Penn's Women's Health Newsletter | Penn Medicine

I was admitted to the hospital for severe pain in my urethra and lower pelvic region with painful urination. The antibiotics are not working. Can you give any advice?

2012-05-28T09:00:00-07:00

Georgann asks:I was admitted to the hospital two weeks ago for severe pain in my urethra and lower pelvic region with painful urination (constantly). My diagnosis was ureteral calculus, two kidney stones, and a urinary tract infection. A ureteral stent was put in. I experienced severe pain so they finally took it out.The next day, I was readmitted to the hospital for a week with all these other

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Why doesn't my bladder empty completely even though I urinate several times a day and night?

2012-05-21T09:00:00-07:00

Val asks:Why doesn't my bladder empty completely even though I urinate several times a day and night?Lily Arya, MD, responds:This is a common symptom and is rarely associated with real emptying problems. Most likely your bladder has become very sensitive, potentially due to an overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis or a kidney stone. It's in your best interest to see a urologist or

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What could be the cause of my recurring UTI?

2012-05-21T09:00:00-07:00

Claire asks:I have a recurring UTI. I was given a low-dose antibiotic to take for six months, but after two months the problem continues. I did have netting put in for a leaking bladder about 10 years ago, could this be the cause?Megan O. Schimpf, MD, responds:Recurrent UTIs can be a frustrating and uncomfortable problem for patients, but the good news is that they rarely progress to serious

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What could contaminate urine and what would be the next step after learning this information?

2012-05-14T09:00:00-07:00

Patti asks: My mom is 71 years old and had a partial hysterectomy many years ago. She has had bleeding that includes small blood clots and her urine is dark. She had a lab test, but the lab said her urine specimen was contaminated and referred her to her physician. She is concerned and wondering what could contaminate urine and what should her next step be? Lily Arya, MD, responds: I would first

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My sister-in-law suffers from pelvic floor dysfunction. Are there any support groups (specifically for younger people) who suffer from PFD?

2012-05-14T09:00:00-07:00

Anonymous asks: My sister-in-law severely suffers both physically and mentally from pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). She has seen many doctors and physical therapists, and received internal and external shots, medications, prolotherapy, etc. The treatments seem to work at first, but not for any length of time. This has prohibited her from participating in daily activities and as her symptoms

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I underwent pelvic reconstruction surgery and have experienced vaginal bleeding for more than two years. Is this normal?

2012-05-07T09:00:00-07:00

Anonymous asks: I underwent pelvic reconstruction surgery involving synthetic mesh to lift my bladder. I have experienced vaginal bleeding for more than two years. Could this be normal? If not, what should my next step be? Lily Arya, MD, responds: I am very sorry to hear about this ongoing problem. I recommend you schedule an appointment to determine what the issue is and how to resolve it.

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My daughter has a large fistula that must be surgically repaired. We are looking for a surgeon with experience in this type of procedure.

2012-05-07T09:00:00-07:00

Laureen asks: My daughter is 28 years old and has a large fistula that must be surgically repaired. It developed during labor and a Cesarean-section delivery. The diagnosis was made during an exploratory procedure to install a bag to decompress her bladder and allow it repair naturally. Unfortunately, the doctor decided natural repair would be impossible because of the size and the state of the

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Coping with Multiple Sclerosis: The Caregiver’s Perspective

2012-04-27T10:04:00-07:00

Dorothea “Dottie” Pfohl RN, BS, MSCN, is a clinical coordinator of Penn’s Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Center. For more than 20 years she has specialized in caring for people with MS. She is in involved with MS research, clinical practice and community outreach and she serves as a resource with the MS Society and WAMS – Women Against MS. Caring for a person with multiple sclerosis (MS)

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Where can I find information on participating in clinical trials?

2012-04-23T09:00:00-07:00

Mary Asks:Please tell me the parp inhibitor clinical trial is still open. Penn called me to participate in the trial in the beginning of November and at that time I showed no measurable cancer. Of course it's back. Failed chemo twice and have BRCA2 gene. Thank you so much for your time.Penn Medicine Responds:Dear Mary, We're sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. Thank you for your question

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Should I request an earlier gynecologist appointment?

2012-04-16T09:00:00-07:00

Peggie Asks:I am a 58 year old diabetic who has had heart bypass surgery but am in generally good health. Three days ago I started spotting and now it's getting a little heavier with dull pain in my stomach and especially my lower left flank. I can't get an appointment with the gynecologist for two weeks. I haven't had a period in over eight years. Should I be concerned enough to try to get an

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Is it normal for swelling to occur after marsupialization for a Bartholin gland cyst?

2012-04-16T09:00:00-07:00

Stephanie Asks:I had marsupialization for a Bartholin gland cyst two days ago. Is it normal to be swollen afterwards?Penn Medicine Responds:Thank you for your question, Stephanie. You should contact the physician who performed your procedure to ask if swelling is normal. Every case varies and without knowing your medical history and specifics of the procedure, we cannot make an informed response.

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Should a complex hemorrhagic ovarian cyst which has grown 3.5 cm in two weeks be evaluated for ovarian cancer in a post-Lupron young adult?

2012-04-16T09:00:00-07:00

CRLP Asks:Should a complex hemorrhagic ovarian cyst which has grown 3.5 cm in two weeks be evaluated for ovarian cancer in a post-Lupron young adult?Lori Smith, MSN, CRNP, responds:Dear CRLP, Thank you for your question. Any time there is rapid growth of a cyst, it should be further evaluated by a gynecologist to ensure stability. Your gynecologist may want to obtain testing such as a follow-up

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There is No Typical Day for Patients with MS

2012-04-13T08:22:00-07:00

Dorothea “Dottie” Pfohl RN, BS, MSCN, is a clinical coordinator of Penn’s Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Cente. For more than 20 years she has specialized in caring for people with MS. She is in involved with MS research, clinical practice and community outreach and she serves as a resource with the MS Society and WAMS – Women Against MS. I am often asked what makes up a 'typical day'

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Serena never considered breastfeeding, but is glad she changed her mind

2012-04-09T09:00:00-07:00

Serena's Story:I wasn't going to breastfeed. Nobody in my family did and neither did my girlfriends. I just didn't think about it. But then my water broke when I was only 7 months pregnant. And my baby was born so small, it was scary. The doctors from the NICU told me that my milk was important for the baby, and to me, that was enough. The nurses and the lactation consultants got me started

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What do the terms in my mom's pathology letter mean?

2012-04-05T09:00:00-07:00

Nicky1234 Asks:My mom is recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The pathology letter mentioned: -Bilateral ovarian adenocarcinoma -Papillary serous systic type -moderately differentiated -vascular invasion: identifed -perineural invasion: dentified -endometrium: inactive -tubes: tumor free -staging: T1C (tumor is seen in both ovaries with involvement of ovarian surface and omental seeding).If

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When I stand up, urine just leaks out and I cannot control it. How should I proceed?

2012-04-05T09:00:00-07:00

Cheryl asks:When I stand up, urine just leaks out and I cannot control it. How should I proceed?Megan O. Schimpf, MD, responds:This is a common and very frustrating urinary symptom, but there are treatments for this problem. Sometimes this can happen because of a bladder spasm, but sometimes it's related to the muscles in the abdominal wall contracting as you stand up. It could also mean that the

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My period is abnormal. I have had one small clot, could this be breakthrough bleeding?

2012-04-05T09:00:00-07:00

Latoya asks:My period came on Sunday, and it was supposed to come on Wednesday, but when it arrived it was pink and mixed with discharge that entire day. I had no flow which was unusual, and Monday the same thing, no flow. Today, which is Wednesday, I have a little flow, which is not normal on my third day, and I have had one small clot. Could this be breakthrough bleeding?Penn Medicine Responds:

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I would like to find a doctor closest to my area who can perform the da Vinci® robotic surgery for bladder prolapse

2012-04-05T07:10:00-07:00

Diane asks: I would like to find a doctor close to my home who can perform the da Vinci® robotic surgery for bladder prolapse. Thank you. Penn Medicine Responds: Dear Diane, Penn Medicine's urogynecologists offer a variety of treatment options for bladder and pelvic floor conditions, and are experts in using robotic surgery to treat pelvic organ prolapse. You can find a list of Penn

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What can family members do when a loved one refuses to begin cancer treatment?

2012-04-05T07:00:00-07:00

Patti Asks: My sister has been diagnosed with cervical cancer. The treatment suggested is five days radiation and then chemotherapy. She is on Medicaid, had to be reinstated, and still has not started treatment. Almost two months have passed. She is also an alcoholic. What can we, her family, do? Can we commit her? Any suggestions? Lori Smith, MSN, CRNP, and Mia Benson-Smith, MS, Patient Support

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How Penn Medicine nurses and support groups helped make breastfeeding easier for Chrissy

2012-04-05T06:05:00-07:00

Chrissy's Story: I was totally focused on getting through labor. I went to all the classes, did prenatal Yoga, read all the books, and even hired a doula! I thought that breastfeeding would be the easy part! But then I ended up having to have a C-section. My baby had to spend a few hours in the nursery, and then I felt awkward and afraid of my incision when holding my little girl. The nurses

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What does it mean when I get a burning sensation in my breast when I breastfeed?

2012-04-02T09:00:00-07:00

Nicole asks:I am breastfeeding my 3-week old son and sometimes I get this burning sensation in my breast. When I breastfeed him on my left breast, my right breast burns. What does this mean? Could there be something wrong with me? Because the breastfeeding process is going fine.Debi Ferrarello, RN, MS, IBCLC responds:First let me congratulate you on the birth of your son. It is wonderful that

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Nutritional Supplements while breastfeeding

2012-03-28T08:43:00-07:00

Specialle asks: I'm breastfeeding my son and I'm losing a little weight, so I wanted to know if I could drink Ensure® or other nutrition replacement supplements to boost my weight gain? Debi Page Ferrarello, RN, MS, IBCLC responds:Congratulations on the birth of your son. The fact that you are breastfeeding shows that you are committed to doing the very best for him!Drinking the calorie

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What is the best pump to use in the early stages of breastfeeding?

2012-03-26T10:28:00-07:00

Teresa asks:I attended the breastfeeding class at Pennsylvania Hospital last night. The instructor recommended not pumping for three to six weeks after delivery. I would like to pump sooner so my partner is able to feed the baby, too.Would the Symphony® pump work more efficiently than the Pump In Style®? What is the best pump to use if I want to start pumping as soon as my milk supply comes in?

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How can I increase milk production and help my baby re-learn a proper latch?

2012-03-26T10:26:00-07:00

Christiana asks:My 7-week-old son has reverted back to tongue thrusting while nursing. It's proving to be quite painful and I'm using a nipple shield again. Is there anything else I can do to help him to re-learn a proper latch? Also, how can I increase my milk production to help me increase my supply for pumping for when I return to work? What are the hours of your warm line? Thanks!Debi

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New Plastic Surgery Techniques for a New You

2012-03-19T06:04:00-07:00

Traditional rhinoplasty, sometimes called a “nose job,” usually involves removing tissue to make the nose appear smaller and achieve cosmetic success. Unfortunately, the tissue-removal technique can also result in collapsed nasal structures. Oren Friedman, MD, director of facial plastic surgery in Penn’s department of otorhinolaryngology, uses a new technique that involves reshaping nasal

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