Wellstar Women's Health
Comprehensive Care for Every Life Stage
From adolescence to menopause and beyond, we offer advanced, specialty care tailored to your changing healthcare needs in every stage of life. We are committed to helping women live longer, healthier lives.
About
Women's Health at Wellstar
Wellstar women's health experts understand the conditions unique to women in all stages of life. Our comprehensive, compassionate team offers personalized care in a comfortable environment. We treat various health issues and life events, from gynecology and pregnancy to fertility and breast health. We also have extensive experience treating gynecologic cancers, as well as urogynecologic and other pelvic conditions.
Staying healthy is easier with convenient, state-of-the-art diagnostic, surgical and maternity services. Every woman should schedule an annual check-up at least once a year. As part of your well-woman exam, your provider will take your blood pressure, perform a Pap smear, pelvic exam and a breast exam. Depending on your age and medical history, your physician may recommend additional testing to catch potential health issues early.
Our Care Philosophy
Wellstar Women's Health understands that every woman is unique, and we know how to empower you to achieve optimal health. We are committed to caring for you with compassion and expertise.
Fertility
Deciding to have a family is a personal decision with many options. Based on your health, our team will help you achieve your goals and craft a plan tailored for you.
Obstetrics
Whether you need routine prenatal and delivery services or high-risk pregnancy care, we're here to ensure the health and wellness of you and your baby.
Gynecology
Healthcare needs change as you age. Get the most effective care for everything, from puberty and sexual health through menopause and hot flashes.
Breast Health
We use the latest screening technologies to monitor your breast health, which can help doctors diagnose abnormalities or breast cancers at the earliest stage.
Our Care Team
Our team partners with you to ensure you receive the comprehensive care you need and the experience you desire. For our expecting patients, we offer a variety of birth and care plans. Our gynecological team provides integrated care with other medical specialties, both medical and surgical, to determine the best possible treatment plan for you. Our team members collaborate with experts in other medical disciplines throughout Wellstar to provide you with personalized care tailored to your needs.
Comprehensive, specialized care
Medical specialists collaborate to create patient-centered care plans. Our multidisciplinary teams often include board-certified OB/Gyn’s and certified nurse-midwives who have the most advanced training and knowledge in their fields. They collaborate with specialists, including:
- Breast Surgeons
- Gyn-oncologists
- Maternal-fetal medicine specialists
- Reproductive endocrinologists
- Urogynecologists
Innovative technology, individualized treatment
You will experience the convenience and commitment of a dedicated team providing the highest quality care. We will develop a plan that is specific to you based on your needs and goals. Team members may include:
- Advanced nurse practitioners
- Genetic counselors
- Lactation and breastfeeding specialists
- Physical therapists
- Specialized imaging technicians
- Ultrasound professionals
Wellstar Foundation
As a not-for-profit, gifts to the Wellstar Foundation make it possible to provide patients with additional resources and amenities for a higher level of comfort and care. Every dollar donated supports Wellstar’s vision of delivering world-class healthcare, carried out through patient-centered programs, advancements in technology and making reliable healthcare available close to home. Your generosity also makes it possible to provide free screenings and diagnostic services to uninsured and underinsured patients every year. For more information about how to support our fight against disease, visit the Wellstar Foundation.
Helpful Links
Services
- Labor and Delivery
- Obstetrics
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
- Certified Nurse Midwifery
- Expectant Mother and Family Education Classes
- Gynecology
- Urogynecology
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Preventative Care and Contraception
- Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
- Robotic Gynecologic Surgery
- Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
- Comprehensive Breast Health Program
- 3D Mammography
- Digital Mammography
- Breast MRI
- Breast Biopsy
- Breast Surgery
- Breast Reconstruction
- Genetic Counseling
Take the Mystery Out of Menopause
At Wellstar, our compassionate women’s health team provides individualized care to help women navigate this stage of life.
Learn moreNavigate Your Breast Care with Concierge Services
Our program supports you with a full team of experts dedicated to your breast health care.
Learn moreDon't forget your keys to family health
The Atlanta Business Chronicle discusses how to avoid health problems with pediatric and women's health experts.
Learn moreThe Importance of Regular Mammograms
Wellstar uses state-of-the-art imaging technology to help identify cancer sooner, so we can treat it faster. Getting a screening mammogram can save your life, so don’t delay.
Learn moreA Candid Talk About Your Breasts
A panel of women’s health experts discuss the latest on breast self-exams, breast cancer screenings and what you should be doing to be your healthiest.
Get the scoopLocations
Suite 220
Marietta, GA 30060
Suite 260
Hiram, GA 30141
Suite 150
Woodstock, GA 30189
Suite G
Alpharetta, GA 30004
Suite 200
LaGrange, GA 30240
Suite 100
Lithia Springs, GA 30122
Suite 9A
Austell, GA 30106
Suite 206
Marietta, GA 30062
Suite 301
Acworth, GA 30101
Suite 304
Holly Springs, GA 30114
Suite 300
Marietta, GA 30060
Suite 500
Marietta, GA 30060
Suite A210
Douglasville, GA 30134
Suite 206
Smyrna, GA 30080
Suite 1320
Acworth, GA 30101
Suite 420
Marietta, GA 30060
Suite 1400
Hiram, GA 30141
Suite 200
Austell, GA 30106
Suite 420
Marietta, GA 30060
LaGrange, GA 30240
Suite 500
Austell, GA 30106
LaGrange, GA 30240
Suite 115
Powder Springs, GA 30127
Building 2
Smyrna, GA 30082
Smyrna, GA 30082
Marietta, GA 30062
Suite 105
Marietta, GA 30066
Suite 110
Alpharetta, GA 30022
Hogansville, GA 30230
Suite 100
Acworth, GA 30101
Suite 105
Marietta, GA 30062
Norcross, GA 30071
West Point, GA 31833
Suite 120
Kennesaw, GA 30152
Smyrna, GA 30082
Suite 8A
Austell, GA 30106
Suite 105
Austell, GA 30106
Suite 400
Alpharetta, GA 30004
Marietta, GA 30060
Suite 115
Atlanta, GA 30341
Suite E
Alpharetta, GA 30009
Smyrna, GA 30082
Suite 216
Marietta, GA 30062
Atlanta, GA 30319
Decatur, GA 30034
Suite B
Douglasville, GA 30134
Suite 704
LaGrange, GA 30240
Suite B
Douglasville, GA 30134
Building B
Austell, GA 30106
Suite C
Woodstock, GA 30189
Suite E
Woodstock, GA 30189
Suite 303
Douglasville, GA 30135
Suite C
Woodstock, GA 30189
Suite 400
LaGrange, GA 30240
Medical Office Building 2nd Floor
Augusta, GA 30912
Medical Office Building 5th Floor
Augusta, GA 30912
Augusta, GA 30909
Professional Office Building 2 2nd Floor
Augusta, GA 30912
Cancer Center 1st Floor
Augusta, GA 30912
Augusta, GA 30912
Medical Office Building 5th Floor
Augusta, GA 30912
Augusta, GA 30904
Wellstar Kennestone Womens Health Clinic
Suite 420
Marietta, GA 30060
Wellstar Hospitalist Group OB/GYN
Medical Office Building 2nd Floor
Augusta, GA 30912
Wellstar Obstetrics and Gynecology
Medical Office Building 5th Floor
Augusta, GA 30912
Wellstar Obstetrics and Gynecology
Professional Office Building 2 2nd Floor
Augusta, GA 30912
Wellstar Gynecologic Oncology
Cancer Center 1st Floor
Augusta, GA 30912
Wellstar Maternal Fetal Medicine
Medical Office Building 5th Floor
Augusta, GA 30912
News
Related Articles
Highlights
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.
Highlights
Partner with Wellstar Center for Genetics to Reduce Your Risk of Cancer
While the cancer care experts at Wellstar are dedicated to providing world-class cancer treatment, our care teams are also committed to preventing disease and helping you evaluate your risk so you can be proactive with your health.
Some patients may have an increased risk of developing cancer if they have a family history or a genetic mutation. For example, a family history of prostate cancer could be indicative of a genetic mutation that increases the family’s risk for breast cancer, and vice versa. The Wellstar Center for Genetics determines if you may develop or carry certain genetic disorders. Using a compassionate approach, Wellstar genetic counselors ensure patients have the information they need to make an educated decision about genetic testing. Our team supports you every step of the way, answering questions and often working through complicated emotions.
At Wellstar, our focus is PeopleCare—personalized healthcare tailored uniquely for you. Your care team will ask you about your family’s history of cancer, including if you have had any relatives with cancer. If you do have a family history, they will ask how old your family members were when they got diagnosed.
If you have a family history of cancer, your doctor might recommend you start screenings such as mammograms or prostate-specific antigen tests earlier or get screened more frequently. Your care team may also suggest preventative measures like medications or lifestyle changes, and they’ll partner with you to take action against potential cancers.
Some possible signs of hereditary cancer include:
- Unusually early age of cancer onset
- Multiple primary cancers in a single patient—primary cancers are an original tumor that forms in the body before the cancer potentially spreads
- Cancer in paired organs (such as in cancer in both breasts)
- Multi-generational cancers
- Rare tumors
- An unusual presentation, such as male breast cancer
- Belonging to an ethnic group known to be at high risk for hereditary cancers
- No environmental explanation for the cancer
Your care team may evaluate your risk of hereditary cancer by looking at your BRCA genes. Mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are most commonly associated with breast cancer, but they are also tied to an increased risk of several other cancers, including ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancers. A BRCA gene mutation can also make a man more likely to develop breast cancer.
“Since these genetic mutations can affect someone’s risk for several different types of cancer, it’s important that you discuss any family history of cancer with both your relatives and your Wellstar care team,” Wellstar Urologist Dr. Justin Watson said.
These conversations can be beneficial to both you and your family members.
“Men diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age may pass along a higher genetic risk for both prostate and breast cancer to their children,” Dr. Scott Miller, Wellstar Urology specialty lead and director of robotic surgical services, explained. “Understanding these risks empowers families to take preventive steps earlier and opens the door to targeted screening programs.”
If you are wondering if you may have a genetic predisposition to certain cancers, the Wellstar Center for Genetics has nine convenient locations, and our genetic counselors can help you learn more about your risk. Your physician can refer you for genetic testing, or you can contact the genetics team directly to make an appointment. In an initial 45-minute appointment, your genetic counselor will meet with you to review your family history and discuss testing options. Most testing can be done with a saliva sample.
Genetic testing is one way that families can work to protect and inform each other so everyone can reduce their cancer risk. “The whole family is in this together,” Kimberly King-Spohn, director of the Wellstar Center for Genetics, said. “Testing helps us manage their risk and know what they're at risk for, and it's an opportunity for prevention.”
To learn more about the Wellstar Center for Genetics or make an appointment, call (470) 793-7472.
Highlights
A Candid Talk About Your Breasts
Over the years, advice about breast self-exams and breast cancer screenings has changed. So what exactly should you be doing to make sure you’re staying your healthiest? We brought together a panel of women’s health experts to discuss the best strategies to keep tabs on your breast health—and who to talk to if you’re diagnosed with breast cancer.
I do breast self-checks every month. Why do I need a mammogram too?
Dr. Paula Greaves, MD, OBGYN, Wellstar chief Women's Health officer: Unfortunately, 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, so early detection is key. We have shown over the years that the sooner we detect breast cancer, the more successfully it can be treated. Survival has increased significantly since we started finding breast cancer earlier—before there are symptoms, such as feeling a lump during a self-exam.
Mammograms are essential for early detection. It’s recommended that women start getting mammograms at age 40. However, if you have a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors, your gynecologist or primary care provider may recommend starting earlier and will help you create a personalized screening plan. There are some risk factors that women cannot change, such as genetics, but there are some ways women can lower their risk, like quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Wellstar offers 16 mammography locations, and our patients have state-of-the-art technology on their side. We offer high-resolution breast screening, including 3D mammograms.
Women should continue not only getting annual mammograms, but also seeing their gynecologist or primary care provider for regular breast exams. Women should also be aware of physical changes within their bodies, including breast changes. Changes in the texture of the skin or a lump or pain in the breast should always be checked out by their healthcare provider.
Margie Apacible-Mancao, MSN, RN, CBCN, nurse navigator: I am so passionate about breast cancer screening—every opportunity I have I tell patients to get a screening mammogram when they’re of age. Tell someone in your circle that you’re going, then they’ll tell someone in their circle and the circle gets wider so more people will get screened.
Does it mean I have cancer if the doctor recommends a biopsy?
Dr. Sujatha Hariharan, MD, medical oncologist: When a mammogram detects an abnormality, a biopsy might be indicated. Many breast biopsies will be non-cancerous such as fibroadenomas.
If cancer is found on a breast biopsy, there are several parts of the pathology result that the care team will utilize to make a treatment plan. For example, the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptor positivity allows the potential for hormone therapy as part of the treatment plan. The HER-2 gene is also tested for and if that is present and positive, it allows for medication directed at the HER-2 gene to be given along with chemotherapy.
Sequencing of the various treatments for breast cancer—surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy—will be determined as a collaborative effort between the breast surgeon and medical oncologist.
If I’m diagnosed, who should I talk to next?
Margie: The anxiety of not knowing their diagnosis or what’s next is one of the hardest parts. At Wellstar, patients have access to a nurse navigator on the day they are recommended to have a biopsy. We make an appointment with the specialists as quickly as possible because just knowing that someone is helping them get to the next step and get that appointment fast dials down their stress level.
Dr. Karen Xu, MD, radiation oncologist: If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, you will need to see a breast surgeon first to discuss your surgery options—lumpectomy or mastectomy; a radiation oncologist to discuss the duration of radiation treatment and whether lymph nodes should be included in the target; and a medical oncologist about whether endocrine therapy or chemotherapy is indicated and the timing of systemic therapy. Patients who desire reconstruction after mastectomy will discuss with a plastic surgeon the type and timing of reconstruction they want.
Schedule a mammogram
Find a breast imaging location near you online or call (678) 581-5900.
We use cookies for booking and general analytics. Learn more about or internet privacy policy.