Many pregnant women cringe at the suggestion of being induced into labor. The process of labor induction can be made much less intimidating by understanding what to expect. Will I need an induction? Induction is recommended for women with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension, because it is safer to schedule delivery before […]
In September 2017, Shirley Polk was a healthy, avid endurance cyclist who rode an average of 50 miles per week – and also happened to be nine months pregnant with her second child. Fast forward less than three years later, thanks to WakeMed’s experienced Labor & Delivery and Heart & Vascular teams – Shirley is […]
For the Men – Vasectomy 101 Getting a vasectomy is a big decision – although our experts say making the decision is far more difficult than the procedure itself. Here, we talk with urologist Dr. Ian Udell to explore the top questions most men (and their significant others!) may have about this permanent form of […]
Women have so many options for contraception these days, it can be overwhelming. For those interested in permanent contraception, a tubal ligation (historically known as having your tubes tied) is a great option for many. Hear from WakeMed OB/GYN, Dr. Chantel Roedner, about this popular method of permanent birth control. Q: How do you know […]
View a printable version of this blog post here. Why do my periods hurt so much? During your period, your uterus makes chemicals called “prostaglandins”. Prostaglandins cause contractions of the uterus, which causes pain. These contractions are similar to the ones that happen during childbirth and can be very painful. They may begin 1-2 days […]
During National Women’s Health Week, we wanted to take a moment to highlight some health care topics to help patients improve their overall health and live a healthy lifestyle. #1 – Annual Exams We cannot highlight enough the importance of the screening annual exam. During this visit, your physical as well as emotional well-being is assessed. […]
As an Ob-Gyn, among the most devastating news I can share with my patient is that they are experiencing a miscarriage or stillbirth. What is a miscarriage? A miscarriage is any pregnancy loss that occurs during the first 20 weeks of the pregnancy, which is around the 5th month. Even though there is some awareness […]
In the United States, 80% or more of pregnancies among adolescents age 15 to 19 years are unintended. National surveys report that ⅓ of high school students are sexually active and only ⅓ of those reported use effective contraception. Barriers to Seeking Contraception Potential barriers might include concerns about confidentiality or cost as well as […]
The goal of contraception is to prevent unintended pregnancy. The unintended pregnancy rate in the United States is nearly 50%. Fortunately, this number has decreased over recent years, in part due to increased access to contraception. Our goal is to decrease it even more. In fact, it is one of the goals of Healthy People […]
Many women have heard the word “pre-eclampsia,” but what exactly does it mean? What is Pre-eclampsia? Pre-eclampsia is a hypertensive disorder that can occur during or immediately after pregnancy. Many women with pre-eclampsia do not have any symptoms. Consequences of Pre-Eclampsia If left untreated, pre-eclampsia can lead to liver or kidney dysfunction and even […]
