Yes, most of us know we should lose weight. Our doctors tell us. Women’s magazines tell us. Our mirrors tell us. We know losing weight will reduce our risk of medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. We will have more energy. We will fit more comfortably in our clothing. The problem is getting… Read more
I am admittedly a terrible patient. Often those who work in the medical field are chastised for taking poor care of themselves despite spending hours daily caring for others. Now I’m in a new position, with a new patient perspective — when office visits and acting as a “good patient” are no longer about me…. Read more
by Mary A. Burns, M.D., FACOG, FPMRS In medicine, there are quite a few conditions women encounter that they may find too embarrassing to bring up to their doctor. Low libido, bladder leakages, fear of STDs are just a few to name. However, for the 14 million women who encounter accidental bowel leakage, I think… Read more
Those that have, you know what I mean. For those that haven’t, please let me explain. You are comfortable and you have no sensation to urinate, but as soon as you arrive home and place the key in the front door or turn the doorknob you develop an overwhelming sudden urge to urinate. Often you will even start to… Read more
One of the most common challenges that our society and our patients face is maintaining a healthy weight. Obesity is both a national epidemic and a personal struggle for many patients and for me. In my patient population and personal life, certain choices are consistently associated with success in weight loss and weight maintenance. These… Read more
One of the most common complaints among my patients is that of poor sleep. From difficulty falling asleep to middle of the night awakening to restlessness with poor sleep quality–the complaints keep coming! Whether you are an expectant mother struggling to sleep, or a new mom trying to get much-needed rest, there are several things… Read more
Like most women, I can vividly remember the day I went into labor with my second child. My contractions started on a Sunday morning, and I was in denial. I began that Sunday like any other during my husband’s 2nd deployment. I woke up, showered, dressed, and helped my two year old put on a… Read more
Did you know there is another great reason to love BOTOX? Many of us know the advantages of Botox- keeping us ladies and gents from losing our fountain of youth. There have always been known, but limited medical uses for this lovely substance until now. A recent study was presented at the American Urogynecologic Society’s… Read more
Menstruation affects every woman in this world in some way. A typical woman can expect to menstruate for 40 years of her life! The start of menstruation (menarche) occurs around age 9-15. In some cultures it is celebrated. For example, special Native American songs honor “Moon Time”. For others it is cloaked in secrecy and… Read more
AHH! Recently, while watching the season finale of my favorite zombie show, what I found most intriguing wasn’t the award-winning acting or the intricate story lines, it was the aggressive commercials that followed. Lately there seems to be an overwhelming increase in television ads pandering to our greatest medical fears. Yaz, Mirena, Robot Surgery, the… Read more
I want to write today about a topic that is neither glamorous nor pleasant to discuss…postpartum depression. Research shows that 20% of new mothers experience some postpartum depression; however, this number may be even greater since many cases go unreported. Postpartum depression is a real medical illness and often requires medical treatment. The new mother… Read more
In recent months we have had a slew of questions about the new pap test guidelines from patients and colleagues. Recent changes have left many women confused about an age-old yearly test. So we want to debunk some of the myths, and clear up some of the confusion. Screening for cervical disease and prevention of… Read more
Today I want to talk about misnomers. We all know that “Kleenex” refers to any facial tissue. We all store our leftovers in “Tupperware”, though not a single piece of plastic in our pantry may be etched with that name. But let it be clearly known that when your friendly gynecologist asks, “Do you need… Read more
Two years ago, I joined some of my patients in the ranks of “new mother”. And what a journey it has been. I now understand the plight of the bleary-eyed, perpetually sleep-deprived souls who are hopelessly and desperately in love with their offspring. I also have a new perspective as a doctor as to what… Read more
Okay ladies. Time to talk about the vulva. That’s right….the vulva. And I don’t mean the Swedish automobile or the parkway in Chesapeake. I am referring to the female external genitals. Just the word ‘vulva’ makes many people cringe with discomfort. There are a slew of monikers for this body part. Over the years we have… Read more