What should you do if you forgot to take a birth control pill?

Don’t panic.

Don’t beat yourself up.

We’ve got you.

Click here for detailed instructions based on the type of birth control pills and number of pills missed.

Depo-Provera is a hormone injection given every 3 months to prevent pregnancy.  This medication is a safe form of birth control and works by stopping ovulation. When taken on time, Depo-Provera is 94% effective at preventing pregnancy (birth control pills are 91% effective).

For Depo-Provera to work properly, it is important to get a new shot every 11-13 weeks.  It is also important to keep track of when to get your next shot.  Click this link to know when your next dose it due.  You can add reminders to your smartphone and never miss a dose again!

Healthy sex is safe sex.

Take the time to schedule an appointment to discuss any concerns or questions that you may have been hesitant to bring up with other medical providers, such as: changes in libido; healthy practices with multiple partners; understanding the importance of consent; and bleeding or discharge after sex.  We can also prescribe medication to prevent HIV infection.

Knowledge is sexy too, so call us at 860-528-1359 to schedule an appointment today!

Our Women’s Health Department provides compassionate quality, comprehensive obstetric and gynecological services to patients regardless of their ability to pay for services.

Our providers include board-certified ob/gyn physician, nurse practitioner, registered nurses and certified nurse midwife with specialized training. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of gynecological and obstetrical care available to women of all ages.

Obstetrics:

We care for you before (prenatal), during and after the birth of your child.

Our providers develop an individualized prenatal care plan for you including routine prenatal visits, labs, ultrasounds and a postpartum (after the baby) visit. It may also include specific tests and ultrasounds and referrals to specialized providers. We also encourage our prenatal patients to receive proper dental care.

We provide:

* Prenatal care by our board certified obstetricians, who can see you through delivery, problems      and postpartum care

* Early pregnancy dating ultrasounds, evaluation of amniotic fluid, and assessment of fetal position in the office

* Antenatal non-stress testing in the office

* Education, such as childbirth and breastfeeding classes, prenatal yoga, and prenatal nutrition and referral to our Parents as Teachers program

* Family-centered births at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT

* Pregnancy & Postpartum Adjustment screenings (link to below)

Gynecology:

We treat the whole woman with Well Woman HealthChecks. The Well Woman program helps low-income, uninsured and underinsured women gain access to age appropriate breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services including clinical breast exams, mammograms, Pap & HPV tests and pelvic exams. Diagnostic testing such as ultrasounds, biopsies and other tests are also available if screening results are abnormal. Referrals are made for treatment as necessary.

Since education plays a vital role in avoiding late stage diagnosis, clients are encouraged to be advocates for their own health whenever possible.

Our efforts begin by providing preconception (before pregnancy) care. Pre-pregnancy consultations allow you to address concerns and health issues with a medical provider to ensure you are in the best possible health prior to becoming pregnant. Preconception care includes routine well woman exams; family planning/birth control; diet and exercise counseling; and maintenance of chronic gynecological conditions.

We provide:

* Preconception Care Before Pregnancy

* Mammography via the “Mammogram Bus” program

* General well-woman and preventative care

*All methods of birth control (Nexplanon insert, IUDs, Pills, Ortho-Evra Patch, NuvarRing, Depo Provera injection, Tubal ligation)

We also offer evaluation and treatment for:

• Abnormal Pap smears
• Ovarian cysts
• Incontinence and urinary problems
• Menopausal symptoms
• Miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy
• Infections, including STI treatment and counseling
• Pelvic pain
• Infertility
• Obesity
• Skin conditions; removal of skin lesions
• PCO (polycystic ovary syndrome)
• PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome)
• Abnormal bleeding
• Minimally-invasive treatments for heavy bleeding that are alternatives to hysterectomy
• Breast problems
• Cervical cone biopsy/LWEET procedures to remove precancerous cervical cells
• Second opinions for patients already receiving care for gynecologic or obstetric concerns

Surgery:

We have dedicated staff to walk you through the process of scheduling your surgery and what to expect from your physician as well as the facility. Our physicians also offer surgical consults and have privileges at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center and the West Hartford Surgical Center, an outpatient surgery center. Gynecologic surgery Gynecologic surgery at St. Francis Hospital including endometrial ablation and hysterectomy

Minimally invasive surgery
Tubal ligations – Tubal ligation and tubal removal at West Hartford Surgery Center

After Hours Care: We have 24 hour Emergency coverage through an answering service. If your call is regarding an appointment, referral, billing or prescription refill, we ask you to call during normal operating hours.

Prescription Refills: 48 hours notice for refills is required. No prescriptions are refilled after hours or on weekends. NO NARCOTICS ARE PRESCRIBED WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT

Please call 860-528-1359 to schedule your appointment.

Pregnancy & Postpartum Adjustment
Having a baby is usually a happy time in a family’s life. It can also be a stressful time – no matter how much you love your baby or how much you’ve looked forward to the experience. Giving birth puts new mothers through a physical, mental and emotional wringer, which can lead to exhaustion, sleep deprivation and lack of time for themselves. Many women experience emotional changes after childbirth called the baby blues, which are described as mild depression mixed with happier feelings. This is a normal part of new motherhood brought on by all of the hormonal changes that occur after birth. Baby blues symptoms may include tiredness, feeling overwhelmed, difficulty sleeping, moodiness, feelings of sadness, feelings of loneliness, concentration problems, appetite changes, crying spells and feeling nervous or anxious. Symptoms of the baby blues usually show up within a few days after childbirth and can last from several days to a couple of weeks.

If the baby blues last more than two weeks, or if symptoms become worse, you may have a form of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. These symptoms can include sadness, depression, irritability, anger, anxiety, feeling out of control, problems eating or sleeping, upsetting thoughts you can’t get out of your mind, concerns you might hurt your baby or yourself and a lack of desire to do normal everyday things.

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders occur more often than most people realize. Approximately 75-80% of new moms experience mild depression during postpartum and 15% of women experience significant depression and anxiety following childbirth. Symptoms can start anytime during pregnancy or the first year postpartum.

Screening for perinatal mood disorders is recommended during pregnancy and postpartum. There is a screening tool designed to detect postpartum depression. If you have concerns about your emotional state, complete this self-test: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. If you feel you have postpartum depression, it can be helpful to bring the completed form to your doctor or therapist. All new mothers are screened for Perinatal Mood Disorders before discharge from Saint Francis Hospital.