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During pregnancy, you need more of certain nutrients. So, it would be best to make smart food choices to ensure you get enough of these nutrients, including protein, iron, folic acid, calcium, and iodine.
Are you trying to eat healthily? The following tips may help you:
Create an eating pattern that includes healthy and nutritious food options. Thes food options include various vegetables, fruits, whole grains, protein, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products.
Cut down on foods and drinks with added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium (salt). Also, avoid processed and refined foods like white bread, cookies, and snack foods.
Make healthy snack choices. You can snack on whole-grain crackers, fruits, and veggies like berries, carrots, apple, celery, avocado, and tomatoes. When you want to eat cheese or yogurt, go for options that are low-fat or fat-free with no added sugar.
Eat more seafood, about 8 to 12 ounces per week. These foods have healthy fats that are beneficial to you and your baby. Healthy choices include catfish, trout, shrimp, oysters, salmon, tilapia, shad, cod, canned light tuna, and herring.
However, avoid certain seafood that contains high amounts of mercury like king mackerel, swordfish, tilefish, marlin, big-eye tuna, orange roughy, and shark.
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The best drink option remains water. However, if you must drink coffee or tea, choose decaf. Also, go for options that are unsweetened and sugar-free. Avoid drinks with added sugars, including soda, energy or sports drinks, and fruit drinks.
You might have heard "eat for two" while pregnant, but that doesn't mean you need to eat twice as much food.
Most women do not usually need extra calories in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. During the second trimester, between the 13th and 26th week, most women need about 340 extra calories per day. This increases to about 450 calories in the third trimester.
Calorie requirements vary from pregnant woman to woman, so ask your doctor or healthcare provider how many calories you need.
Taking prenatal vitamins is essential to your health and your growing baby. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that all pregnant women take at least 600mcg of folic acid daily.
Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects in babies. Neural tube defects affect the development of the brain and spine. It may also prevent congenital heart defects, cleft lip, and cleft palate.
Taking iron helps produce more blood and prevents anemia. The extra blood is needed to make oxygen available to your baby. During pregnancy, the body's iron requirement is 1000 mg.
Pregnant women are to take 250mcg of iodine daily. Early in pregnancy, the need for iodine increases because of increased thyroid hormone production in the mother, increased loss of iodine via the kidneys, and transfer of iodine to the fetus.
Do not take any prenatal vitamins you see. Talk with your local physician about a prenatal vitamin that’s right for you.
Avoid certain foods because they contain bacteria that can harm your baby. These include:
Don't drink alcohol. No amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy. It can affect your baby's growth and development.
A visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. Your virtual physician can help to electronically order prenatal care labs and/or send an order to the nearest radiology facility for you to get an ultrasound.
At My Virtual Physician, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We are in network with many insurance health plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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If you are pregnant, some tests can help you predict your baby's chances of developing certain genetic disorders.
Getting a prenatal genetic test is your choice. You may decide what test you want or not get any done. In this article, we'll discuss the different prenatal genetic tests performed in the first trimester.
The three tests we will discuss are:
The first trimester screening helps provide an early risk estimate of the following chromosomal abnormalities:
It is performed between 11 and 13 weeks of gestation. The first trimester screening includes a blood test and an ultrasound exam.
The blood test measures the levels of two pregnancy hormones- free β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β- hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A)- in the pregnant woman's blood.
On the other hand, the ultrasound exam measures the baby’s fetal nuchal translucency (NT)- the amount of fluid in the back of the baby’s neck.
Results usually are ready within a week and show two pieces of information:
Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), also called non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS), is another type of genetic screening that measures your baby's risk for genetic abnormalities. It can be done as early as ten weeks.
NIPT is performed by drawing a simple blood sample and analyzing small DNA fragments (cell-free DNA/cf-DNA).
Compared to traditional first trimester screening, NIPT has a much higher detection rate and lower false-positive rate for the three most common genetic abnormalities. They are:
NIPT can also detect sex chromosome abnormalities like Turner syndrome (monosomy X), Triple X (XXX), and Klinefelter’s syndrome (XXY). It can also reveal your baby's sex with more than 99% accuracy.
Usually, results return after 2 weeks. A result that is “negative,” “low risk,” or “normal” shows that your baby is unlikely to have any of the chromosomal disorders tested. However, your baby is likely to have any of the genetic disorders tested if the result is “positive,” “high risk,” or “abnormal.”
The only tests that can diagnose genetic disorders are chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis. Hence, they are called diagnostic tests.
Diagnostic tests state whether or not your baby has a particular genetic disorder rather than measure the risk or chances.
The only diagnostic test that can be done during your first trimester is chorionic villus sampling (CVS). It is performed between 10 and 13 weeks of pregnancy.
During CVS, a doctor inserts a needle into the villi of the placenta to harvest some cells. These cells are used for testing in the laboratory. You do not have to be afraid for your baby. During the procedure, an ultrasound is used to prevent the needle from pricking your baby or other areas of your uterus. Results are often ready within a week.
The second diagnostic test, amniocentesis, is performed in the second trimester (between 16 and 18 weeks of pregnancy).
A visit to us at My Virtual Physician helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. Your virtual physician can help to electronically order prenatal care labs and/or send an order to the nearest radiology facility for you to get an ultrasound.
We are also available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise.
We are in network with many insurance health plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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Hearing a baby's heartbeat for the first time is one of the most exciting moments for expecting mothers and their partners. A fetal heartbeat tells the mother the baby is alive. Beyond that, a baby's heartbeat can also tell the healthcare provider a lot about the baby's health.
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A fetal heartbeat can be detected as early as the fifth week of gestation. At that time, the baby's heart tube begins to beat, although you cannot hear it. Only a vaginal ultrasound can pick it up.
However, it can be better picked up between the 6½th to 7th week of gestation. In some cases, you may not hear it till later. Depending on the medical practice and your history, your doctor may schedule your abdominal or vaginal ultrasound to assess your pregnancy around this time.
You may be asked to have an early ultrasound if you:
The ultrasound will:
Timing may vary, depending on your doctor, his medical practice, and other factors. Some doctors may ask for your first ultrasound early in the 7th to 8th week of pregnancy and then ask for another a week or two later.
At other times, your doctor may schedule your ultrasound in the tenth week. You may hear your baby’s heartbeat for the first time. However, the Doppler may find it challenging to pick the heartbeat. Don't panic. It may be that:
Give it a couple of weeks. The Doppler will be able to pick your baby's heartbeat perfectly by the 12th week of gestation. After 8 to 10 weeks, you can hear your baby's heartbeat with a stethoscope. This should be around the twentieth week of pregnancy.
It is almost impossible for the human ear to detect a fetal heartbeat. However, some women claim they hear their baby's heartbeat. This may be possible in the late second and third trimesters.
At 6 to 7 weeks, the normal fetal heart rate is between 90 to 110 beats per minute.
By the ninth to tenth week, your baby's heart rate should beat between 150 to 170 times per minute. However, this should reduce to around 140 beats per minute by week 20.
During labor, your baby's heart can beat 110 to 160 times per minute. But there may be slight variations due to several reasons, some of which are perfectly normal.
Your doctor may warn against using at-home fetal apps and devices. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also warns against using such unless you’re under the supervision of a medical professional.
These apps and devices are mostly substandard and may either not pick up a baby's heartbeat or give you an inaccurate reading, resulting in unnecessary fear and worry. Also, using some of these devices like the at-home Doppler requires training to avoid wrong readings.
Your doctor will monitor your baby’s heartbeat at each prenatal visit. If you are worried about your baby’s heartbeat, talk to your doctor. They will schedule an ultrasound and check your baby's heartbeat. If your baby's heartbeat is too fast, too slow, or irregular, the doctor may assess some others things and order more tests to diagnose the problem.
Rarely, if your baby has a heart condition, your doctor may schedule a fetal echocardiogram to examine your baby’s heart further.
A visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. Your virtual physician can help to electronically order prenatal care labs and/or send an order to the nearest radiology facility for you to get an ultrasound.
At My Virtual Physician, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We are in-network with many insurance health plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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A leaky bladder can put a damper on life. The never-ending cycle of bathroom breaks tempts you to hold back from enjoying a full-bellied laugh with your friends or an intense group workout at the gym. You’re not alone┈bladder control problems are common in women–but you shouldn’t have to limit your life like this. And the good news is, you don’t have to; urinary incontinence is a treatable condition.
My Virtual Physician’s team of Las Vegas gynecologists wants to help provide the solution to your leaky bladder situation. In this blog, we’ll cover the basics of stress incontinence, its causes, and provide our recommended remedy.
Urinary incontinence is a medical condition that affects your ability to hold or control your bladder and the flow of urine. There are many types of urinary incontinence:
Each type of urinary incontinence has a different cause and treatment. In this article, we are focusing on one type: stress incontinence. Stress incontinence happens when you abruptly leak urine as you:
Stress urinary incontinence, or SUI for short, affects more women than men. The woman’s urinary system is more prone to weakening of the pelvic muscles that keep the bladder sealed. Some of the reasons that women have a higher prevalence include anatomy, childbirth, and hormonal changes which are all unique to women. Risk factors that tend to lead to stress incontinence include obesity, neurological conditions, trauma, certain medications, and childbirth.
Many women believe that there is nothing that can be done to prevent or treat stress incontinence. They manage the condition by wearing pads or protective underwear just in case. Pelvic exercises are an inconvenience and surgery seems too extreme without a guarantee to fix the issue, so many women accept leaky bladders as part of aging–but it doesn’t have to be.
There are insertable devices that can be used to strengthen and support the urinary organs, muscles, and tissues; these are called pessaries. They are usually made of silicone or another medical-grade material and are used to reposition the urethra and help prevent incontinence. Traditionally, these devices are selected and fitted by your physician. However, today, there’s a new product on the market that is making pessary access available to more women, more easily: it’s called Uresta.
Uresta is a reusable bladder support device that can be self-fitted by you, the patient. It is comfortable, easy to insert, and comes in five different sizes, with three common sizes included in the starter kit for initial fitting. If the starter kit sizes are not a perfect fit for your body, the other sizes are available to you for free at your request. Uresta has proven effective for the majority of women who have tried it. The numbers speak for themselves:
My Virtual Physician’s Las Vegas OB GYNs are strong believers in providing patients with the tools they need to manage their women’s healthcare needs–without jumping through hoops. That’s why we advocate for the Uresta pessary device. You don’t have to come into an office for an awkward fitting appointment; you can self-fit from the privacy of your own bathroom.
If you struggle with stress incontinence and would like to see if Uresta is your solution, we’d like to help. Schedule a virtual appointment today with a Las Vegas gynecologist at My Virtual Physician to discuss your options, get your Uresta prescription today, and get your life back.
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Telemedicine gained a foothold during the pandemic. By the end of 2021, digital doctor visits had increased by 63% over two years, according to a government study. And the trend seems to be holding strong, with many physicians and facilities–Las Vegas gynecologists included–continuing to provide telehealth access, post-pandemic.
While telemedicine has proven valuable and trends show that it’s here to stay, there are some limitations. In this blog, we’ll briefly cover some obstacles inherent to telehealth along with our proposed solution: hybrid clinics.
While telemedicine was literally a life-saver throughout the pandemic, it comes with its limits. The most glaring limitation is the lack of a hands-on physical exam. For standard consultations, this is usually not an issue; but if certain diagnostic services are required, like pelvic exams or getting labs done, it gets a little trickier.
Another problem that telemedicine presents is patient access. Telemedicine requires some expensive equipment that not all patients have on hand; that we often take for granted. A virtual visit requires the following:
Even if you do have this equipment, you still must count on many factors to be in working order to participate in telemedicine appointments.
Related: Telemedicine Improves Access to Prenatal Care, But Can We Improve Access to Telemedicine
A third limitation of telemedicine is simply that some patients prefer the traditional visit to a doctor’s office. An in-office visit to a clinic where a real person is physically present to assist is preferable to some, especially those who are technology-illiterate, have certain disabilities, or struggle with the English language.
For those who feel telemedicine is not suitable to meet their comprehensive healthcare needs, hybrid clinics provide another pathway. My Virtual Physician is embracing this new solution, which offers our patients a new healthcare experience where they can have their gynecology or other healthcare needs met right there on the Las Vegas strip.
A hybrid medical clinic is a physical building that offers some of the same services that you would expect from a traditional in-person doctor’s visit while also providing the equipment to meet virtually with your doctor. My Virtual Physician’s hybrid clinics are located at:
Our hybrid clinic will open its doors to walk-in patients as well as those who schedule an appointment. As you enter the clinic, our Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) will welcome you, take your vital signs, and collect any urine samples, if required. You’ll then be guided into a private room where the telehealth equipment is set up for you to meet virtually with our board-certified physicians. Our staff is here to help in the event that you need any further assistance.
Just a handful of the additional services that we can provide inside our hybrid clinics include the following:
*by appointment only when a nurse or specialist is required
Related: My Virtual Physician’s List of Women’s Telemedicine Services
My Virtual Physician is excited to offer this new hybrid option to patients who prefer the in-person experience or who do not have access to the special equipment required for virtual visits or special services. While we understand that the hybrid clinic is not for everyone, or maybe just not for every visit, we have made it a priority to provide a physical alternative to the fully digital world of telemedicine.
Our intention is to provide value to our patients by offering in-person services as an option at our hybrid clinics. We deliver this as a solution to the limitations we find in telemedicine alone. Our hybrid clinic provides a nearby physical hub for specimen collection, as well as ultrasound, for prompt confirmations and diagnoses.
Our hybrid clinics will provide a safe, private, and well-equipped place for you to meet virtually with your OBGYN in Las Vegas to discuss your health needs. Come visit our friendly staff at our two hybrid locations today!
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One of the exciting moments expecting mothers look forward to is when their baby starts kicking. These baby kicks help moms bond with the life growing inside them and track the growth of their babies.
Usually, you should feel the first fetal movement, also known as quickening, around weeks 18 to 22. Depending on your pregnancy, it may be sooner or later than that. You may feel them as late as the twenty-sixth week if it's your first pregnancy. In subsequent pregnancies, you may feel them as early as the thirteenth to fourteenth week.
How and when you feel your baby's first movements depends on different factors. These include may include your weight, position of the placenta, etc.
Different women feel their baby's movements differently. Pregnant women have described their baby's kicks as a flutter, a nudge, a twitch, a tumbling motion or roll, gas bubbles, a tickle, hunger pangs, or waves.
As the baby grows, the movements become stronger and can feel like a punch, jab, or kick, especially in the 6th and 7th months of pregnancy.
Towards the middle and end of the third trimester, you may feel your baby turning and wiggling.
In your first trimester, you may feel movements, especially flutters, occasionally. However, you should feel more rhythmic, frequent, and stronger movements towards the end of the second trimester. By the third trimester, you can feel your baby move about 30 times or more in an hour.
Babies can also be active at certain times. This doesn't necessarily mean you have a super active baby. You may feel your baby kicks more when you are nervous, are about to go to bed, have just eaten, or when it has hiccups. Your baby can also respond to sound or touch.
Yes, you should. Usually, a baby's movements are well established early in the third trimester. By week 26 to 28, you can start a fetal movement counting or fetal movement assessment. This means keeping track of your baby's kicks, punches, and jabs. Obstetricians often recommend this to know if your baby is still growing as it should.
If you are pregnant with twins or more babies, doing a fetal movement count may be difficult. You may get confused as to which baby is moving.
Keep in mind that there are times your baby might be calm and not move so much. Don't be worried. To keep track of your baby's movements, pick a time your baby is most active, get into a comfortable position, and count how long it takes to make ten movements. Usually, you should count at least ten movements in 2 hours. Chart your measurements each time.
If your baby is not moving as often as they should, or you can't feel ten movements in 2 hours despite a trigger such as eating a snack, contact your doctor or health care provider.
You may not be able to distinguish your baby's movements in time. So, if you haven't reached week 25 and you do not feel your baby move or cannot describe what you are feeling, don't be worried.
Also, some babies move less frequently than others, and some only get active when something makes them. There are times they may be asleep or have lesser room to move around, especially towards the end of your pregnancy.
However, if you notice that your baby's movements have significantly reduced or you do not feel at least ten movements in 2 hours, call your doctor.
A visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. Do you have questions about your baby's movements? Do they seem too much, or have they significantly reduced? At My Virtual Physician, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise.
We are in network with many insurance health plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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There is one thing that all women have in common: periods. But every year, over a million of those women enter a new stage in their life when their periods cease to exist–a certain special interlude called menopause.
While menopause marks a new phase in life, getting there isn’t quick or easy. The process of going through the menopausal transition takes around four years on average and can bring with it a roller-coaster of emotions.
Every woman deserves to know what to expect in menopause and how to endure the change as pleasantly as possible. Our team of Las Vegas gynecologists is here to help. Here, we will cover the basics of menopause and how your doctor can assist during this important progression of your reproductive lifecycle.
You’ve probably experienced a mature woman talking about hot flashes, an uncomfortable symptom experienced by 75% of menopausal women. And you probably understand that menopause is the stage when a woman’s body stops ovulating permanently. But other than hot flashes and the end of fertility, what is menopause really? Menopause is commonly defined as “the cessation of menstruation.” Well yes, but there’s a little more to it than that.
There are three major phases of menopause that take years to complete:
Menopause is the natural and gradual process that every woman experiences when her ovaries reduce the production of reproductive hormones and stop releasing eggs.
It’s the changes in hormones that cause menopausal symptoms. During perimenopause, your body will gradually decrease estrogen production. Here are some common symptoms that could be signs you are entering perimenopause:
Your age, along with the above symptoms will help you and your Las Vegas gynecology team identify if you’re experiencing the first signs of your menopausal transition. Most women’s bodies begin the process between the ages of 45 to 58 years old, reaching menopause at age 52 on average.
Your doctor can order lab tests that measure hormones in order to determine whether you are entering menopause. Hormone levels during perimenopause can be very unpredictable. These tests are usually only needed if you suspect early menopause.
More than two-thirds of women say that their menopausal symptoms have interfered with their quality of life. Here are some natural tips to help during your transition:
If you’re still experiencing discomfort, our Las Vegas OBGYN team is available to provide guidance as well as additional options to manage your menopausal symptoms. Some treatments include hormone therapy, mood-stabilizing medications, and prescription supplements.
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Life after periods begins a whole new era. While you won’t have to worry anymore about getting your period or using birth control to prevent pregnancy, postmenopausal women tend to have a higher risk for osteoporosis and cardiovascular problems due to the changes in hormones. Prepare for menopause early and take care of your body along the way so that you can continue to enjoy every moment of your life post-menopause.
Fibroids are abnormal, noncancerous growths within the uterus of a woman. They are common in women aged 30 to 40 but can occur at any age. The risk of having fibroids increases with age.
A woman can have multiple fibroids of various sizes. Fibroids can grow within the uterine wall, inside the uterine cavity, or outside the uterine wall.
Fibroids can be present during pregnancy, although detecting fibroids during pregnancy can be tricky. Most times, fibroids do not cause problems for women or their babies. Women with fibroids can go on to have normal and safe pregnancies. In some cases, however, they can cause challenges.
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Usually, fibroids do not grow while you are pregnant. Instead, they remain the same size or shrink. However, there are cases where fibroids increase in size during pregnancy, especially in the first twelve weeks.
Fibroids need estrogen, a female reproductive hormone, to grow. When you become pregnant, estrogen is produced in higher amounts. Increased levels of estrogen may make fibroids grow during pregnancy. When that happens, it may cause the following:
Your chances of having problems in your first trimester increase with the number and size of fibroids you may have. In other words, the more fibroids you have or, the larger your fibroids are, the more your chances of having challenges during pregnancy.
As your baby grows, your uterus expands to accommodate your baby better. As your uterus grows, it can push against your fibroids and bring about the following problems:
Having uterine fibroids increases your risk of having a cesarean section. The reason is that fibroids can prevent the uterus from contracting.
In rare cases, large fibroids can block your birth canal and hence, the need for the baby to be delivered via cesarean birth.
Another potential challenge is breech birth, where the baby's butt or feet is born first. Typically, a baby is positioned with his head down and hence, born head first.
Usually, fibroids decrease in size after pregnancy. As the uterus remolds into its pre-pregnant state, it helps reduce or shrink fibroids. According to a study, about 70% of women experience more than 50% reduced fibroids size.
Usually, fibroids do not need to be treated during pregnancy. The baby and fibroids can coexist in the uterus throughout pregnancy. In most cases, fibroids move out of the baby's way as the uterus expands.
If you have problems with fibroids, such as pain, discomfort, or bleeding, you may be placed on bed rest. Your doctor may admit you and ask you to rest in the hospital for a while. Where the pain is mild or without bleeding, pain relief medications may be given.
In rare cases, surgery 'myomectomy' may be required to remove the fibroids. If a pregnant woman has surgery to remove fibroids, she may need a cesarean section.
Cesarean section is also performed for pregnant women at risk of uterine rupture. This may also be due to previous uterine surgeries or cesarean sections.
A visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. Have you been diagnosed with fibroids and already having symptoms? At My Virtual Physician, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise.
We are in-network with many insurance health plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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How much are you paying for your healthcare? Healthcare in the United States is expensive. In fact, it’s so expensive that over 90% of Americans purchase or apply for medical insurance just to offset the cost of care.
If you’re looking for an affordable alternative to the traditional model, we have great news for you–it is possible to get affordable OBGYN care in Las Vegas–even without health insurance. Let’s review the traditional model of healthcare expenses that we’ve all begrudgingly accepted up until now, and then we’ll cover the new path forward.
Do you know how much your next doctor appointment will cost you? If you’ve ever called ahead to get a quote, you likely got a confusing answer or none at all. Seeing your doctor in the traditional sense can be expensive and many factors influence your out-of-pocket cost, even for a simple diagnostic exam with your Las Vegas gynecologist, such as:
All factors considered, without health insurance, you’ll likely pay between $200 to $500 after all is said and done for just a simple appointment at a brick-and-mortar facility. Even with health insurance, you’ll still be on the hook for paying a large sum of cash until you exceed your deductible. That’s just for one appointment; imagine if you had an ongoing condition requiring regular physician monitoring–this paints the picture clearly of why health insurance came into existence.
Related: No Health Insurance? No Problem.
Health insurance was originally designed to help offset the patient’s out-of-pocket costs for medical expenses. It generally works like this:
While you can get health insurance on your own, if you’re working a traditional job, you probably depend on your employer for your health insurance. Many employers offer to subsidize a portion of a health insurance plan as an employee benefit. If this isn’t an option for you, you may have looked into the government marketplace.
If you’ve checked out the HealthCare.gov plans and pricing, you’ll quickly realize how unaffordable medical insurance has become. Family premiums are over $400 per month for plans with a high out of pocket max and high deductibles–both exceeding $8,000 per year. That means you could spend as much as $5,000 per year on premiums plus another $8,000 on healthcare for a total of $13,000 per year. This model has become unsustainable.
Luckily, there is a new model for affordable healthcare and technology is paving the way. The acceptance and advancement of telemedicine, a new way to see your doctor, has been drastically accelerated by the pandemic. Virtual doctor visits are creating a new alternative to the traditional model of unaffordable medical care. There are many reasons telemedicine makes healthcare more affordable, including:
Besides the cost savings, there are countless other benefits to moving healthcare visits online including time savings, elimination of the commute, less disruption to your routine, privacy, comfort, and much more.
Related: Telemedicine: An Advantage for Patients & Providers of Prenatal Care
So how much will an appointment with one of My Virtual Physician’s Las Vegas OBGYNs cost you? Our pricing is simple and transparent. We offer appointments as needed for a flat rate for quick things like renewing your annual prescription or getting a UTI treated. If you have ongoing care needs, we offer individual, family, and employee membership levels that allow unlimited visits for a flat fee. You can explore our current rates here, where you’ll find all of our pricing transparently available to you.
With My Virtual Physician, you won’t need to pay insurance premiums and there are no surprises about how much the appointment will cost. We promise our patients affordable access to the best Las Vegas gynecologists right from the comfort of your own home.
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Healthcare doesn’t have to be unaffordable. The old model is breaking down and being replaced with one that works for both patients and providers. My Virtual Physician is proud to be a quality Las Vegas OBGYN provider that anyone can afford.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), otherwise known as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that are spread by having sex or any sexual activity with a person with an STD. STDs can be transmitted through any sexual activity involving the mouth, vagina, or anus.
STDs include:
STDs should be taken seriously and urgently attended to, whether or not you are pregnant. However, if as a pregnant woman, you suspect you have or have been exposed to an STD, tell your doctor immediately. Prompt treatment is needed to protect you and your baby.
During pregnancy, having an STD is more harmful, because you are not the only one at risk, your baby can be affected. A pregnant woman with an STD can infect her baby before, during, or after childbirth.
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There are cases where an infected person doesn't experience any symptoms. Sometimes, symptoms may mean the disease has progressed and is worsening or the infected person's immunity is low.
Symptoms of STDs include:
STDs in pregnancy can affect you and/or your baby before, during, and after childbirth.
STDs and how they affect you and/or your baby are highlighted below:
HIV/AIDS
Note: Transmission of HIV infection from mother to child can be prevented.
Gonorrhea
Chlamydia
Genital herpes
Syphilis
Trichomonas vaginalis
Hepatitis B
Note: Hepatitis B vaccine can prevent the disease in the mother. Medications can also be given to newborns to prevent mother-child transmission.
During pregnancy, treatment of an STD depends on how bad the infection is and how far along you are in your pregnancy.
HIV/AIDS
Gonorrhea
Chlamydia
Genital Herpes
Syphilis
Genital Warts (HPV)
Trichomonas vaginalis
Hepatitis B
A visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. Your virtual physician can help to electronically order prenatal care labs and/or send an order to the nearest radiology facility for you to get an ultrasound.
At My Virtual Physician, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We are in network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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So you’ve heard the acronyms OB and OBGYN, but have you put much thought into what the terms mean? In this blog, we’ll cover what an OBGYN is exactly, what an OBGYN does, and then we’ll share some details about our team of Las Vegas OBGYNs.
OBGYNs are doctors who specialize in the female reproductive system. The acronym can be written several ways:
All of these are acronyms for “obstetrician-gynecologist.” Let’s break that down. Obstetrics and gynecology are broken into separate terms to describe whether the woman under the physician’s care is pregnant or not. In other words–if you’re pregnant, you’re going to your OBGYN for obstetrics care; if you’re not pregnant, you’ll go for gynecology.
The obstetrician part is where we get the acronym OB. Obstetrics is the practice of meeting the medical needs of women during pregnancy, delivery, and post-delivery. Obstetric care also includes prenatal monitoring of the baby while in the womb. At birth, newborn care is handed over to a neonatologist and soon thereafter, medical care of the infant is transitioned to a pediatrician. Obstetrics requires close monitoring of the growing baby from a few weeks after conception to birth, including:
An OBGYN will continue to care for the new mother during the postpartum period to monitor that her body heals and that postpartum depression, if present, is managed.
The second part of the OBGYN acronym is the gynecologist. A gynecologist specializes in caring for women’s reproductive systems. This can include diagnosing and managing ongoing conditions, such as painful or irregular menstrual cycles, or short-term needs such as regular STD testing. Gynecology also includes the implementation of contraceptives such as IUDs or birth control pills. Here’s a list of gynecological services that My Virtual Physician’s Las Vegas Gynecologists provide:
As the breasts are a part of the woman’s reproductive system, gynecologists also conduct cancer screenings.
There is a lot that goes into becoming an OBGYN. A bachelor’s degree plus four years of medical school is the basic requirement for medical doctors. OBGYNs must complete an additional four years of residency, to specialize in obstetrics and gynecology. That means your OBGYN has at least 12 years of training and education under his belt before licensure.
Once all education and residency requirements are met, OBGYNs must pass state-specific licensure exams. The exact requirements vary depending on the state. Board certification by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology is not required, but this endorsement shows your OBGYN’s competence and commitment. In order to maintain voluntary certification, your OBGYN has to take a maintenance exam every six years.
At My Virtual Physician, we currently have two board-certified OBGYNs ready to see patients. Let’s get to know them a little better.
Dr. David Howard is the CEO and founder of My Virtual Physician. He is a board-certified OBGYN licensed in several states including:
Dr. Howard, a Jamaican native, achieved the following education and credentials:
In addition to his training, Dr. Howard has been named a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Read more about our doctors.
My Virtual Physician is proud to have Dr. Radihka Sharma serving our patients with their obstetrics and gynecology needs. Her education was completed at Saba University School of Medicine with residency at Aultman Hospital. She is board-certified and specializes in pelvic floor disorders and reconstruction.
OBGYNs provide essential healthcare services for women. With this blog, we hope that you have a better understanding of the services that your Las Vegas OBGYN can provide for you, whether it’s gynecology or obstetrics.
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Before you became pregnant, some medications may have been safe for you to take. However, when you become pregnant, you cannot just take any medications including painkillers. This is because some of these medications are not safe for you or your baby during pregnancy. In some cases, the effects may be unknown.
So, it's best you ask your physician or healthcare provider what meds are okay and what meds you may need to find alternatives for. Your local doctor will weigh the risks and benefits to help you know what's safe.
Also, let your pharmacist or other doctors know you are pregnant if they are prescribing any medications for you.
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First of all, if you are using any medications while pregnant, write them out and give your healthcare provider. This includes over-the-counter (OTC) medications, prenatal vitamins, nutrition supplements, herbal medicine, alcohol, and illegal drugs.
Prenatal vitamins are safe and must be taken when pregnant. Take extra precautions before taking other vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements. Ask your doctor before taking any of the aforementioned substances.
Certain prescription drugs may pose more risks than benefits if you take them. On the other hand, some potential risks may be overlooked because not using a certain medication may pose a greater risk to you and/or your baby.
Illegal or street drugs are injurious to your health and even worse during pregnancy. These substances can be passed to your baby through the placenta and umbilical and can affect its life, growth, and development in utero and when delivered. No amount of street drugs or alcohol is proven to be safe when pregnant.
Your baby can be born with congenital problems due to illegal drugs and alcohol. Examples of these drugs include cocaine, heroin, angel dust, marijuana, crack, and LSD.
Other problems include premature birth, low birth weight, birth defects, fetal alcohol disorders, placental abruption, miscarriage, stillbirth, and developmental problems.
The following medications below are proven safe to take during pregnancy. Please note that no drugs can be considered 100% safe to use during pregnancy. Hence, check with your doctor before taking these drugs, especially during the first trimester. There's no harm in being extra sure.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®)
Loratadine (Claritin®)
Steroid nasal spray (Rhinocort®)
Cetirizine (Zyrtec®)
Acetaminophen (Tylenol®)
Saline nasal drops or spray
Warm salt/water gargle
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®)
Mentholated or non-mentholated cough drops
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Vitamin B6
Loperamide ([Imodium®]
Docusate (Colace®)
Psyllium (Fiberall®, Metamucil®)
Methylcellulose fiber (Citrucel®)
Polycarbophil (FiberCon®)
Aluminum hydroxide/magnesium carbonate (Gaviscon®)
Aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide (Maalox®)
Famotidine (Pepcid AC®)
Ranitidine (Zantac®)
Calcium carbonate (Titralac®, Tums®)
Calcium carbonate/magnesium carbonate (Mylanta®)
Diphenhydramine (Unisom SleepGels®, Benadryl)
Bacitracin
Neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin (Neosporin®)
Polysporin
Diphenhydramine cream (Benadryl)
Hydrocortisone cream or ointment
Caladryl lotion or cream
Oatmeal bath (Aveeno®)
Phenylephrine/mineral oil/petrolatum (Preparation H®)
Witch hazel (Tucks® pads or ointment)
Miconazole (Monistat®)
N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET®)
The following substances are not considered safe for use in concentrated amounts. They can harm your baby, and cause premature birth, and birth defects.
The following oral supplements should be avoided in pregnancy:
You should avoid the following aromatherapy essential oils if you are pregnant:
A visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. At My Virtual Physician, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise, including concerns about medications.
We are in-network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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High blood pressure (hypertension) has negative effects on persons living with the condition if left untreated or poorly managed. However, having high blood pressure during pregnancy can pose a higher risk for complications for both mother and baby. Hence, it is and should be taken seriously if diagnosed.
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Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessel. The heart pumps blood into the arteries-blood vessels that carry the blood from the heart to all the parts of the body. A person is said to have high blood pressure, also called hypertension, when the pressure in the arteries is above the normal range.
According to the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA), the ranges of blood pressure and what they indicate are as follows:
Normal: < 120/80 mm Hg
Elevated: 120 to 129/< 80 mm Hg)
Stage 1 hypertension: 130 to 139/80 to 89 mm Hg
Stage 2 hypertension: ≥ 140/90 mm Hg
Hypertensive disorders refer to the several different types of high blood pressure during pregnancy. These types vary in severity and impact on the body. The forms of high blood pressure during pregnancy include:
Chronic hypertension
High blood pressure which is present before pregnancy or before 20 weeks gestation.
Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia
Preeclampsia, which develops in someone who has chronic hypertension (high blood pressure before pregnancy).
Gestational hypertension
High blood pressure that first develops and is diagnosed during pregnancy, typically after 20 weeks of gestation. In this type, there are no other signs or symptoms of preeclampsia present.
Preeclampsia
A serious condition only found in the latter half of pregnancy with the following signs and symptoms:
It can progress into eclampsia and cause seizures.
The following risk factors can increase a woman's risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension) during pregnancy:
High blood pressure (hypertension) during pregnancy can affect both mother and child in serious ways.
In the baby, it can lead to poor placental development, affecting the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the baby in the womb. This can result in:
In the mother, it can result in:
Treatment of high blood pressure depends on the severity, cause, and time of onset. Generally, women with hypertensive disorders will need close monitoring. This could include more prenatal visits, ultrasounds and other tests, and intense fetal monitoring.
To prevent complications, women with any type of high blood pressure in pregnancy are expected to:
As a telemedicine platform, My Virtual Physician is available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We also help with electronically sending orders for tests and examinations while you wait for an appointment with a local OB doctor.
We are in network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare and Blue Cross.
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So you’re living in Las Vegas and looking to get established with an OBGYN to get your annual gynecologist appointment out of the way. In the past, this meant a phone call to a clinic, an assignment of a doctor by the facility or answering service, and the promise of an appointment scheduled a month or longer down the road. You really did not have much choice in the matter.
Today–the landscape of choosing your healthcare team is changing–and you have options. Despite the anticipated physician shortages, you can still find an experienced and competent OBGYN in Las Vegas. But that’s not all you should be looking for when choosing your gynecologist. Let’s explore your options.
Throughout a woman’s life, she will need to see a doctor that specializes in the female body and its reproductive system. The frequency required may change depending on the life stage and any ongoing conditions. Starting at puberty, if a young woman has any complications with menstruation, or later on seeks prescription contraception for pregnancy prevention, it’s often her gynecologist that helps with those needs.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends annual screenings for sexually active women under 25 and exams every three years for women over 21. However, you don’t necessarily need a pelvic exam every year.
Here are some of the reasons you might decide to schedule an appointment with a Las Vegas gynecologist:
Seeing a gynecologist is a life-long obligation in a woman’s life and it’s a relationship that sees through some of life’s biggest milestones together–from puberty to having your first baby. You might as well make the most of it and spend some time shopping around and hand-selecting your own OBGYN in Las Vegas that meets your needs and criteria.
Once you’ve decided that it’s time to schedule your first appointment with a Las Vegas OBGYN, you might go one of two ways. Traditionally, you might decide to go online and find a nearby clinic, and call to set up an appointment; it’s a shot in the dark. While this may work for some women, there are many downfalls to the old-fashioned method including:
Luckily, there is now an alternative to the traditional way that puts the power back into the patient’s hands. You can take control and establish a relationship with a Las Vegas OBGYN of your choosing; one that you trust. Here is the new way to shop online for your gynecologist.
See your Las Vegas OBGYN entirely from the comfort of your own home through telemedicine virtual appointments. We encourage you to look around and compare your online options. We’ve done some searching of our own and we know that our patient’s testimonials speak for themselves. Read on to see what factors to consider when looking for a good gynecologist.
Related: Not All Online Women’s TeleHealth Websites Are Created Equally
Your relationship with your gynecologist is a very unique one. You have to be able to trust your doctor with very private, personal, and even taboo information. Our physicians prioritize professionalism along with connection. Generally, when you see a doctor in-office, you’ve invested so much time and effort that you will settle for less than great experiences with your OBGYN. When you expand your possibilities to include online gynecologists, you accomplish a few things at once to your benefit:
Providing a comfortable environment is natural when you can speak with your physician online from the comfort of your own bathroom or office. Your comfort level is essential when seeing your gynecologist; if you’re not comfortable discussing your health concerns or needs, it may prevent you from being able to articulate all the information to the doctor for a properly informed assessment.
When you schedule an appointment at a physical office setting, you’ll have to consider the office hours and whether the clinic is open when you’re available–or if you’ll need to take time off work. You’ll also likely be left in limbo regarding the cost of the visit with traditional doctors who rely mostly on insurance contracts with variable care rates. When you choose your OBGYN online, you’ll know the cost of your care up-front and we’ll work with your insurance if you have it, and we’ll work with you if you don’t. We also have hours more conducive to working women.
Finally, choose your Las Vegas Gynecologist based on competence. You need to be able to count on your OBGYN to listen to your healthcare needs and get your diagnosis and treatment right. You can check credentials, such as which college they attended and board certification, and search their license status to see if there are any marks against their record. Testimonials or reviews are another great way to determine competence before you commit to a visit. A pattern will emerge from testimonials to help you gauge the physician’s competence.
At My Virtual Physician, we are excited about the changing landscape that telemedicine brings to the healthcare realm and we exist to provide solutions to our patients. We currently have two board-certified OBGYN Las Vegas doctors: Dr. David Howard and Dr. Radihka Sharma. Dr. Howard is passionate about research in the field and is dedicated to finding the best outcomes for his patients. Dr. Sharma specializes in pelvic floor disorders and she is also a certified Life & Wellness coach. Both of our gynecologists have a track record of providing quality care. Learn more about our doctors or read testimonials here.
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The practice of obstetrics and gynecology is majorly hands-on. However, you can establish your appointments with an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) via telehealth. There are several purposes a telehealth visit can serve including antenatal care, prescription refills, substance use, breastfeeding, and many more.
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Several services can be provided via a telehealth visit with an OB-GYN specialist or an affiliated general physician.
You may book a telehealth visit with an OB-GYN doctor in any of the following situations:
In some cases, the outcomes of these appointments may be a need for an in-person visit. Usually, you may be asked to come in for an in-person visit if you:
Firstly, you will need to search for and select a telemedicine platform that offers Ob-Gyn services. At other times, you may search for an Ob-Gyn that offers telehealth visits. Either way works. If the Ob-Gyn facility you use provides telehealth services, you may continue with them.
Most insurance providers cover telehealth visits as they are treated as outpatient hospital visits. However, check-in with the facility or platform of choice if your insurance plans can cover your telehealth visits with them.
Once you book your appointment, you can prepare ahead and ensure a productive session. These simple steps may help:
My virtual physician provides a wide range of Ob-Gyn services. We have a team of certified obstetricians and gynecologists available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise.
We are in-network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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Pregnancy is a beautiful period and process that every mother should enjoy while looking forward to welcoming her babies. However, it does come at a price.
Several women experience different forms of discomfort during pregnancy, leading to anxiety. While some may be fleeting, others may last for longer periods. Some could be experienced early in pregnancy, some later or even closer to delivery, and others may emerge earlier, go away and later return.
In this article, we will be highlighting several discomforts a pregnant woman may experience, causes, and simple relief measures.
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The are several discomforts that pregnant women experience. 25 of them are listed below but are not limited to the following:
Discomforts may be experienced in all the trimesters. Hence, their causes vary depending on the age of the pregnancy. Additionally, some discomforts may lead to other discomforts.
The following are causes of the various pregnancy discomforts mentioned above:
The following measures help prevent and relieve the pregnancy discomforts you may feel.
At My Virtual Physician, we help you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. We are also available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise.
Additionally, we are in network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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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.
The advent of telemedicine, or better still, telehealth was not aimed at replacing in-person health care. Instead, it serves as a supplementary means of providing healthcare, especially to nonemergent cases.
However, this does not rule out the use of telemedicine in emergency cases. Your virtual physician could help link you with a facility nearby while giving directives on what could be done to alleviate some symptoms or buy time.
Generally, health emergencies are health problems that require immediate medical in-person attention. In pregnant women, they are referred to as obstetric emergencies.
Obstetric emergencies are health problems arising at any time during pregnancy, labor, and childbirth that threaten the life of a pregnant mother and that of her baby or babies. In most cases, these health problems require specialist care, hospital admission, and extended stay.
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Obstetric emergencies may occur during pregnancy, labor, and childbirth. The following are obstetric emergencies that arise during pregnancy:
This is the loss of a baby before the 20th week of pregnancy. It usually manifests with bleeding, abdominal cramping, and pain. If a miscarriage occurs, the mother may need to be treated to prevent infection or to remove retained tissue in the uterus.
This is a serious condition where the fertilized egg implants anywhere other than the uterus or womb. The most common site of ectopic pregnancy is in one of the fallopian tubes leading to the damage and loss of the tube. A woman with an ectopic pregnancy will experience bleeding accompanied by severe abdominal or pelvic pain, feeling faint, and shoulder pain. Ectopic pregnancy reduces a woman's chances of getting pregnant in the future due to damage and loss of a fallopian tube.
This condition occurs when the placenta separates from the uterus before birth. Manifestations include bleeding, pain, and contractions. There is a higher risk of infection as blood could be trapped behind the placenta and in the uterus. Bleeding could also result in weakness, anemia, shock in the mother, and the death of the baby.
This is when the placenta attaches to the lower segment of the uterus and partly or completely lies over the internal of the cervix, also called the neck of the uterus. This results in vaginal bleeding during pregnancy.
Pre-eclampsia, also known as pregnancy-induced high blood pressure is an obstetric emergency. Pregnancies in women with preeclampsia are regarded as high-risk pregnancies. Symptoms include high blood pressure, edema (severe swelling) from water retention, and protein in the mother's urine. It can cause kidney and liver failure in the mother and cause preterm labor. It also affects the growth and development of the child and causes premature birth and stillbirth. If it progresses to eclampsia (convulsions), it can be life-threatening for the mother and her baby.
This is when a woman's water breaks before contractions or labor begins. This is an emergency if the waters break before 37 weeks of pregnancy and lead to a major leak of amniotic fluid or infection of the amniotic sac.
These conditions cannot be managed at home or virtually. They mostly require hands-on treatment by specialists or a team of healthcare professionals.
Generally, medical history will be collected and pelvic and general physical examinations carried out. Series of tests may also be carried out including blood and urine tests, blood pressure monitoring, and abdominal ultrasound, amongst others. Your baby's heartbeat will also be checked and monitored.
Depending on your condition, you may require one or more of the following:
As a supplementary health care service, our team at My Virtual Physician is available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We also help with electronically sending orders for tests and examinations while you wait for an appointment with a local OB doctor.
We are in network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare and Blue Cross.
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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!
Pregnancy is marked with several symptoms. However, it is important to know that while certain symptoms are "normal", others are cause for alarm.
Telemedicine in prenatal care helps bridge the gap and save time during emergencies. You can get in touch with a virtual physician before you book an appointment with your local OB doctor. Your questions could get an immediate answer and help prevent your symptoms from worsening and resulting in complications.
In this article, we will be discussing alarming signs you should watch out for during pregnancy. These signs require immediate medical attention either by getting a call across to a doctor or getting to a medical facility as soon as possible.
Light bleeding, also known as vaginal spotting during the first few weeks of pregnancy can be normal. At such times, it may be described as implantation bleeding.
However, bleeding could be a warning sign, especially if it is heavy and accompanied by other symptoms. Bleeding accompanied by severe abdominal or pelvic pain, feeling faint, and shoulder pain could be indicative of ectopic pregnancy.
Additionally, the timing of the bleeding could mean different things. Heavy bleeding with severe cramping in the first or early second trimester is a sign of a miscarriage. However, if the heavy bleeding with cramps occurs in your third trimester, it may be a sign of placental abruption or placenta previa.
Any form of bleeding in pregnancy is an alarming sign. Immediately, call your doctor or go to the emergency room.
Nausea and vomiting, also referred to as morning sickness, is a common sign of pregnancy, especially in the first trimester.
However, severe nausea and vomiting can make you dehydrated which isn't safe for you and your baby. Contact your healthcare provider who will assess you, and may prescribe medication or advise changing your diet.
Headaches, although worrisome, can be normal in pregnancy. They could be due to stress, hormonal changes, fatigue, etc.
However, a severe headache is a warning sign. It may be a sign of high blood pressure or preeclampsia, which is a serious high blood pressure disorder that develops usually after the 20th week of pregnancy. Symptoms include high blood pressure, swelling, and excess protein in your urine. Seek immediate medical attention as it can affect your health, and your baby's health, and is potentially fatal.
Visual disturbances such as light sensitivity, blurred vision, and temporary loss of vision are warning signs. They could be due to many factors including gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, which require medical attention and monitoring. Call your healthcare provider if you experience any changes in eyesight.
Sudden, extreme weight gain can be linked to serious conditions such as preeclampsia. Swelling (edema) and puffiness often occur in the face, hands, and feet. This may be normal, however, it should be monitored. It may also be a sign of preeclampsia. Call your doctor when you experience any of these.
Usually, women begin to feel the baby's movements between 18 to 25 weeks of pregnancy. By the third trimester, the baby's movements are more frequent and trackable.
Once you feel your baby's movements are absent or have significantly declined, you may first eat a light snack or drink something cold. Then, lie on your side and try again. However, if this continues, call your health provider.
Contractions early in the third trimester refer to the contractions you feel before the end of the 37th week of pregnancy. Typically, you may have felt light or false labor contractions known as Braxton Hicks contractions. These usually stop when you move or change positions, and drink water.
However, if your contractions persist, become regular, and increase in intensity despite a change in position, it may be a sign of preterm labor. Seek medical attention immediately.
Medically, this is known as "premature rupture of membranes" where you feel or see a trickle, leak, or gush of fluid from your vagina before the end of the 37th week of your pregnancy.
Your water breaking normally is a sign of labor. If it happens before the end of the 37th week of your pregnancy, you may be having preterm labor. If this happens, call your doctor immediately.
At My Virtual Physician, we help you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. We are also available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise.
Additionally, we are in-network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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.
Telemedicine is the practice of using digital technology to provide care remotely. To ensure telemedicine in prenatal care is possible, accessible, and effective, there are several pieces of equipment that you may need.
While there are several types of telemedicine including store-and-forward, real-time, and remote monitoring, real-time telemedicine is the most common and used. Real-time telemedicine involves live consultations between physicians and patients via audio and video calls.
In store-and-forward telemedicine, as the name implies, healthcare providers and patients communicate and exchange medical information, usually at different times using HIPAA-compliant platforms.
Remote monitoring is used to examine or monitor patients without an in-person visit using certain equipment that record, transmit, and store patient data.
Each of these forms of telemedicine requires equipment and devices. In this article, we discuss what types of equipment are needed by both or one of the physician or the pregnant woman and her family.
Remote patient monitoring as a form of telemedicine is majorly device-based. At times, a patient may be asked to get a standard home care kit that contains most if not all of the below:
These telemedicine devices are used to monitor, record, and transmit patient health data directly to physicians, nurses, or other healthcare providers. Most of these devices are programmed to automatically record and transmit the data they collect. These data are transmitted via the internet or Bluetooth technology.
This process enables healthcare providers to monitor pregnant clients without a physical appointment, especially women with diabetes, hypertensive disorders, or who are just recovering from an illness. Also, they can address concerns promptly preventing late diagnosis and complications.
Virtual consultations majorly use the real-time and store-and-forward forms of telemedicine. They rely largely on are largely dependent on telecommunication devices and software because they are best suited for video consultations, basic visual exams, scans, counseling, therapy, and follow-up care.
The following are the equipment needed for virtual consultations including:
At My Virtual Physician, our team is committed to ensuring that patients get the best of health care as needed.
We provide virtual care at any point in your pregnancy while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. We are also available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise.
We are in-network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
The pandemic opened the door to broader use of virtual healthcare. Whether it was fear or a deliberate attempt to reduce the risk of a Covid-19 infection, the shift to telemedicine in the healthcare sector was welcomed by healthcare professionals, patients, and stakeholders. As the search to access and deliver health care became frantic, several measures were put in place by both health care providers and beneficiaries with statistics showing a 38 times increase in telehealth use from the pre-COVID-19 baseline. By April 2020, telemedicine visits were 78 higher than the visits in February 2020.
The pandemic is slowly becoming a part of us and the healthcare system with many operations going back to normal, or rather, their pre-pandemic state. There seems to be a relaxation in the provision and use of telehealth platforms. In some cases, the measures put in place to improve access to telemedicine seem to be nowhere in sight. Hence, the question is, how can we improve access to telemedicine?
Telemedicine has increased access and delivery of several health services over the past 1 to 2 years, including prenatal care. Virtual prenatal care has not only reduced the risk for Covid-19 infection but has increased consumer satisfaction and self-efficiency in patients. It has proven beneficial to the health, growth, and development of both mother and child during pregnancy.
Women are able to book appointments with their local doctors, nurses and midwives, as well as specialists depending on their needs. They have also been able to enjoy care at their convenience and at lower costs. However, not all women enjoy access to telemedicine. Certain provisions that were made during the pandemic have been unavailable since things started returning to normal. While there is still an optimal use of telemedicine, several populations may not enjoy access to it. For example, pregnant women living with disabilities, those in areas with limited access to internet and devices, women with low digital literacy, and patients with limited English proficiency.
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There should be no discrimination against people living with disabilities. Hence, there is a call for equal access to healthcare services, including telemedicine services.
There are several ways to achieve equal access to telehealth services, including:
There are women, especially those in rural areas who lack access to adequate broadband internet and digital devices. This makes telemedicine almost impossible. To improve access:
Poor digital literacy can affect your delivery and the quality of care your patients will receive. You could:
Patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) may find it difficult to understand virtual visits conducted in English. Hence, telemedicine platforms should provide language services to aid access by LEP patients. These include oral interpretation and written translation.
Usually, there are major languages spoken by a group of people including English, Mandarin, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Hence;
At My Virtual Physician, we provide a wholesome prenatal care service that involves the health of your baby as well. As a telehealth platform, a visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor.
More so, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We are in network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
