3 Women’s Health Options in Lone Tree & Castle Rock, CO: Prevention Comes First 

Women’s Health: A Preventive Approach

Preventive care is essential for any patient, but on top of that, women are also affected by female-predominant chronic conditions. Without an early diagnosis and treatment, these illnesses develop in silence, leading to severe complications that are preventable with routine checkups and the guidance of a specialist.

Through medical services like well-woman exams, mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, Pap smears, and testing for HIV and chlamydia, women identify and address health risks related to their reproductive organs and hormones, maintaining a long-lasting wellbeing. Some of the female-specific diseases women are vulnerable to include:

• Endometriosis.
• Uterine fibroids.
• Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS).
• Menopause.
• Gynecological/female-specific cancers (cervical, ovarian, uterine, breast).
• STIs (chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV, HPV).

♀️Read more about it: Pap Smear in Lone Tree & Castle Rock, CO: Your Cervical Health Matters

3 Preventive Women’s Health Services

Gynecologists offer a wide variety of services focused on women’s specific concerns, tailoring them to their age, lifestyle and medical records. While each patient has a different diagnosis, these preventive care services are essential for every woman:

1. HPV Testing
2. Birth Control
3. Pelvic Ultrasounds

1. HPV Testing

In women, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)  is the main cause behind cervical cancer. HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that affects 42 million Americans. When this disease goes undetected and the symptoms develop, it can lead to precancerous cervical lesions and progress to cancer. Some testings used to diagnose HPV include:

• Pap Test (Cytology): The Pap Smear Test checks for cellular abnormalities in the cervix that indicate precancerous lesions or malignant cells. During the procedure, the doctor places a speculum inside the cervix and uses a small brush to collect a sample of cells that are sent to a lab examination.
• HPV Molecular Test: Based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, this test is able to accurately identify HPV DNA in cervical samples, even if the results from the Pap smear test come out without visible cell changes. 
• HPV Genotyping: Also known as HPV typing, this molecular test is based on the Multiplex Fluorescent PCR technology. During the process, it takes multiple regions of the viral DNA, amplifies them with primers labeled with fluorophores, and identifies multiple viral types. Doctors use this method to detect and genotype HPV, and to distinguish between low-risk and high-risk oncogenic types.

2. Birth Control Pills 

Birth control pills are a type of oral contraception that uses hormones like estrogen and progestin to prevent pregnancy. They work by hindering ovulation, thickening the cervical mucus to impede sperm from entering and fertilizing the egg, and thinning the uterine lining. Depending on your medical needs, your gynecologist might prescribe you to one of these types of birth control:

• Combination birth control pills: Combined pills contain synthetic estrogen and progestin, intervening in the ovulation cycle to prevent pregnancy. Other benefits from these pills include acne control, less heavy period cramps, and a lower risk of ovarian cancer.
• Progestin-only pills: Also known as minipills, birth control pills with only progestin. Gynecologists usually prescribe these pills for women who are breastfeeding or who can’t take estrogens due to blood pressure or migraines.  

3. Pelvic Ultrasounds

A pelvic ultrasound is a non-invasive screening that allows the doctor to assess the organs and structures inside the female pelvis, including the uterus, cervix, vagina, fallopian tubes and ovaries. 

During the procedure, an ultrasound uses a transducer that is placed on the targeted area, which sends out ultrasound waves that move through the body to the organs and structures within. The sound waves come off the organs like an echo, returning to the transducer, which processes the reflected waves that are converted into an image. Depending on factors like your age and health goals, your doctor might perform one of these two types of ultrasounds:

• Transabdominal (through the abdomen): A transducer is placed on the abdomen using the conductive gel.
• Transvaginal (through the vagina): A long, thin transducer is covered with the conducting gel and a plastic/latex sheath and is inserted into the vagina to get a more accurate image of the structure inside.

About Lone Tree’s Mission

Lone Tree OB/GYN & Midwives is a full-service obstetrics and gynecology office with a team of highly regarded providers recognized throughout the Castle Rock, Colorado, community for their exceptional care.