Gayle Richmond, MD, FACOG / Lisa Maselli, MD, FACOG
Women are complicated, and so are their bodies. No two women are the same, but all of us have one goal in mind: staying healthy. We enjoyed meeting you during our recent presentation, “What’s Going on Down There?” as part of the annual women’s conference. What a great source of information and inspiration WIPL has become, and what great questions we received from you both during and after our presentation.
As a follow-up, we want to stress the importance of staying healthy by making a well-woman visit part of your annual routine. Aside from your yearly visit, there are three primary reasons women see a gynecologist. These include birth control counseling, abnormal bleeding/problems with periods, and vaginal discharge/irritation.
Bleeding aside from your period? Not normal. Bleeding after sex, bleeding in between periods, having unusually long and heavy periods, and bleeding after menopause are reasons for you to see your gynecologist.
Discharge? Completely normal. Discharge is fluid made by the glands inside the vagina and cervix, and it helps rid your body of dead cells and bacteria. While it can be annoying and a waste of panty-liners, it is important for the female reproductive system. If the color or smell is different than what you usually experience, don’t panic, but make an appointment with your doctor.
Severe Itching? Not normal. Yes, a little itch here and there is okay, but when it won’t seem to go away, see your doctor. Itching can be the result of a yeast infection or eczema. Severe itching is also a symptom of many sexually transmitted, yet treatable, diseases like chlamydia.
Know what’s going on with your body. It is better to be proactive than reactive, and remember, no question is stupid or foolish. At Carolina OB/GYN, we’re women treating women, and we get it!
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