Featured Articles
Help for Women with Urinary Incontinence
Loss of bladder control is common among women. Learn about the options for preventing and treating this annoying problem.
Breaking the Silence About Pelvic Prolapse
Pelvic prolapse is common but rarely discussed. Don’t be embarrassed – learn more about causes and treatments for this condition.
Facts About Vaginal Infections
There are many causes of vaginal infections. A proper diagnosis is the key to effective treatment.
Ask an Expert
Wesley S. Hilger, M.D., FACOG
Surgery Center Division
I've heard that the sling procedure is especially helpful for pelvic prolapse. How do I know if I am a good candidate for it?
Pelvic prolapse is a loss of support for the organs in the pelvis, including the bladder, uterus or rectum. When these organs shift out of position, they can cause symptoms that affect functioning, including ur... continue reading about I've heard that the sling procedure is especially helpful for pelvic prolapse. How do I know if I am a good candidate for it?
Susan Maayah, M.D.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
I had a hysterectomy in June. I still have my tubes and ovaries and a small bit of cervix. Why and how am I still having full periods every month? Where is this blood coming from?
The type of surgery you had is a supracervical hysterectomy. If your ovaries are still functioning, then you are still having monthly ovulatory cycles. The monthly cycle causes bleeding from the endometrial tis... continue reading about I had a hysterectomy in June. I still have my tubes and ovaries and a small bit of cervix. Why and how am I still having full periods every month? Where is this blood coming from?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I had a da Vinci hysterectomy last month. They removed my uterus, cervix, right ovary and fallopian tubes. They did not remove the left ovary. What kind of symptoms should I experience?
You should not expect to experience any symptoms related to the removal of your right ovary, since the remaining left ovary will continue to produce enough hormones for your well-being. Of course, your body wil... continue reading about I had a da Vinci hysterectomy last month. They removed my uterus, cervix, right ovary and fallopian tubes. They did not remove the left ovary. What kind of symptoms should I experience?
Jill D. Foley, M.D., FACOG
Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation
How likely is it for a woman to get pregnant after having her tubes tied?
Good question. The terms tubal ligation, tubes tied, tubal sterilization, and female sterilization can all be used interchangeably to describe the same process. In the U.S., up to one third of women use sterili... continue reading about How likely is it for a woman to get pregnant after having her tubes tied?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I was diagnosed with endometriosis but had a subsequent healthy pregnancy. I was told that endometriosis "goes away" during pregnancy. Can I expect that it's gone, or might it return?
Pregnancy and endometriosis exhibit a curiously antagonistic relationship. Women who give birth in their 20s are much less likely to suffer from this condition than women who conceive in their 30s or those who ... continue reading about I was diagnosed with endometriosis but had a subsequent healthy pregnancy. I was told that endometriosis "goes away" during pregnancy. Can I expect that it's gone, or might it return?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
Is a woman undergoing fertility treatments at higher risk of getting cancer than a woman of the same age who has not taken these drugs?
Most of the studies on the use of fertility drugs have examined hormonally sensitive tumors such as breast, ovarian and uterine malignancies. There does not appear to be any association between fertility drugs ... continue reading about Is a woman undergoing fertility treatments at higher risk of getting cancer than a woman of the same age who has not taken these drugs?
Heidi Wittenberg, M.D., M.S., FPMRS
California Pacific Medical Center
I had a partial hysterectomy 18 years ago (my ovaries were not removed). Lately I've been having pain and cramping, so recently had x-rays and an ultrasound. The doctor could not find my ovaries. Can ovaries just disappear on their own?
If ovaries are not removed surgically, they are still present. After menopause, our ovaries do shrink. Pre-menopause ovaries are 3-4cm, but after menopause they can be 0.5cm-1.0cm. The older we get, the smaller... continue reading about I had a partial hysterectomy 18 years ago (my ovaries were not removed). Lately I've been having pain and cramping, so recently had x-rays and an ultrasound. The doctor could not find my ovaries. Can ovaries just disappear on their own?
Risa Kagan, M.D., FACOG
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Campus
What does a routine Pap smear show? Are there other routine tests should I ask for?
A routine pap test screens for abnormal cells from the cervix associated with cancer or pre-cancer of the cervix. Depending on one's age, we are also testing for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is now fe... continue reading about What does a routine Pap smear show? Are there other routine tests should I ask for?
Susan Maayah, M.D.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Two years ago I was diagnosed with a rare uterine cancer. The doctors took everything including some lymph nodes. I've always had a healthy sexual appetite but since my surgery I feel numb - like a robot with no feelings. Is there anything I can do?
It is quite common after having a complete hysterectomy and removal of the ovaries for women to feel a loss of libido. The ovaries produce hormones such as estrogens, progesterones and androgens which are parti... continue reading about Two years ago I was diagnosed with a rare uterine cancer. The doctors took everything including some lymph nodes. I've always had a healthy sexual appetite but since my surgery I feel numb - like a robot with no feelings. Is there anything I can do?
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