Gardnerella is a type of bacteria that is associated with a vaginal infection called bacterial vaginosis. Although many women with a gardnerella infection do not experience any symptoms, those that do often mistakenly believe they have a yeast infection and attempt to treat it with over-the-counter remedies rather than visiting the gynecologist for a diagnosis. If you have these vaginal infection symptoms, visit your doctor. Determining the proper diagnosis is essential for effective vaginal infection treatment.

Odor

Odor is one of the most defining characteristics of a gardnerella infection that sets it apart from other vaginal issues. The odor usually described as having a fishy odor. Your gynecologist may screen for this odor using a process called the whiff test. A small amount of vaginal discharge is placed on a slide and combined with a drop of potassium hydroxide. If this creates a fishy odor, gardnerella could be present.

Discharge

Many type of vaginal infections cause a discharge, so your gynecologist will examine the type of discharge you have closely. Typically, bacterial vaginosis associated with gardnerella is thin and yellowish or white in color. This characteristic helps to distinguish between gardnerella and yeast infections, which usually cause a thicker, clumpier discharge. Gardnerella discharge is not usually accompanied by vaginal irritation, as the discharge caused by yeast infections often is. Your gynecologist may also test the pH of the discharge. Bacterial vaginosis causes a low acidity discharge with a pH higher than 4.5.

White Coating

A white coating frequently appears on the vaginal walls with this type of infection. Your gynecologist can identify this coating during a pelvic exam. Typically, patients are diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis if they have this symptom along with other symptoms, rather than by having this symptom alone.

If you have the symptoms of a vaginal infection, visit a gynecologist in Washington, D.C. at Washington Surgi-Clinic for a fast diagnosis and treatment. We’re committed to providing compassionate care with complete patient confidentiality. Call (202) 659-9403 for more information.

Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are diseases that can pass from one partner to another during sex. STD testing is fast and easy, and typically only requires a blood sample, urine sample, or small tissue sample, such as a pap smear. There are several reasons to schedule STD testing, such as seeing a new sexual partner or engaging in sexual activities with several partners. Additionally, if you have had unprotected sex with a partner that has not undergone recent STD testing, it’s also a good idea to contact your gynecologist for an STD test. Because many sexually-transmitted diseases do not cause immediate or noticeable symptoms, it’s important to get tested even if you have not developed any new or concerning symptoms. Even if you are in a monogamous relationship, you may still wish to get tested once a year during your gynecological exam for convenience.

Washington Surgi-Clinic offers STD testing and STD treatment as part of our gynecology services near Washington, D.C., including testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and HIV. You can learn more about STD testing, birth control, and reproductive health on our website, or call (202) 659-9403 to speak with a staff member today.

Today, there are several birth control methods available if you wish to avoid a pregnancy. In addition to IUD placement and taking birth control pills, the birth control patch offers effective and easy birth control for women of all ages.

Like many other forms of birth control, the birth control patch releases hormones that prevent you from becoming pregnant. However, instead of remembering to take a birth control pill each day, the birth control patch only requires replacement once a week. You can learn more about the birth control patch and its risks and benefits by watching this short video.

Your gynecologist at Washington Surgi-Clinic can help you choose the right birth control option for your needs. You can schedule a gynecology appointment, pap smear, or STD test by calling (202) 659-9403, or visit us on the web to learn more about our available birth control methods in Washington, D.C.

Pain that occurs in the pelvis, or lowest part of the torso, may be an indicator of many conditions. Pelvic pain is much more common in women than in men, and is often, though not always, associated with the reproductive system. If you experience frequent or unexplained pelvic pain, schedule a visit with your gynecologist to determine its cause and the best course of treatment.

Pregnancy Problems

If you are currently pregnant or trying to become pregnant, pelvic pain should always prompt you to visit your gynecologist. Pelvic pain can be a sign of pregnancy complications that include ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, or placental abruption. Particularly if pelvic pain is sharp or extreme, or is accompanied by vaginal bleeding, it’s essential to seek medical care quickly—conditions such as ectopic pregnancy can threaten your health and well-being if they are not addressed immediately.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease, sometimes called PID, is an infection of the uterus. The most common PIDs are chlamydia and gonorrhea; if your gynecologist suspects that you are suffering from a uterine infection, you may undergo STD testing to find the cause of your PID to ensure your treatment targets the bacteria responsible for the infection.

Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that occur in the tissue of the uterus in some women. In most cases, fibroids cause no symptoms as they grow or shrink on their own; however, some women experience pelvic pain associated with these fibroids, especially as they undergo changes in size or experience fibroid degeneration. If your gynecologist suspects that you suffer from uterine fibroids, she may perform an ultrasound exam or a physical exam of your vagina and uterus to confirm this diagnosis before recommending treatment.

At Washington Surgi-Clinic, we provide comprehensive gynecology services near Washington, D.C. , including treatment for pelvic pain, vaginal infection, and STDs. You can find out more about us when you visit our website, or call (202) 659-9403 to discuss scheduling a pap smear, HIV testing, or IUD placement.

If you have decided to opt for pregnancy termination , there are two different options available to you. Medical abortion ends a pregnancy using drugs or medications to induce a miscarriage. Surgical abortion is a procedure during which a physician physically removes the pregnancy from your uterus. There are several factors that can help you determine the pregnancy termination procedure that is right for you, including your personal preferences and the stage of your pregnancy.

Medical Abortion

Medical abortion is an option for women who have recently become pregnant; typically, you may choose medical abortion if you are between seven and nine weeks pregnant. There are several drugs that may be used during a medical abortion, such as mifepristone, misoprostol, and methotrexate. These drugs may be given orally, placed inside the vagina, or injected during a medical abortion. Depending on the drugs you receive, the pregnancy termination may take several days to complete. Your gynecologist will typically perform an ultrasound within one to two weeks of medication administration to check the progress of the abortion and administer additional medication if needed. If you choose medical abortion, you should expect bleeding for several hours or days as the uterus sheds its lining.

Surgical Abortion

There are two types of surgical abortion : vacuum aspiration and dilation and evacuation. Aspiration may be performed if you are between six and sixteen weeks pregnant, while dilation and evacuation is needed if you are more than sixteen weeks pregnant. During both procedures, the cervix is numbed and widened, then instruments are used to remove the pregnancy tissue from your uterus through the vagina, ending the pregnancy immediately. The most common side effects associated with this procedure are cramping, bleeding, and nausea. You may be given an antibiotic to prevent infection following the procedure.

If you’d like more information about first and second trimester abortion in Washington, D.C., please contact the Washington Surgi-Clinic today by calling (202) 659-9403. You can also find more information about pregnancy termination, STD and HIV testing , and birth control methods on our website.