Posts in Category: Your Sexual 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
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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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
7 Things You Need to Know About ThermiVa
For the past few months, I have had the joy of offering ThermiVa treatments to my patients. Many have seen incredible results with ThermiVa and I wanted to provide all of my readers more insight on the treatment and the impact it can have on feminine well-being.
First, what is ThermiVa? The ThermiVa treatments use radiofrequency energy to gently heat tissue and rejuvenate collagen. The treatment works on the internal and external areas of the vagina to restore and revive. After going through a strenuous childbirth, multiple births, or the effects of menopause, the idea of taking back control of vaginal health is enticing to many of my patients. However, they are usually left with many questions about how ThermiVa can help return youthfulness and recover relationships.
Below are a few facts that I believe are helpful to be aware of when trying to decide if the ThermiVa treatment is right for you.
1. The benefits of this treatment include:
- Reduced dryness
- Reduced vaginal laxity
- Improved confidence
- Increased sensation
2. If you are in good health, you are most likely a good candidate for ThermiVa!
3. There are no risks to the procedure.
4. ThermiVa is performed in 3 treatments that take about 30 minutes.
5. There is no downtime. Most patients resume their normal activities right after the procedure.
6. ThermiVa requires no anesthesia and patients have described the treatment as comfortable.
7. The results vary from person to person, but most patients report immediate improvement!
I know to many of my patients, ThermiVa can either sound too good to be true or just a little scary. My team is here to help answer any additional questions you may have! Please give us a call and set up your consultation to learn more.
Stay tuned for next month’s blog on vaginal rejuvenation. I will provide more detail on what exactly vaginal rejuvenation is and how it can impact your feminine health!
Dr. P