Skin Cancer Awareness
As we enjoy our time in the summer sun, we need to be mindful that too much sun exposure can increase our risk of skin cancer. An annual checkup with a dermatologist is recommended so that you can be checked for signs of this disease. If caught early, skin cancer is one of the most treatable cancers. A dermatologist can catch any dangerous moles or changes to your skin. Be sure to see your doctor immediately if you notice any changes in coloration, shape or texture of your moles, or the appearance of red, scaly patches.
In addition to using sunscreen and taking other precautions against over exposure (see Healthy Tips for July/August), remember that there is no such thing as a safe tan-whether it’s from the sun, or a tanning booth. If you want some color, consider a bronzing lotion or self-tanner-it’s the only safe way to tan.
Partners for Women’s Health Offers Robotic Surgery at Exeter Hospital
EXETER, NH-Partners for Women’s Health, an obstetrics and gynecology practice in Exeter, NH will now be offering robotic surgery to patients that qualify, thanks to Exeter Hospital’s new da Vinci Xi surgical robot. Dr. Antonio Gargiulo, director of robotic surgery at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, and medical director of the Center for Reproductive Care at Exeter Hospital, has been performing robotic surgery for 12 years and has trained key members of the Exeter Hospital team. Dr. Evelyne Caron, one of Partners’ physicians, has now been trained on the da Vinci robot and will be performing these surgeries going forward.
Plan Now for Tick Safety
New Hampshire has the highest rate of Lyme Disease in the country, and the second-highest deer tick population (behind Maine), according to the state’s entomology office. It is the deer tick that becomes infected with Lyme Disease, which it then transfers to people as it bites them. Ticks can be present and bite at any time of year, but the most dangerous time for ticks is May through August, when they are in the nymph stage and about the size of a poppy seed, so hardest to see. Therefore, it is critical to take steps to prevent getting bitten.
* Stay on trails when walking in the woods, and avoid areas of long grass and overgrown brush.
* Use insect repellent containing DEET or permethrin, being careful to follow safe directions for use.
* Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants tucked into boots, or closed toed shoes and socks. Be sure to tuck your shirt into your pants.
* Wear light-colored clothing so ticks can more easily be seen.
* Remove outdoor clothing promptly and put them in the dryer, running it on high heat to kill any ticks that may be on the clothing.
* Shower, and check yourself, your kids and your pets for ticks.
* Pets that go outdoors should use tick-prevention treatments. Your vet can advise you of the safest options for their age, breed and lifestyle.
* Visit the CDC website, www.cdc.gov, for recommended yard care products to kill and prevent the spread of ticks.
* Remove any piles of brush or leaves, remove tall grass, mow frequently, stack wood neatly and in a dry area and discourage rodents (which also carry ticks).
* Keep playground equipment, decks and patios away from yard edges and trees.
* Place a three-foot barrier of wood chips or gravel between the lawn and wooded areas to restrict tick migration.
With care and vigilance, it is possible to still enjoy the outdoors yet prevent tick-borne illness.
Managing Menopause
Did you know that Partners for Women’s Health also offers specialized menopause services for women adjusting to perimenopause and menopause issues? All obstetric-gynecology physicians, including those at Partners for Women’s Health, are trained to provide complete healthcare for women at all stages of their lives, including menopause. However, many doctors are starting to specialize in the treatment of perimenopause and menopause so that they may better guide women through their middle years.
At Partners for Women’s Health, Drs. Maribeth DiNicola, Catherine Turer and Deborah Browne all have a particular interest in menopause issues. Dr. Deborah Browne also has an extensive menopause background. She is a certified Threshold Menopause Educator, specializing in menopause education and treatment. She is also a member of the National Vulvodynia Association and the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease, which helps women with chronic and acute vaginal pain and discomfort. If you are having trouble with perimenopause or menopause, it may be helpful to see a specialist.
More About Zika
The Zika virus is now found in South Florida and Texas, thanks to the arrival of mosquitos that carry the virus. However, the virus has been detected in all 50 states, due to the travel of infected persons. The virus stays in an infected person’s blood for about one week; if that person is bitten by a mosquito during that time, and that insect then bites another person, the Zika virus can be transmitted. It can also be transmitted through sex. Thus, the virus is appearing in areas that are too cold to support the Zika mosquitoes themselves.
Zika is a virus that is spread by mosquito bites. It causes fever, rash, joint aches and conjunctivitis or “red eye.” It is currently most rampant in Central America, northern South America (especially in Brazil), and in the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In most people, Zika is not of great concern, with symptoms usually abating in a few days to a week. However, in pregnant women or women trying to become pregnant, Zika is a more serious issue.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that Zika is transmitted from the mother to the unborn child and can cause serious birth defects, including microcephaly, and termination of pregnancy. For this reason, pregnant women in any trimester are advised NOT to travel to any regions where Zika is being reported. The CDC also cautions that women trying to become pregnant, and their partners, should also avoid areas where Zika is present as the virus is also transferred during sexual intercourse.
If travel to regions where Zika is present is unavoidable, the CDC urges women to first consult with their healthcare provider before making the trip, and to then take the strictest precautions for avoiding mosquito bites. These include wearing EPA recommended insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, and trying to stay in rooms with air conditioning or screened doors and windows.
If you are pregnant and have recently been to a region where a Zika outbreak has occurred or is now occurring, see your doctor even if you do not have symptoms. Your provider will then determine whether you or your unborn baby should undergo certain tests.
If you believe you had Zika at some point, but are now well, you should also see your doctor right away.
If you are pregnant and planning to travel (or are trying to become pregnant), visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/zika first to see if Zika has been detected in the areas you are planning to visit.
The Importance of the Whooping Cough Vaccine
Whooping cough has been on the rise in recent years, and while this illness can occur in both adults and children, it can be most serious in infants and young children. What is whooping cough? Whooping cough is a bacterial infection that lodges in the nose and throat. Symptoms usually appear about seven to 10 days after exposure. At first, whooping cough can seem like a cold as symptoms include a mild cough, runny nose, sneezing, and a low fever (under 102 degrees); there may also be diarrhea. After about a week, more severe coughing spells begin to kick in; these often end with a “whoop” as the person tries to take in air. This is a dry cough and spells can last a minute or more. Babies may or may not make the whooping sound but can gasp for air or even vomit. Babies (especially under 18 months) may even stop breathing if the coughing spell is severe enough.
Because of the potential seriousness of this illness, and its high rate of contagion, those who are around infants and young children should consider being immunized; if you have been immunized in the past, check with your provider to see if your immunization is still up to date. Among those who should get this vaccine early are women in the later part of pregnancy, so be sure to discuss this with your obstetrician.
What You Should Know About Zika
Zika is a virus that is spread by mosquito bites. It causes fever, rash, joint aches and conjunctivitis or “red eye.” It is currently occurring in Central America, northern South America (especially in Brazil), and in the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In most people, Zika is not of great concern, with symptoms usually abating in a few days to a week. However, in pregnant women or women trying to become pregnant, Zika is a more serious issue.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that Zika is transmitted from the mother to the unborn child and can cause serious birth defects, including microcephaly, and termination of pregnancy. For this reason, pregnant women in any trimester are advised NOT to travel to any regions where Zika is being reported. The CDC also cautions that women trying to become pregnant, and their partners, should also avoid areas where Zika is present as the virus is believed to also be transferred during sexual intercourse.
If travel to regions where Zika is present is unavoidable, the CDC urges women to first consult with their healthcare provider before making the trip, and to then take the strictest precautions for avoiding mosquito bites.
If you are pregnant and have recently been to a region where a Zika outbreak has occurred or is now occurring, see your doctor even if you do not have symptoms. Your provider will then determine whether you or your unborn baby should undergo certain tests.
If you believe you had Zika at some point, but are now well, you should also see your doctor right away.
The CDC also emphasizes that Zika is spreading, so the areas where it may be found will be constantly changing. If you are pregnant and planning to travel (or are trying to become pregnant), visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/zika first to see if Zika has been detected in the areas you are planning to visit.
We Offer Pediatric Gynecology Expertise
Partners for Women’s Health offers a specialized area of gynecological care. Staff physician Dr. Evelyne Caron is also a pediatric gynecologist who is able to treat children and adolescents with issues requiring specialized gynecological treatment.
Dr. Caron assists young and infant patients who have anatomical concerns or conditions, pelvic pain, pelvic disorders, problems in the development of female organs, or abnormal periods. Prior to joining Partners, Dr. Caron served at Women & Infant’s Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. She also did a fellowship in pediatric and adolescent gynecology at the Universite de Montreal in Canada. To learn more about Dr. Caron’s background, please visit our Staff page.
Partners for Women’s Health Welcomes Laura Williams, CNM, MPH
We are pleased to welcome Laura Williams, a certified nurse-midwife, to our practice. Laura has nearly a decade of experience. She is a familiar face in the Seacoast area, having first started her practice in 2009 at a Dover facility. Laura is trained to provide the full scope of midwifery services, including pregnancy care, delivery, and post-pregnancy care. She also offers well-woman gynecological care.
Prior to moving to New Hampshire, Laura worked as a registered nurse and conducted public health research in childhood obesity in California. She also served as a teaching assistant in nutrition and nurse midwifery courses. Early in her career, she served as a rape victim counselor and was a member of Americorps, working as a health educator.
Laura is registered in the State of New Hampshire as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. She is also certified in Neonatal Resuscitation and Electronic Fetal Monitoring.
To learn more about Laura, please see our Staff page.
The Dangers of Marijuana During Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
With the recent legalization of medical marijuana in a number of states, there has been the incorrect assumption that marijuana must be safe to smoke during pregnancy. However, this is not the case. Marijuana is still a drug, and a drug with known harmful side effects to developing babies.
Medical research has shown that the chemicals in marijuana influence brain maturation.
Babies born to women who used marijuana during their pregnancies respond differently to visual stimuli, tremble more, and have a high-pitched cry, which may indicate problems with neurological development. As marijuana-exposed children reach school age, they tend to have difficulty with problem-solving skills, memory and the ability to remain attentive.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, breast-feeding mothers should also be leery of using marijuana as research suggests that THC is secreted into breast milk in moderate amounts. These amounts could also be harmful to a baby’s developing brain.
While marijuana may have positive uses in aiding certain medical conditions, it is still a drug that can put your baby’s healthy development at risk.
Vaginal Births May Be Possible After Cesarian
Exeter Hospital, and Partners for Women’s Health, have been offering vaginal births after cesarian section (VBAC) for women who meet the qualifications since 2010. If you would like to learn more about VBAC, call Partners at (603) 778-0557; if you are already a Partners patient, talk with your healthcare provider.
Check Out Our Patient Education Tab
There is a wealth of information under our Patient Education tab. Every other month, we provide columns on topics important to women’s health. These cover both Well Woman issues and Obstetrical issues. You will find them under Healthy Tips, and all articles also print out easily for handy reference. Look for topics such as preventing skin cancer, the latest requirements for mammograms, getting fit, and reducing stress.
You Should Know contains short write-ups on topics vital to women today. Should pregnant women get flu shots? How can you prevent yeast infections? Is a midwife right for me? These concise updates also appear every other month and are designed to give you quick, informative insights into key issues.
In addition, Patient Educational Links provides links to reputable medical websites where you can find additional information on a wide range of topics.
New Patient Privacy Policy
Partners for Women’s Health has a new Privacy Policy, which is available
on our website under the button of the same name. Please be sure to review
the policy at your convenience.
Review Our Patient Privacy Policy
Partners for Women’s Health Offers NovaSure
One in five women live with periods that are so heavy they get in the
way of day to day activities. NovaSure is a one-time, 5-minute procedure
that can lighten or end a woman’s period. After this procedure, for over 90%
of women, menstrual bleeding is dramatically reduced or stopped.
The NovaSure Endometrial Ablation is a quick, safe, and simple procedure
to lighten or stop your periods. It does so without the side effects of
hormones or the risks of hysterectomy. This one-time, five-minute procedure
can be done in your doctor’s office, usually for the cost of a copay.
To learn more, click the link below to visit the NovaSure website
Did you know?
Partners for Women’s Health now has all patient medical records converted to electronic format. This makes it easier to communicate medical information to other healthcare providers should you need care from another physician.