Blog Archive

You know that women’s health specialists rely on ultrasound testing to confirm pregnancy, estimate gestational age, and monitor fetal development. However, did you know that it’s also the go-to imaging tool for investigating menstrual symptoms, diagnosing common reproductive problems, and aiding certain treatments?   Our expert team — including Cheri Coyle,...

Sometimes, the most natural functions can take a most unnatural turn — and your period often fits that bill. Fortunately, endometrial ablation is a safe, effective solution to rogue menstrual cycles. Here at Women's Health - Mid-Atlantic Women's Care in Newport News, Virginia, Cheri Coyle, MD, and our talented team,...

Modern medicine includes numerous birth control options to fit every need and lifestyle. But this means choosing the best one for you can be confusing. Here at the Center for Women's Health - Mid-Atlantic Women's Care in Newport News, Virginia, Cheri Coyle, MD, and our talented team can help you...

Despite the fact that menopause is often referred to as “the Change,” many women don’t understand the enormous impact that this transition can have on their health, and their lives. At The Center for Women’s Health, Dr. Cheri Coyle specializes in hormonal health and has made it her mission to...

Not all urinary incontinence is the same, but there are effective treatments for the different types. Many people think that urine leaking is simply a part of aging, but that doesn’t have to be the case.  Dr. Cheri Coyle and our obstetrics team at The Center for Women’s Health have...

You’ve heard it said that when you’re pregnant, you eat for two. While that’s true, remember that you’re not eating for two full-grown humans. Instead, you’re eating for one pregnant woman and one developing baby. Adjusting your diet to accommodate the growing life within you doesn’t have to be difficult,...

Every year in the United States, millions of women give birth — which means millions also go into labor. While labor is a natural part of giving birth, there’s no denying that it strains your body. Taking steps to prepare for labor can minimize that strain and improve the overall...

A pregnancy is high-risk when you or your baby are at an increased risk for complications. Some pregnancies become high-risk as they progress. Under other circumstances, women are at an elevated risk for complications before they become pregnant. Getting specialized prenatal care and taking the right steps help many women...

Good nutrition is essential for good health at every age and every stage of life — even in the months before birth. While you need to watch what you eat during pregnancy, there’s a lot of misunderstanding about what’s okay to eat and what you must avoid.  At the Center for...

Every year, roughly 2 million American women enter menopause, a new phase of life that brings lots of changes — some positive, some … not so much.  Certainly, not having to worry about unplanned pregnancies and monthly periods is among the major bonuses of menopause. But other side effects —...

Your body contains 79 organs — have you ever wondered how they all stay put? Thanks to your muscles, each of your organs has its place in your body. That is, until something goes wrong.  As with any part of your body, your muscles can break down and lose their grip...

Most women spend little time thinking about their pelvic floor until something goes wrong. Do you know the signs and symptoms that there could be a problem? Common signs of a pelvic floor disorder include: Lower back pain Painful sexual intercourse Constipation Urinary issues, like leaks or the urge to...

Are you soaking through tampons faster than you can say “Jack Robinson”? Are your visits from “Aunt Flow” feeling more like an extended stay?  You may have menorrhagia. Menorrhagia, also known as heavy menstrual bleeding, affects about 10% of women. While it can be distressing and inconvenient, there are things you can...

We want to emphasize a few points right up front when it comes to urinary incontinence in women. First, you’re not alone. In fact, the issue affects up to half of women. Second, it’s not normal to have urinary incontinence. Last, and perhaps most important, there are effective treatment options....

Under normal circumstances, the organs housed within your pelvis maintain their positions due to supportive tissues, which include your pelvic floor as well neighboring organs. When this support is lost, certain organs can shift out of position and push into your vaginal canal, creating issues such as incontinence. Between 35% and...

A uterine fibroid is an abnormal growth of muscle tissue in your uterus. They are far more common than most women realize. Although a fibroid is technically a tumor, they are almost always benign or noncancerous.  The highly skilled professionals at The Center for Women’s Health in Hampton and Newport...

Getting a Pap smear probably doesn’t make the top ten of your favorite things to do. But this important screening could protect your health and even save your life. During this test, your provider also screens you for human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) on the...

While the transition into menopause is unavoidable, you might wonder if there’s anything you can do about menopausal night sweats. Here at the Center for Women's Health - Mid Atlantic Women's Care, our team of experienced and compassionate gynecologists helps women navigate every stage of their lives, from puberty through menopause and beyond. While the...

There are many reasons why you could need gynecological surgery. You might have a condition like pelvic organ prolapse or endometriosis that requires surgical treatment. Either way, there’s a good chance you’ve been stressed about the problem for some time. And, hearing that you need surgery is never easy. However, you...

It can be tough to know which birth control method is the best one to choose. There are many options out there, like long-acting reversible contraceptives, short-term hormonal birth control, or barrier methods.  Another type of common birth control is sterilization. Many women choose this method if they no longer want children....

Urinary incontinence, the constant urge to empty your bladder, can wreak havoc on your life if you are forced to live with it. The experienced team at The Center for Women's Health in Newport News and Hampton, Virginia, provides relief to those suffering from this condition. Symptoms of incontinence We generally diagnose this condition...

Your pelvic floor muscles have a bigger impact on your health than you may realize — from bladder and bowel control to stability in your hips and trunk. Luckily, there are different types of exercises you can perform to activate and engage your pelvic floor muscles, which is good for...

Deciding if and when to build a family often involves a range of factors, from whether or not you’ve found an ideal long-term partner to financial and health considerations. Depending on your goals and whether or not you’ve already had kids, some people welcome age-related changes in fertility with open...

Out of every eight women, one will develop breast cancer, and about 43,600 will die from it every year.  The good news is, mammograms are an effective tool for detecting breast cancer early, and early detection means a high rate of survival.  Our team at The Center for Women's Health offers comprehensive women’s care,...

Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that impacts the placenta — the organ that provides nourishment to your baby throughout your pregnancy. Early on, your body forms new blood vessels to deliver more blood and oxygen to your baby. With preeclampsia, those blood vessels don’t work properly or don’t develop...

April is STD awareness month, and we’d like to take the opportunity to emphasize the impact STDs have in the United States. Sexually transmitting diseases are not only on the rise in the U.S.; they’ve reached crisis levels, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and...

It starts with a minor itch that goes away with a discreet scratch, as most itches do. But when a vaginal itch becomes a constant annoyance, it’s time to find out why — and how to get rid of it. Our team of board-certified specialists at The Center for Women’s...

The uterus is a fascinating organ that performs many important functions. The lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, is essential for menstruation and reproduction. Each month, the endometrium sheds, and then during the next cycle, it regenerates. When you have endometriosis, the endometrium grows in places it shouldn't, such...

If you laugh hard at a joke or something funny and you urinate a little, once or twice, you don’t need to worry. If you find that you leak urine frequently when you laugh, sneeze, cough, jog, or do other activities, it’s called stress urinary incontinence. It’s a common issue,...

You wake during the night, drenched in sweat and freezing. Or, perhaps your sex life has faltered because of painful vaginal dryness. Or, maybe you’re experiencing both, and more. The side effects of perimenopause and menopause can be life-altering, but the good news is that there are solutions. Here at...

Getting an ultrasound is one of the most exciting parts of pregnancy. Until you deliver, it’s the only way you can see your bundle of joy.  There is, however, more to ultrasound than just a glimpse into the future. Here, our team of expert obstetricians at the Center for Women’s...

Like balding or erectile dysfunction for men, far too many women believe that urinary incontinence is just a natural part of aging. About 40% of women over age 65 regularly struggle with this condition, and many of them avoid raising the subject with their doctor because of embarrassment.  The talented...

When you’re a woman in your childbearing years, there’s a chance that you could get pregnant every time you have sexual intercourse without birth control. By using birth control, you can plan your pregnancies for a time that’s best for you and your family. Our expert providers at The Center...

The idea of your pelvic organs dropping lower, so low that they may even drop out of your vagina, can be more than a little unnerving. The condition where your bladder, uterus, and rectum droop due to weakened pelvic muscles is called pelvic organ prolapse.  Occurring in about one-third of...

Up to 15% of couples in the United States struggle with infertility, which is defined as the inability to conceive after having regular, unprotected intercourse for at least 12 months (or just six months for women age 35 or older). While one-third of fertility problems can be traced to the...

If your family is complete, you might wonder if female sterilization is right for you. While long-acting reversible contraceptives work for some women, you might desire a more permanent solution.  Our team of providers ー Dr. Katherine Hilsinger; Dr. Douglas Thom; Dr. Cheri Coyle; Dr. John M. Fejes; Mary E....

You’ve seen it on birthday cards and in email chains — we love to poke fun at menopause. But when you think about all of the changes your body goes through, you know that menopause is no laughing matter, especially when it comes to its impact on your bone and...

Uterine fibroids are the most common benign (i.e., non-cancerous) tumors affecting women, occurring in as many as 70 percent to 80 percent of all women age 50 years and older. Still, not every woman develops fibroids, and not all fibroids cause symptoms. Knowing your risk factors is a good way...

No one likes the idea of incontinence, but it’s a fact of life for up to one-third of adults in the United States, especially as they grow older. While urinary incontinence can strike both genders, women have unique challenges that make them two times more likely to develop incontinence, and...

Most people associate ultrasounds with pregnancy, and while they’re often used during pregnancy, women at all stages of life can benefit from an ultrasound.  At the Center for Women’s Health, our experienced team of women’s health experts offers ultrasounds conveniently on-site — so you can have all of your care...

You struggle with hot flashes that leave you drenched in sweat in mere seconds, not to mention the problems you’re having with your sexual health. These are just two of the more disruptive and frustrating symptoms that often accompany menopause. The good news is that there are solutions for helping...

There’s no single “best” type of birth control that works for every woman. Luckily, you have options. From the pill to an IUD to condoms (and more!), you can find something that works for you. At The Center for Women’s Health in Newport News and Hampton, Virginia, our expert OB/GYNs...

Preventive measures like a regular Pap smear are an important part of women’s health. The talented OB/GYN team at the Center for Women’s Health, a Division of Mid-Atlantic Women’s Care, PLC, can monitor your health and help you understand the results of your Pap smear and other tests.  Our offices...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2015 and 2017, 64.9% of women in the United States between the ages of 15 and 49 used contraception. After sterilization, the most commonly used contraceptive method was the oral contraceptive pill. While there are many different types, brands, and...

Even if you’re feeling great, you should keep up with regular screenings that can help maintain your good health.  Our doctors at The Center for Women's Health want you to make Pap smears, which detect early-stage cervical cancer, part of your health care routine. Years ago, women with cervical cancer...