Gynecology

What is gynecology?

Gynecology encompasses women’s general and reproductive health issues. While gynecologists provide Pap smears, they also offer a wide range of health services and advice. 

At Desert Star Family Planning, Dr. Taylor provides integrated women’s health services to help you stay healthy at every age. For example, she can help you with conditions, including:

• Family planning questions
• STDs
• Vaginal infections
• Abnormal menstruation
• Menopause
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Incontinence
• Uterine fibroids
• Sexual dysfunction

Dr. Taylor is a women’s health advocate and aims to provide expert gynecology services in a comfortable and judgment-free environment. 

What services are included in gynecology?

At Desert Star Family Planning, Dr. Taylor provides the full spectrum of gynecology services including:

Well-woman exams

Your annual well-woman exam is an opportunity to check in on your health and have essential health screenings such as Pap smears and breast exams. 

Colposcopy

If you have an abnormal Pap smear, Dr. Taylor may use colposcopy to examine your cervix in more detail. 

A colposcope is a magnifying device that provides a well-lighted, enlarged view of your cervix. Colposcopy is noninvasive. The device stays outside of your body while your vagina is held open with a speculum.

Urgent gynecology evaluation

Dr. Taylor also offers urgent gynecology exams if you experience abnormally heavy or painful periods or pelvic pain. 

Periods that last longer than eight days or are so heavy that you need to change your pad or tampon as frequently as once an hour for several hours are considered heavy. 

Additionally, if your menstrual cycle falls outside of the average of 28 days +/- 7 days, you should talk to Dr. Taylor about your irregular periods.

STD testing

Doctors across the United States diagnose almost 20 million new STD cases every year. STDs don’t often cause symptoms in their early stages, and testing is the best way to know for sure that you’re healthy.

Vaginal Infections

If you have vaginal itching or an abnormal discharge or odor, you may have a vaginal infection and should talk to your trusted gynecologist. Dr. Taylor diagnoses and treats vaginal infections at Desert Star Family Planning. Don’t assume that your symptoms will go away on their own, and talk to Dr. Taylor about treatment options. 

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations

Dr. Taylor and her team also provide HPV vaccines. Almost every person who is sexually active will get HPV at some time in their life. While most HPV infections will go away on their own, infections that don’t go away can cause certain types of cancer of the genital organs and throat. HPV vaccination protects against cancers caused by HPV infections. It also protects against genital warts. While Gardasil® was initially approved for patients aged 26 or under, in 2018, the FDA approved the HPV vaccination for patients up to the age of 45. Talk to Dr. Taylor about your eligibility for the vaccine.

When should I see a gynecologist?

You should see Dr. Taylor at least once a year for your well-woman exam and screening. Women should start having Pap smears around their 21st birthday. 

While teenagers may not need Pap smears, they may benefit from beginning to see Dr. Taylor early. They can develop a trusted patient-doctor relationship and get unbiased, accurate information about their changing bodies and sexual health. 

Call Desert Star Family Planning or schedule your next gynecology appointment online today.