Diane, Author at Cherokee Women's Health

Normal menstruation occurs for 4-5 days, totals 2-3 tablespoons and occurs every 25-31 days. If those numbers don’t sound like your regular periods, you could be suffering from menorrhagia, the medical term for menstrual periods in which bleeding is abnormally heavy or prolonged. “Heavy periods” refers to more than just heavy bleeding and can greatly impact a woman’s day-to-day activities. Heavy Bleeding Symptoms Heavy bleeding symptoms can include the following: An Ablation Can Help Heavy Bleeding In many cases, Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists can treat heavy bleeding with a procedure called an ablation, a 10-minute procedure that will greatly reduce or sometimes eliminate your menstrual flow completely. There are a variety of techniques for ablations. Our office treats abnormal menstrual bleeding using the following procedures: Novasure – A procedure performed with bipolar electric surgery with the guidance of an ultrasound. This procedure reduces the lining of the uterus using either sub-zero temperatures or heat.HTA Hydrothermal Ablation – This procedure uses a hot water treatment.Cryoblation – This procedure uses a freezing technique to destroy the endometrial tissue. Ablations are most often performed in our Canton office but may also be performed at the hospital. This recent treatment for heavy periods has made a huge difference in the lives of many of our patients. Our physicians and advanced practice providers feel it is one of the best examples of an effective use of modern technology to improve a woman’s overall sense of well-being. If you have menstrual bleeding so heavy that you dread your period, schedule an appointment online or call us at 770.720.7733 to talk with one of our doctors.

Dr. Litrel Says “Consider the Doctor” When Choosing a Surgeon for Vaginal Rejuvenation

Diane /

Double board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Michael Litrel of Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists is an expert surgeon, performing Vaginal Rejuvenation and reconstructive GYN surgeries in the Atlanta area. Vaginal Rejuvenation surgery is an option for women who suffer from a variety of issues, including changes due to childbirth, sexual activity, or the natural aging process. However, not all surgeons are trained to perform these delicate surgeries and he cautions women on the importance of choosing the right type of surgeon to perform the procedures. Why is Vaginal Rejuvenation Surgery Performed? Vaginal Rejuvenation is performed for two reasons. One of them is to restore sensation, which may be reduced due to childbirth. In this procedure, the natural shape and size of a woman’s vagina is restored to the shape it was prior to having sex or to the shape it was after sex but prior to childbirth. The other reason for vaginal rejuvenation is to improve the outward aesthetics of the vagina, which is often done by removing excess skin. If a woman’s considering vaginal rejuvenation, it’s important that she understand the surgeon’s ability to improve and correct both the aesthetics as well as the inside of a woman’s body. Having personally seen this surgery performed by cosmetic surgeons, Dr. Litrel says that while the outward appearance may be improved, oftentimes nothing is done to correct the internal damage. “That’s likely because they simply don’t have the training. Decreased sensation and pelvic reconstruction are primary reasons for having this surgery and because correcting these issues involve surgically reconstructing the anatomy, it’s imperative that women choose a surgeon with extensive experience and training.” See if Vaginal Rejuvenation is Right For You If you’re interested in making an appointment to discuss vaginal rejuvenation surgery options with Dr. Litrel or one of our other board-certified OB/GYNs, please call us at 770.721.6060.

Pap Smears, Well Woman

10 Things To Discuss With Your Gynecologist

Diane /

Regular communication with your gynecololgist is essential for maintaining good reproductive health. If you notice any “out of the ordinary” changes in your health, it’s important to bring them up during your appointments. Here are ten key issues you should always discuss with your gynecologist: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: If your periods have become significantly heavier, this could be caused by various factors, including hormonal imbalances, the onset of menopause, uterine fibroids, cervical or endometrial polyps, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), or even bleeding disorders. Informing your physician about your bleeding history and symptoms will help them perform the necessary tests and recommend appropriate treatments. Urinary Leakage During Exercise: Many women experience involuntary leakage of urine when exercising or laughing, which they may dismiss as a normal part of aging. However, this can often be linked to the strength of the pelvic floor, which may be affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or excess weight. Your OB/GYN can suggest effective treatments, such as Kegel exercises, which can help alleviate these symptoms. Feeling Like Your Bladder Has Fallen: Some women may describe sensations of pressure or pain in the pelvic area, which could indicate a condition known as pelvic organ prolapse. If you experience these symptoms, your doctor can evaluate your condition and may recommend pelvic floor strengthening exercises, the use of a pessary device, or even surgical options if necessary. Family History of Female Cancers: While only 5 to 15 percent of cancers are inherited, a family history of cancer in the female reproductive organs is worth discussing with your OB/GYN. They can recommend appropriate screenings and suggest lifestyle changes—such as dietary adjustments and regular exercise—to help minimize your risk. Abnormal Pap Smear Results: About 10% of Pap smear results may indicate some abnormality, which could suggest infections or other conditions like HPV or dysplasia. While most abnormalities do not indicate a serious issue, it’s important to follow up with your doctor for further evaluation and monitoring. Pain During Intercourse: Experiencing pain during sex can be distressing and may be a symptom of various underlying issues. It’s important to discuss the history of this pain with your doctor, whether it’s a new development or a long-standing problem. A thorough examination can help determine the cause and appropriate treatment. Breast Lumps: Most breast lumps—about 80 to 90%—are benign, especially in women under 40. However, any breast lump should be evaluated by a doctor, especially if accompanied by symptoms like nipple discharge or changes in the breast’s appearance. Your doctor may recommend further tests, such as a biopsy, if necessary. Severe Menstrual Pain: Dysmenorrhea, or painful periods, is a common issue among women and is often the leading cause of missed school or work for younger women. While this pain is rarely indicative of serious problems, discussing it with your doctor can help rule out any abnormalities and provide pain management options. Frequent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Symptoms such as pain, burning during urination, and urgency may suggest recurrent UTIs, often caused by E. Coli bacteria. Your doctor can perform a urine culture to identify the bacteria and recommend the appropriate treatment. Non-Surgical Tubal Ligation Options: If you’re considering permanent birth control but want to avoid surgery, there are non-surgical options available. A device can be inserted into the fallopian tubes through a simple office procedure, effectively serving as an irreversible contraceptive solution. Discuss this with your OB/GYN to see if it’s suitable for you. We’re Here to Help Open communication with your gynecologist about these topics is vital for maintaining your health and well-being. Don’t hesitate to voice any concerns or changes you’ve noticed with your OB/GYN. Your health is important, and yowe’re here to support you. To make an appointment, call us at 770.720.7733 or simply schedule an appointment online.

Well Woman

The Body and Soul of Modern Medicine

Diane /

PRESS RELEASE Date: March 2011 Release Date: For Immediate Release Contact: Ann Litrel, Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists LLC 678.640.8217 annlitrel@comcast.net Subject: The Eyes Don’t See – The Faith Factor In Medicine Simply turning on the television or opening a magazine subjects one to a host of advertisements for the latest miracle cure for everything from weight loss to pain relief to removal of wrinkles. But Dr. Mike Litrel of Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists believes that the focus on the physical body is only half the story. “I think the focus in medical school has to be about the body and medicine and what is there, what is obvious,” he says. “But as you grow as a physician, you learn to focus more on who each patient is, as opposed to just what their symptoms are. And you see how “non-medical” factors affect a person’s health: “A destructive relationship can be a component of physical pain in the body. The will to live can bring back a “terminal” patient. Receiving and giving love can actually heal. These ideas are not addressed in the medical literature, but they are easily observable if you have your eyes open.” While modern medicine certainly holds the appeal of a “quick fix,” Dr. Litrel and his colleagues share the philosophy that the best solutions for curing a patient’s symptoms are not always those that include a prescription or a scalpel. “When we see someone in pain who is suffering, we often look at it as some sort of disease, rather than finding out what is really upsetting them,” he says. “Part of maturity is learning to take responsibility, to have the belief that our pain and suffering is a lesson to help us mature.” Dr. Litrel suggests that our society is more about fixing problems than in truly finding solutions. “You look at people – we overeat, we over drink, we take pills,” he says, and many people run to the doctor for something to help alleviate the pain brought on by those actions. But that is simply treating the body, instead of looking at the underlying cause. “Most of the suffering and disease and pain and sorrow is not about the body, it’s about the soul,” he says. While the evolution of medicine and technology has the capability of providing relief to symptoms, Dr. Litrel prefers to learn what is important to the individual, allowing them to be partners in their own wellness so that they can accomplish the goals that are important to them. “The point of medicine,” he says, “is to help the body live longer so the soul can accomplish its purpose. We all have a reason to be here.” Dr. Mike Litrel is the author of “The Eyes Don’t See What the Mind Don’t Know: A Physician’s Journey to Faith,” a collection of inspirational stories and medical “miracles” detailing a physician’s journey of faith in the world of modern medicine. Articles and information contained herein are provided for media use and general reference. You may quote or share articles, provided you do so verbatim and with attribution to our website. If you quote one of our articles on a website, please link to the article on this site. Thank you.

pr-jorge-lense-performing-sils-hysterectomy

GYN Problems

Local Doctor Explains Hysterectomy Option on “The Doctors”

Diane /

In the ever-changing world of women’s health, one Georgia gynecologist is making great strides in minimizing the pain, recovery time and trauma associated with a hysterectomy by refining Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS™) as a viable alternative to traditional surgery, and he is sharing his knowledge on the popular medical television program, “The Doctors” in March. Dr. Jorge Lense, a one-time partner in the OB/GYN practice of Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists in Woodstock and Canton, Georgia, recognized the potential of the SILS™ procedure in women’s surgery, providing a minimally invasive option for women suffering from such afflictions as uterine fibroid tumors, endometriosis and uterine prolapse – the top three conditions for which surgical removal of the uterus is recommended. The relatively new SILS™ technology was originally developed to treat patients with gall stones and appendicitis, but the procedure holds considerable potential in the treatment of a host of conditions for which surgeons traditionally perform a multiple-entry abdominal laparoscopic procedure. Dr. Lense recognized the potential to reduce scarring, trauma and recovery time by using the SILS technology to perform hysterectomies, and he has spent much of his time introducing the technique to medical professionals across the country and around the globe. “Because it utilizes just a single small port through the belly button, (SILS™ ) really represents a whole new level of capabilities in the field of surgery,” Dr. Lense says. SILS™ now provides a fourth surgical option for hysterectomy, including traditional laparoscopic hysterectomy, abdominal (“open”) hysterectomy and vaginal hysterectomy, allowing women a less-invasive alternative for their treatment needs.

Well Woman

Diet and Emotional Health

Diane /

More and more medical studies are linking nutrition to our emotional health and sense of well-being -and even to traditional psychological diagnoses. The areas under study include: Adult ADHD, poor concentration, sleeplessness Clinical depression and fatigue, lack of energy Mood swings and irritability Feel Like Yourself Again The first step toward feeling better is a complete physical exam. The goal is to rule out any underlying physical problems that may be affecting your hormone levels and your energy. Call us to schedule this initial, important complete physical exam. The next step begins with nutrition and lifestyle. We will work with you one-on-one to design a nutrition program that will work for you, with simple lifestyle improvements that will make a difference. Programs include: Easy guidelines for good nutrition that will improve your overall energy and sense of well-being. Nutritional supplements and approaches if you would like a medically supervised program to come off of anti-depressants. Easy exercise tips that you can work into a busy lifestyle. Make an Appointment A consultation will allow you to work together with a provider to design a simple, healthy program that will work for you. Schedule your appointment today. Call 770.720.7733.

Pregnancy Tips

Diane /

A growing body of evidence links nutrition and environment during a woman’s pregnancy to the health and learning abilities of her children. The areas under study include: Children’s behavioral and learning disabilities, including autism and ADHD Child onset depression and emotional health Weight problems in children. Having a Healthy Baby Our physicians and advanced practice providers will work with you one-on-one to design a nutrition program that will work for you, with simple lifestyle improvements that will make your pregnancy healthy for you and your baby. Programs include: Easy guidelines for good nutrition for you and your baby Making sense of nutritional supplements during pregnancy Safe exercise tips that you can work into a busy lifestyle. Make an Appointment A consultation will allow you to work with one our highly qualified physicians and advanced practice providers to design an individual, simple, healthy meal plan that will work for you. Call 770.720.7733 and let our patient representative know that you’d like a pregnancy nutrition consultation.

Menopause and Hormone Therapy

Menopause Management

Diane /

Changes in a woman’s reproductive hormones, beginning as early as her twenties, can cause disruptive symptoms. Common complaints include irritability, hot flashes, insomnia, loss of sexual desire, decreased concentration, difficulty with relationships, anxiety, unhappiness – and a myriad of other problems. We often see these problems being misdiagnosed as psychiatric disorders by other doctors, with the initiation of powerful medications that can bring about their own set of side effects. As a general rule it’s better to avoid medication, particularly medication that changes the neurochemistry of your brain. Natural Hormone Replacement Many times an imbalance of hormones is the culprit, and thus we offer our patients natural hormone replacement. The word hormone sometimes generates fear because of the negative press regarding hormones causing cancer. However, the hormones implicated in causing cancer tend to be synthetic hormones rather than natural hormones – without hormones, life would not be possible. In addition to Hormone balancing, we often find our patients suffering because of problems with life balancing. There are many demands associated with being a woman; sometimes it’s the choices we are making in life that are causing our symptoms, not a biological deficiency. At Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists, we try to find the cause of the problem rather than just treat the symptom. We listen to your concerns, perform a careful physical exam and laboratory testing to help identify the sources of discomfort, and specialize in natural treatment options that are safe and beneficial.

Nutrition and Weight Loss

Food Sensitivity Testing

Diane /

Many common health problems, including certain skin conditions, headaches, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel and more, are caused by food sensitivities. Without proper diagnosis, the root cause of the problem is never treated. People can live for years with a chronic condition that does not respond to medication because drugs simply mask the symptoms while the individual continues to consume the food that is making them sick in the first place. Common Health Problems Created by Food Sensitivities: It can be difficult to pinpoint the triggers since even healthy foods can cause adverse reactions in sensitive individuals. On top of that, symptoms may not appear for hours or even days after the food is consumed. You may also have a reaction once, then consume the same food but not have the same reaction. This can be caused by consuming different doses, or even different combinations of foods that each cause sensitive reactions. Understanding what’s causing your symptoms is crucial. Make an appointment with a provider who specializes in food sensitivity testing.

Nutrition and Weight Loss

Eat These Two Foods to Help Reduce Your Risk of Heart Attack

Diane /

Strawberries and blueberries could help reduce the risk of heart attacks in women. This latest finding comes from the Journal of the American Heart Association and a study that showed that women had a 32% lower heart attack risk if they ate strawberries and blueberries on a daily basis versus women who only ate these berries once a month or not at all. And surprisingly, researchers found this to be true even for women who included a lot of produce in their diets. Blueberries and strawberries not only taste delicious but they’re power foods because they contain high levels of flavonoids which is known to work against plaque build-up in heart disease. And what’s really interesting is that getting your kids to eat these berries at an early age may even reduce risk of a heart attack later in life. The data comes from the Nurses’ Health Study II which followed the diets of 93,600 women between the ages of 25 and 42. Data was recorded every four years for a total of 18 years. In that time there were 405 heart attacks. Blueberries and strawberries come out on top but other foods rich in antioxidants may also keep women’s heart attack risk low. Some of these heart-healthy foods include: Given that heart attack symptoms in women can be — and often are — much more subtle than the symptoms men typically experience, it’s even more important that we take steps to avoid heart disease. While exercise and eating right isn’t always something we look forward to, adding popcorn and dark chocolate to our diets just might be the incentives we need to kick start our healthy heart habits!

Preeclampsia, Labor Pains and a Beautiful Baby Boy

Diane /

“My first son, Logan, was delivered in 2007 by Cherokee Women’s Health. This time, I had a different OB/GYN. I was so worried because I thought she knew nothing about me or my issues during the pregnancy since I had been seeing Dr. Litrel during my entire pregnancy, and had to be induced at 36 weeks due to preeclampsia. To make a very long story short, this OB/GYN was also a complete blessing to me and my family. “Logan had some issues when he was born so he had to stay in the hospital for eleven days. She didn’t have to check on me during this time but she made a point to come up to my room numerous times to make sure I was okay. Amanda recalls the care she received. “The labor was agonizing and tiring but my OB stayed with me through the entire thing. From then on I considered her not only my doctor but a friend. Since then she has seen me through two miscarriages —with lots of testing to find out the reason — a long second pregnancy full of both worry and pure joy, and the amazing pain-free birth of my second son Jaxon Luke Parker. I appreciate Cherokee Women’s Health so very much!!” For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 770.720.7733 or visit Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists or request an appointment online.

Fun and Fearless Jana!

Diane /

Do upcoming labor pains scare Jana? Doesn’t look like it! When we first started following Jana’s pregnancy, we knew her journey would be a fun one to watch and she sure didn’t let us down. These amazing pre-baby belly pics perfectly show off her fun, down-to-earth and completely fearless personality. We love it!

Author name: Diane

Do You Suffer From Heavy Periods?

Dr. Litrel Says “Consider the Doctor” When Choosing a Surgeon for Vaginal Rejuvenation

10 Things To Discuss With Your Gynecologist

The Body and Soul of Modern Medicine

Local Doctor Explains Hysterectomy Option on “The Doctors”

Diet and Emotional Health

Pregnancy Tips

Menopause Management

Food Sensitivity Testing

Eat These Two Foods to Help Reduce Your Risk of Heart Attack

Preeclampsia, Labor Pains and a Beautiful Baby Boy

Fun and Fearless Jana!

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