a virtual doctor about which test may be best for you and how often to be tested. Testing modality depends on personal preference, individual medical conditions, the likelihood of testing, and the resources available for testing and follow-up.
Table 1. Screening Tests for CRC
| Test Name | Description | Testing Frequency |
| Stool TestsGuaiac-based fecal occult blood test (FOBT) | Uses the chemical guaiac to detect blood in stool. Test provided by health care provider. At home, use a stick or brush to obtain a small amount of stool. Return the test kit to doctor or lab, where stool samples checked for presence of blood. | Once a year. |
| Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) | Uses antibodies to detect blood in stool. | Once a year. |
| FIT-DNA test (or stool DNA test) | Combines the FIT test with a test that detects altered DNA in the stool. This test requires an entire bowel movement be collected and sent to a lab, where it is checked for cancer cells. | Once every 3 years. |
| Flexible Sigmoidoscopy | During this test, the doctor inserts a short, thin, flexible, lighted tube into the rectum through the sigmoid colon (lower 1/3 of colon). The doctor checks for polyps or cancer there. | Every 5 years, or every 10 years with a FIT every year. |
| Colonoscopy | Similar test to flexible sigmoidoscopy, except the doctor uses a longer, thin, flexible, lighted tube to check for abnormalities inside the rectum and entire colon. During the procedure, the doctor can find and remove most polyps and some cancers. Colonoscopy is also used as a follow-up test if anything unusual is found during one of the other screening tests. | Every 10 years (for people who do not have an increased risk of colon cancer). |
| CT Colonoscopy (Virtual Colonoscopy) | Computed tomography (CT) colonography, also called virtual colonoscopy, uses X-rays and computers to produce images of the entire colon. These are displayed on a computer screen for the doctor to analyze. | Every 5 years. |
The screening testing frequencies above are general guidelines and may be different for you if you have certain risk factors for CRC, such as a family history of CRC or detection of high-risk lesion. Testing is generally more frequent for patients who are high risk. Your doctor will help you decide the optimal screening interval.
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If you would like to connect with a board-certified physician, book an appointment with a virtual doctor today. My Virtual Physician offers comprehensive medical services where you can discuss the best screening plan for you
Half of adults over the age of 50 are at risk for broken bones. Maintaining healthy bones is important for a long healthy life.
Osteoporosis (OP) is a condition of weakened bones. Thin bones are at risk for fractures. OP screening can be an important part of staying healthy. Early disease detection and treatment may prevent complications later. Broken bones are painful and costly. Luckily, screening tests like the Dual-Energy Xray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan alert doctors of problems early.
DEXA scans or other OP screening tests are advised for some at-risk groups. To find out if you should be concerned about bone testing today, read on.
OP is more common in adults than you may believe. One health department called it a major public health threat.
OP screening may prevent:
People with OP may not know anything is wrong until they suffer an injury. With advanced bone disease, normal activities can cause bones to break. Studies have shown that many patients do not get the right treatment for low bone density (LBD) despite the great prevalence, complications, and costs of fractures related to bone disease.
Therefore screening tests for bone loss are important to your health. Doctors or specialists can diagnose problems with weak bones before they become serious.
OP affects one-in-three women above 50 years old. It is also a serious condition for men.
It is best to talk to a doctor about when to get a screening test. They can explain the test and treatment options. Physicians will also answer questions about what to expect.
Currently, we have a few recommendations for OP screening.
The NOF advises a DEXA scan of the hip and spine for:
Also, they also encourage testing in those with:
The ISCD has similar guidelines. They recommend DEXA scan of the hip and spine for the same groups above, but also in:
AACE recommends a DEXA scan for
The AACE says that the lumbar spine and proximal femur are the best sites for testing.
The USPSTF recommends screening for OP in women 65 years or older. Also in younger women with certain risk factors. At this time the USPSTF does not have a recommendation for men.
ACOG currently urges screening for women 65 or older and those under age 65 with risk factors for fracture. They also say physicians should screen patients using the FRAX tool to define their risk of a major fracture.
The FRAX® tool evaluates fracture risk in patients. Based on the score, a 9.3% or higher risk should be referred for a DEXA scan.
The DEXA scan is a quick and reliable test for measuring bone mineral density (BMD). It aids in the diagnosis of OP.
The scan usually takes around 15 minutes. And it doesn't hurt. First, the patient lies down on an open table.
Next, a scanner passes over the body. It sends two X-ray beams. And the machine tells how the rays pass through the bones. This shows how thick or thin they are. The results give the doctor a good idea of how healthy the bones are.
Like other medical tests, a DEXA scan is ordered by a healthcare professional. Typically, doctors or specialists can write a prescription or send a referral. Virtual doctors and online physicians can also arrange this test for their patients.
OP screening may be a part of your yearly check-up. Or it can be used to check on certain risk factors.
Thanks to telemedicine, it is now fairly easy to get this important test. An online doctor can tell you about OP screening and answer your questions. Online appointments are convent. Patients meet doctors from wherever they are, on a mobile device or smartphone.
My Virtual Physician offers screening consultations at little or no out-of-pocket cost. They can order blood tests, imaging or scans, X-rays, and more. And in some cases, same-day appointments are available.
Many screening tests are covered by health insurance or medical benefits. Check with your insurance to see if any out-of-pocket payment is required. Medicare pays for bone density testing every two years for adults over 65 with some risk factors.
My Virtual Physician offers full preventive care services for men and women. To talk with one of the top physicians, click to book an appointment now. The MVP caring experts help patients with screening plans that are tailored to their healthcare needs.
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