Posts By Dr. Christi
I Have Always Loved Back-to-School Time…Am I Crazy?
It’s that time again. Time to say goodbye to the lazy days of summer and hello to the structure and routine of a new school year. As a lifelong student, I have always loved back-to-school time, even though it means summer is over. A new school year is a fresh beginning and an introduction to new challenges to conquer.
As I send my own children back to the classroom, my hope for them is that they greet the new school year with open minds, and commit to doing their best work. This will be a challenge for my 10th grade son and 8th grade daughter, but it is also an exciting time in their school journeys.
I’d like to share with you my own school journey, because it was such a strong influence on the woman I have become. And, it’s the reason I have the honor and privilege of being a physician.
I have always wanted to be a doctor. Ever since the age of 3 (with the exception of some brief moments I dreamed of being a veterinarian or a traveling mathematician), I knew what I wanted to do. My husband often reminds me what a blessing it is to have a clear calling on your life…to know what you were designed to do. Throughout my education, I had that goal in mind.
In elementary school, I was tested and placed in the gifted and talented program, where I was able to study topics in depth and be challenged. One assignment I remember fondly was a project on sloths. There wasn’t much information in the local library about sloths, but I wanted to study something different and unique. It was a welcomed challenge!
When I got to middle school, I began to fall in love with math and science. I had some great teachers who inspired and pushed me as I advanced through my academic journey. Algebra was actually really fun for me, and I also enjoyed tinkering with my Radio Shack electrical kit and chemistry set.
High school was the really great stuff… Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, Calculus, Geometry, Trig. I made aspirin in Chemistry class, and I thought that was so cool. My teachers were great and my Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia is still exemplary to this day. I’m so glad my parents made it possible for me to go there.
My regret is that I didn’t apply myself more in high school History class when I had the opportunity. As a teen, I just couldn’t appreciate it like I do now. But it’s never too late to learn, and I am currently reading the Hamilton biography. History is so important and this book is so fascinating. I was inspired to read it after I saw the musical about Hamilton, which I loved.
When it was time for college, I applied to Georgia Tech basically because my boyfriend was going there. Sad but true. We broke up even before we graduated high school, but it worked out great because I was awarded a full Presidential academic scholarship to Tech. I decided to study Chemical Engineering/Pre-med because I loved chemistry and calculus and thought it would be a fun challenge. I also figured that if medicine didn’t work out, I would have a good fallback career option.
College was great. I had a great group of friends in my sorority, and Georgia Tech was in a golden age of sports. Back to school meant those glorious football Saturdays and brand new books, mechanical pencils, and engineering paper. I enjoyed Chemical Engineering but it was super challenging, especially toward the end, after I had already been accepted to medical school. There were some really great classes, and I did the chemical engineering lab coursework in London, but my heart just wasn’t in it anymore. I really had to grin and bear it at the end, and I was so glad to “get out” of Tech, as we like to say. I graduated with honors and moved on to my dream: medical school.
I was in heaven when I got to medical school! You may not know much about the University of Alabama School of Medicine, but it is an excellent medical school. The editor of the most widely used internal medicine textbook was from my school, and the surgery program was tops in the nation. During my time in medical school, I would sit for hours learning every intricacy of the human anatomy, and I delighted in learning all the mysteries of the body. It is so fascinating.
When I wasn’t studying, I made money by transcribing lectures for my classmates if they missed a class. I also did basic research, trying to find a new cure for cancer, and I won a competitive and prestigious Howard Hughes one -year fellowship grant to focus on my research. It was fun, but I realized I really love interacting with patients more than research.
Finally, the last mountain in my educational journey was residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. This was the very best urology training program. The professors were outstanding, and the breadth of experience was unmatched: I learned trauma at Ben Taub, general urology at the VA, pediatric urology at Texas Children’s Hospital, microsurgery at St. Luke’s and cancer surgery at Methodist. I also spent one year on cancer research, and I received the research award that year. During my last two years, I studied under two of the preeminent urologists who specialize in female urology, and learned a tremendous amount from them. It was an incredible 6 years.
I continue to learn as much as I can about my field by reading journals and going to seminars. It is essential to stay on top of all the medical knowledge, especially as a specialist, and I love to find the latest research and information for my patients. Learning never ends.
If you are a teacher or have children going back to school, I hope you have a great school year!
Cheers to a healthy you!
-Dr. Christi
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Mother’s Day … It’s All About You, for a Change
Mother’s Day is YOUR day, so make sure you celebrate! After you spend the holiday with your children and family, it’s time to do something just for yourself. One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is a renewed sense of self. How do you do that? Well, you can start with making sure you are in the best health possible, and that includes your feminine and intimate health.
Being a mom is wonderful, and you wouldn’t trade it for the world. But, let’s be honest: giving birth probably left your body in a worse physical state than before you were pregnant. Childbirth and the natural process of aging leave many women with reduced vaginal function and bladder control. Does this sound familiar? Vaginal dryness, laxity and reduced sensation are very common for moms, as well as problems with urine leakage.
Dr. Christi has a solution: ThermiVa
Think of it as a non-surgical Mommy Makeover for your feminine health. ThermiVa is a painless in-office treatment that uses radiofrequency energy to gently heat vaginal tissue and regenerate collagen. The treatment targets both the internal and external areas of the vagina to improve function and return appearance to a more youthful state. It turns back the clock on your feminine wellness, to the way it was before your children were born.
May is a busy month for Dr. Christi, with lots of moms scheduling their Mother’s Day gift to themselves. Call our office at 281-717-4003 to schedule your consultation for the best gift you can give yourself: a renewed you.
Cheers to a healthy you!
-Dr. Christi
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Have you had a great experience with Houston Female Urology? We are so grateful for reviews from our patients, and would be honored if you would take a few minutes to tell others about your experience.
Female Sexual Dysfunction: Making an Awkward Conversation More Bearable
It’s not easy to talk about. Even though one-third of American women struggle with low sex drive and other intimacy issues, Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) is one of the least treated medical conditions. The reasons why are pretty straightforward: women are embarrassed to bring it up, and most clinicians don’t offer treatment.
Dr. Christi and her all-female staff understand both the medical realities of the disorder, and also the emotional side of talking about it and seeking treatment. Houston Female Urology offers an entire FSD clinical pathway to find and treat the root cause of the problem. FSD has a variety of causes and complications, and is broken down into four main categories:
- Low Sexual Desire
- Arousal Disorder
- Orgasmic Disorder
- Painful Sex Disorder
What should you do if you are struggling with one of the types of FSD? The first step is to take a deep breath and call our office. We know it’s difficult to talk about this very private topic, but we are here for you, with a gentle and supportive environment.
Dr. Christi begins the process by asking questions to determine if medications and other lifestyle elements are contributing to the problem. Next, she conducts a thorough physical exam to check for things like scar tissue or thinning vaginal walls that can cause pain and discomfort. Then, we conduct lab work to check your hormone levels (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone imbalances are common causes of FSD), and sometimes recommend ultrasound or MRI testing.
Based on your individual exam, Dr. Christi will show you different treatment options and recommend the pathway that will bring you the best results. Some ways we help women include prescription medications for improving desire; creams, physical therapy or non-surgical vaginal treatments to eliminate pain with intercourse; sex therapy and counseling.
Problems with intimacy cause strain on relationships, and leave women feeling unhappy, inadequate or embarrassed about their sex lives. If you are dealing with FSD, it’s time to take care of yourself so you can feel confident again.
Please call our office at 281-717-4003 for a confidential, discreet consultation with Dr. Christi.
You can also watch Dr. Christi’s video about Female Sexual Dysfunction here.
Cheers to a healthy you!
-Dr. P
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Have you had a great experience with Houston Female Urology? We are so grateful for reviews from our patients, and would be honored if you would take a few minutes to tell others about your experience.
Turn Back the Clock with Vaginal Rejuvenation
Let’s face it. Our bodies change after childbirth, and then again with menopause. One of the most common and significant changes occurs in vaginal health, but it’s often the least talked about. If you’re like many women, you figure that childbirth wreaked havoc on your vagina and it’s just something you have to live with. I am here to tell you that you do NOT just have to accept this as your new normal. There are several things that can be done to restore your feminine wellness to the way it used to be.
During childbirth, the vaginal walls stretch beyond normal to allow the baby to pass through the pelvis. What’s supposed to happen is that your natural elastin and collagen kick in and rebound the vaginal walls back to their normal state. But this doesn’t always happen. When the vaginal walls do not recover, and remain loose after childbirth, it can affect sexual function as well as bladder and bowel function.
When you go through menopause, declining estrogen levels leave your vaginal walls thin and inelastic. This is why so many postmenopausal women suffer from vaginal dryness and burning. Estrogen is what keeps the walls plumped up and elastic, and without enough of it your vaginal health deteriorates.
So, what exactly is vaginal rejuvenation?
The term refers to a group of procedures that all have the same goal: to restore both the function and appearance of your vagina. Here’s what we can do for you:
ThermiVa This quick and painless procedure returns your vagina to the way it was before childbirth. ThermiVa uses radiofrequency energy to gently heat vaginal tissue and rejuvenate collagen. The treatment targets both the internal and external areas of the vagina to improve function and return appearance to a more youthful state.
MonaLisa Touch Similar to ThermiVa, the MonaLisa Touch procedure also uses focused heat energy to repair the vagina. MonaLisa Touch is ideal for women who have gone through menopause, breast cancer treatment or who have abnormal or painful vaginal walls. The laser treatment pinpoints areas of unhealthy vaginal tissue, gently removes them, and stimulates the remaining tissue into self-rejuvenation.
Vaginal Rejuvenation Surgery Also called vaginoplasty, this surgical procedure tailors the vaginal walls to restore vaginal girth to its normal configuration. It increases the ability to feel the vaginal walls during intercourse, and restores sexual function for both partners.
At Houston Female Urology, we offer the full range of vaginal rejuvenation options because each woman’s needs are different. Call our office to schedule your consultation, and we can get started on returning your feminine health to the way it used to be.
Cheers to a healthy you!
-Dr. P
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Have you had a great experience with Houston Female Urology? We are so grateful for reviews from our patients, and would be honored if you would take a few minutes to tell others about your experience.
Don’t Let Your Bladder Ruin Your New Year’s Resolutions
If you’re like millions of other Americans, you have proclaimed that 2018 will be the year you become a healthier person. You will eat better foods, drink more water and exercise more. You will go to bed earlier, and spend more time nurturing the relationships most important to you.
But, have you ever thought about how your urological and pelvic health affects your overall well-being? When you are dealing with bladder problems or other feminine concerns, it’s pretty hard to take control of your general health.
Here are some of this year’s top resolutions that may be impossible to achieve until you get your urological health under control:
- Exercise more. If you suffer from stress incontinence, then whatever level of exercise you are currently doing is already making you pee in your pants. Why would you want to make that worse?
- Eat and drink healthier. Adding to your water intake is great, but if you’re already dealing with urinary incontinence, drinking more water just adds to the problem.
- Get more sleep. You know something that might help you sleep more soundly? Not getting up to go to the bathroom several times. Going to bed earlier may only mean more time for additional bathroom trips before sunrise.
- Focus on relationships. Your relationship with your significant other deserves your full attention, and intimacy is important. But for many menopausal women, physiological changes make intimacy unpleasant and something to avoid. Improving your sexual health can make huge strides in keeping your relationship solid.
So…now that you know how your pelvic region affects your overall health, it’s time to make a change. At Houston Female Urology, we have a NEW way to improve feminine wellness. We have added one of the newest technologies for bladder control and pelvic restoration, and we are the first urology practice in the city to offer the procedure. The in-office treatment is non-surgical, non-hormonal and painless. Click here to learn more.
Call our office at 281.823.9380 to schedule a consultation, and we’ll get started on a plan just for you.
Cheers to a healthy you!
-Dr. P
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Have you had a great experience with Houston Female Urology? We are so grateful for reviews from our patients, and would be honored if you would take a few minutes to tell others about your experience.