UPMC Pinnacle Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists

Obstetrics is the specialty of medicine concerned with pregnancy, labor, and postpartum period. Our dedicated team takes pride in providing excellent, quality of care in a warm, comfortable setting.

Pregnancy and birth are two of the most important events you will experience in your life. Both deserve careful and thoughtful consideration.

Our skilled obstetricians and midwives provide you with a full spectrum of ob-gyn and childbirth care before and after pregnancy. We work closely with the childbirth team at UPMC Hanover, where we perform all of our deliveries.

When you go to the hospital to deliver, you'll receive care from our expert childbirth nursing team.

This dedicated team has years of experience in providing care in a full spectrum of childbirth scenarios.

We provide an individualized birth experience for you and your family. We are committed to working with you to understand and respect your personal preferences and your individual birth plan.

Whether you choose natural childbirth or want to learn about birth options after a prior C-section, our team: 

• Works with you to understand your options.
• Informs you about what to expect during the labor and delivery process.
• Respects your choices throughout your entire pregnancy and childbirth experience.

Should you need high-risk pregnancy care, your obstetrician will work hand-in-hand with maternal-fetal medicine specialists.

General Obstetrics Care

We provide comprehensive obstetric care from preconception to postpartum.

Our experienced team guides women through each and every step of their pregnancy. Our goal is to ensure your baby's proper growth and development, as well as a successful delivery.

Our facilities also have the technology and equipment to help make your pregnancy as simple and efficient as possible.

During your pregnancy, our providers will see you routinely for:

• Check-ups.
• Blood tests.
• Ultrasounds to track the growth and development of your baby.

We'll also discuss your options for the delivery process. And we'll work with you to make sure that labor and delivery is comfortable and stress-free.

Postpartum care is also available to help women become acclimated to the motherhood lifestyle while maintaining their health as well.

Midwifery Care

Certified nurse-midwives (CNM) are experienced registered nurses who:

• Have completed an accredited education program in nurse-midwifery and passed a national certifying exam.
• Provide prenatal care.
• Deliver babies.
• Offer regular gynecologic care for healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies.

Our CNMs believe that birth is a natural and normal process. They take a personal approach to childbirth, stressing the importance of educational and emotional support for parents.

Your nurse-midwife will provide you with complete care, including:

• Childbirth education.
• Nutrition and exercise counseling.
• Breastfeeding instruction.
• Early parenting information.

Infertility

Our obstetricians and midwives keep abreast of the latest infertility treatments to help women and men who wish to conceive.

We use the most advanced procedures to increase the likelihood of conception. 

Our goal is to help couples suffering from infertility and recurrent early pregnancy losses realize their dreams.

In-Office Sonography

Our office, accredited by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), has the latest and most advanced ultrasound machines.

Having ultrasounds at our accredited office means you:

• Receive a high-quality exam from one of our registered sonographers.
• View your ultrasound on TV screen during the exam.
• Have the results interpreted by the physician shortly thereafter.

A sonogram takes about 30 to 60 minutes.

During pregnancy, we use sonograms to look at the growth and development of your baby.

An early sonogram in the first trimester confirms the accuracy of your baby’s due date.

At around 20 weeks, we get a detailed view of your baby’s anatomy. This is when you can learn the gender of your little one, if you choose.

Women with a high-risk pregnancy may need more sonograms.

The thought of your first visit to a gynecologist may seem mysterious or even scary. But it doesn’t have to.

In fact, your first visit is a great chance for you and your gynecologist to get to know each other.

It’s also a good time to get honest, expert information about many different issues, such as:

• Your body and how it’s changing.
• Acne.
• Problems with your period.
• Cramps.
• Diet and exercise.
• Emotional ups and downs or depression.
• Sex, sexuality, and STDs.
• Birth control.
• Drinking, using drugs, and smoking.

Talking with your doctor about these issues is a vital part of staying healthy. You also can find out what to expect at future gynecologic visits. There's no need to feel scared or embarrassed.

If you are nervous about it, talk to your health care provider, your parents, or someone else you trust. Knowing what to expect will help ease your fears.

When should a see an ob-gyn?

Young women should see an ob-gyn:

• When they become sexually active.
• If they problems with their period.
• By the age 21.

Questions Your Gynecologist May Ask

Your health care provider may ask a lot of questions about you and your family. Some of these questions may seem personal. Your provider needs to ask them to best know how to care for you and keep you healthy. Giving open and honest answers to these questions is key to your care.

Questions they may ask include:

• What is the reason for your visit?
• Do you have any health problems?
• Have you started having periods?
• If so, how old were you when you started your period?
• What was the date of your last period?
• How often do you get your period?
• How long does your period last?
• What is the amount of flow (light. medium, heavy)?
• Do you have cramps?
• What is your family’s medical history (for instance, has anyone in your family had cancer)?
• What did you eat yesterday?
• Do you exercise or play sports?
• Do you take any medicines?
• Do you take any vitamins, herbs, or supplements?
• Do you use tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs?
• Have you ever had sex?
• If so, when was the last time you had sex?
• What do you do when you have sex?
• Do you use birth control?
• Within the last year, have you been hit, slapped, kicked, or been physically hurt by someone?
• Are you in a relationship with a person who threatens or physically hurts you?
• Has anyone forced you to have sexual activities that made you feel uncomfortable?
• Do you ever feel sad or as though you have nothing to look forward to?

This is a good time to ask your physician any questions you might have. Don’t be embarrassed. This is a chance to get answers.

Symptoms Requiring Care

It's vital to see your health care provider if you are having any of the following symptoms:

• Severe pain in the lower abdomen.
• Bad cramps during your period.
• Periods that are not regular.
• Pain around the vagina or swelling, itching, or discharge.
• Blood in your urine.
• A missed your period or if you think you may be pregnant.
• Signs of an STD, such as burning or itching or have discharge.

What to Expect During Your First Gynecologic Exam

Most gynecologic visits include a series of physical exams and screenings.

Physical screening

A nurse or medical assistant will measure your height, weight, and blood pressure.

They'll ask you questions about:

• Your most recent period.
• Any previous pregnancies, miscarriages, abortions, or surgeries.
• Your use of birth control.
• Your personal or family health history.

They may give you vaccination shots if you need them. These shots help prevent some infections and are part of routine care.

Next, they'll take you to an examination room. They'll give you a cloth gown and a few minutes to change into it. You or your physician may request to have a nurse, family member, or friend in the room with you.

Physical exam

Many gynecologic examinations start with the patient in a sitting position. During this part of the exam, your heart, lungs, thyroid glands, and breasts may be examined. After this, you may be asked to lie down.

Breast exam

You will be asked to lie on the exam table and open your gown. The provider will examine your breasts by moving his or her fingers around your breasts in a pattern. He or she will check for signs of any problems such as a lump. If the exam is done just before your period, your breasts may be sore.

External genital exam

While you're still lying down and covered by your gown, you'll place your feet in footrests (also called “stirrups”).

The doctor will lift your gown and check your genitals for:

• Unusual color or tone.
• Sores or lesions.
• Any discharge.

If you have any specific questions, you can request a mirror and show the provider any areas that concern you.

Vaginal examination and Pap test

The doctor will then insert a medical instrument, called a speculum, into the vagina. It spreads the walls of the vagina so they can see the cervix. The provider will look at your reproductive organs for signs of problems.

A Pap test is part of the vaginal exam, usually for women who are age 21 and older. It can detect cervical cancer and certain types of infection.

The provider will use a small brush to collect a sample of surface tissue from your cervix. This part of the procedure can be a little uncomfortable and may cause spotting later.

They’ll then send the sample to a lab to be studied for abnormal cells in the cervix.

It's best to have a Pap test when you are not having your period. Also, you shouldn't put anything in the vagina for two to three days before the Pap test.

Bimanual exam

After the doctor removes the speculum they’ll perform the bimanual exam.

Using lubricated gloved fingers and the other hand to put pressure against your abdomen, they may:

• Check the size of your uterus.
• See if there is any pain when your cervix is moved.
• Feel your ovaries.
• Check for abnormalities in the pelvic area.
• Also conduct a rectal exam.

Preparing for Your First Gynecologic Exam

Here are a few suggestions to for preparing for your appointment.

When you call the office, let the scheduler know:

• That this will be your first gynecologic examination.
• If there's a specific reason for your appointment, such as a problem with your period.
• If you prefer to have someone accompany you during your exam. Ask about the office’s policies for bringing someone with you.

If this is a non-emergency visit, try to schedule it between menstrual periods. For two days prior to the exam, do not insert anything into your vagina such as tampons or douches. Also avoid intercourse or other penetration.

If you have questions for the health care provider, write them down ahead of time. Be prepared to discuss your medical history and current medications including vitamins and supplements. Also, bring old medical records if you have them.

Confidentiality

Many young women want to talk to their doctor but are afraid that what they tell them won’t be confidential. They may be concerned that the provider will tell someone else, like their parents.

If you are concerned about confidentiality, you and your physician should talk about it before you answer any questions. Your physician needs to talk about confidentiality with your parents, too. It may be good for all of you to sit down together to discuss this. Or, your doctor may choose to talk alone with each of you.

Gynecology is the field of medicine that diagnoses and treats disorders of the female reproductive system (uterus, vagina, and ovaries).

Besides routine well-woman care, we assess and treat problems such as:

• Menstrual irregularities.
• Urinary disorders.
• Abnormal bleeding.
• Vaginal and pelvic infections.

We also provide cancer screenings.

Our team of providers have expertise in the gynecologic care of women from adolescence through menopause and beyond. We understand the importance of patience, gentleness and counseling in caring for adolescents beginning gynecological care. We also focus on the concerns of mature women such as hormone replacement therapy, sexual dysfunction and urinary problems. Our physicians continue to be at the forefront in our community in adopting new advances in both gynecologic surgery and non-surgical alternatives.

We perform our surgical procedures at UPMC Hanover. Using advanced surgical techniques, our expert gynecologic surgeons diagnose and treat a wide variety of gynecologic conditions and disorders.

Gynecologic Conditions and Disorders We Treat

• Endometriosis.
• Cysts.
• Infertility.
• Uterine fibroids.
• Incontinence.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease.
• Dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
• Excessively heavy periods (menorrhagia).
• Painful periods (dysmenorrheal).
• Chronic pelvic pain.
• Pelvic organ prolapse.
• Gynecological cancers.

Adolescent Gynecological Care

A young woman’s first gynecological examination should be a positive experience.

Our thoughtful and caring providers can offer answers to the many questions teens have today.

We take pride in providing one-one-one care. Our goal is to make you feel comfortable talking about your health in a safe and confidential environment.

Some common conditions for our adolescent population include:

• Dysmenorrhea (painful periods).
• Menstrual irregularity – a significant variation in menstrual cycle length and flow.
• Ovarian cysts – fluid-filled sacs formed on the ovaries.
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) – a hormone disorder of women in reproductive age, sometimes causing menstrual irregularity and excessive hair growth.
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
• Pubertal menorrhagia (heavy periods).
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

In-office pelvic sonograms

Pelvic sonograms are a valuable tool in the detection of ovarian cancer.

We also use pelvic sonograms to learn the causes of problems such as:

• Pelvic pain.
• Uterine fibroids.
• Ovarian cysts.
• Irregular bleeding.

In-office procedures can help you avoid a trip to the hospital. They can also lower the anxieties and costs that may be associated with them.

Gynecologic Procedures We Offer

Below are some examples of in-office procedures we offer at our Hanover location:

• Birth control implants, such as Lilleta®, Nexplanon®, ParaGard®, and Skyla®.
• Cystometric studies. This is to evaluate the bladde to learn what is causing the voiding problem.
• Dilation and curettage (D&C). During this surgery, the cervix is widened (dilated). Next, doctors scrape and scoop (curettage) the uterine lining to remove abnormal tissue.
• Endometrial ablation (such as NovaSure®). This procedure is for premenopausal women with excessive and abnormal bleeding between menses. It is not for women who still wish to have children.
• Fibroid removal for abnormal bleeding and infertility.
• Hysterectomy.
• Hysteroscopy for dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
• Pelvic laparoscopy to examine pelvic organs.
• Prolia®.
• Treatment for pelvic organ prolapse.
• Tubal ligation. During this sterilization surgery, the fallopian tubes are clamped and sealed to prevent eggs from reaching the uterus for fertilization. We perform Essure® tubal ligation through a hysteroscope. It involves placing a small occlusive device placed in both tubes, which can be done with minimal anesthesia.

During Your Gynecologic Surgery

Before surgery, your physician will thoroughly explain the surgical procedure – its risk and benefits. This is an opportunity for you to ask him or her any questions you might have.

Our surgical coordinator:

• Will then discuss with you other aspects of your surgery.
• Provide educational material and an idea of what to expect before, during, and after surgery.
• Can be a resource for other questions you might have.
• Is your liaison between Mountain View OB-GYN (Hanover Medical Group) and UPMC Hanover in arranging your surgery and post-op care.

We encourage family members to sit in on these visits.

After your questions are answered, you will be asked to sign a legal consent form.

When you're scheduled for your surgery, you will likely have routine tests such as:

• An EKG.
• A chest x-ray.
• A urine or blood test.

These tests provide your physician with a “baseline” before you go to the hospital for surgery. As you are recovering from surgery, these tests may be repeated, and the results compared to your preoperative tests. Recovery from surgery is different for each patient. Factors that influence your recovery include your age, the type of surgical procedure you had, and your general health.