Blog Archive

Vaginal atrophy can occur when the walls of your vagina become thin, dry, and inflamed. Typically, vaginal atrophy may happen during midlife, when perimenopause and menopause cause your body to produce less estrogen. Although vaginal atrophy is, for many women, a normal part of growing older, it can also be...

Your menopausal years are a time of significant change. Your estrogen levels go down, your fertility comes to an end, and you stop having periods. Although some women get through menopause and perimenopause (the years before periods stop for good) without problems, certain frustrating symptoms can occur. Unfortunately, menopausal symptoms...

If you haven’t scheduled your annual well-woman exam yet, now’s a good time to get it on your calendar. Having a well-woman exam once a year is an important way to take care of your reproductive health and your overall health. During your well-woman exam, your provider checks on your...

During the COVID-19 pandemic, taking some simple steps can help keep us all safer. These include wearing face masks, social distancing, and avoiding large gatherings. Receiving some of your health care through telehealth rather than in-person visits offers another opportunity to protect yourself and your care providers during the pandemic....

Vaginal dryness is a common problem faced by women during and after menopause. As levels of hormones such as estrogen fall, the tissue in your vagina may become dryer, thinner, and less flexible. This can contribute to a condition known as orgasmic dysfunction. If you’re experiencing orgasmic dysfunction, you may...

As the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer give way to the cool, crisp days of fall, memories of all that warm weather and bright sunshine start to fade.  But if you spent lots of time in the sun this summer, your skin may be holding on to memories of...

Heavy, painful periods are a fairly common problem. One in five women experience heavy periods, and as many as half of all women have some kind of menstrual pain, a condition known as dysmenorrhea. Painful and heavy periods can have many causes, including endometriosis, fibroids, and ovarian cysts. These conditions...

As a young girl or teen, you’re probably accustomed to receiving medical care from a pediatrician, internist, or family doctor. But between the ages of 13 and 15 -- around the time you start to menstruate -- you should have your first visit with a gynecologist, sometimes called a GYN...

You wake up in the morning, full of energy. You feel great, ready to tackle your day. And then you glance in the mirror. Instead of seeing the face of a young woman looking forward to taking on the world, you see lines and wrinkles that remind you more of...

Do you occasionally leak urine when you sneeze or laugh? Do you sometimes experience an out-of-nowhere urge to pee and have trouble getting to the bathroom fast enough? If so, you may have urinary incontinence, a condition that strikes as many as 4 in 10 women at some point in...

Experiencing a decrease in sexual interest is a common situation. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, about 4 in 10 women have some type of sexual problem at some point in their lives. Fortunately, many cases of low sex drive can be successfully addressed. Here at Women’s...

Do you love summer? If so, you’re probably looking forward to lounging by the pool, swimming in the ocean, walking on the beach, or boating on mountain lakes. But you’re probably not looking forward to the work it takes to get you swimsuit ready for all those fun activities. Nobody...

A UTI is an infection that develops in your urinary system. It’s caused by bacteria that spread into your urinary tract from other places, such as your skin or your rectum. A UTI can be anywhere in your urinary tract, which includes your bladder, urethra, ureters, and kidneys.   If you...

As the new year opens, are you noticing that your skin doesn’t seem as fresh as you’d like it to be? Does it feel rough and coarse? Are age spots, wrinkles, and other flaws making you look older than you are? The new year is a great time to revitalize...

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic/hormonal disorder that results in menstrual irregularities, high testosterone, and poorly functioning insulin. It affects 5-10% of women of childbearing age. Even though PCOS is fairly common, it is often misdiagnosed. Women may experience PCOS symptoms for years before discovering what’s causing their problems....

There are so many different types of birth control that you may feel a little overwhelmed when deciding which one is right for you. Some birth control methods use hormones to prevent conception. These hormone-based birth control methods provide very effective protection from pregnancy. However, you may be wondering whether...

People living with conditions that challenge their day-in and day-out routines may be more vigilant than others about taking care of their health--paying attention to their lifestyle and what they put into their bodies can be a matter of life or death. The truth is, everybody--regardless of the kind of...

A woman’s overall health and wellness is closely tied to her reproductive functions and the hormones that control them. This fact is made perfectly clear as women journey through the various stages of their lives, from puberty on to their reproductive years and then through menopause.  Each of these stages...

Trying to get pregnant can be stressful enough, not to mention if you are managing a health condition. According to the Mayo Clinic, FH (familial hypercholesterolemia) is “an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by a high plasma level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).”    Here are three quick reminders about FH:...

For our first post, check out this recent article, where Dr. Sophocles was interviewed for Heart Insight.    #womenshealth #hearthealth #FH #pregnancy #health #healthyliving #gynecology #women #womenpatients #womenshealthmatters #womenshistorymatters #beawomenshealthadvocate #womenshealthcareofprinceton

Are you experiencing unusual pain or pressure in your abdomen? Have your menstrual periods changed recently, becoming longer, heavier, or more frequent? If so, you may have uterine fibroids. Although uterine fibroids are common, especially in women ages 30-40, they’re not a normal part of life. Fortunately, treatment can offer...

Recently, everydayhealth.com published this awesome article. We love this piece for a few reasons. It talks frankly about intimacy and love (it starts with you) and the importance of holding intimacy in our lives. WHP reflected on intimacy this month and spoke with Dr. Sophocles. She shared her thoughts on...

For women with an average amount of bleeding during their period, it typically takes about 4 hours to soak a regular tampon or pad. But women with heavy bleeding may soak tampons or pads much faster than that. Heavy bleeding can interfere with your life, causing you to miss work...

Uterine fibroids form in the muscular portion of the uterus. They are common, benign tumors that can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and painful, abnormal, and/or prolonged menstruation. Women may also experience pain in their pelvic, abdominal, or lower back areas, frequent urination, or constipation. Cramping or abdominal distention...

Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue in your uterus grows where it doesn’t belong. For example, it may grow on the outside of your uterus or on your fallopian tubes, ovaries, bladder, rectum, intestines, or the lining of your pelvis. Although endometriosis can cause a range of symptoms,...

Weight loss, among all its health benefits, including lowering your risk for heart disease in the long-term as well as daily benefits, such as supporting your day-to-day life and routine with good nutrition and taking care of yourself and your body, has another very important benefit: weight loss can reduce...

As you age, frown lines, crow’s feet, and other creases can appear on your face. These imperfections, which can develop around your eyes, nose, mouth, forehead, and cheeks, are a normal part of aging. But that doesn’t mean you have to like them! Cosmetic treatments, such as Botox and dermal...

Menopause impacts your body with mood swings, night sweats, tiredness, irritability, and famed “hot flashes,” not to mention new mental and emotional challenges. Menopause is difficult for many women; though a natural part of a woman’s life cycle, these types of cerebral and physical changes can be a lot for...

For those of you tracking your ovulation, you already know this process has developed a lot in recent years. New medical technologies, apps, and products are making it easier for women to know when they are ovulating. (Web MD also has a helpful list that can help you determine yourself...

May is National Osteoporosis Month, which means now is an excellent time to learn more about this common women’s health condition. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become thin, weak, fragile, and prone to breakage. More than 8 million women in the United States have osteoporosis, and many...

Earlier this month, we blogged about menopausal weight gain and weight redistribution. Here, we take a closer look at two important chemicals in our bodies—known as hunger hormones—responsible for regulating our weight and eating. Read on to understand who these hormones are and how they engage with our bodies (and...

Many women see their bodies go through changes as they enter menopause--it is not just you! Your body is experiencing hormonal changes that make it more difficult to maintain your average weight as you age. These hormonal changes cause a redistribution of weight, primarily to a woman’s abdominal area, also...

For today’s post, we interviewed Dr. Shyama Mathews, one of the two practicing gynecologists at WHP. At the practice, where she has worked since 2016, Dr. Mathews provides annual exams, preventive care, disease screening and treatment, family planning, and preconception counseling. Her focus is medical and surgical management of gynecological...

A pessary is a medical device that can be used to treat multiple gynecological conditions such as stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic organ prolapse can represent lack of support of the uterus or of the vaginal walls. There can be combinations as uterine and vaginal prolapse as...

Condoms, IUDs, implants, pills. With so many types of contraception on the market, you may wonder how it’s possible to whittle down the choices to find the best one for you. At Women’s Healthcare of Princeton in Princeton, New Jersey, our compassionate and expert OB/GYNs and nurses help you find...

Earlier this month, on March 4, our office celebrated International HPV Awareness Day. HPV (human papillomavirus) is a very common virus. HPV can be passed through vaginal, anal, or oral sex and spreads through skin-to-skin contact. Many people who get the virus do not show any symptoms, and the infection...

“I felt so much lighter knowing I could heal:” one of our patients shares her MonaLisa Touch experience   MonaLisa Touch (MLT) is a clinical procedure to regenerate vaginal tissue by creating new collagen and new blood vessels. (See our post for more on what MLT is--and is not--here--Liezle, please...

Vaginal Lasers: Hoodwink or Holy Grail? MonaLisa Touch (MLT), one of the newer vaginal laser surgeries for women with gynecological health concerns, boasts impressive figures for clinical safety and effectiveness: 90% of patients show clinically significant results and over 35 publications support its safety and effectiveness. According to its website,...

Starting today, we are adding a more personal touch to our blog here at Women's Healthcare of Princeton. We want you to hear from us directly, from the clinicians and staff in our office. We are here to listen, guide you, support you, and work with you every step of...

Here at Women’s Healthcare of Princeton, we’re proud to be one of the first medical practices in the United States to offer MonaLisa Touch laser therapy treatment. MonaLisa Touch is an innovative, nonsurgical treatment that regenerates vaginal tissues and helps relieve a variety of vaginal health issues. Are you wondering...

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when she stops having menstrual periods and can no longer get pregnant. It results from a decline in the production of the reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone. Although some women sail through menopause with few or no discomforts, shifting hormone levels cause...

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, which means it’s a great time for you to learn about how Pap tests can save your life by protecting you from cervical cancer. A Pap test, also known as a Pap smear, is a simple test that can detect abnormal cells in your...

As winter hits, snow begins to fall, and you start bundling up in coats and scarves and sweaters, it’s the perfect time to have laser hair removal treatment. Then by the time warm weather arrives, you’ll be ready to slip into swimsuits, sundresses, and shorts. But that’s not the only...

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths on the uterine wall. Also known as myomas, these growths can range from the size of an apple seed to a grapefruit. Many women have uterine fibroids, and they develop most commonly in the 40s and early 50s. In fact, between 20-80% of women develop...

If you’re feeling less excited about sex than you used to feel, you’re not alone. Many women lose interest in sex because of changes in their bodies that occur as a result of the menopause, childbirth, vaginal dryness, and pain during sex. Women whose desire for sex has been impacted...

As a woman, you’ve probably heard a lot about estrogen. But how well do you understand this critical female hormone? Because of the importance of estrogen in women’s well-being, our providers at Women’s Healthcare of Princeton would like to tell you more about the crucial role that estrogen plays in...

If have been experiencing chronic pelvic pain, especially before and during your menstrual period, you may have endometriosis.Endometriosis is a medical condition in which the tissue — known as endometrium — lining your uterus grows outside your uterus.Women with endometriosis may have endometrial tissue growing in or around their ovaries,...

If you’re going through menopause, you may be enjoying sex less than you used to. It’s a common problem caused by the hormonal shifts of menopause when lower levels of estrogen can make your vaginal tissues thin, dry, and less pliant. As a result, intercourse can become uncomfortable or painful...

Each year on June 27, National HIV Testing Awareness Day offers us an opportunity to pay special attention to the value of HIV testing. About one-quarter of the Americans living with HIV are women, so we want to make sure you’re fully informed about HIV testing.Getting tested for HIV makes...

Thanks to ongoing advances in medicine and a relatively high standard of living, most women in the United States today can look forward to living well into their late 70s or early 80s. But while you may enjoy a greater life expectancy than your mother, grandmother, or great-grandmother did, a...

Every April, the American Sexual Health Association works to raise awareness of STDs, or sexually-transmitted diseases, by bringing to light the fact that STDs remain a very clear and present danger to women’s health.Here at Women’s Healthcare of Princeton, we want to join this effort by outlining a few numbers...

Are you done having children? Are you sure? If so, permanent birth control may be the right option for you. Permanent birth control is more effective than most temporary methods and is the birth control method of choice for a third of all women. The effectiveness of preventing pregnancy is...

1.  You’re not alone if you have fibroids.The National Institutes of Health estimates that 80% of all women will develop uterine fibroids at some point during their lives. Because many women don’t experience any symptoms, it’s possible the incidence of uterine fibroids is even higher. Fibroids are considered benign or...

Sexual intimacy is meant to be an enjoyable experience that draws you and your partner closer together. But when sex becomes painful, you may find yourself doing anything and everything just to avoid it.While there’s no doubt that painful intercourse can have a major impact on your life and your...

It doesn’t matter if you’re at home or work, when you’re suffering from the symptoms of menopause, it can make even the little things hard to do. At Women’s Healthcare of Princeton, in Princeton, New Jersey, our team understands how menopause impacts your life.Instead of letting sleep disturbances, fatigue, hot...