September is ovarian cancer awareness month.   Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S.  Dr. Judy Stark and her partners at Southdale Ob Gyn recommend annual GYN exams which include pelvic exams that are imperative in detecting ovarian cancer.  Annual GYN exams, also called Well Women exams include breast cancer screening,  discussion of menstrual  and sexual health; review of life style habits such as alcohol and tobacco use,  nutrition and contraception; screening for depression  and mental wellness; and assessment of  current health status by evaluating body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure.

Depending on your personal health history, and risk factors, your provider may also order laboratory tests, such as lipid/cholesterol screening, or thyroid assessment.

Symptoms of Ovarian cancer include: 

Bloating or an increase of abdominal size

Pelvic or abdominal pain

Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly

If you have any of the  ovarian cancer symptoms above, or any other GYN concerns, call our office to schedule an appointment with one our physicians or nurse practitioners.

Early detection of ovarian cancer improves survival. Spread the word and learn more in ACOG's patient education FAQ: http://ow.ly/BhusC 

It appears the baby recession really is over: Preliminary figures show U.S. births were up last year for the first time in seven years.

If you or someone you know is child bearing age, check out this article from the Star Tribune that highlights statistics from a recent report on U.S. births.  If you need pre-conception care, prenatal care or postpartum care Southdale Ob Gyn provides exception care for women during all stages of pregnancy.