Women’s Health and Endometriosis Awareness

People who menstruate, regardless of gender status, can suffer many reproductive health challenges that can seem scary or unpleasant to see a doctor for. Our urgent care sees more and more people come in for tampon removal, UTI’s, yeast infections, and other reproductive health ailments. We want you and anyone in your family to know we treat reproductive health ailments without judgement, but with compassion and confidence. You can request a female provider at our urgent care, we are more than welcome to accommodate if a female provider is available.

It can be scary to go to a new medical office for sensitive issues, but it is our first priority to help you feel comfortable and safe at our centers. Many gynecology offices are only open during typical office hours, and it can be hard to schedule an appointment in a timely manner for your health issue. We have evening and weekend hours exactly for this reason – so that you can get the care you need when you need it. It can be from temporary prescription refills on contraception, to menopause relief, STD testing, and much more.

Lack of prenatal care and checkups during pregnancy are leading causes for maternal mortality in the US[1]. Lack of affordable healthcare is often the reason for reduced access to medical services, so we offer an affordable self-pay options for those who may not have insurance or adequate insurance. Many of our staff at our urgent care center are parents ourselves, so we know the importance of compassion that goes into quality medical care, so our community is as healthy as can be.

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month

Endometriosis is a condition that affects 1 in 6 people who menstruate in the US[2]. Many symptoms of endometriosis are those many associate with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) but it could be a sign of something else going on. Endometriosis, often referred to as endo, is when soft tissue found in the uterus is also found in other parts of the abdomen. This is just one of many health conditions women face and may feel embarrassed to see a doctor for their condition.

The symptoms associated with endometriosis can look a lot like symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease or other reproductive issues.

Common signs and symptoms of endometriosis include:

Painful periods (dysmenorrhea). Pelvic pain and cramping may begin before and extend several days into a menstrual period. You may also have lower back and abdominal pain.
Pain with intercourse. Pain during or after sex is common with endometriosis.
Pain with bowel movements or urination. You’re most likely to experience these symptoms during a menstrual period.
Excessive bleeding. You may experience occasional heavy menstrual periods or bleeding between periods (intermenstrual bleeding).
Infertility. Sometimes, endometriosis is first diagnosed in those seeking treatment for infertility.
Other signs and symptoms. You may experience fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, bloating or nausea, especially during menstrual periods.

The severity of your pain may not be a reliable indicator of the extent of your condition. You could have mild endometriosis with severe pain, or you could have advanced endometriosis with little or no pain[3]. For an accurate diagnosis of your current, or possible endometriosis, a visit to a GYN is required.

Please note our urgent care does not/cannot diagnose Endometriosis.

Please note if you require prenatal care, please visit your OB/GYN.

Please note if you are having an issue with a pregnancy, do not wait and visit your local Emergency Room for prompt care.

Author: Marissa Klein

[1] The Commonwealth Fund: How the US Fails Women When It Comes to Health, Jan 24 2019. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/podcast/2019/jan/how-us-fails-women-when-it-comes-health

[2] Office on Women’s Health: Endometriosis, February 22, 2021. https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/endometriosis#:~:text=How%20common%20is%20endometriosis%3F,the%20United%20States%2C%20have%20endometriosis.

[3] Mayo Clinic: What is Endometriosis? A Mayo Clinic Expert Explains, July 24, 2018. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/endometriosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354656#:~:text=Endometriosis%20is%20a%20condition%20in,including%20the%20bowel%20and%20bladder.