General questions
How does the insurance referral process work?
How long will my first visit take?
What are your normal office hours?
Who will I see or talk to if my doctor is not available?
How can I pay for your services?
Can I bring my children with me to my office visit?
Obstetrics
I am planning a pregnancy; are there vitamins I should be taking?
I am pregnant and have a cold; can I take any over-the-counter medications?
I am pregnant and experiencing morning sickness. What can I do to alleviate the nausea?
Is it safe to have intercourse during pregnancy?
Is there anything I can do to ease my morning sickness?
What can I do to help ease or eliminate heartburn?
What is round ligament pain?
Is there any treatment for round ligament pain and is it dangerous to my baby?
Are there medications I should avoid during pregnancy?
I am pregnant and I have cold symptoms. What medication is safe for me to take?
I am pregnant and I have a headache. What medication is safe for me to take?
Can I get a perm or color my hair if I am pregnant?
I am pregnant and want to do some painting. Is this safe?
I am pregnant and have a toothache. What can the dentist do for me that is safe for my baby?
Is it safe to get a flu shot if I am pregnant?
I am pregnant and I have the flu. What can I do?
I am pregnant and have symptoms of a yeast infection (like vaginal itching and white discharge). What can I do?
Gynecology
At what age should I start my gynecology visits?
How often should I have a Pap test?
Can I use my Wooster OB-GYN physician as my primary care physician?
What do I do if I miss one of my birth control pills?
What do I do if I miss two of my birth control pills?
I'm on birth control pills and am going on vacation. I don't want to have a period. Can I avoid it?
Do I need to take my birth control pills at the same time every day?
Is it normal to have side effects when starting birth control pills?
Do I need to use extra protection for the first month when starting birth control pills?
Are there any medications I should be taking if I'm trying to get pregnant?
When I start taking birth control pills, how long do I need to wait before I am sure they are working as a contraceptive?
How often do I need a screening mammogram?
How often do I need a screening bone density scan?
I missed a birth control pill and now I am spotting. What do I do?
I have been on birth control for one month and I am having some spotting. Is this normal?
My period is late, but the pregnancy test I took was negative. What should I do?
I have been on birth control for several months, and I am not having a period or only spotting when I should have a period. Is this normal?
Infertility
I am trying to get pregnant. How long should I wait before talking with my doctor about infertility?
General questions
Q: How does the insurance referral process work?
A: Your primary care physician will provide your referral to Wooster OB-GYN. The referral may be faxed, called in, mailed or e-mailed to our office. Not all insurance companies require a referral to an OB-GYN. Check with your insurance provider.
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Q: How long will my first visit take?
A: It depends on the reason for the visit. When you schedule an appointment our staff will ask you the nature of your visit to Wooster OB-GYN. They can let you know how much time you should plan to spend in the office.
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Q: What are your normal office hours?
A: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
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Q: Who will I see or talk to if my doctor is not available?
A: All three of our doctors are Fellows of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG) and trained in all aspects of obstetric and gynecologic care. If your doctor is unavailable during your scheduled appointment, one of the other doctors will see you. If you call after hours, the doctor on call will take care of you.
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Q: How can I pay for your services?
A: We accept many health insurance plans. Because plans differ, you should contact your provider to determine benefits. We will file insurance claims on your behalf. Co-pays are due at the time of service. Contact our office by phone or email with other questions.
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Q: Can I bring my children with me to my office visit?
A: Absolutely! Children are a part of our business, and we have a special area for them to play while you are waiting for your appointment.
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Q: I am planning a pregnancy; are there vitamins I should be taking?
A: Folic acid and calcium are recommended for all women who have reached reproductive age. Most high quality multivitamins contain the recommended daily amounts.
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Q: I am pregnant and have a cold; can I take any over-the-counter medications?
A: You can take Sudafed, Robitussen DM or Tylenol (Extra Strength or Regular). You should also increase your fluids, use salt-water gargles for sore throat and a cool mist vaporizer for congestion. Get plenty of rest. (For your peace of mind, your baby cannot catch your cold.)
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Q: I am pregnant and experiencing morning sickness. What can I do to alleviate the nausea?
A: Sips of lemonade or lemon-flavored water are helpful. It is best not to keep your stomach empty for more than two to three hours while awake. Try snacking on crackers, pretzels, gingersnaps or 100% juice Popsicles. Concentrate on fluids first and try to hold down liquid calories. If you cannot hold anything down for more than 24 hours - liquids or solids -you should call your doctor.
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Q: Is it safe to have intercourse during pregnancy?
A: Intercourse is healthy as long as you are not experiencing complications, such as spotting, bleeding or increased cramping.
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Q: Is there anything I can do to ease my morning sickness?
A: Eat a piece of toast or a cracker on rising or before getting out of bed. Eat lightly and frequently early in the day. Avoid liquid with your meals. Avoid gassy vegetables, such as cabbage, and those with strong flavors or coarse textures. Cooked vegetables and canned fruits may be easier to tolerate. Your food tolerance will usually increase by lunch, and you can eat a well-balance meal.
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Q: What can I do to help ease or eliminate heartburn?
A: Avoid highly seasoned, spicy or fried foods. Cut back on coarse-textured foods, like apples and celery. Eat smaller, more frequent meals. Never lie down after a meal. It is better to sit.
Avoid the use of bicarbonate of soda. Tums or Rolaids help tremendously. Over the counter Zantac or Pepcid can also be used if Tums or Rolaids are not effective. Call your doctor if none of these suggestions relieves your heartburn.
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Avoid the use of bicarbonate of soda. Tums or Rolaids help tremendously. Over the counter Zantac or Pepcid can also be used if Tums or Rolaids are not effective. Call your doctor if none of these suggestions relieves your heartburn.
Q: What is round ligament pain?
A: This is also known as round ligament strain or round ligament syndrome. The round ligaments are two cord-like structures made of the same smooth muscle tissue as the rest of the uterus. They extend from the top of the uterus on either side, down through the abdominal wall. The fibers terminate in the vulva. During pregnancy, they stretch and grow with the rest of the uterus, and this is sometimes painful. This pain may occur on either or both sides, anywhere along the course of either ligament. It is often aggravated by walking, changing position in bed or by fetal movement but may occur for no apparent reason at all. It is most common during the second trimester and less common during the first pregnancy.
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Q: Is there any treatment for round ligament pain and is it dangerous to my baby?
A: Round ligament pain is not dangerous to your or your baby. The treatment consists of rest, a heating pad and something for pain, such as Tylenol. If you need something stronger for it or have other questions, let us know.
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Q: Are there medications I should avoid during pregnancy?
A: It is best to avoid medications during pregnancy, if possible. If you take medications regularly and become pregnant, tell your doctor. We will help you determine if you can continue the medications during pregnancy.
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Back to topQ: I am pregnant and I have cold symptoms. What medication is safe for me to take?
A: You may use plain Sudafed® or Actifed®, cough drops, throat or nasal spray, Tylenol® for a headache or fever or plain Robitussin® for a cough. Do not take anything containing dextromethorphan (sometimes abbreviated DXM or DM), which may be found in some cold medicines. Check the label for this active ingredient. Call the office if your fever is above 101 degrees or if your drainage turns dark yellow or green.
Back to topQ: I am pregnant and I have a headache. What medication is safe for me to take?
A: You may use plain or Extra Strength Tylenol® or other brand of acetaminophen. Do not take anything containing aspirin or ibuprofen, and don’t use Aleve® (active ingredient: naproxen sodium). Call the office if you are in your last trimester and have a headache that is not relieved with Tylenol®, visual changes, upper right-sided epigastric pain or increased swelling.
Back to topQ: Can I get a perm or color my hair if I am pregnant?
A: Yes, but only with good ventilation.
Back to topQ: I am pregnant and want to do some painting. Is this safe?
A: Yes, but only with good ventilation.
Back to topQ: I am pregnant and have a toothache. What can the dentist do for me that is safe for my baby?
A: A shielded x-ray is OK if it is necessary. Local anesthesia can be used, but no general anesthesia or nitrous oxide (laughing gas) should be used. Tylenol® or other brands of acetaminophen are OK, and narcotics with a Tylenol® (acetaminophen) base are OK if needed. Do not take ibuprofen, aspirin, Aleve® (active ingredient: naproxen sodium) or NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Penicillin-based antibiotics are also OK, but call the office if you are not sure. Do not take doxycycline or ciprofloxacin.
Back to topQ: Is it safe to get a flu shot if I am pregnant?
A: After the first trimester, flu shots are safe.
Back to topQ: I am pregnant and I have the flu. What can I do?
A: Rest as much as possible. If you’re not keeping food down, start out taking just sips of fluid or ice chips. Gradually increase to clear liquids and then other liquids, and then try the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast). Reintroduce dairy last. Once you can keep fluids down, you may take Tylenol® for a fever. If you have a lot of diarrhea, Imodium® is OK. Call the office if you are not urinating.
Back to topQ: I am pregnant and have symptoms of a yeast infection (like vaginal itching and white discharge). What can I do?
A: You can use Monistat® or a generic over-the-counter 3- or 7-day treatment. Don’t take Diflucan® (generic name: fluconazole). Call the office if symptoms are not relieved or worsen.
Q: At what age should I start my gynecology visits?
A: Age 18 or when you become sexually active.
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Q: How often should I have a Pap test?
A: Annually. After several normal pap smears, your doctor may decide not to do a Pap test every year. However, you should still have the rest of the gynecological examination. If you have had a hysterectomy (with the cervix removed) or if you have ever had an abnormal Pap, yearly Pap tests are recommended. If your Paps were always normal before the hysterectomy, you should have a gynecological exam every year and a Pap test every three to five years.
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Q: Can I use my Wooster OB-GYN physician as my primary care physician?
A: Yes. Primary care is routinely handled by our physicians.
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Q: What do I do if I miss one of my birth control pills?
A: If you miss one pill, take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at your regular time. This means you may take two pills in one day. You do not need to use a back-up birth control method.
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Q: What do I do if I miss two of my birth control pills?
A: Avoid intercourse until you call your pharmacy or our office.
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Q: I'm on birth control pills and am going on vacation. I don't want to have a period. Can I avoid it?
A: Some pills can be used to manipulate the timing of your period if you start early (two to five months before your trip). Skipping the fourth week of "blank" pills and starting a new package will extend your cycle one or several weeks. Call the office to individualize a plan with one of our nursing staff.
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Q: Do I need to take my birth control pills at the same time every day?
A: No, but you will have an easier time remembering to take the pills daily if you routinely take them at the same time. You may also have fewer break-through bleeding episodes. The time of day you take the pill should not affect birth control effectiveness.
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Q: Is it normal to have side effects when starting birth control pills?
A: Yes. The most common are nausea and spotting, especially during the first one to three months.
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Q: Do I need to use extra protection for the first month when starting birth control pills?
A: Yes. Birth control pills are not considered effective for birth control until the end of one four-week cycle pack (about one month).
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Q: Are there any medications I should be taking if I'm trying to get pregnant?
A: You should take a daily multivitamin with at least 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) of folic acid.
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Q: When I start taking birth control pills, how long do I need to wait before I am sure they are working as a contraceptive?
A: One four-week cycle pack or about a month.
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Back to topQ: How often do I need a screening mammogram?
A: You may get a baseline mammogram starting at age 35. Yearly mammograms are recommended after age 40. Everyone needs a yearly breast exam by a physician.
Back to topQ: How often do I need a screening bone density scan?
A: Every 2-3 years is the usual frequency.
Back to topQ: I missed a birth control pill and now I am spotting. What do I do?
A: Take the missed pill as soon as possible. If you did not notice until the next day, take both pills at once. You may have some irregular spotting, but continue the pill as normal. The spotting may continue for a month until your hormones level out.
Back to topQ: I have been on birth control for one month and I am having some spotting. Is this normal?
A: It may take 2-3 months to regulate your hormones on a new birth control pill.
Back to topQ: My period is late, but the pregnancy test I took was negative. What should I do?
A: Wait one week and take another pregnancy test.
Back to topQ: I have been on birth control for several months, and I am not having a period or only spotting when I should have a period. Is this normal?
A: Depending on what birth control you are using, it can be normal for you to have a very short period or none at all.
Q: I am trying to get pregnant. How long should I wait before talking with my doctor about infertility?
A: Typically we advise trying for one year, unless you are of advanced maternal age. If you have questions about your ability to become pregnant, please call the office for a consultation.
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