Mesa Gynecologist

For many expectant parents, the first comment after seeing their baby onscreen in a detailed ultrasound for the first time is, “when do I get to SEE my baby again?”. This is a natural question- after all, ultrasound is a wonderful way for parents and family to get to know and bond with a baby before the Birth day. However, ultrasound is a medical procedure and has limited use in the last few weeks of pregnancy.

Most women who have gotten prenatal care from an early stage of pregnancy get to see their babies at least once in the first trimester for a dating ultrasound and again for a genetic screening for down’s syndrome, if needed. In the second trimester of pregnancy, ultrasound is used to look at at the anatomy of the baby, make sure all the parts are there and functioning, and to look at the placenta, umbilical cord, and blood flow to the uterus. From a medical perspective, it is this ultrasound that really determines if the fetus is developing normally.

In the third trimester, ultrasound can be used to look at the health and functioning of the placenta and umbilical cord and to evaluate the baby’s growth. Unfortunately, the accuracy of ultrasound at predicting a baby’s weight diminishes later in the pregnancy so that an ultrasound can over or underestimate the weight by a pound. Late pregnancy ultrasound is essential for high risk pregnancies with conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high or low amniotic fluid, and some twins. For most low risk pregnancies, ultrasound is mostly needed at the end if a baby is suspected of growing too much or not enough or if the baby isn’t moving as much as usual.

In conclusion, ultrasound is a vital and exciting tool during pregnancy. While it is most helpful at providing information about a fetus early in pregnancy, it can also be useful in selected pregnancies during the third trimester. Because there is no guarantee that ultrasound will be needed later in pregnancy, it is best to really enjoy and savor the second trimester ultrasound and to make sure and grab some good shots to start the baby album. We offer both early and late ultrasound in our Mesa ob gyn office.

Tamar Gottfried is a Board Certified Obstetrician/ gynecologist practicing general Ob/gyn in Mesa Arizona and affiliated with Banner Desert and Banner Gateway Medical Centers. She can be contacted at 480-545-0059. This is a general interest article only and is not intended to be medical advice. See a medical professional before making medical decisions

Many concerned parents have questions about if and when their adolescent daughters need to visit a gynecologist. While there is no official subspecialty in pediatric and adolescent gynecology, there are many Ob/gyns that have an interest in taking care of younger patients and their obstetric and gynecologic needs. That said, most teenage girls do not need to have a gyn visit once they begin developing and having periods. Gyn visits are reserved for those girls that are having problems with their periods, having undiagnosed abdominal pain, problems with discharge or itching, or need counselling for birth control or sexually transmitted disease prevention.

Perhaps the most important gyn issue for the teenage patient is vaccination for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV is the virus that causes abnormal paps, genital warts and cervical cancer. There are 2 vaccines on the market available for women and girls ages 11- 26. In order to prevent abnormal paps caused by HPV, it is important to vaccinate women before they are exposed to the HPV virus through sexual contact. That is why the vaccine is given to teenagers. It involves 3 injections over 6 months and can be given in a pediatric or gynecology office. While teenagers do not have to have actual Pap smears until age 21, HPV prevention is an issue even in the teenage years.

Other reasons to see the gynecologist as a teen are menstrual problems such as late onset of periods, irregular bleeding or heavy, long or painful periods. A young woman doesn’t have to suffer and miss school and activities because of bad periods. There are treatments that can help lighten periods.

Of course, some teenagers are thinking about becoming sexually active or already are. For these young women, it is extremely important to visit a gynecologist to learn about protecting themselves from pregnancy and from sexually transmitted diseases. These are real risks, even for teenagers, and are preventable with proper education.

In conclusion, even though routine gyn exam or Pap smears are not needed for teenage girls, there are many others reasons for a teenager to visit a gynecologist. We are happy to see teenage girls in a comfortable and confidential manner for their ob/gyn needs at our Mesa office.

Do I get an ultrasound in my third trimester? The function of ultrasound in late pregnancy.

When do I need to take my teenage daughter to see a gynecologist?