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5 Possible Causes of an Itchy Vagina Mar 6th, 2024

When an itch strikes, you have to scratch it unless it's in a less-than-convenient area like your vagina. Many things lead to vaginal itching, some more concerning than others. The good news is that relief quickly follows as soon as you figure out the cause of the itch. From sexually...

When Should My Teen Daughter Have Her First Pap Smear? Feb 9th, 2024

Every woman should see an OB/GYN regularly to prevent reproductive problems and find issues like cervical or breast cancer early on. But when should you begin seeing an OB/GYN for a Pap smear? Pap smears are an essential preventive care test that can find cervical cancer cells early on –...

Common STDs and How to Prevent Them Jan 19th, 2024

You know how to prevent a cold, flu, or COVID: Avoid ill people, wash your hands frequently, and use a mask in some cases. You also know that prevention doesn’t always keep you safe, though it lowers your risk and may lead to fewer symptoms. The same is true with...

Which Type of Birth Control Is Right for Me? Dec 14th, 2023

A birth control method should fit into your daily life without hassles. So many different options are available today that it can be overwhelming to sort through all of the information necessary to make a decision on your own. Monique Petteys, FNP-C at The Women’s Center at Life Point Medical...

How Menopause Affects Your Mental Health Nov 7th, 2023

Every year in the United States, about two million women enter a phase of life called menopause, in which they’ve not had a menstrual period in at least 12 months. Women usually hit menopause at about age 51. However, most start to have symptoms related to the changes in their...

6 Reasons to Schedule Your Next Mammogram ASAP Oct 10th, 2023

Mammograms are an essential preventive health measure for women, especially as they age. These X-ray screenings are instrumental in early detection of breast cancer, significantly improving the chances of effective treatment and survival. While the procedure itself can be a bit uncomfortable, the peace of mind and proactive approach to...

How PCOS Can Affect Your Fertility, Your Appearance, and Your Health Sep 1st, 2023

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects up to 15% of women and people assigned female at birth. When you have it, your ovaries produce too many hormones, leading to unusually high levels of hormones called androgens.  As a result, PCOS can affect your health and well-being in a number of ways. Thankfully, early...

Set It and Don't Sweat It Contraception: Is the Birth Control Implant Right for Me? Aug 1st, 2023

Looking to take control over your reproductive health? Choosing the right form of contraception is an important step in the right direction. You have a range of options, from barrier methods to long-acting reversible contraceptives, or LARCs. One option that’s getting more and more popular is the birth control implant,...

5 Benefits of Routine Pap Smears Jul 1st, 2023

Since the 1950s, Pap smears have been the gold-standard screening test for cervical cancer. Though most women no longer need a Pap smear every year, it’s still a very important routine screening test. At The Women’s Center at Life Point Medical in Clayton, Georgia, Monique Petteys, FNP-C, considers the Pap smear one of...

5 Risk Factors for Ovarian Cysts May 19th, 2023

Ovarian cysts are relatively common, affecting up to 18% of premenopausal and postmenopausal women. While most ovarian cysts exist without symptoms and disappear or shrink on their own, some can cause pain or other complications.  An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms inside or on an ovary during...

Understanding How PCOS Can Affect Your Body May 3rd, 2023

Messed-up menstrual periods may be the first sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but they’re not the last.  If you have PCOS, you need to know what to expect and how it will impact your health and your life. Knowledge is power, and the more you know, the better you’ll...

Does Cranberry Juice Really Help Urinary Tract Infections? Apr 1st, 2023

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a problem for many women. In fact, did you know that around half of all women develop a UTI at some point in their lives? In about a third of women, UTIs are a recurrent problem. Unique structural elements of women’s reproductive and urinary biology...

Your Options for Nonhormonal Birth Control Mar 6th, 2023

Trying to avoid getting pregnant when you don’t want to be can feel like a big challenge sometimes. Maybe you already know that you don’t react well to hormonal birth control options, such as the standard birth control pill. Or maybe you’re breastfeeding and don’t want the possible effects of...

10 Telltale Symptoms of Menopause Feb 3rd, 2023

You officially reach menopause when you go one full year without your period. While menopause has a firm start date, the change of life doesn’t happen all at once. In fact, the transition to menopause ― known as perimenopause ― takes months to years. Many of the symptoms women associate...

Make a Resolution for Your Best Health: Schedule Your Well Woman Exam Today Jan 1st, 2023

The new year makes you feel like you have a new lease on life and anything is possible. Everyone makes resolutions to exercise more, eat less, lose weight, and other health improvement-related changes. Not to sound like Debbie Downer, but only around 8% of people actually keep their resolutions. However, if your...

Life After a Positive STD Test Dec 1st, 2022

Sexually transmitted diseases are common, but that doesn’t make them less scary or overwhelming.  If you test positive for human papillomavirus (HPV), gonorrhea, chlamydia, or another type of STD, Monique Petteys, FNP-C, at The Women’s Center at Life Point Medical can help you understand your diagnosis and customize a treatment plan moving forward...

Understanding How the Nonhormonal IUD Works Nov 1st, 2022

Most women are familiar with the concept of an IUD: The intrauterine device is implanted in the uterus to slowly release birth control hormones. For women who don’t tolerate hormonal birth control well, there’s another option: the nonhormonal IUD. At The Women’s Center at Life Point Medical in Clayton, Georgia,...

My Pap Smear Results Were Abnormal — What Now? Oct 1st, 2022

A Pap smear is one of the best tools in the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer. Therefore, when results come back “abnormal,” it’s natural to worry.  However, most abnormal test findings aren’t linked to cancerous cells. If your tests did come back abnormal, the next step is to...

Why Do I Have Wrinkles Around My Eyes? Sep 1st, 2022

Maybe you’ve noticed crow’s feet forming during your daily skincare routine. Or you caught a glimpse of under-eye creases in a recent photo of yourself. And now you’re wondering how you got those wrinkles. Your skin ages even with the best care. Lines develop across your forehead and around your...

Seven Symptoms of Endometriosis Aug 1st, 2022

Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological conditions affecting women of childbearing age. However, many women suffer from their symptoms for years before getting the right diagnosis.  Monique Petteys, FNP-C, at The Women’s Center at Life Point Medical in Clayton, Georgia, understands how frustrating it is to suffer for so long with chronic...

What Causes Vaginismus? Jul 1st, 2022

Vaginismus is a gynecologic condition that makes vaginal penetration painful and sometimes even impossible. It occurs when your vaginal muscles contract involuntarily, and it’s a complex condition that’s linked to physical and psychological factors. Every woman’s sexual experience is unique, and experts aren’t sure why some people develop vaginismus while...

How Does a Birth Control Patch Work? Jun 1st, 2022

For maximum effectiveness, birth control pills must be taken on a daily basis, around the same time each day. A birth control patch is a type of contraception that delivers estrogen and progesterone, the same hormones used in many birth control pills, via the skin. When you use birth control...

Injectable Treatments for Crow's Feet and Frown Lines May 1st, 2022

Facial wrinkles like crow’s feet and frown lines are a natural part of getting older, but people of all different ages can get them, too. Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, smoking, dehydration, and other environmental and genetic factors can all leave you with wrinkles.  Residents of Clayton, Rabun County, and...

5 Ways to Promote Lasting Sexual Health Apr 4th, 2022

Puberty has its ups and its downs — while a person slowly turns into an adult, hormones and aging take hold, making some young bodies taller, rounder, or simply different than they were prior to reaching puberty. Puberty can be a trying time for anyone, but it’s also the time...

Treating Cervical Cancer Early Mar 6th, 2022

More than 14,000 women a year hear the alarming news that they have cervical cancer. The good news is that that number is down at least 50% from the 1980s, thanks to increased awareness and the widespread use of an effective screening test called the Pap smear.  This quick test...

5 Signs of Hormonal Imbalance Feb 1st, 2022

Your hormones are responsible for controlling almost every aspect of your mind and body. When you hit puberty, a surge of “female” hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, trigger profound changes, such as growing breasts and beginning your menstrual cycle. Most women then attain a stable level of hormones that lasts...

How Do I Know if I've Reached Perimenopause? Jan 1st, 2022

Most women expect to experience symptoms with menopause. You may be surprised to learn, however, that the hot flashes, irritability, and other issues your mother and grandmother may have grumbled about typically begin years before the cessation of your menstrual flow.  This transitional period is a normal part of your...

5 Common Signs of a Sexually Transmitted Infection Dec 1st, 2021

Sexually transmitted infections are a major health concern, and women are disproportionately affected by the long-term consequences of STIs.  A woman’s anatomy makes her more vulnerable to an STI, and left untreated, these infections threaten your reproductive health. Untreated STIs cause infertility in more than 20,000 women in the United...

Emotional Benefits of Wrinkle-Smoothing Treatments Nov 1st, 2021

There’s no getting around the fact that we live in an image- (and youth-) obsessed society. Fine lines and wrinkles are among the first signs of aging, and can start to develop as early as your 20s and 30s depending on factors like your lifestyle, genetics, and where you live...

Don't Skip Your Pap Smear: It Could Save Your Life Oct 1st, 2021

Whether you’ve had Pap smears or not, you may not think too much about them. But Pap smears are important since they’re the only way your doctor can identify changes in the cells on your cervix that may indicate you’re at risk for — or already have — cervical cancer....

7 Tips for Maintaining Bone Strength as You Age Sep 22nd, 2021

Osteoporosis is a major concern for seniors; over 50% of women will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture. Post-menopausal women are particularly prone to the disease, and factors such as race can further put you at risk. The best way to prevent fractures is to prevent osteoporosis from happening in the first...

How Hormone Replacement Therapy Pellets Can Get You Through Menopause Aug 15th, 2021

Menopause, perimenopause, and the period of change that women’s bodies go through as reproductive capability ends with age, can be difficult to get through on your own. Your hormone levels change during this period, causing uncomfortable symptoms that affect many parts of your life, from your diet to your sexuality....

Understanding Hormonal versus Barrier Approaches to Birth Control Jul 6th, 2021

About two-thirds of American women from the ages of 15 to 49 use some type of birth control. Since the 1960s, when contraceptives began to be widely prescribed in the United States, women (and men) have embraced birth control as a way of controlling their lives and their futures. Today,...

Common Causes of Abnormal Bleeding Jun 16th, 2021

If you’re in your childbearing years, you’re familiar with the normal frequency, duration, and heaviness of your menstrual cycle. Bleeding that varies from your typical period or occurs after menopause is considered abnormal uterine bleeding. Depending on certain factors, such as your age, physical condition, and chronic medical issues, abnormal...

Finding the Perfect Combination of Cosmetic Injectables May 17th, 2021

Choosing the right combination of cosmetic injectables is a powerful, nonsurgical way to rejuvenate and refresh your face. The benefits of Botox®, combined with the advantages of dermal fillers, can turn back the hands of time and restore your vibrant, youthful appearance.  Here at the Women’s Center at Life Point...

The Pap Test: Your First Line of Defense Apr 4th, 2021

It’s easy to skip routine checkups when you feel fine. Life gets busy, and you may feel like it’s no big deal to put off a screening.  But the truth is that preventive health screenings play a vital role in keeping you healthy by detecting potential problems at the early...

Preparing for Your DOT Physical Mar 9th, 2021

The health of commercial drivers matters. As a professional licensed to drive large trucks or other heavy vehicles, you need to be fit enough to operate your vehicle safely. That's why the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) requires paperwork signed by a DOT Certified Medical Examiner stating that you're...

How You Can Boost Sexual Health at Home Feb 16th, 2021

Sexual health is a state of well-being that makes it possible to fully engage in and enjoy sexual activity. Taking care of your sexual health is part of caring for your overall health, including your emotional and physical well-being.  Family, career, social, and a host of other obligations make it...

Adjusting to Life With Menopause Jan 7th, 2021

Menopause is a natural rite of passage for women. Some women ease into menopause without much trouble. But for other women, the gradual reduction of reproductive hormones can leave them feeling off-kilter. Monique Petteys, FNP-C at The Women's Center at Life Point Medical in Clayton, Georgia, can help you manage...

Everything You Need to Know About PCOS Dec 22nd, 2020

From bothersome menstrual problems to marked skin changes, PCOS can do a number on your life. Fully known as polycystic ovary syndrome, this chronic condition is also the leading cause of female infertility and affects up to 12% of women of reproductive age in the United States. Thankfully, proper diagnosis...

Is Hormone Replacement Therapy the Best Solution for Your Menopause Symptoms? Nov 1st, 2020

Even if you’re not having the classic symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes or night sweats, you could still be affected by low levels of hormones. If you’ve gone through a period of uncontrollable weight gain, your libido’s sunk to new levels, or you’re so tired you can barely...

What Can I Expect During My Wellness Exam? Oct 9th, 2020

Your good health, in many ways, is up to you. And one important tool for staying healthy is an annual wellness exam. Here’s why. Approximately 60% of adults in the United States suffer from a chronic disease like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, and four out of ten have two...

When Is It Time for an STD Test? Sep 10th, 2020

If you’re sexually active, here are some frightening statistics you should know.  Approximately one million sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are acquired globally every day. In the United States, more than 20 million new STD cases are reported each year, with 50% of those striking teenagers and young adults under 25.  ...

Which Birth Control Is Right for You? Aug 11th, 2020

Birth control can help you plan your future family or prevent a pregnancy. But which type of birth control is right for you? At The Women's Center at Life Point Medical, we know that selecting a birth control method is a very personal decision. Here are some factors to consider when evaluating...