Recently Asked Questions
My patient, who is 11 years old and is developmentally delayed, fears needles and devices. What contraceptive would you recommend? #501/15
Q: I am a clinician and my patient today asked a question regarding her 11 year-old developmentally delayed daughter. She has decision making skills at a 4 or 5 year level and is very interested in boys. The mother wants to place her on birth control once she...
Considering all side-effects of hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptives, what method would you recommend for long-term protection? #411/15
Q: Good afternoon! I am a 23 year old female in graduate school who has recently entered into a monogamous, sexually active relationship, both of us negative for STDs/STIs. In the past, I never had sex enough to feel I needed to utilize birth control other than...
Does a woman still need to have a pregnancy test before receiving her first Depo injection if she has her normal menstrual period? #410/15
Q: We are trying to update our guidelines for DMPA injections. For an initial start, if a woman has her normal menstrual period, do we still need to do a pregnancy test before administering the Depo injection? Thank you! A: If a menstruating woman is...
After my regular period I began bleeding constantly with cramping. What is going on? #313/15
Q My regular period stopped about 12 days ago and I then started bleeding again. No pain at first, but now after 3 days I am bleeding constantly and cramping. What’s up? I am 36 years old and consider myself very healthy. A: You indicate that your...
Are there other ways to treat a hyperechoic lesion within the andometrium other than hysterectomy? #406/15
Q: DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 40 years old. After having a period that lasted nearly two months, I had tests done that showed a small, hyperechoic lesion within the endometrium. What exactly does this mean? My primary care doctor suggested a hysterectomy as...
Is my patient a good candidate for combined pills, a ring or a patch? #409/15
Q: Hello, I have a question about postpartum birth control. My patient is a 29 year old who just had her first baby (vaginal birth). She is exclusively breastfeeding. Her pre-pregnant BMI was 45. Because of her weight, one of my partners thought it would be...
How can fetal alcohol spectrum disorders be prevented? #403/15
Q: What are the facts on pregnancy and drinking? A: Below are new facts from ARHP as a resource for couseling patients about pregnancy and alcohol consumption. By clearly communicating the risks of drinking during pregnancy, you can...
Where do you stand on women’s rights? #404/15
Q: How did you become an ardent feminist? A: This is how I became an ardent feminist. For 15 years I have given lectures to different classes of students from Georgia Tech (several a year). Each class had 250 to 300 students. I told them...
Could I try to become pregnant the month after my Mirena IUD removal? #402/15
Q I am 35 years old and have had the Mirena IUD for over 3 years with no problems. My periods stopped during that time. My menstrual history is good with regular periods and no problems. My husband and I are ready to have another baby, so I had my Mirena...
“What you do in life thunders so loud that I can’t hear what you say.” #401/15
Q Why are actions so much more important than words? A: For family planning fellows, nurse practitioners, doctors, medical and nursing students… Ralph Waldo Emerson made a wise observation when he said “What you do in your life thunders so...