Holding your Breath
Women's Health Issues
Gynecological and Obstetrical Problems
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Pre-Menstrual Syndrome
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Unwanted pregnancy
- Abortions
- High risk pregnancy
- Post-partum depression
The Biological Time Clock
Problems conceiving: the biochemical problems of later marriages and waiting
- The empty womb: childless and yearning
- Adoptions
Middle Age and Older: This can't be happening to me
- Emotional fallout of a hysterectomy
- Perimenopause
- Sexuality in later years
- Menopause
The Ultimate Fear: No Age Limits
- A Cancer diagnosis
Visiting the gynecologist is an experience all women share, yet it is often the place we feel most alone. Once in a while our partner or spouse joins us. The waiting room is usually quiet, and the wait, no matter how long it really is, seems longer. The women sit apart in private thought, or talk softly on the phone in a corner, or write lists. Once in a while, a conversation is struck up. But mostly we keep the silence, alone with our own thoughts.
In the examining room, we lie in the most vulnerable position, discreetly covered by a sheet, trying to keep still. Every woman, and every girl who's reached menarche, goes through this exam yearly (if not more often). Some go through it without problems, others with great trepidation. But we do it routinely. We schedule this visit like clockwork. Our gynecologist is the physician we see more than any other.
Sometimes, the doctor delivers good news: a wanted pregnancy. Other times, we're relieved to test negative for a sexually transmitted disease, an unwanted pregnancy, or a malignancy. But what if the test isn't negative? And what if there will never be any pregnancy at all?
I have many years of experience dealing with the psychological effects of the illnesses that strike women, as well as of the normal parts of a woman's reproductive life that can be difficult to navigate, like menopause. Whether you are facing something that terrifies you, shames you, or makes you sad or confused, I can help. The mind and the body are in continual conversation. We are just beginning to understand this interchange—and often getting it wrong, particularly when we think we can "control" illness or be fertile until we're 50—but there's no doubt that a safe place to talk without worrying about a spouse's incomprehension or a friend's denial is of immense benefit. Whatever your situation is, you don't have to go through it alone.