Specialized Gynecology

 

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What are specialized gynecological services?

Specialized gynecological care involves treatment that’s beyond the standard screenings, such as STI testing and birth control consultations, that happen at an annual exam. Such services include:

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• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for menopausal patients

• Colposcopy

• LEEP, or loop electrosurgical excision procedure

• Cryosurgery

• Endometrial biopsy

• Vulvar biopsy

 

Our Nurse Practitioners may recommend you see our gynecologist for these procedures and screenings, or you may be referred to us by other doctors in the community. All procedures are performed at our clinic. Our MD does not do in-hospital surgeries, such as hysterectomies.

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What is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)?

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is medication to replace the female hormones that your body stops making during menopause (estrogen and progesterone). It is often used to manage symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and vaginal discomfort, or help prevent bone loss. HRT is not without risks and should be tailored to each individual to make sure the benefits outweigh the risks. HRT initial consults and follow ups are provided by our MD or by a Nurse Practitioner who is a certified menopause practitioner through the North American Menopause Society (NAMS).  NOTE: Boulder Valley Women's Health does not prescribe compounded methods of HRT. For more information on perimenopause, menopause, and the benefits and risks of HRT, see the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) website at www.menopause.org.

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What is a colposcopy?

Sometimes a Pap smear reveals abnormal cells that need further analysis. A colposcopy is a procedure involving a high-powered microscope that looks at the cervix, vagina, and vulva. The doctor places a speculum in the vagina and inserts the colposcope to view the cervix. She takes several biopsies, which may cause a pinching sensation for a moment or two. The biopsies are then sent to a lab for further review.

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What are LEEP and cryosurgery?

The doctor performs a LEEP, or loop electrosurgical excision procedure, to treat abnormal cells on your cervix. An electrical cutting wire removes the abnormal cells so they may be sent to a lab for further analysis.

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With cryosurgery, the doctor uses a freezing technique to remove abnormal cells discovered during a Pap smear.

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What is an endometrial biopsy?

An endometrial biopsy describes a procedure in which a tissue sample is taken from the lining of the uterus and checked under a microscope for abnormalities. You might have an endometrial biopsy to:

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• Check for uterine cancer

• Identify the cause of irregular or heavy periods, or the cause of bleeding in women who have already gone through menopause

• Check whether the endometrium is going through normal changes during the menstrual cycle

 

During a uterine biopsy, the doctor places a speculum into the vagina and cleanses the cervix. They then place a small tube through the cervix into the uterine cavity, and a plunger on the tube creates suction that removes a sampling of cells.

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What is a vulvar biopsy?

A vulvar biopsy helps diagnose lesions of the vulvar skin, the external female genitalia. You might need a vulvar biopsy if you have pain, itching, or notice changes in the appearance and texture of the skin there.