Hi, just a reminder that you're receiving this newsletter because you have given us your email address in the office or have subscribed directly from our website or social media pages. Please do not reply to this email box. You can use the link below (scroll to bottom of page) if you wish to unsubscribe. DO NOT SEND PERSONAL MEDICAL INFORMATION VIA EMAIL.
The medical information provided in this email is for educational purposes only. These pages are not intended to provide medical advice or physician instruction, and it is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your physician prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Erin Hall-Minnie to Sparks & Favor. She will begin seeing patients in August.
Originally from Monroe, Louisiana, Dr. Erin Hall-Minnie credits her non-medical family and several dedicated high school science teachers with encouraging her interest in medicine. Her academic success and character as a medical student earned her election to the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
Dr. Hall-Minnie says she chose obstetrics and gynecology because “I love the opportunity to build relationships with my patients that can make a difference in their health as they go through significant life events. At the same time, I can channel my passion for advocacy toward improving the availability and quality of women’s health care.” As a Junior Fellow Section Officer for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, she has worked on some of these issues at the national level on Capitol Hill, as well as at the state and local level in Texas. She has accumulated an impressive record of service in healthcare, volunteering on medical missions in Nicaragua, Uganda, Honduras, and Kenya, and in numerous community programs.
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Should You Postpone Your Mammogram After Receiving the COVID Vaccine? |
Or...should you delay your vaccine until after your scheduled mammogram?
These questions have arisen recently after reports that 10 to 15% of COVID vaccinated women have developed an enlarged lymph node in the area of the breast under the arm on the side where they received the shot. A SWOLLEN LYMPH NODE IS NOT A HARMFUL COMPLICATION OF YOUR SHOT. The TEMPORARY swelling and possible tenderness of lymph nodes is a common reaction to this and many other types of vaccines. A vaccine’s purpose is to activate the body’s immune system against an invading bacteria or virus—in this case, coronavirus—so that these defenses are ready if a real infection occurs. The lymph nodes are part of the body’s defense system. The enlarged lymph node should disappear in a few days to a few weeks. Consult your doctor if it persists or gets larger.
Unfortunately, an enlarged lymph node in the breast area can also be a warning sign of breast cancer.
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Celebrating Our 30th Anniversary |
With sincere gratitude to our patients.
On March 15, 1991, two young physicians from UAB opened the doors to their new office, and the practice Sparks & Favor saw its first patients. Along with Mrs. Edmonds, our practice administrator then and now, we began a journey that has continued for thirty years.
Along the way, we were fortunate that Drs. Stradtman, Gregory, and Whitehead shared our vision of the how a medical practice should provide care. More than just individual physicians sharing space and equipment, we have truly been a team over these many years. We share call with each other, but not outside of our group. If you need urgent care after hours, know that we share the same concern for each partner’s patients as for our own. We are grateful to have the support of partners we enjoy working with so much and whose judgment we trust and rely on.
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Our Instagram and Facebook Posts Keep You Informed |
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We rely on social media posts to provide you with announcements from our practice and alert you to important women's health information.
Facebook and Instagram allow us to reach out to you promptly with information such as COVID-19 facts affecting women's health, weather closings affecting our office, public health alerts, and more. We also use these media to keep you informed about a wide range of women's health issues. Our doctors believe that reliable information is key to achieving your best possible health! Our Facebook and Instagram posts give you on-the-go access to our blog and other health news captured in pics and video. We hope you'll follow us on one or both to stay in touch!
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The COVID Vaccine–an Incredible Gift |
Dr. Sparks talks about his own decision to be vaccinated and what he tells his patients.
In fulfilling our commitment to provide patient-centered care, are doctors too reluctant to influence the patient’s decision? Giving just the facts and statistics, and then leaving the decision to the patient, satisfies the ethical and legal requirements of informed consent. But I sense that this falls short of what many patients are really looking for. Friends don’t call me to ask for statistics. They want to know what I would choose for myself or my family. Many patients—especially those who have known me for years—want the same. I give a frank answer and tell them the reason for my choice. Then I respect their right to disagree.
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What Women Need to Know About Choosing the Safest Hormone Replacement Therapy. |
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FDA advises caution with custom-compounded "bio-identical" hormones and pellets,
Many more women are again interested in hormone therapy to control uncomfortable symptoms of menopause. We offer them up-to-date information and reassurance about safety. But a large and profitable market has sprung up preying on women’s safety concerns by offering “safer” and more “natural” alternatives to FDA-approved medications. The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) reminds women that—
"…there is no scientific evidence that these custom compounded medications are safer or more effective than government-approved hormones. NAMS supports the actions of the US Congress, FDA, and other scientific organizations that have warned about the potential harm from compounded bioidentical hormones."
With limited exceptions (some immunizations, RhoGAM, samples, etc.), we do not dispense medications in our office. These are FDA-approved. For most medications, we write a prescription for an FDA-approved product that you purchase from your pharmacy. We DO NOT SELL dietary supplements such as weight-loss products, herbal product, enzymes, etc. Dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA. We do not participate in marketing products that have not shown medical benefit for the patient, based on scientific research. We caution you to be aware of the profit motive when such products are recommended.
Learn more about the risks of non-FDA approved medications (including potential for higher risk of uterine cancer) in this short video clip from the North American Menopause Society.
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Sparks & Favor PC has been providing high-quality Ob-Gyn care to Birmingham women since 1991. In addition to care in our office, we provide 24/7 care for our obstetric patients and those with urgent gynecologic problems. Only our physicians provide after-hours care, as we do not share call with any other group. We appreciate your confidence in us and hope to participate in your care for many years.
Appointments: 205-397-1286
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