Women's Health Specialist
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Premium Care Internal Medicine
Internists located in Santa Barbara, CA
Premium Care Internal Medicine is a specialized primary care practice dedicated to meeting all of the healthcare needs of women, which includes everything you’d expect, like preventive care and management of chronic health conditions, as well as pelvic exams, birth control, and menopause care. Dr. Brittany Bryan provides personalized care for women in the Santa Barbara, California area. If you have any concerns about your health or questions about our women’s health services, don’t hesitate to call our office or book an appointment online.
Women's Health Q & A
Why is a well-woman examination important?
Your annual preventive care examination, often called a well-woman examination, gives your doctor at Premium Care Internal Medicine the opportunity to catch subtle changes in your health that weren’t there during your last exam. When chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and thyroid disease are caught at an early stage — before you even notice symptoms — your doctor can develop a treatment plan to prevent the condition from worsening.
What women’s health services can I receive?
Women can count on the trusted physicians at Premium Care Internal Medicine for comprehensive services. You receive a thorough physical examination and routine blood screening for cholesterol, blood sugar, and other biomarkers of cardiovascular health.
These services are commonly included as part of women’s health services:
- Pelvic exam
- Breast exam
- Pap smear to test for cervical cancer
- Birth control
- Testing for sexually transmitted disease
- Nutrition counseling
- Weight management
- Immunizations as recommended for your age and health status
- Recommended health screenings
Can I receive comprehensive menopause care?
Your ovaries begin releasing fewer hormones in the years before you reach menopause, then you reach menopause when they stop producing estrogen. The average age of menopause is 51, but it can occur anytime in your 40s or 50s.
The symptoms associated with menopause can begin in the years before menopause and continue for many years after menopause. For some women, menopause symptoms are so severe they interfere with normal daily life and sleeping. Your dedicated doctor at Premium Care Internal Medicine provides menopause treatment to alleviate symptoms such as:
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Painful intercourse
- Low sex drive
- Mood changes
- Difficult or frequent urination
How does loss of estrogen affect my health?
Estrogen has many roles throughout your body. It regulates bone metabolism, maintains elasticity in tissues such as blood vessels and the vaginal lining, and promotes skin hydration and strength.
When you lose estrogen at menopause, your risk for the following health conditions increases:
- Heart disease
- Vaginal atrophy
- Aging skin
- Hair loss
- Urinary incontinence
- Loss of bone density and osteoporosis
Women’s risk for osteoporosis significantly increases following menopause. Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones become thin, brittle, and weak. You can be screened for osteoporosis with a bone density test — a special dual-energy X-ray test — that shows the health of your bones.
