Gynecology
UNC Health Chatham’s dedicated gynecologists provide the community and surrounding areas with compassionate care in a comfortable environment, with a range of services for women from pre-teen through menopause.
Gynecology is more than Pap smears and breast exams. It can include discussions about your mental health and your general health goals. The type of care you need depends on your age and your lifestyle.
Services
- Well Woman Exams
- Contraception including IUDs and Nexplanon insertions
- Cervical cancer screening and treatment
- Breast cancer screening
- STI evaluation and treatment
- Pre-pregnancy counseling
- Moderate-risk prenatal consultations
- Infertility services
- Menopause diagnosis and care including hormone replacement therapy
- Treatment for bowel and bladder concerns
- Gynecologic surgery
Gynecologic Surgery
Surgery might be recommended to help diagnose or treat a range of gynecologic conditions. Our team at UNC Health Chatham is ready to provide compassionate care when surgery is the best option for you. We can perform procedures such as:
- Hysterectomy
- Hysteroscopy
- Endometrial ablation
- Dilation & curettage
- Vulvar surgery
- Laparoscopic sterilization
- Treatment of ovarian pathology
- Diagnosis of endometriosis
- Conization (for cervical dysplasia)
- Colposcopy
- LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure)
- Cone biopsy
- Follow-up after surgery
Your Gynecology Care Team
You’ll work with your healthcare professional to decide what health screenings are best for you. At UNC Health Chatham, we offer a wide range of screenings, including those that are specific to women’s health.
Your gynecology care team may include a gynecologist, a specialist who provides care for women and people with female reproductive organs. You may see nurse practitioners and physician assistants who have specialized training in gynecology, as well as radiologists who can read breast or pelvic imaging.
If you require advanced gynecologic treatment, such as gynecologic oncology or urogynecology, we can connect you with our colleagues at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. There, you’ll benefit from highly specialized care and may be able to access innovative treatments and clinical trials.
Commonly Asked Questions
When should a woman start seeing a gynecologist?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends females see a gynecologist starting between ages 13 and 15. This appointment focuses on education about body changes and reproductive health and helps to create a relationship between the teen and their gynecologist.
At what age does a woman no longer need to see a gynecologist?
The ACOG says that women age 65 and older may stop receiving cervical cancer screening if they’ve never had an abnormal result. However, there are other reasons to continue seeing a gynecologist as you age. Your unique needs will help your healthcare team decide, but common issues include bladder leakage and long-term management of menopause symptoms.
What is moderate-risk prenatal care?
As part of our gynecologic and obstetric services, we consult with patients who have moderate-risk pregnancies. These pregnancies don't meet the criteria for high-risk pregnancy care from a maternal-fetal medicine doctor but do need a little more prenatal support than a low-risk or typical pregnancy.
Moderate-risk pregnancies do not deliver in the Maternity Care Center at Chatham Hospital, except in emergency situations, and you will have an OB-GYN, midwife or advanced practice provider for your regular prenatal appointments. Moderate-risk consultations with UNC Health Chatham allow you to get this advanced care closer to home, while planning your delivery at a hospital with advanced treatment options that you or your baby might require.
