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Blog Archive

Why Are Pap Smears So Uncomfortable for Me? Dec 9th, 2024

You know that Pap smears play a key part in your gynecological care, screening you for early warning signs of cervical cancer. But your last Pap was such an unpleasant experience that you put off scheduling your next screening. Why do so many women find Pap smears physically or emotionally...

 Do I Really Need Birth Control If I'm Breastfeeding? Nov 6th, 2024

Your body goes through a lot of changes as you give birth to and breastfeed your new baby, and eventually return to postnatal sexual activity with your partner. Chances are, you’ve got a lot on your mind! It can be tricky to keep track of myths and facts about your...

7 Tips to Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy Oct 15th, 2024

A healthy pregnancy starts, in many ways, before you conceive and begin gestating a new life. When you’re planning on becoming pregnant or trying to conceive, take steps proactively to prepare your body to support and sustain a healthy pregnancy. The right prenatal care and preparation benefits both mother and...

How Will I Know When I've Made it Through Menopause? Sep 9th, 2024

Some periods of our lives begin and end unexpectedly, without any telltale red mark on a specific calendar day to let us know what’s coming or going. Often, for women, menopause is one of those times. Both the beginning and the end of menopause varies, and can be challenging to...

4 Types of Birth Control to Consider While You're Family Planning Aug 15th, 2024

You love your family, and want to plan out its growth to fit with all of your unique needs. Birth control offers you ways to manage fertility, so that you can have children when you’re ready to do so. You can also prevent conception if it’s not a good time...

4 STIs and How to Prevent Them Jul 11th, 2024

At Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, our experienced and knowledgeable gynecology providers have you covered when it comes to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). These diseases can be passed from person to person during oral, anal, or vaginal sex.  Led by board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Mary Grace Bridges, Women’s Health...

Menopause Triggered Stress Urinary Incontinence: What Are The Treatment Options? Jun 24th, 2024

As you get older, many changes take place in your life, and your body isn’t exempt. If anything, your body goes through a gauntlet of challenges. For women, the period of menopause is a time of significant physical and emotional change, as your body undergoes the ending of your monthly...

When Should My Teen Begin Seeing a Gynecologist? May 2nd, 2024

It seems like it was just yesterday that your teen was a child, and needed to visit a pediatrician for medical care and checkups. Now that your teenager is growing up, when should you schedule her first visit to a gynecologist? What gynecological care do teens need, and what should...

5 Reasons Your Doctor May Recommend a Partial or Total Hysterectomy Apr 10th, 2024

A total hysterectomy refers to the surgical removal of your uterus. In a partial hysterectomy, the surgeon removes only the upper part of your uterus, leaving your cervix intact. Why might you need one of these surgical procedures? Hysterectomy is a common surgery in women’s health care in the United...

What Are The Official Pap Smear Guidelines - How Often Should I Go? Mar 2nd, 2024

Regular Pap smears are an important part of women’s wellness care. Pap smears are one of the best ways to detect early warning signs of cervical cancer. With this screening tool, you can protect yourself from cervical cancer. You might not be sure whether you’re due for a Pap smear....

Weighing the Pros and Cons of Preventive Breast Surgery Feb 1st, 2024

Breast cancer affects your breast tissue. If you have high genetic, hormonal, or lifestyle risks for breast cancer, at some point, you may consider having your breasts surgically removed in order to avoid cancer. Any time you have major surgery, it’s a big decision. You may have strong personal emotions...

Cervical Cancer Prevention: A Routine Pap Smear Can Save Your Life Jan 18th, 2024

Cervical cancer can be life-threatening, but is easier to treat successfully with early detection. That’s why routine Pap smears at your regularly-scheduled well-woman exam are so important for your health. The results of your Pap smear could literally save your life. At Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, board-certified...

Understanding the Various Types of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Dec 1st, 2023

There are lots of different ways of preventing pregnancy out there, and lots of birth control options for you to choose. Which type of birth control is right for you? If you’re like many women, you’re looking for a long-term solution to fertility management. You might want to get pregnant...

All About Gestational Diabetes: Risk Factors, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention Nov 14th, 2023

It’s National Diabetes Month, and Dr. Mary Grace Bridges and the team at Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin want to take this opportunity to tell you more about gestational diabetes. This condition occurs during pregnancy, and often goes away on its own after delivery. However, gestational diabetes creates...

When Is a Hysterectomy Recommended? Oct 2nd, 2023

In an ideal world, you’d never have health problems requiring invasive treatment like surgery. But, sometimes, it’s true that the best way to keep you in good health for years to come is surgery to address internal issues. One common, and often lifesaving, procedure, surgical removal of your uterus, is...

How Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Help Menopause Symptoms? Sep 1st, 2023

Menopause marks the end of the female monthly menstrual cycle, and the end of childbearing capability. If it’s been a full year since your last menstrual period, you’re in menopause. Menopause arrives for most women when they’re in their 50s. Before menopause is complete, you may experience a period of...

Should I Be Concerned About an Abnormal Pap Smear? Aug 3rd, 2023

Getting a regular Pap smear protects you against cervical cancer, which is easier to treat successfully if detected early. At Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Mary Grace Bridges and her team provide Pap smears, and additionally help patients interpret their results. Dr. Bridges offers Pap smears and other gynecology services...

How Do I Know if an IUD Is a Good Birth Control Option for Me? Jul 3rd, 2023

At Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, Dr. Mary Grace Bridges and her obstetrics and gynecology team prioritize your reproductive health and family planning needs. We provide a variety of types of birth control to new and existing patients from our offices in Odessa and Midland, Texas, including intrauterine devices (IUDs). Dr. Bridges...

How Soon Can I Get Pregnant After Giving Birth? Jun 7th, 2023

When you give birth, you achieve so much. Your new baby attests to that! But, it takes a lot out of you doing the physical work of creating another person during the months of pregnancy. Your body needs time and space to recover after giving birth before becoming pregnant again....

How to Determine the Right Type of Birth Control for You May 19th, 2023

With birth control, you decide when you’re ready to become pregnant, and when you want to prevent pregnancy. Today, you have lots of forms of birth control to choose from! All types of birth control work to prevent unwanted pregnancy. At Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, experienced OB/GYN...

When to Consider Breast Surgery for Chronic Back Pain Apr 13th, 2023

Your bust line can create problems for your back. If you have larger or heavier breasts, the load your upper back and shoulders carry may result in chronic back pain. You may be able to find lasting back pain relief with breast reduction surgery. Dr. Mary Grace Bridges and the...

Is a Hysterectomy Too Drastic to Treat Endometriosis? Mar 16th, 2023

Painful periods are never fun, but if you have endometriosis, they could also be a sign of a more serious underlying issue with your reproductive health. Endometriosis is a chronic condition with many negative potential impacts on your reproductive health and wellness. And, endometriosis is fairly common. If you suffer...

What Constitutes a High-Risk Pregnancy? Feb 2nd, 2023

All pregnancies are suspenseful, and often stressful. No matter the risk level associated with your pregnancy, you need expert OB/GYN attention and care. But, if your pregnancy could be defined as high risk, you could find yourself dealing with additional stressors, and in need of more specialized medical support. Contact...

How Often Do I Need a Pelvic Exam? Jan 10th, 2023

Pelvic exams give your OB/GYN an opportunity to check in on the health of your female organs and reproductive system. Regular pelvic exams and Pap smears are an essential part of every woman’s health care. You can receive your regular pelvic exam at Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin,...

I'm Embarrassed About My Incontinence Dec 12th, 2022

Urinary incontinence, or leakage of urine, can be an embarrassing health problem to have. However, urinary incontinence affects more people than you might realize, especially among women, and especially as you get older. No matter your age, board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Mary Grace Bridges provides full gynecological care for her patients at Women’s Health Partners...

How Long Should I Expect My Menopause Symptoms to Last? Nov 9th, 2022

During the aging process, changes take place in a woman’s reproductive system. At a certain point in your life, most typically in your 50s, you’ll start to experience hormonal shifts that herald the end of your monthly menstrual cycle and your ability to become pregnant. Menopause is a process, not a...

Can I Get Pregnant If I Have Endometriosis? Oct 1st, 2022

Are your monthly menstrual periods unusually painful? You might have a condition known as endometriosis. In addition to painful periods, endometriosis can result in fertility problems, making it more difficult for you to become pregnant. At Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Mary Grace Bridges provides ongoing...

How to Prevent Recurrent UTIs Sep 1st, 2022

The only thing that’s worse than a urinary tract infection (UTI) is a recurrent UTI that keeps flaring back up over and over. Symptoms like a constant need to urinate and blood in your urine leave you uncomfortable and anxious about the health and function of some of your most...

How Effective is the Birth Control Ring? Aug 1st, 2022

Birth control puts you in control of your reproductive health and activity. At Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, Dr. Mary Grace Bridges can help you understand all of your options for birth control. She provides personalized care to new and existing patients from around the Odessa and Midland, Texas area. For...

Why Is My Period So Heavy? Jul 6th, 2022

If you’re bleeding through tampons or pads every hour during your time of the month, know that this heavy bleeding may be a sign that something more is going on with your body. At Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, our board-certified OB/GYN Mary Grace Bridges, MD understands how...