Article Category: Highlights

Wellstar Helps Women Stay Healthy at Every Age

Published on May 30, 2024

Last updated 11:26 AM May 30, 2024

From adolescence through adulthood, Wellstar Women’s Health cares for women at every stage of life and encourages patients to stay up to date on essential screenings.

Building a foundation in your 20s

You may feel invincible in your 20s, but it’s important to start healthy, lifelong habits now. Schedule an annual physical exam with your primary care provider so they can check important indicators of health over time, like blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels. Taking charge of your health early on lays the groundwork for a lifetime of well-being.

Find a women’s health provider near you.

Reproductive health in your 20s and 30s

By age 21, women should get an annual pelvic exam and Pap smear with an OB/GYN. Depending on your results, you may not need another Pap smear for three years. You may also want to test for human papillomavirus, or HPV. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and can cause several types of cancer, even though you may not have any symptoms. Your OB/GYN may also recommend monthly self-breast exams.

Be attentive in your 40s

Adding a yearly mammogram at this stage (or sooner, if advised) is important. You can schedule your mammogram through either an OB/GYN or a primary care provider. Modern mammography programs can reduce breast cancer mortality by more than 40%. Wellstar has 14 mammography locations and offers 3D mammograms, which can help detect breast cancer at early stages when it’s easier to treat.

Starting at age 45, you should talk to your primary care provider about a screening test for colon cancer. Colonoscopies are the most common procedure to detect precancerous polyps and should be repeated every 10 years or sooner, depending on your personal and family history.

Maintain your health and wellness in your 50s and beyond

In your 50s, it’s important to maintain your relationship with your provider. Ask if you need a heart screening (coronary artery calcium scoring). Individuals with a history of smoking should inquire about lung cancer screenings. Since hormone changes can lead to osteoporosis, post-menopausal women should also consider a bone mineral density test.

Learn more about women’s health services at Wellstar.

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Wellstar & Someone Cares Team Up to Serve Vulnerable Communities

It’s simple for many of us to find a primary care physician or advanced practice provider that we trust and feel comfortable with. By booking online or making a quick phone call, we can make an appointment and feel confident about the level of care we will receive. We know how and where to get the help we need when we need it.

Many people lack access to care, making their path to high-quality care more challenging. It could be because they don’t have insurance, are unable to pay for medical services or don’t have a way to get to their appointments. This isn’t how it should be.

At Wellstar, we believe every person deserves to live their healthiest life, regardless of their circumstances. The Wellstar Center for Health Equity has partnered with local clinics like Someone Cares to make healthcare accessible to everyone in our communities.

A safe and welcoming space

People who rely on Someone Cares include those who are underinsured or have difficulty accessing healthcare due to transportation or financial issues. The clinic is a one-stop shop that offers care at a brick-and-mortar location in Marietta. Services include:

Primary care
Addiction treatment
Behavioral healthcare
Lab services, including confidential HIV/AIDS testing
Onsite pharmacies
Other diagnostic testing
Treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

In addition to their Marietta clinic, Someone Cares has two mobile units. They travel to communities throughout metro Atlanta to provide HIV and STD testing, health screenings, health education and vaccinations. It’s a convenient option that allows people to get the care they need, where and when they need it.

Someone Cares also offers specialized services for individuals in the transgender community, including gender-affirming hormone therapy.

How Wellstar supports Someone Cares

Wellstar and Someone Cares began their partnership in 2023 when the organization was applying to become a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).

FQHCs are community-based centers that receive funds from the federal government to provide primary healthcare services in underserved areas. FQHCs typically work with a hospital or health system to ensure patients have easier access to services that are unavailable in the primary care setting, such as inpatient behavioral health services.

Someone Cares will officially become a FQHC in February 2025. The designation allows them to expand their services, further supporting vulnerable communities.

Each partnership is unique

Someone Cares is one of about a half-dozen clinics in the Wellstar Community Clinic Network. The Wellstar Center for Health Equity launched the network eight years ago to serve the most under-resourced populations in our communities better.

Each partnership is unique and customized to the community-based clinic’s needs. A few examples of the services we provide include:

Lab services
Medical imaging
Patient education
Reduced-cost outpatient medical care and health screenings
Telehealth services

We’re grateful for our Community Clinic Network partners, who help Wellstar create a healthier Georgia for all. Together, we’re making a difference in people’s lives across the state.

Learn more about the Wellstar Center for Health Equity.

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Take the Mystery Out of Menopause with Wellstar

From sleepless nights to hot flashes and brain fog to vaginal symptoms, many women feel isolated or embarrassed about discussing what they go through during menopause. At Wellstar, our compassionate women’s health team provides individualized care to help women navigate this stage of life, demystify menopause and give women back their confidence during this stage of life.

Menopause means no more periods. Period.

Menopause is defined as the permanent absence of a period for 12 consecutive months. The average age of menopause in the U.S is 52, but generally, women will experience menopause between ages 45 to 55.

Perimenopause is the four- to seven-year period prior to menopause when women are having menopausal symptoms.

“During perimenopause, cycle lengths will vary. Many women experience their periods coming closer together. Hot flashes and night sweats are also common during this transition,” said Wellstar Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Karin Hulon.

Women may also experience brain fog, mood swings, fatigue, trouble sleeping, skin and hair changes, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, painful sex, joint pain or inability to lose weight. Every woman is unique and may not experience the same severity of symptoms. The menopause experience may be influenced by genetics, race or environmental factors.

Many symptoms can be explained by a decrease in estrogen.

The ovaries are the main producers of estrogen. As women age, ovarian follicular function decreases, leading to decreasing levels of estrogen. These levels can also radically decrease due to surgery, infection, medications or radiation.

“Estrogen receptors are found all over our bodies. A decrease in estrogen can affect the part of the brain involved in thermoregulation, resulting in hot flashes and night sweats,” said Wellstar Chief of Women’s Health Dr. Paula Greaves. “Research suggests that women who have hot flashes may be at higher risk for developing heart disease. Additionally, research shows that African American women experience more intense and more frequent hot flashes for a longer duration.”

Estrogen receptors are located in the vagina, vulva, bladder and urethra, helping to maintain blood flow, tissue turgor and microbial balance. Therefore, a decrease in estrogen can lead to vaginal dryness and atrophy, making intercourse painful. The pH of the vagina also changes with decreased estrogen, increasing the risk of infections or urinary leakage.

These are only some examples of how menopause can impact women’s health and quality of life, and it’s important to treat menopausal symptoms as soon as possible.

Hormonal and non-hormonal treatments are available and can be beneficial—regardless of symptoms.

Your care team will discuss your concerns and health history to tailor a safe, personalized plan that fits your needs. The choice should be guided by symptoms, medical history, contraindications and shared decision making. There are FDA-approved hormonal as well as non-hormonal options for treatment of hot flashes, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse and even decreased libido.

“We must promote lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation, weight loss and cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help decrease symptoms,” said Dr. Greaves.

Even if you no longer have periods, you should still see your OB/GYN.

“Women: You need your mammograms and your health and cancer screenings, including Pap smears until age 65. Women who have had abnormal Pap smears in the past may need to continue Pap smears beyond age 65,” Hulon said. “Even if you’ve had a hysterectomy and you no longer have a uterus, you still need to ensure pelvic floor health.”

If you experience vaginal bleeding after menopause, schedule an appointment with your women’s health care team.

“The cause of bleeding could be something as simple as vaginal tearing due to dryness or as serious as endometrial cancer,” Hulon said.

Whatever your health concerns may be, Wellstar will partner with you to help you stay healthy. Other diseases can masquerade as menopause, so if something is worrying you or stopping you from feeling your best, mention it to your clinician.

“For example, if you start having joint pain, that may not be menopause. That may be arthritis. Fatigue, weight gain or night sweats may be a sign of thyroid disease, not menopause,” Dr. Greaves said. “Trust and open communication have been instrumental in aiding gynecologists to uncover other diseases affecting our patients who assumed they were menopausal.”

Wellstar OB/GYN clinicians specialize in addressing the health needs of women and are experienced in caring for people going through menopause.

“It is important when you’re looking for a clinician to find someone who specializes in women’s health and who has a passion for treating women entering the menopause transition,” Hulon said. “Find someone who will listen to you, not dismiss you, will make you feel comfortable and treat you as an individual.”

While troubling symptoms of menopause may be common, you don’t have to go through it alone.

“With increasing life expectancy, women will spend more than 40% of their life in this life stage. Therefore, we need to focus our efforts in providing a smooth transition for every woman into menopause so she can enjoy her best years yet,” Dr. Greaves stated.

Wellstar Women’s Health offers compassionate care through menopause, answering your questions and helping to manage your symptoms. Many of our clinicians are certified menopause practitioners. Find a Wellstar OB/GYN location near you.

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Highlights

Wellstar Experts Collaborate to Help People Fight Lung Cancer

From catching cancer to following through with expert care, Wellstar ensures patients never have to fight lung cancer alone.

Wellstar is dedicated to early intervention in lung cancer, which improves outcomes for patients. After detection of an abnormality on a CT scan, patients are immediately surrounded with an interdisciplinary support team devoted to their well-being.

Identifying lung cancer early

If you are at increased risk for developing lung cancer, talk to your care team about screenings. With a low-dose CT scan of the chest, it only takes a few seconds to check in on your lung health. These screenings are offered at several Wellstar imaging centers.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force has revised lung screening guidelines. Patients may qualify for screening if they are 50 to 80 years old and smoked for 20 years. If they are a former smoker, they may qualify if they quit less than 15 years ago.

“Lung screening improves a person’s chances of detecting a lung cancer at an early stage and being cured of that cancer,” said Wellstar Thoracic Surgeon Dr. William Mayfield.

Because finding cancer and starting treatment sooner can be life-saving, Wellstar has invested in the incidental nodule program. When people come into a hospital seeking care for something else—whether that be a health condition like appendicitis or a traumatic event like a motorcycle accident—they might get a scan of the abdomen or chest that also shows portions of the lungs.

Using artificial intelligence, reports of those scans are fed to report coordinators, categorized based on their risk level, and if the patient is higher-risk, forwarded to nurse navigators for review. Nurse navigators consult with physicians about the findings, and Wellstar can then initiate care if cancer is found.

“People that come to the hospital for other problems may also be walking around with a lung cancer they didn’t know about,” Dr. Mayfield said.

The program, which started in fall 2020, has identified a total of 148 lung cancers and 14 other types of cancer, as of October 2024.

“Now those people are getting care, and it’s quite likely those cancers would have been missed,” Dr. Mayfield said.

Wellstar is developing another incidental nodule program for the abdominal area, which could lead to the discovery of several cancers including ovarian, kidney, bladder and liver cancers.

The program aligns with the Wellstar mission of enhancing the health and well-being of every person we serve.

“It was the right thing to do for the community. If we miss these cancers, it is a broken promise to the patient,” Dr. Mayfield said.

Then, if cancer is found, Wellstar “closes the loop” by initiating treatment and connecting the patient with resources, Dr. Mayfield said.

Expert care and support at every step

From the very beginning, lung cancer patients at Wellstar are surrounded by a team of experts. Rather than go through the time-consuming process of driving to multiple appointments with different specialists, patients meet with all these physicians in one place.

The Wellstar Lung Cancer STAT Clinic, at Wellstar Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone Regional, North Fulton and Paulding medical centers, as well as the Thoracic NOW Clinic at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center, give patients immediate access to specialists in medical oncology, radiation oncology, pulmonary medicine and thoracic surgery.

“No other health system does multidisciplinary care the way Wellstar does,” Dr. Mayfield said.

Getting multiple expert opinions from the start not only gives patients peace of mind, it speeds up treatment, too. In the United States, the average time between an abnormal scan and the beginning of treatment is 95 days, Dr. Mayfield said. The STAT Clinic reduces that time to as little as 14 days. Time-to-treatment affects long-term survival in lung cancer patients, Dr. Mayfield said—a six-week delay can reduce five-year survival by up to 13%, according to research from the Cleveland Clinic.

“Time really does matter in the treatment and diagnosis of lung cancer,” Dr. Mayfield said.

High-tech surgery options

For many patients, surgery is a crucial part of lung cancer treatment. Wellstar offers several minimally invasive options, reducing recovery time for patients.

Dr. Mayfield said more than 90% of lung cancer surgeries at Wellstar are performed using either the da Vinci Surgical System or Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery techniques (VATS).

Minimally invasive surgeries reduce pain, scarring, blood loss and infection, as well as time to recover—getting patients back to work and other routines quicker.

The da Vinci system is equipped with 3D cameras and instruments that can make very intricate, precise movements, allowing for shorter incisions and more accurate surgery. Some patients can leave the hospital as early as the next day.

For biopsies, Wellstar has completed 500 procedures using the Ion system, a robotic-assisted platform.

To prevent lung cancer and keep your lungs healthy, talk to your primary care team and follow a few tips, such as avoiding smoking and getting your exercise. Learn more about treatments on our cancer care page.