A Patient’s Vaginoplasty Results
Dr. Litrel shows a patient’s results after performing vaginoplasty. Watch more Vaginal Rejuvenation videos below.
Dr. Michael Litrel Shares Photos of a Patient’s Vaginoplasty
Dr. Michael Litrel shares photos of his patient’s vaginoplasty results. Watch more Vaginal Rejuvenation videos below.
Labiaplasty Before and After Photos
Dr. Michael Litrel shares before and after photos of his patient’s labiaplasty procedure.
Life as a New Mom
As a new mom with a sweet little baby to take care of, you have entered a wonderful season of life. But with all there is to do, it can be easy to forget that you need to take care of yourself, too. After all, you have just gone through tremendous changes, both physically and emotionally. Here are a few tips to help you adjust and thrive to life as a new mom: Get more sleep – Sleep when your baby is sleeping. You need a break, and you need sleep. Everything else can wait. Relax – Do something relaxing whenever you can. For example, try listening to music or reading a book. Eat well – If you hit the comfort food too much, you will feel worse. You don’t need to give up all your “goodies”, but proper nutrition is key to feeling good. Try eating fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, lean meat and not too many simple carbohydrates to help nourish you back to health — and to your pre-pregnancy body. Hydrate – Drinking enough water after pregnancy is very important to keep your body in balance. This is especially true if you are breastfeeding, as dehydration can affect your milk supply. Exercise – You should try to do some physical activity on most days. Walking, weights, and elliptical machines are examples. With this beautiful spring weather, it’s the perfect time to push your baby in the stroller. Make things simple – For example, it is not a sin to use paper plates and plastic cups to make kitchen cleaning easier. Or better yet, have someone else do it if possible. Make your needs known – Don’t be afraid to ask for help. While women are incredible multitaskers, motherhood can be challenging, so help is often needed. Sometimes, if you take it all on yourself, resentment can grow into anger or depression. Be honest – Be open with yourself and others if you are feeling “blue”. Hormones and the life changes of having a baby can be overwhelming. It’s imperative to share these feelings with your doctor. Spend time with friends – Especially with other mothers with babies and children of similar ages, as support is important and encouraging as you experience these new changes. By taking care of your physical and emotional health you will be able enjoy this wonderful time of your life — and be the best possible mom for your new bundle of joy.
My Life with PCOS – A Patient’s Story
Elizabeth was diagnosed with PCOS at just 23, even though she’d had symptoms since she was 11. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a health problem that affects 1 in 10 women of childbearing age. PCOS can happen at any age after puberty, but most women don’t discover they have it until their 20s and 30s – when they have problems getting pregnant. We were fortunate to hear Elizabeth’s story which includes her struggles of living with symptoms of PCOS and finding a doctor that would take her symptoms seriously. Heavy Bleeding and Painful Periods Elizabeth was in the sixth grade and 11 years old when she had her first period, which is a relatively normal age to experience your first menstrual cycle. “It may be odd that I can remember the exact month and year that I got my first period. Maybe it’s because I didn’t realize I had started my period. And when my mom confirmed that’s what it was, I couldn’t stop crying,” Elizabeth recalls. “I don’t remember having considerable pain, but my mom would have to pick me up from school because my period would surprise me, and I would bleed through my pants. It was terribly embarrassing.” – Elizabeth Even though Elizabeth’s periods were very irregular and spaced out, she experienced no other symptoms so her mom figured they would become regular and ’even out’ as Elizabeth entered high school. However, Elizabeth couldn’t help but notice she was the only one of her friend group to have problems. “Is this normal”, Elizabeth began to question. My Pediatrician Classified Me as Overweight, But Provided No Help Unfortunately, Elizabeth’s symptoms didn’t ‘even out’ at all – in fact, they got worse. Her symptoms included weight gain and very painful periods. “My self-esteem plummeted. I was classified as overweight by my pediatrician, and I was noticeably larger than my friends,” she explains. The most frustrating part was that it didn’t seem to make sense. After all, she was very physically active. She lifted weights, played rugby and even carefully watched her diet. Heavy bleeding and severe pain plagued Elizabeth during her menstrual cycle, which came only every three to four months. She and her mom just assumed it was irregular due to her active lifestyle. However, that didn’t explain the intense pain and heavy bleeding. In fact, they were so severe that she couldn’t attend school, go outside, or even move during the first day of her menstrual cycle. “It was so bad. My mom would take the day off of work to tend to me, because I was in so much pain. Over-the-counter pain medication wouldn’t even take the edge off. I would just rock back and forth on the couch all day, dragging myself to the bathroom to change my menstrual pad or to vomit.” – Elizabeth I Just Learned to Live with the Pain and Heavy Bleeding Elizabeth said she learned to just deal with the symptoms and found ways to work around them. It was mainly the first day of her cycle that she was out-of-commission, so on those days, her teachers and coaches were very understanding and would let her go home without any penalties. Again, Elizabeth and her mom hoped her symptoms would simply ‘level out’ as Elizabeth became older. As Elizabeth was preparing to go off to college, she knew she had to do something. If the first day of her period fell on a day where she had class or an exam, she would be in major trouble. She had heard birth control could help ease the pain and bleeding of periods, so she scheduled an appointment with the school’s GYN. The gynecologist ran bloodwork and performed an annual exam. The results shocked Elizabeth – the bloodwork revealed that she had high testosterone levels! After Elizabeth spoke to her mother about her results, Elizabeth discovered her mom had polycystic ovary syndrome. “You’d think this is when I would be diagnosed with PCOS, right? Unfortunately, my GYN at the time told me it would be useless to do further testing since, as she put it, ‘I didn’t want to have kids yet and I was going on birth control anyway.’” Finally, the GYN at Cherokee Women’s Health Diagnosed Me With PCOS As Elizabeth was attending college, she noticed her pain and heavy bleeding were relieved, but she was very fatigued, and was eventually diagnosed with depression. After graduation, Elizabeth moved to Woodstock, GA, where she discovered Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists. After visiting a gynecologist and having more bloodwork tests, she was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome. “Even though I suspected I had PCOS for a while, it was a major relief to get a formal diagnosis. I was much kinder to myself and was excited to finally stop suffering from my symptoms.” Receiving a Treatment Plan for PCOS Her doctor discussed the different treatment options, and together they chose the best option for her situation. Each patient diagnosed with PCOS has different symptoms and is in various phases of life. Discussing the treatment plans with your physician is the best way to manage and control your PCOS symptoms to be able to enjoy the best quality of life. Our GYNs Can Help Diagnose Female Health Issues Polycystic ovary syndrome is not a health condition that can go away, so make an appointment with your gynecologist. They will help rule out other potential causes and come up with a treatment plan. At Cherokee Women’s Health, our board-certified OB/GYNs are very experienced in diagnosing and treating symptoms of PCOS. schedule an appointment online or call us today at 770.720.7733.
Rainbow Baby – Ashley’s Story of Hope After Two Miscarriages
Ashley experienced two miscarriages in one year and feared she’d never have a baby. She and her husband were devastated, as they were excited to start a family. After Ashley’s miscarriages, she decided to make an appointment with Cherokee Women’s Health. Ashley learned that miscarriages are more common than one might think, with one in four women experiencing at least one in their lifetime. She wanted to see if there was a specific reason for her two losses so close together. Ashley had blood tests done and figured out she had two clotting disorders. Determined to have a healthy, full-term pregnancy, Ashley went to a hematologist for more answers. She was started on blood thinners; with hope, that this was the answer. We’re Pregnant! Only three months after starting the blood thinners, Ashley had a positive pregnancy test! While Ashley and Nathaniel were overjoyed, they were understandably hesitant to get their hopes too high. They waited until Ashley was twelve weeks along to share the news with family and friends. “When I figured out that I was pregnant, I was hesitant to share with anyone because going through that twice in a row, you kind of don’t want to share anything until you’re in the ‘safe zone’. After going through two losses, you can’t help but think, is it going to happen again?” – Mom-to-be Ashley Sharing the News Ashley and her husband Nathaniel were on vacation with family and decided there was no better time to tell everyone the exciting news. They both felt a lot better, and their excitement trumped their fears, once they told their loved ones. “You can’t just go living in fear,” Ashley said. After each appointment, and learning that she and the baby were healthy, Ashley’s worries and fears started to fade. She remembers telling herself, “I think this is actually going to be okay in the end.” And she was right! Breech Baby Ashley had a smooth pregnancy, that is, until her third trimester. She went to the hospital three times with early contractions. It was during that last visit that she learned her baby was in a breech position. Due to her blood thinner medication, she knew her options were to be induced or to have a C-section. Since her little one was in a breech position, her OB/GYN of Cherokee Women’s Health scheduled Ashley for a C-section. Ashley was worried for her baby, however, she completely trusted her OB/GYN for a safe delivery. “My OB/GYN knew all about my blood thinners. Not everyone understands them and why I was taking them, so this was such a relief. She was amazing. She was like ‘I have a game plan for you… this is what’s going to happen, this is what you need to do,’ and I was like okay! Let’s do this!” – Mom-to-be Ashley, just before giving birth Welcoming Baby Enz Kai On March 1st, baby Enzo Kai was brought into the world, healthy and beautiful. Ashley, Nathaniel, and Enzo were in and out of the hospital in two days. Now they are settling in at home, soaking up all the love that a newborn brings to a family. “To think that a year ago, I didn’t think I was ever going to be a mom. Now today, I have the most beautiful little boy in my arms. He was the missing piece that I needed to feel completely whole.” – Proud mom Ashley
A Patient Receives Vaginoplasty
Dr. Michael Litrel shares a video of his patient’s vaginoplasty results.
Dr. Litrel Performs a Labia Majoraplasty
Dr. Michael Litrel of Cherokee Women’s Health performs a labia majoraplasty.
Labia Minoraplasty Procedure
Dr. Michael Litrel performs a labia minoraplasty procedure.
Tightening Vaginal Laxity
Watch the procedure of a vaginoplasty by Michael Litrel, MD, FACOG, FPMRS. Dr. Litrel shows the patient’s vaginal laxity before surgery, how it and her labia were improved after her procedure.
How Do You Know if You Have PCOS?
Dr. Haley talks about PCOS, its symptoms, how it’s diagnosed and available treatment solutions.
Twins Times Two!
Being told you are expecting twins can be quite shocking, but hearing it again four years later is an even bigger shock. That’s exactly what happened with our patient Bethany and her husband Zach. With no family history of twins and no infertility treatments, this thought never really crossed their minds. The night before her first doctor’s appointment at eight weeks pregnant, Bethany had a very vivid dream that her brother and his wife announced they were pregnant and expecting twins. She awoke and thought it was a strange dream but didn’t really think more about it. Later that day, she and Zach were at her ultrasound appointment and were told they were expecting twins. They were completely shocked! The Odds of Having Twins – Twice The incident of twins is 1 in 250, which is not that high of odds. Some factors that do increase the odds of having twins include the following: family history of twins, BMI greater than 30, being taller than 5’5”, and getting pregnant while you are still breastfeeding. However, most of these factors didn’t apply to Bethany. The ideal time to deliver twins, which is considered full-term, is right around 37 weeks. Often twin pregnancies have more complications as they have increased rates of preterm delivery, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, or twin-to twin-transfusion, all of which require delivery before the desired gestational age of 37 weeks. Throughout her pregnancy, Bethany saw the OBs at Cherokee Women’s Health. “Everyone was awesome. They were always very willing to answer the many questions I had.” Bethany, referring to her doctor appointments Fraternal Twins At her 20-week appointment, Bethany and Zach found out they were expecting a boy and a girl, which is the most common of fraternal twins. Bethany had no complications, and her entire pregnancy went great. As a full-time high-end cake decorator, she stayed very busy and worked until three days before her scheduled C-section. At a little over 36 weeks, Bethany gave birth to two beautiful healthy babies, named Jaxson and Ava. Both Jaxson and Ava were over six pounds which is a very nice weight for twins. Although Ava had to spend four days in the NICU, and Jackson had to spend 13 days to monitor their lung function, both babies left the hospital in great shape. Time for Another Baby – or Twins! Bethany and Zach had always wanted three children so a few years later, they decided it was time for another baby. Even though she was told that after having one set of twins, her chances of having another set of twins were doubled, they really didn’t expect it to happen. The day before Jaxson and Ava turned four, Bethany found out they were expecting again. The pregnancy test turned positive immediately, just like last time. She had a strong feeling it could be twins again. Bethany attended her 8-week ultrasound and as she watched the ultrasound screen, the minute the wand touched her belly, she saw two sacs and knew they were having twins again! She was surprised but not quite as much as the first time. Pregnant with Twins This twin pregnancy turned out to be more difficult. She had been doing lots of reading about twin pregnancies and the risks associated with it. The first time around she really didn’t think about that. She began to wonder, “How can we be lucky enough to have two twin pregnancies with no problems?” This time was much harder on Bethany’s body too, as she began having heart palpitations which really scared her. She had to visit a cardiologist for monitoring. She was very tired all the time. Like last time, she had appointments with most of the doctors at Cherokee Women’s and felt they all went above and beyond to help her. “Every time I saw Bethany she was smiling and never had any major complaints. She did a great job following through with the extra prenatal care we recommended to make sure her pregnancy went smoothly. This included more frequent ultrasounds, and more prenatal visits to watch out for blood pressure changes and diabetes and to also make sure the babies were growing appropriately and thriving.” – Bethany’s doctor recalls Though Bethany had worked until three days before delivery the first time, this time she stopped working two months before. And like last time, she had a C-section right about 37 weeks. She was happy to be at Northside Cherokee Hospital this time and marveled at how much more spacious and luxurious the rooms were compared to the old hospital. Twin Boys! Bethany and Zach had chosen not to find out the sex of the babies this time. She was thrilled when it was announced that she had two sons — the least common of fraternal twins. Her doctor shared, “It is always an honor and a privilege to help a mother deliver her baby (or babies, in this case) safely into this world.” Like their older siblings, Eli and Grayson were over six pounds and healthy. Both only needed to stay in the hospital for two days and got to go home with their mom. “Jaxson and Ava are loving being a big brother and sister. They are constantly rubbing their little heads or kissing their cheeks,” Bethany explained. “These babies are so loved by all and we are so blessed.” One Big Happy Family Because Zach works late many nights, Bethany’s mom has been a big support, coming each day to help. Bethany is very appreciative since she now has four little ones at home and will soon be getting back to her baking business. “Put your pride aside and ask for help. It’s okay to admit you can’t do it all.” Bethany’s advice for new moms Oh, and remember the weird dream Bethany had right before her first doctor’s appointment? Well, about 3-1/2 years later, that dream came true. Her brother and his wife had their own set of twins! Now when someone asks Bethany
