Gynecology

Expect high-quality, comprehensive care when you choose a gynecologist from Montage Medical Group or the medical staff at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. You’ll benefit from our experience caring for Monterey Peninsula residents of all ages and stages of life.

What’s a gynecologist?

A gynecologist is a doctor with advanced training to care for women’s health needs. They offer preventive (routine) and specialized care for:

• Female reproductive system, including the cervix, uterus, ovaries, and vagina
• Certain bladder and bowel concerns

Some gynecologists have extra training to perform advanced surgical procedures.

When to see a gynecologist

Protect your health by visiting your gynecologist for an annual well-woman checkup. Screening tests during your checkup look for signs of a health problem before you have symptoms. Detecting problems early means you’ll get treatment when it’s most effective. Ask your doctor which tests you need and how often.

Symptoms of a gynecologic condition

Schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor or a gynecologist if you experience:

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as bleeding that happens between periods or after menopause
• Bulge felt in the vaginal area
• The inability to conceive after one year (infertility)
• Frequent urination or problems controlling urination
• Genital sores or lumps
• Menstruation (period) symptoms that affect your quality of life
• Absence of menstrual cycle
• Pain during sex
• Trouble urinating or pain or burning when urinating
• Unusual or severe pelvic pain or pressure
• Vaginal burning, itching, redness, or swelling, or unusual discharge

Screening and diagnostic tests

Your doctor may recommend tests or procedures to look for a health condition or diagnose the cause of symptoms:

• Biopsy – Removes a small sample of tissue for testing in a lab
• Clinical breast exam (CBE) – Looks for lumps or other breast changes during a physical examination
• Colposcopy – Uses a magnifying tool called a colposcope to examine the cervix, vagina, and vulva
• Hormonal tests – Take a blood sample to measure hormone levels
• Hysterosalpingography – Takes X-rays of the uterus (womb) and fallopian tubes
• Hysteroscopy – Examines the uterus with a hysteroscope (a thin tube with a light) to find what’s causing and sometimes treat unusual bleeding
• Diagnostic laparoscopy - looking inside the abdomen for disorders
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) test – Detects a common virus that may increase cervical cancer risk
• Mammogram – Creates images of breast tissue using X-rays
• Bone density study
• Pap smear – Collects a small sample of cells from the cervix to check for cell changes that could be cancerous or precancerous
• Pelvic exam – Checks your reproductive organ health through visual and physical examination
• Pelvic ultrasound – Uses soundwaves to create images of pelvic organs inside the body
• Pregnancy test – Takes a blood or urine sample to check for a hormone only made by the body during pregnancy
• Sexually transmitted infection (STI) test – Checks for diseases spread through sexual contact, including herpes, HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis

Gynecologic conditions treated

Stay close to home and receive excellent care in a comfortable, professional setting. Common conditions we treat include:

• Endometriosis, when uterine tissue grows outside the uterus
• Female reproductive system cancers, including cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancer
• Menstrual disorders, including heavy or abnormal periods and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
• Pelvic organ prolapse, when weak muscles cannot support an organ in its normal position
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and other hormone disorders
• Urinary incontinence (leakage)
• Uterine fibroids (noncancerous growths)
• Infection of the vagina, cervix, or other reproductive organs
• Sexual disorders

Care and treatment

Your gynecologist will help you create a personalized care plan that respects what’s important to you. Your doctor can provide:

• Birth control, such as prescription medications you take by mouth, hormonal implants, or intrauterine devices (IUDs)
• Education on living a healthy lifestyle and sexual health
• Prenatal counseling and fertility services
• Complete pregnancy care, including prenatal visits, labor and delivery at the Family Birth Center, and postpartum services like breastfeeding support
• Menopause care, including treatment of symptoms like hot flashes, fatigue, and trouble sleeping
• Well-rounded gynecologic cancer care
• Referrals and coordination for other healthcare services, such as specialized breast care at the Carol Hatton Breast Care Center or pelvic floor rehabilitation

Gynecologic procedures

In some cases, surgery may be the best choice to treat your condition. Trust your gynecologist and the surgical experts at Community Hospital. We’ll use the least invasive options so you have the fastest possible recovery. When appropriate, your doctor may even use advanced, robot-assisted technology to perform your procedure.

Procedures include:

• Dilation and curettage (D&C) – Diagnoses and treats uterine conditions
• Endometrial ablation – Removes lining of the uterus to lessen or stop heavy periods
• Hysterectomy – Removes the uterus
• Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) – Uses heat to remove abnormal or cancerous cells
• Oophorectomy – Removes the ovaries
• Prolapse repair or reconstruction – Strengthens weak or damaged pelvic floor muscles or tissues to lift organs back into place
• Tubal ligation, or female sterilization – Prevents you permanently from getting pregnant by closing the fallopian tubes
• Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) – Uses real-time X-rays to guide a catheter (long, thin tube) that shrinks fibroids