Services

PCOS Q & A

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a common endocrine disorder that causes a hormonal imbalance in about 10% of women in their childbearing years. PCOS often prevents the development of your eggs or their release from your ovaries.

When your ovaries don’t function properly to release the eggs, cysts form. The cysts cause you to have irregular or unusually heavy periods.

PCOS is a leading cause of infertility because of its interference with ovulation. If you’re having trouble getting pregnant, PCOS may be the reason why.

Symptoms of PCOS vary from woman to woman, but some of the common signs are:

  • Irregular periods: a menstrual cycle that exceeds 35 days and fewer than eight periods per calendar year
  • Bleeding between periods
  • Thinning hair on your head
  • Unwanted hair growth on your face
  • Weight gain
  • Acne
  • Fertility problems

If you’re experiencing symptoms of PCOS, contact ACE OBGYN for help.

Women with PCOS have an elevated risk for:

  • Diabetes
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Infertility
  • High blood pressure
  • Sleep apnea
  • Depression
  • Anxiety

Though less common, your risk for endometrial cancer rises if you have PCOS.

Dr. Novac performs a comprehensive physical exam to learn more about your symptoms and how they’re affecting your quality of life. Depending on your primary concerns, he’ll customize your treatment options accordingly to address fertility, male pattern hair growth, acne, or weight gain.

If you’re trying to conceive, he’ll gear your treatment to enhance your fertility. He may also recommend certain medications that increase your ovulation. Oral contraceptives can help stabilize your hormones, and prescription medications improve severe acne.

Lifestyle modifications are almost always part of a PCOS treatment plan. With a healthy diet, exercise, and weight loss, most women get relief from their symptoms. Dr. Novac recommends dietary changes that minimize sugar and fast-burning carbohydrates to help stabilize your insulin and hormone levels.

If you have irregular periods and other symptoms of PCOS, the team at ACE OBGYN is equipped to help you. Call the office to schedule a consultation, or use the online scheduling feature to book an appointment at your convenience.

Colposcopy Q & A

A colposcopy is a minimally invasive test that Dr. Novac uses to get a closer look at your cervix, vulva, and vagina after an abnormal Pap smear. Using a colposcope, a magnifying device with a light, he’s able to further evaluate abnormalities.

If you’ve already had a Pap smear and it showed that you have abnormal cells on your cervix, Dr. Novac recommends you schedule a colposcopy. You’re a candidate for colposcopy if you’re experiencing:

  • Unexplained vaginal bleeding
  • Unexplained pain
  • Polyps
  • Genital warts
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Inflammation

The quick in-office procedure helps your care team at ACE OBGYN diagnose your problem and move toward a permanent solution.

There isn’t much to do to prepare for a colposcopy, but there are a few things to avoid prior to your exam. The test is more accurate if you:

  • Abstain from sex for 24 hours beforehand
  • Don’t douche for the 24-hour period prior to the exam
  • Avoid tampons for 48 hours before the exam
  • Refrain from using vaginal medications for 48 hours prior to the test

In addition, it’s best if you aren’t menstruating at the time of your colposcopy because it can interfere with Dr. Novac’s ability to get a clear view of your abnormal cells.

Most patients tolerate the procedure quite well. It’s performed right in the comfort of Dr. Novac’s office and only takes about 15 minutes. Because it’s noninvasive, you won’t even need anesthesia.

While your legs are in stirrups, Dr. Novac inserts the colposcope into your vagina and shines the magnified light. You may feel a slight pinch as you do during a Pap smear or a bit of heat from the light, but it isn’t painful.

If your colposcopy reveals that you have HPV or other abnormalities, Dr. Novac uses cryotherapy to freeze the cells and remove them from your cervix. The procedure only damages the problem cells and doesn’t affect healthy tissue.

If you’ve been told you need a colposcopy, try not to worry. The entire team at ACE OBGYN is extremely knowledgeable and will take great care of you. Call today for a confidential consultation, or use the online scheduler to book now.

Contraception Q & A

ACE OBGYN offers a wide range of choices to meet your changing birth control needs. Some of the offerings are:

  • Birth control pills and patches
  • IUDs
  • Condoms
  • Vaginal rings
  • Diaphragms
  • Implants
  • Injections

Another popular way to prevent pregnancy is to use the rhythm method, but Dr. Novac cautions that this is not always a foolproof strategy.

Skyla is a T-shaped IUD that Dr. Novac places into your uterus during your appointment at ACE OBGYN. It’s made of a pliable plastic that works well with your natural movements. The procedure is not invasive and only takes a few minutes.

The active ingredient in Skyla is levonorgestrel, which triggers your cervix to produce thick mucus that makes it difficult for sperm to make it to the uterus or for a fertilized egg to attach and become viable.

Women choose Skyla because it’s 99% effective at preventing pregnancy and works for three years. You’ll like the convenience of not having to remember pills or condoms and the fact that this method of contraception is reversible if you decide to get pregnant.

If you want to prevent pregnancy for as long as five years, consider the Mirena intrauterine system. Like Skyla, Mirena is 99% effective at contraception. An additional benefit of Mirena and the main reason why some women choose it is its ability to treat heavy periods.

Other aspects of Mirena that make it a top choice for an IUD is that it’s free of estrogen, can be reversed and is extremely low maintenance. The only requirement for Mirena is for you to do a monthly thread check. It’s quick and easy. Dr. Novac shows you how to do the thread check when he places the Mirena IUD in your uterus.

Kyleena is almost identical to Skyla. Each releases a slow dose of levonorgestrel to block pregnancy. The main difference in the two types is that Kyleena works for up to five years while Skyla only works for three years.

Like Mirena, it’s also important to do a monthly thread check. Dr. Novac demonstrates how to do it so you understand what you need to do once a month.

To learn which form of contraception is the best fit for you, call the office to schedule an appointment, or use the online scheduler to book now.

Pap Smear

A Pap smear, often called a Pap test, is a screening that Dr. Novac uses to check for abnormal cell changes on your cervix, which could mean there’s a problem. The test gets its name from the man who created it, George Papanicolaou. It’s recommended for women between the ages of 21 and 65.

Because abnormal cell changes can be a sign of precancerous conditions or that cervical cancer has developed, the Pap smear is a crucial component of your gynecological health care.

Dr. Novac can also use a Pap smear to test for certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as HPV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.

During the test, you’ll lie on your back on a table in your private room. Your feet go into stirrups while Dr. Novac inserts a speculum into your vagina. This gives him a clear view of your cervix so he can take a quick swab of your cervical cells. He places the swab in a tube that he sends to the lab. He removes the speculum, and the test is over. It only takes a couple of minutes to complete..

If the lab determines that some of your cells are abnormal, Dr. Novac calls you back for further testing. Abnormal cells don’t automatically mean you have cancer. You could have an infection, inflammation, or an STD. You may need a second Pap smear or a colposcopy, which is a tissue biopsy.

If your Pap smear and colposcopy confirm that there are abnormal cells on your cervix, Dr. Novac recommends one of the following procedures:

  • LEEP, or Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure: removal of the abnormal tissue through the use of an electrical current
  • Conization: also called cone biopsy because cone-shaped pieces of abnormal cells are removed and further tested at the lab
  • Cryotherapy: removal of abnormal cells by freezing them off
  • Laser therapy: removal of abnormal cells using heat and light energy

To find out more about Pap smears and how to catch potential cervical problems early, call ACE OBGYN, or use the online scheduler to book now.

Endometriosis Q & A

You have a specific type of tissue called endometrial tissue that grows inside your uterus. Your body sheds this tissue that lines your uterus during your monthly menstrual cycle.

Endometriosis is a painful condition that occurs when your endometrial tissue begins to grow erratically outside the uterus. If you have endometriosis, the endometrial tissue can grow on your Fallopian tubes, ovaries, ureters, bladder, rectum, or intestines.

The tissue still sheds during your monthly period, but it’s trapped in your body and can’t exit as it normally would through your vagina. When this happens, symptoms arise.

Endometriosis has several notable symptoms, including:

  • Pelvic and lower back pain
  • Difficulty getting pregnant
  • Pain during intercourse
  • Spotting between periods
  • Difficulty with bowel movements
  • Pain during urination
  • Strong menstruation cramps

Other common symptoms include fatigue, bloating, and frequent nausea.

The exact cause of endometriosis is still unknown, but research points to the following:

  • Immune system disorder
  • Problems with the flow of your menstrual blood
  • Cells outside the uterus can transform into uterine cells
  • Spread through surgery

There’s also evidence that endometriosis has a genetic component as it seems to run in the family.

To diagnose endometriosis, Dr. Novac meets with you to discuss your symptoms and health history. He performs a thorough physical and pelvic exam. He may also use an ultrasound machine to make an official diagnosis.

To treat the pain that endometriosis causes, Dr. Novac recommends over-the-counter pain relievers. If your pain is severe, he may prescribe something stronger.

Other treatment measures include birth control pills, hormone treatments, and surgical procedures to remove the abnormal tissue growth. In extreme cases, a hysterectomy may be the best solution.

Dr. Novac customizes a plan to meet your specific needs. He’ll go over your treatment options with you so that you know exactly what to expect.

If you think you may have endometriosis, you don’t have to suffer any longer. Dr. Novac and his committed team can help. Call the office to schedule an appointment, or use the online scheduler to book now.

Pregnancy Q & A

What is prenatal care?

To keep you healthy before and during your pregnancy, Dr. Novac provides prenatal care. The word prenatal means “before birth” and includes all the care you and your baby receive before delivery. He’ll educate you along the way about your baby’s growth and how things are changing in your body.

After a thorough initial appointment to collect your medical and health history, each prenatal appointment may include any of the following:

  • sample
  • Routine lab tests
  • Weight measurements
  • Bedside ultrasound
  • Noninvasive prenatal testing
  • Screening for gestational diabetes
  • Uterine growth measurement
  • Fetal heartbeat monitoring
  • Blood pressure reading
  • Amniocentesis
  • Multiple marker screening
  • Nutrition guidelines
  • Genetic screening

Dr. Novac monitors your health closely to prevent and treat complications during your pregnancy.

A bedside ultrasound is a quick way for Dr. Novac and the team at ACE OBGYN to monitor your baby’s growth and development. While you lie back on the table in your private room, Dr. Novac or one of the nurses uses the portable machine and a handheld piece to get an image of your womb and the new life that’s growing there. It doesn’t hurt you or the baby at all, though you might feel some slight pressure for just a few minutes.

ACE OBGYN recommends the following schedule of exams during pregnancy:

  • >Once a month until week 28
  • >Twice a month from 28-36 weeks
  • >Weekly from 36 weeks until delivery

If you’re considered high risk or have other specific needs, Dr. Novac may recommend more frequent visits to safeguard your health while you are pregnant.

Absolutely. Your pregnancy care includes the time before you are pregnant, while you are pregnant, and after you deliver your baby. Dr. Novac and the team at ACE OBGYN are experts in all stages of your health and guide you through the changes you’ll experience after you give birth.

The life of mother and baby are Dr. Novac’s highest priority. For superior prenatal, pregnancy, and postpartum care, call ACE OBGYN, or use the online scheduler to book now.

Fibroids Q & A

Fibroids are muscular tumors that form in your uterus. They can be as small as a tiny pebble or as large as a cantaloupe.
Fibroids can grow alone or form in clusters in your uterus. Some grow fast, and some grow slowly, and many are never detectable by examination.

Twenty-five percent of women in their childbearing years experience symptoms from fibroids, though many women have fibroids without issues. Common signs of fibroids include:

  • Painful periods
  • Low back pain
  • Painful intercourse
  • Full feeling in the pelvic area
  • Bloated feeling
  • Heavy menstrual bleeding
  • Complications during pregnancy, labor, and delivery

If you need to urinate a lot, can’t seem to completely empty your bladder, or you have trouble having a bowel movement, these can also be symptoms of uterine fibroids.

There’s no definitive cause of fibroids. They do run in families and seem to have a hormonal component because they’re prevalent during your childbearing years. Other risk factors linked to the development of fibroids are:

  • Being African-American
  • Being overweight
  • High blood pressure
  • 40 years or older
  • Early onset of menstruation

One other common theme is that the majority of those with fibroids are deficient or deplete in vitamin D.

Fibroids are not usually cancerous. They’re typically benign and can’t become cancerous. In addition, having fibroids does not increase your odds of developing other gynecological cancers.

If you’re suffering from fibroids or if Dr. Novac discovers them during your regular pelvic exam, he may suggest some additional testing to confirm his diagnosis. In most cases, he’ll use an ultrasound, MRI, XRay, or CT scan.

If your fibroids cause pain or excessive menstrual bleeding, Dr. Novac may prescribe a medication to help.

In some cases, a minimally invasive surgery, like a laparoscopy or a hysteroscopy, is the best route to take. Dr. Novac evaluates your condition and helps you weigh your options.

Call the office to learn more about how you can treat the unpleasant symptoms of fibroids, or use the online scheduler to book an appointment at your convenience.

Gynecology Q & A

What is a gynecologist?

A gynecologist is a doctor who focuses on the female reproductive system, which includes your vagina, vulva, Fallopian tubes, cervix, uterus, breasts, and ovaries. A gynecologist like Dr. Novac attends to your fertility, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause, and any concerns or problems may arise.

At ACE OBGYN, Dr. Novac has 15 years of experience treating a wide range of gynecological issues, such as:

  • Family planning
  • Fertility
  • Pelvic pain
  • Irregular bleeding
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Genital warts or growths
  • Cervical dysplasia
  • Incontinence
  • Endometriosis
  • Polyps
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Abnormal Pap smears

The team provides comprehensive testing and evaluations to get to the root cause of your health concerns. In addition, you have access to expert guidance on birth control options, hormone replacement therapy, confidential sexually transmitted disease testing, and minimally invasive procedures.

In general, you should see Dr. Novac once a year for your well-woman exam. He conducts a thorough pelvic exam and compares any changes he sees with baseline tests you’ve had in the past. If there are any abnormalities or signs of illness, it’s best to catch them early. Regular pelvic exams help you keep a close watch on changes.

In addition to your annual pelvic exam, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that you have a Pap smear every three to five years depending on your age. A Pap smear is a simple, in-office test that Dr. Novac uses to screen for cervical cancer.

Your exam starts by making sure you are completely at ease and comfortable. In your private room, a nurse helps you get comfortable and recline on a table. She measures your blood pressure and heart rate and asks you about any problems you’re experiencing.

Dr. Novac steps in to conduct the exam. It begins with a breast check to feel for lumps or nodules. He’ll guide you as you slide your feet in stirrups for your close look at your vagina, vulva, cervix, ovaries, and Fallopian tubes. If you’re due for a Pap smear, he’ll gather a cell sample from your cervix to send to the lab. The whole process takes less than 15 minutes.

For the best in gynecological care, call ACE OBGYN, or use the online scheduling feature to book at your convenience.

Menopause Q & A

Menopause is a normal part of a woman’s reproductive cycle and occurs when your reproductive processes are in decline. This typically occurs during your late 40s or early 50s. Before menopause begins, you’re in a transitional phase called perimenopause, a time of irregular periods. When you haven’t had a period for 12 consecutive months, you’re in menopause. At the end of the process, you are no longer fertile. The average age for this milestone is 51.

When you’re in menopause, your body slows the production of estrogen and progesterone. The reduction in hormones can cause:

  • Hot flashes
  • Moodiness
  • Fatigue
  • Vagina dryness
  • Hair loss
  • Dry skin
  • Painful intercourse
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Night sweats
  • Decrease interest in sex
  • Weight gain
  • Memory problems

Some women also report joint and muscle pain and problems controlling their bladders. Dr. Novac has years of experience helping women optimize their health during this momentous life change.

The much-dreaded hot flashes that accompany menopause can really take a toll on your wellbeing. You can do a few things to help mitigate the sudden flashes of extreme heat you may feel during menopause:

  • Dress in layers
  • Keep a cool cloth close at hand to put on your forehead
  • Lower your home’s temperature to about 65 degrees
  • Minimize caffeine
  • Eliminate foods with heat and spice

Ask your caring team at ACE OBGYN if you need help managing your menopause symptoms.

Dr. Novac helps you understand the variety of options available to you to help you go through menopause. Treatment options help relieve exasperating symptoms and may include medications, diet and lifestyle modifications, or hormone therapy.

At ACE OBGYN, the primary treatment for menopause is hormone replacement therapy. Your depleted hormones are replaced with hormones that mimic those that your body makes naturally, namely estrogen and progesterone. They’re administered by patches, pellets, injections, gels, or creams.

Don’t let menopause slow you down. Call the office to schedule a personal consultation, or use the online scheduling feature to book an appointment at your convenience.

Menorrhagia Q & A

Menorrhagia is abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding that disrupts your daily activities with cramping and excessive blood flow. A normal period is measured by a loss of blood that averages about three tablespoons during your monthly cycle. When you have menorrhagia, you can lose double that amount or more

There are a number of reasons you may have heavy menstrual bleeding, including:

  • Pregnancy complications
  • Onset of menopause
  • Hormone fluctuations
  • Fibroids or polyps
  • Intrauterine devices
  • Thyroid disorder
  • Certain medications
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome

In rare cases, unusually heavy periods are due to cancer of the uterus or cervix. Dr. Novac keeps a close watch with yearly pelvic exams.

It isn’t unusual to have some heavy bleeding during a normal period, but menorrhagia is marked by these more pronounced symptoms:

  • A period that lasts more than seven days
  • Large clots
  • Quickly bleeding through a pad or tampon
  • Having to double your pads for added protection
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath

Dr. Novac meets with you to learn more about your periods, ask questions, conduct an exam or Pap smear, and help you determine if your excessive bleeding is menorrhagia.

Some common treatment options for menorrhagia include:

  • Birth control pills
  • Uterine ablation
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Hormone therapy
  • Intrauterine device
  • Dilation and curettage
  • Iron supplements

Based on your condition, age, and goals, Dr. Novac guides you through options to reduce the heavy blood flow and pain. In cases where the blood flow is impairing your quality of life or the pain is immense, a hysterectomy is often the best course of treatment.

No matter what treatment option you and Dr. Novac decide to pursue, you can rest assured that taking measures to decrease your symptoms will make you feel a lot better. With birth control pills, uterine ablation, and other minimally invasive methods, your periods return to normal.

To learn more about how you can treat heavy periods, call ACE OBGYN to schedule a consultation or use the online scheduler to book today.

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ACE OBGYN Stefan Novac