Women’s Health

Women’s Health

Women’s Health is the part of Internal and Family Medicine  dedicated to the unique and specific health issues that women face.  Breast and Gynecological exams are extremely important.  These allow us to screen for breast cancer, cervical cancer, HPV (the virus that causes cervical cancer), infections (including sexually transmitted diseases) and many other conditions that can be treated early before more serious problems arise.

The Pap smear or “Papanikolaou” was invented in the early 1900s by Dr. Georgios Papanikolaou. It is a very important test that can check for early changes in the cervix that may lead to cervical cancer if not treated in a timely manner.  Cervical cancer is caused by a virus called HPV.   When this virus infects the cervical cells, it can subject them to harmful changes which over time can lead to cervical cancer. Early detection with a pap smear is critical and can help treat and remove those cellular changes before they even become cancerous. We use the Thin Prep Pap – the latest generation of this particular test.  We also encourage the vaccines currently available that can help reduce the risk of HPV infection altogether.

Don’t forget to make your Well Woman Exam part of your annual routine!