Infertility

2024-05-09T20:21:24-06:00

Advice from the Infertile OB/GYN: When to seek care for Infertility Fertility concerns are commonly discussed during Ob/Gyn visits. Statistics show that 1 in 8 couples are faced with the issue of infertility. Most often Ob/Gyn physicians discuss fertility concerns with women who choose to pursue a career that delays their plans for childbearing until late in their 20โ€™s or even their 30s. Many women today are delaying childbearing. In fact, in 1970, the average age at which a woman bore her first child was 21.4yrs old. In the United States, the average age has increased to 26 in the year 2018, and to 30.3 years for women with a college degree. So, the question is, when should a woman seek care from their Ob/Gyn if they are concerned that they are not getting pregnant? It is certainly true that more and more women are waiting to have children. We have seen a trend in our own practices, but this is not something unique to the Chicagoland area. In general, this is a rising trend that has been observed over the last few decades and particularly in high income countries like the United

Infertility2024-05-09T20:21:24-06:00

Hormone Replacement Therapy: Is it right for me?

2024-05-09T20:23:01-06:00

The conventional wisdom for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has swung dramatically over the past several decades. For a long time, it was seen as the fountain of youth โ€“ almost a supplement rather than a medication โ€“ something that every woman should be on to stay healthy. Then came the Womenโ€™s Health Initiative in 2002, which showed an increase risk in breast cancer and cardiovascular disease. Millions of women stopped hormone replacement or were reluctant to start, some of whom then experienced severe menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats and mood changes. Over the ensuing years our philosophy has settled into one of moderation: Treat each woman and her symptoms as safely as we can. For some, hormone replacement therapy is a needed balm to menopausal suffering, for others the small risks are not worth it, or their minimal symptoms donโ€™t require medications. Your doctors with Midwest Center for Womenโ€™s HealthCare can help you find your way through this sometimes-confusing topic. What is HRT? Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT is using estrogen (usually in combination with a progestin) to mitigate unpleasant symptoms of menopause. As we pass our reproductive years,

Hormone Replacement Therapy: Is it right for me?2024-05-09T20:23:01-06:00

Pregnancy After 35

2025-05-19T13:07:42-06:00

Am I Too Old to Have a Baby? Pregnancy After 35 While pregnancy at 35 years and older does carry some additional risks, you CAN have a very safe, enjoyable, and healthy pregnancy. This article addresses the most commonly asked questions about risks and available screenings for pregnant women over 35. It is certainly true that more and more women are waiting to have children. We have seen a trend in our own practices, but this is not something unique to the Chicagoland area. In general, this is a rising trend that has been observed over the last few decades and particularly in high income countries like the United States. In fact, in the past 30 years there has been a 36% increase in first births among women ages 35-39. Why is this happening? Well, in many cases people are waiting to have children due to financial concerns and a desire to focus on career opportunities. Some of this increased ability to delay pregnancy is also made possible by improved fertility options. Risks in Pregnancy over 35 Whatever the case may be, while many people know that there

Pregnancy After 352025-05-19T13:07:42-06:00

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

2024-05-09T19:46:00-06:00

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States.ย  There are more than 150 types of HPV.ย  They are numbered HPV1, HPV2 etc.ย  Around 40 types infect the genital area of men and women and are spread by skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal, or oral sex.ย  Genital HPV infection can occur even if you do not have sexual intercourse.ย  Like other STIโ€™s, genital HPV infection often has no signs or symptoms.ย  The infected person can then unknowingly pass the infection on to others. HPV is a virus and causes infection by entering cells from skin-to-skin contact.ย  It then replicates itself and these copies infect other nearby cells causing them to become abnormal or damaged.ย  These infected cells then can lead to genital warts, precancer and cancer of the cervix, anus, vagina, vulva, penis, mouth, and throat.ย  There are โ€œlow riskโ€ and โ€œhigh riskโ€ types of HPV.ย  Low-risk types cause genital warts and high-risk types are linked with causing cancer.ย  The immune system fights most low and high-risk types and clears them from the body over time.ย  Those that donโ€™t clear can go on and lead to pre-cancer or cancer.ย  It

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine2024-05-09T19:46:00-06:00
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