Category Archives: Women’s Health
Women’s Health: The Latest Screening Guidelines for Every Age
Ladies, when was the last time you had a mammogram, or had your blood cholesterol checked? Have you had your annual Pap test? If you have to think about the answers to these questions, it may be time to make sure you’re up to date on important health screenings.
“Now is a great time for women to make a resolution to take better care of themselves this year,” says MPCP Columbia physician, Cecily M. Agcaoili, M.D. “We know women of all ages are busy—often taking care of everyone else in the family- but skipping screening exams is not beneficial. Regular screenings help you and your MPCP team detect some diseases at their earliest stages, when they are clearly most treatable.”
Screenings are usually advised at certain ages or life stages, however, it’s important to work with your doctor to determine when you should be screened for certain health issues. “If you are at risk for specific conditions due to family history, ethnic background, or lifestyle risks, we may want you to be screened earlier, or to have more detailed screening tests that are available,” says Rosemary Ayerle, Nurse Practitioner at MPCP Bowie.
Please use this chart as a general guide for screening and vaccine recommendations for healthy women at different life stages:
Dr. Agcaoili is a Maryland Primary Care Physicians, LLC partner and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She received her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2007 and completed her residency program in Internal Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center in 2010.
Rosemary Ayerle, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, joined Maryland Primary Care Physicians, LLC in 1997. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1982 and her Master of Science in Nursing degree from the University Of Maryland School of Nursing in 1989. Ms. Ayerle is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in Adult Practice.Implanon Implant: A Convenient Birth Control Option
The Implanon implant is a single-rod Norplant-like birth control device about the size of a toothpick implanted by a certified physician under the skin in a women’s upper arm. It stays in place for 3-years and is forgettable and discreet. It’s a nice form of birth control because it starts working within a couple days of insertion; and should the woman change her mind, she once again becomes fertile soon after the implant is removed.
Implanon’s efficacy is 99%, which is better than that of the pill, primarily due to the simplicity of not having to remember to take a pill every day, since poor adherence to the daily dose of oral contraceptives is usually the most likely reason for failure. It is as effective as male and female surgical sterilization and implantable uterine devices, or IUDs. It’s also more cost-effective than birth control pills; with a monthly cost that is approximately 1/3 lower than that of the pill. Insurance plans that reimburse for birth control, cover Implanon as well.
Implanon is a progestin-only contraceptive product that fills a unique niche that has been empty for the past few years since Norplant was removed from the market. It’s ideal for women who are not planning on having a child soon or who, for medical reasons, cannot tolerate estrogen in their contraceptives. One side effect of the device is irregular menstrual bleeding or no periods at all while using it; outside of that, the side-effect profile of this product is quite good.
The insertion process is a simple, painless procedure that is done in the office and takes but a few minutes. Patients are pleased with the ease of the procedure, and outside of some slight bruising at the point of insertion, there are no adverse effects.
Patients interested in this form of birth control may schedule an appointment by calling 410.643.7800 to perform this procedure at our Queenstown office.
