Posts in Category: Your Pelvic Health
Platelet-Rich Plasma for bladder leakage and orgasm
Have you heard about platelet-rich plasma yet? It is the hot new thing in medicine. It is used in orthopedics to heal joints, in the face to rejuvenate the skin, and now in the vagina to help improve bladder control and orgasm. It is a very exciting breakthrough and I have figured out how to inject it pain-free.
If you have problems with mild bladder leakage and/or weak orgasms, then platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can help you!
Platelet-rich plasma is derived from your own blood. When you first come in for the procedure, we will draw out your own blood. (This is the most painful part of the procedure.) Your own blood is then processed in a centrifuge to be able to concentrate and extract the plasma from the top. This plasma is yellow and it is filled with not only platelets, but also with growth factors which promote healing and rejuvenation. This is really good stuff!
Meanwhile, your vaginal area is being numbed with a cream for about 20 minutes. After that I use my special technique to inject the platelet-rich plasma painlessly. Patients are amazed, especially patients that have had the injection elsewhere and did NOT have a good experience.
Afterwards, there is minor bleeding and minimal pain. You may have a mild vaginal discharge for a couple of days, but the recovery is very easy and you can get right back to regular activities.
Over the next few weeks, the growth factors will be in there building new collagen, new blood vessels and new nerves that help you control your bladder better and improve your orgasms! God created sex and designed it be enjoyable between a wife and her husband. Yet many women struggle with weak or no orgasm. Do not feel ashamed to ask for help in this area. It will help you enjoy your husband and your life even more.
Call 281-717-4003 for an appointment.
All the best to you and many blessings,
Dr. Christi
It’s Time to Get out of the Bathroom
Do you know exactly where the restroom is in each of your favorite restaurants, because you go each time you are there? Do you feel the urge to urinate and swear that you just went an hour ago? Does your bathroom schedule interfere with daily life?
If you need to pee more than eight times during the day, and wake up at night, then it’s time to get things under control. Needing to urinate that frequently is not normal, and it affects the lives of so many women. Whether you feel the urge to urinate way too often, or suffer from urine leakage when you exercise, sneeze or cough, we can help.
There are all sorts of non-surgical ways to improve overactive bladder. At Houston Female Urology, we help women, every day, reduce the need to urinate. Many women make progress by simply keeping a voiding diary and making changes to their eating and drinking habits. But when that doesn’t help, it’s time to go to the next step.
Along with overactive bladder, another problem that we address all the time is stress incontinence (aka leaky bladders). If you pee when you exercise, we can help. If you pee when you cough or sneeze, we can help. Many women wrongly assume that surgery is the only way to correct urine leakage. Don’t give up your favorite workout routine because you’re worried about leaking urine.
We are proud to offer several in-office procedures to calm your overactive or leaky bladder: Pelvic Floor Toning, Bladder Botox, and ThermiVa are a few of the easy ways to help you spend less time searching for a public restroom.
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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4 Things that Might Surprise you about Breast Cancer
At Houston Female Urology, we take care of women and girls. That’s all. No men. So, naturally we are concerned about all women’s health concerns, especially breast cancer.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and this is our message to you: GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM.
The American Cancer Society has done a great job with community education and publicity, so thankfully many women know the basics. You probably know that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. You also probably know that early detection is critical, and that means annual mammograms. You know all of this, but sometimes it’s just not enough encouragement to schedule that annual exam.
So we will say it again…GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM. Schedule the appointment and get it done.
Here are some things about breast cancer that might surprise you:
- 85% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history.
- Monthly breast self-exams have not been shown to improve detection. The best plan is to just be aware of how your breasts look and feel. If you notice something different, call your doctor.
- Being overweight or obese — especially after menopause — may raise your risk.
- Breast cancer doesn’t always present itself as a lump. Other things to be concerned about are: swelling in and around your breast, collarbone or armpit; skin thickening or redness in or around your breast; breast warmth and itching; nipple changes or discharge.
At Houston Female Urology, we are so proud to help breast cancer survivors combat the vaginal and urological effects of treatment. Chemotherapy can lead to early-onset menopause or worsening symptoms in post-menopausal women. Things like overactive bladder, vaginal dryness and burning can be major problems for cancer survivors.
We can help with our in-office laser procedure known as MonaLisa Touch. It’s hormone-free, painless and quick. If your menopause symptoms are keeping you from enjoying life, call our office and schedule a consultation.
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.
What is Vaginal Rejuvenation?
I am thrilled with the growth of vaginal rejuvenation treatments in my field. More and more women are starting to have the conversation with their doctors about their feminine health, and the range of non-surgical procedures to improve women’s vaginal health is expanding.
However, the language commonly used around the revolutionary treatments such as ThermiVa and MonaLisa Touch can be vague. What does the term feminine or vaginal rejuvenation mean and how does a woman know if the treatments can fix her uncomfortable symptoms?
Vaginal or feminine rejuvenation is the enhancing of the vagina’s function and cosmetic appearance.
The desire for better sex, a more youthful appearance, and convenience are the main reasons women are choosing non-surgical procedures for rejuvenation. Additional reasons include:
• Perimenopausal and menopausal women experiencing dryness, leaky bladder, or laxity
• Women suffering from dryness due to bioidentical hormones
• Women experiencing dryness from breast cancer treatments
• Women who have discomfort wearing yoga pants, a bathing suit, or riding a bike
• Women that have difficulty achieving orgasm
• Mothers that have vaginal laxity, leaky bladder, prolapse, or decreased sensitivity due to vaginal births
Lastly, I wanted to leave you with a few other notes about vaginal rejuvenation that I think are helpful to be aware of. First, the results can last up to one year and can vary from person to person. Secondly, the procedures are not typically covered by insurance.
If you are interested in vaginal rejuvenation, my team and I are available to help you determine which non-surgical treatment option is best for you. Email us today at info@houstonfemaleurology.com!
-Dr. P
Squashing Myths About In-Office Cystoscopy Tests
Many women are frightened by the idea of a cystoscopy test. When I sit down with my patients to discuss the procedure, they mainly express concern about pain and discomfort. However, this procedure can provide great insight into a patient’s bladder health and should not be feared. Below is a list of FAQ’s to help ease your mind about your upcoming cystoscopy test.
What is an in-office cystoscopy?
A cystoscopy test is a procedure that allows me to examine the bladder lining, by inserting a scope into the bladder through the urethra. A cystoscopy test can be compared to a colonoscopy, but for the bladder.
Why would a woman need to have this procedure?
A woman would need a cystoscopy test if she has a polyp, tumor, or other abnormality. Additional reasons for a cystoscopy include blood in the urine that a physician found in a laboratory exam, bladder irritation, overactive bladder, or continuous bladder infections.
What misinformation have women heard about this procedure that’s wrong? Why should they not be nervous?
Most women think a cystoscopy test is very painful. Usually women hear this from others who have had a cystoscopy performed in the past, using a rigid scope. Now, we use a flex scope that is much smaller and less painful. The cystoscopy test only takes two to three minutes and the level of discomfort felt can be compared to a pap smear.
How should women prepare for this procedure?
It is important to come to the office with a full bladder so we can take a urine sample. If you feel like you might have an infection, please let my office know before the procedure so we can treat the infection before performing the cystoscopy.
What does the process of having an in-office cystoscopy look like at Houston Female Urology?
First, the patient comes in for a regular appointment. We then take a urine sample to check for infection. Next, the medical assistant prepares the area and inserts a numbing jelly in the urethra. Once the area is numb, I fill the bladder with water. The scope is then inserted through the urethra into the bladder for the quick test. The results are discussed with the patient right away. Once complete, the patient will get dressed and go to the bathroom to empty the bladder. If there is any discomfort, we can provide a medication to help.
Will the patient feel much pain after they leave the office?
A patient should not feel any pain once they leave our office. There can be a slight burning but the feeling should go away after a couple of hours and is not a common side effect.
Please call my office if you have any other questions about your cystoscopy test. My team is always available to make sure you feel comfortable before coming in for your visit!
-Dr. P