Dr. Debora Sedaghat provides pap smears at OC Women's Care in Fountain Valley, CA. We are here for all your OBGYN needs.
What is a pap smear?
A pap smear is routine screening for abnormal or precancerous cells in and around the cervix. Pap smears are in-office procedures performed by your OBGYN. During a pap smear, the vaginal opening and canal are expanded with a tool called a speculum, and then cells are collected from the outside of the cervix to be examined. The process can be uncomfortable or a little painful for some patients, but it is over quickly.
Your OBGYN examines the cells under a microscope for irregularities, looking for signs of precancerous conditions. OC Women's Care in Fountain Valley, CA, will contact you about any irregular results on your pap smear.
Why is it important?
In a majority of cases, cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV. Early detection of HPV can prevent cervical cancer.
The CDC recommends getting pap smears starting at age 21 and through age 65 every three years. Based on the results of your pap smear, your OBGYN will advise when you should have your next screening. If you are healthy your doctor may tell you to come back in three years. If they are watching precancerous cells, they may want you to return in six months. Remember it's still important to have an annual exam even if you don't need a pap smear!
How can I protect myself?
Consistent screening is important to protect yourself from cervical cancer, but good habits are another way to be proactive. Practicing safe sex (using condoms) can prevent the spread of HPV. Smoking increases the risk of cervical cancer significantly and your OBGYN will recommend quitting smoking.
Come see Dr. Debora Sedaghat at OC Women's Care in Fountain Valley, CA, for a pap smear and cervical cancer screening. Give us a call at (714) 966-2112.
Having trouble going? It could be due to a bladder infection.You’ve been running back and forth to the bathroom all day and you’ve noticed an increased urgency to pee, even after you’ve just gone. What gives? Well, if you notice burning or pain with urination you could very well be dealing with a bladder infection. Most people will experience a bladder infection at least once during their lifetime. If you are experiencing symptoms of a bladder infection you may want to call your OBGYN for a checkup.
What are the signs of a bladder infection?
Bladder infections are one of the most common urinary tract infections (UTIs). If you have a bladder infection you may experience,
- Strong-smelling urine
- Cloudy urine
- Increased urgency and frequency of urination
- Abdominal cramping
- Burning with urination
- Pain that lingers after urinating
How is a bladder infection treated?
Your OBGYN will prescribe an oral antibiotic to kill the bacteria in the bladder. You may also receive medication to ease burning and pain with urination. You must be drinking plenty of fluids to flush out bacteria in the bladder.
You should see an improvement in your symptoms after 2 days of taking the antibiotics, but you mustn’t stop taking your medication once you start to feel better, as the infection can return.
Is there a way to prevent bladder infections?
There are certain lifestyle adjustments that you can make to prevent the development of a bladder infection. Some of these habits include,
- Drinking enough water every day
- Taking showers over a bath
- Not douching or using scented feminine products
- Wearing loose-fitting clothes
- Urinating immediately before and after intercourse
Cervical ectropion, also referred to as cervical erosion, is when the glandular cells found inside the cervical canal are also found outside the cervix. This harmless, benign condition is more common than you might realize. Some women are born with this while others develop it as a result of hormonal changes. Young women who are taking oral contraceptives, pregnant, or going through adolescence are also more likely to develop cervical ectropion. If you have cervical ectropion, an OBGYN can provide you with the answers you need to manage this condition.Most of the time, this condition doesn’t cause any symptoms. Most women don’t even know they have it until they visit their gynecologist for their annual checkup. If you do have cervical ectropion you may notice,
- Spotting between periods
- Light discharge
- Discomfort during sex
If you aren’t experiencing symptoms, then treatment really isn’t necessary. In some cases, cervical ectropion may just go away on its own. Of course, heavy discharge, bleeding, or pain can be managed through cauterization (performed through heat, cold or silver nitrate), which removes the glandular cells from outside the cervix.
Finding out that there are cellular changes within the cervix can be a little unnerving, but this condition is completely harmless. If you are pregnant this will not harm your unborn child and this cervical ectropion will not increase your risk for cervical cancer.
OBGYNs, commonly known as a doctor who’s both an obstetrician and gynecologist, take care of women through all phases of their lives, from adolescence to their childbearing years and all through menopause. Whatever concern you may have, our OBGYN here at OC Women’s Care in Fountain Valley, CA, Dr. Debora Sedaghat, has probably seen, heard, and treated it before. With that said, if you’ve yet to find an OBGYN, here’s why having one you can trust is extremely important.
How Your OBGYN Can Help You
In a nutshell, OBGYNs provide preventive care, general healthcare, and treatment from conditions and diseases related to pregnancy and the female reproductive system. They’re capable of:
- Assessing your medical history and educating you about the prevention of disease and overall wellness.
- Giving care throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.
- Conducting reproductive health screenings such as Pap smears, pelvic exams, cancer screenings, STD screenings, and breast exams, among others.
- Providing contraceptive counseling and family planning.
- Treating and diagnosing chronic and acute conditions and diseases that impact women’s health, including infertility, gynecological diseases, and cancer, as well as menopause.
- Ordering and interpreting imaging and lab tests and prescribing medicines.
- Performing surgery including minimally invasive surgeries on female reproductive organs including D & C or dilation and curettage, cesarean sections, ovarian cyst removals, tubal ligations, hysterectomies, among others.
- Monitoring, treating, and screening various women related issues from adolescence to reproductive years and throughout menopause.
When to See an OBGYN
Besides routine yearly exams, consider seeing your OBGYN in Fountain Valley, CA, if you experience these conditions and symptoms:
- Foul-smelling, persistent, and/or unusual vaginal discharge
- Breast changes, including lumps and discoloration
- Heavy vaginal bleeding or bleeding between periods
- Pain or severe cramps after or while having sexual intercourse
- Menopausal or perimenopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, irregular periods, mood swings, decreased sex drive
- Premenstrual syndrome or PMS symptoms like moodiness, swollen breasts, fatigue, or irritability
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, women should likewise visit their OBGYN under these circumstances:
- You’re pregnant or are looking to conceive
- You’re sexually active and require birth control
- You haven’t menstruated by 16 or you haven’t had a breast exam, Pap smear, or pelvic exam in more than a year
If you are like plenty of women, it’s understandable to find revealing intimate details about your body and lifestyle to your doctor very difficult. But your health, and/or that of your unborn child, depends on it, so make sure to find an OBGYN that you can really be comfortable with and trust.
To Find Out More About Our OBGYN and Our Services, Speak to Us
Set up an appointment with our OBGYN in Fountain Valley, CA, Dr. Debora Sedaghat, and her team today. Just dial (714) 966-2112 or request an online appointment to reach OC Women's Care today.
The NIH reports that 20-25 percent of women of reproductive age have fibroids, benign tumors that develop within the lining of the uterus. Some women have fibroids but don’t even realize it until they find out from their OBGYN during a routine pelvic exam; however, other women may deal with heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and sex with intercourse due to fibroids. Since fibroids can affect fertility, it is important that you talk with your OBGYN about the best ways to manage your fibroids.Can fibroids become cancerous?
The majority of the time fibroids are completely benign. It is extremely rare that a fibroid will turn cancerous. Also, having fibroids will not increase your chances of developing uterine cancer or cancerous fibroids.
How are fibroids treated?
Since most women don’t experience symptoms, they won’t necessarily need treatment; however, women who do experience symptoms will want to discuss their options with a qualified OBGYN. Your OBGYN will be able to decide the best strategies for treating your fibroids based on your health, the symptoms you’re experiencing, whether you plan to become pregnant in the future, your age, and the size of the fibroids.
Mild symptoms may be managed with simple over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen. If you have heavy periods, your doctor may recommend iron supplements to prevent anemia. Some forms of birth control including an intrauterine device (IUD) can also help manage fibroid symptoms.
Another medication used to treat fibroids is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa). This medication can be administered in many different ways (e.g. inhaled, ingested, or injected) and is used to shrink large fibroids.
If you experience more severe fibroid symptoms, then your OBGYN may recommend surgery to have the fibroids removed. This procedure is known as a myomectomy.
Can I get pregnant if I have fibroids?
It can be more difficult for women with uterine fibroids to get pregnant, but it is still a possibility. Of course, women who become pregnant while they have fibroids may be more at risk for complications so it’s important that you have an obstetrician that will know how to best handle fibroids during your pregnancy. While there may be concerns, having fibroids does not put you in the high-risk pregnancy category.
Are you experiencing symptoms of fibroids? If so, it’s important to talk with your OBGYN about your symptoms and how to get them under control.
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