Mothers play a central role in shaping their daughters’ knowledge of and attitudes about sexual health. Having the talk isn’t always easy, but it is important. By having open communication with your daughter, you can help her protect herself from STDs and unwanted pregnancies and see going to the gynecologist for checkups as a normal part of well-being. Although the conversation can be tricky, these tips will help you get started.

Don’t Wait for the Right Moment

There is no perfect time to start talking to your teen about sexual health. Instead of waiting for the exact right moment, seize on opportunities that arise. Something on a television show or movie or a snippet of an overheard conversation can be all that you need to broach the subject. Your daughter may be resistant to having the conversation, but the message you want to deliver will still get through. Keep bringing up the subject when you see an opportunity, as sexual health should be an ongoing conversation as your teen daughter grows.

Get Real About the Pressures

You may not want to think about the pressures your teen is likely to be facing, but ignoring them could put your daughter at risk. Be upfront and honest as you discuss issues of sexual activity, STDs, and birth control pills. Tell your daughter how to protect herself and how to get help if she thinks she needs STD testing or could have an unwanted pregnancy.

Involve a Gynecologist

Your daughter should have her first gynecology checkup by age 18—or earlier, if she is sexually active. Help your daughter find a gynecologist she feels comfortable talking to, and give her the freedom to talk to the doctor on her own about her sexual health concerns.

The compassionate team at Washington Surgi-Clinic offers supportive care to women of all ages for everything from Pap smears to STD treatment and pregnancy termination in Washington, D.C. For an appointment, please call (202) 659-9403.

It is possible for a gynecologist to detect early cervical cancer and pre-cancerous changes by performing a Pap smear. Routine Pap tests can save lives, especially since cervical cancer often does not cause unusual symptoms in its early stages. By the time the symptoms develop, the cancer is typically already in an advanced stage.

These signs and symptoms are generally localized, such as pain during sexual intercourse, and an abnormal vaginal discharge that may occur between periods and may contain blood. Abnormal vaginal bleeding is another possible sign of cervical cancer. It may occur after douching, after a pelvic exam, after vaginal sex, between periods, and after menopause. Systemic health problems can also occur when cervical cancer spreads. These include fatigue and unintentional weight loss.

Women can schedule an exam and Pap smear in Washington, D.C. at Washington Surgi-Clinic. Call us at (202) 659-9403 and visit us online to read about our other women’s health services, including HPV treatment and pregnancy termination.

Using birth control methods such as pills as prescribed by your gynecologist is an effective way to prevent unintended pregnancies. But it’s important to remember that it’s still possible for an unintended pregnancy to occur, especially if you miss a few days of pills. If you think you might be pregnant, you should see a gynecologist right away for a lab test. The estimation of your due date will be a significant factor in determining which type of pregnancy termination is available to you.

Watch this video for an introduction about calculating due dates. This doctor explains that your due date is calculated from the first day of your last period. From this point, you can count 280 days forward to arrive at an estimated due date.

The gynecologists at Washington Surgi-Clinic provide safe and legal chemical pregnancy terminations up to six weeks’ gestation, as well as surgical pregnancy termination. You can learn more about pregnancy termination near Washington, D.C. by calling (202) 659-9403.

The birth control patch releases a combination of hormones to prevent unintended pregnancies. It works by preventing ovulation, and altering the uterine lining and cervical mucus. For many women, the patch is an ideal birth control method because it doesn’t involve remembering to take a pill at the same time every day. For maximum effectiveness, it’s important to follow the prescribing instructions as given by your gynecologist or pharmacist.

Applying the Patch

The birth control patch must be applied to clean, dry skin that is free of lotions, powders, and other products. Press the patch to your skin firmly for 10 seconds and ensure the edges adhere well to your skin. You can place the patch on your stomach, buttocks, upper back, or the outside of your upper arm. Avoid placing it over irritated or broken skin, or where it will be underneath tight clothing such as a waistband. Your gynecologist will instruct you to either apply the patch on the first Sunday after the start of your period or on the first day of your period.

Discarding the Patch

Each patch is worn for seven days. After removing an old patch, fold it in half and discard it in a manner that makes it inaccessible to children and pets. It should not be flushed. You should remove the old patch and apply the new one on the same day each week for three consecutive weeks. After three weeks, remove the old patch and do not apply a new patch for seven full days. This is the week that you will have your period.

Following Special Instructions

Your gynecologist may ask that you check the patch every day to ensure it is still adhering well to your skin. If it becomes loose, discard it and apply a new patch. If you are referred for any medical tests, surgical procedures, or bed rest, inform the provider that you’re using the birth control patch. You may be advised to discontinue its use temporarily. It’s recommended that women avoid consuming grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and other grapefruit products while using the patch because these may interfere with its effectiveness. Women should not smoke while using hormonal birth control due to the risk of blood clots.

You can discuss the various birth control methods available in Washington, D.C. by scheduling an appointment with a gynecologist. Call Washington Surgi-Clinic at (202) 659-9403. Our clinic is dedicated to maintaining the strictest standards of patient confidentiality.

Roe v. Wade is among the most well-known Supreme Court cases because it affirmed the reproductive rights of women in the U.S. The right of women to obtain pregnancy terminations has long been a controversial subject. Because of this, it is important for every woman, currently pregnant or not, to understand her right to have a pregnancy termination performed in a safe, legal manner by a gynecologist.

Case Background

In 1971, Norma McCorvey filed a case against the District Attorney of Dallas County, Henry Wade. In the court documents, McCorvey was identified as “Jane Roe.” At the time, Texas prohibited abortions except in cases where it was necessary to save the patient’s life. To fully understand this issue, it’s helpful to go back further in time. Abortion was legal in the U.S. at the country’s founding. It only became a subject of legal restrictions in the mid-1800s. But many states began reforming these restrictive laws and by the 1960s, pregnancy termination was more widely accessible in 17 states. Yet, countless women still did not have access to safe, legal pregnancy termination services—because of both financial and legal restrictions. Low-income, minority women were disproportionately affected. According to the Guttmacher Institute, abortion was the official cause of death for 2,700 women in 1930 because of the lack of healthcare accessibility.

Supreme Court Ruling

In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of personal liberty and privacy extended to a woman’s right to decide whether to bear a child. Roe v. Wade has undoubtedly helped to save the lives of countless women who otherwise would have tried dangerous methods to end pregnancies.

State Laws

Each state establishes its own pregnancy termination regulations. Some, for example, require the consent of a parent if the patient is legally a minor. Washington, D.C. does not have restrictive abortion laws. As of January 2017, the only restriction in the District of Columbia is a prohibition on public funding of abortions. However, public funding is still available in cases of rape, incest, and life endangerment of the mother.

The gynecology team at Washington Surgi-Clinic firmly believes that every woman should have access to high-quality healthcare delivered by compassionate providers. We provide nonsurgical and surgical pregnancy terminations in Washington, D.C. Call (202) 659-9403 to request a confidential appointment to discuss a first or second trimester abortion.