Newswatch 16’s Emily Kress spoke with an OBGYN at UPMC about common misconceptions.
PENNSYLVANIA, USA — With technology at our fingertips, it can be information overload.
Dr. Angela Huggler is the Medical Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology with UPMC. She says that while knowledge is power, not everything online is helpful when it comes to your health.
“It’s hard because a lot of patients will come in to discuss a certain aspect of their health, but they have a preconceived idea or something they’ve read about that might not be a very reliable source or very good data,” said Dr. Huggler, UPMC.
She says one concern among patients is that the pelvic exam is painful, especially when it involves a pap smear. She says there are ways providers can make it less uncomfortable for patients, since it’s a vital part of checking overall health in the reproductive system.
“We are trying to find abnormalities before it would be symptomatic to the woman and to prevent her from having any potential complications down the road that we weren’t able to identify earlier,” explained Dr. Huggler.
Another misconception is that OBGYNs are only needed when you’re pregnant. Dr. Huggler explains that there are lots of things an OBGYN can take care of, including STD screening, immunizations, and other preventative care. “I think a lot of women are hearing pap smear isn’t due yearly, and they think that means an exam isn’t due yearly, but it is. We are still looking for other potential problems. We do a breast exam for breast cancer screening,” she said.
When it comes to contraception, doctors say there are many options, from pills to IUDs to prevent pregnancy. Birth control can also be used to manage other conditions, but what works for one patient may not be the best for another.
Dr. Huggler says one major concern she hears from patients is that long-term use of birth control leads to infertility. “Some do get out of your system so to speak a little faster to allow for fertility a little quicker than others, but none of them are associated with a long-term risk of infertility.”
Officials with UPMC say when in doubt, schedule an appointment with your provider.
