Women's Wellness Specialist
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PREMIER HEALTH CARE INC
Vijaya L Cherukuri, M.D.
Internal Medicine & Primary Care located in Saint Petersburg, FL
Women have unique health care needs that evolve as they mature. Getting regular women’s wellness exams and understanding potential women’s health conditions are essential to maintaining your health at every stage of life. At Premier Health Care Inc. in St. Petersburg, Florida, Vijaya Cherukuri, MD, helps you get the women’s health care you need, including mammograms, Pap smears, and urinary tract infection treatments. Call the practice or book an appointment online today.
Women’s Wellness Q & A
Why do I need women’s wellness exams?
Along with an annual physical exam, women also benefit from having regular women’s wellness exams that focus on their reproductive organs and symptoms related to their menstrual cycle.
Women are also more likely to suffer from certain diseases and health conditions than men are, including:
- Depression and anxiety
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Complications from sexually transmitted diseases
- Osteoporosis
- Osteoarthritis
Women are also more likely to die after a heart attack than men.
What happens during a women’s wellness exam?
When you come to Premier Health Care Inc., Dr. Cherukuri conducts a thorough physical examination and discusses any symptoms or concerns you have. Common women’s wellness procedures include:
- Breast exam
- Pelvic exam
- Urine tests
- Blood tests
- Pap smears
- STD tests
Depending on your age, you may also need a mammogram.
What are Pap smears?
Pap smears, also called Pap tests, check for cervical cancer in women. They involve collecting cells from your cervix, usually done in combination with a pelvic exam.
For women older than 30, a physician may combine a Pap smear with testing for human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection that may cause cervical cancer.
Women ages 21 to 65 should get a Pap smear every three years, or more frequently if they have HPV, had a Pap smear with precancerous cells previously, have HIV, or have a history of smoking.
If the Pap smear detects any areas of abnormal cells, Dr. Cherukuri may take a tissue sample (biopsy) for laboratory analysis.
Do I have a urinary tract infection?
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are a common women’s health concern that occurs when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra and multiply in the bladder. While some UTIs do not present symptoms, you can usually tell you have a UTI if you experience:
- Frequent, persistent urges to urinate
- Passing small amounts of urine
- Foul-smelling or strong-smelling urine
- Burning sensation when urinating
- Urine with a cloudy appearance
- Blood in the urine
- Pelvic pain
UTIs can be painful and should not be ignored; these infections can spread to the kidneys and become serious. Call Premier Health Care Inc. for treatment if you have symptoms of a UTI.
When should I see a doctor for women’s health issues?
Since Premier Health Care Inc. is a full-service medical facility, you should schedule an appointment whenever you have new or troubling health symptoms. Common women’s health-related issues that merit scheduling an appointment include:
- Heavy, irregular, or stopped menstruation
- Pelvic pain or cramping
- Vaginal itching or dryness
- Blisters or sores on genitals
- Low sex drive
- Foul-smelling or unusual vaginal discharge
- Frequent or urgent urination
- Mood changes
- Insomnia
Dr. Cherukuri can diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions specific to women. Since many symptoms and conditions women experience are related to changes in their hormone levels, Dr. Cherukuri may also recommend seeing a specialist for hormone replacement therapy.
To schedule a women’s wellness exam, or if you have symptoms you’d like to discuss, contact Premier Health Care Inc. by phone or by scheduling an appointment online today.