Blog Archive
Robotic surgery may sound like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, but robotic systems have been used in surgery for about 40 years. Today, robotic surgery (or robot-assisted surgery) is used in many areas of medicine, including gynecology. Rafael J. Perez, MD, FACOG, is a leading provider of robot-assisted...
Every year, millions of people are infected with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and while there are many treatment options, data show some STDs have been increasing in recent years. One of the best ways to protect yourself and your loved ones from STDs is to have regular testing to identify...
More than a third of Americans suffer from overactive bladder (OAB), a chronic condition that causes frequent, irresistible urges to urinate, along with embarrassing urine leakage. But although OAB is common, many people never seek treatment, likely because they think it’s a natural part of aging or because they don’t...
Every year, more than a million American women enter menopause, marking an end to their periods and often the beginning of some unpleasant symptoms, including hot flashes. Actually, hot flashes can begin even before your periods end, during the years leading up to menopause (a time called perimenopause). No matter...
Endometriosis is a relatively common medical problem that happens when the endometrium — the tissue lining your uterus — grows in another area of your body. Chronic pelvic pain is a hallmark symptom, and in fact, data show that about 70% of pelvic pain is due to underlying endometriosis. But...
Testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is simple, safe, and confidential. Best of all, it can keep you healthy. But despite these benefits, plenty of people don’t bother to get tested or they only get tested if they notice obvious symptoms of an infection. That’s too bad, because testing is...
Millions of Americans suffer from urinary incontinence and the embarrassment it causes. In fact, data show nearly half of women have urinary incontinence, a number that rises dramatically as women get older. Urine leakage is especially common after menopause — so common that many women think it’s a natural part...
Endometriosis is a chronic and surprisingly common condition that happens when the tissue that lines the uterus (the endometrium) grows in areas where it’s not supposed to grow. While some women have endometriosis and never know it, many suffer from severe cramps, pelvic pain, and lower back pain, along with...
Robot-assisted surgery might sound like something from science fiction, but it’s a real thing, and it offers plenty of benefits for patients, including women undergoing hysterectomy. If robot-assisted surgery is new to you, you might be wondering what to expect during your recovery, and you’ll certainly be pleased by the...
Every year, nearly 20,000 American women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, a leading cause of cancer deaths among women. While the rate of ovarian cancer has declined in recent years, women with risk factors for the disease still need to take steps to prevent it. At the Center for Urogynecology...
Pelvic floor dysfunction affects about 25% of American women at some point during their lives. A common cause of incontinence symptoms, pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when the pelvic floor muscles weaken so much that they’re no longer able to properly support the bladder and other organs. Rafael J. Perez, MD,...
Pelvic organ prolapse is a surprisingly common problem among women, occurring when one or more pelvic organs descend or drop into the vaginal canal. While it can happen at nearly any age, it’s much more common among older women. Rafael J. Perez, MD, FACOG, and our team at the Center...
When you think of the signs of aging, you may think of lines, wrinkles, and maybe some weight gain around the belly. But aging affects your whole body, including the delicate tissues of your vagina. Vaginal laxity describes a condition in which the vagina loses its natural elasticity, tone, and...
If you’re having trouble conceiving, figuring out what steps to take next can be very confusing. Having an infertility evaluation right away can help identify the cause of infertility, so you can find a solution tailored for your needs. At the Center for Urogynecology and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery, OB/GYN Rafael...
Sneezing is so common that most of us don’t really think much about it when it happens. But for women with stress incontinence, even something as simple as a sneeze can cause embarrassing urine leakage and a significant decrease in self-confidence, too. Rafael J. Perez, MD, FACOG, and our team...
Most people think of the uterus as a super-flexible sac designed expressly to house and protect a developing fetus. But your uterus is a lot more complex than that, and a lot of its function relies on the endometrium, the layer of tissue that lines the inner surface of the...
When you’re having difficulty getting pregnant, it can feel like you’re all alone. But actually, fertility issues are extremely common. Roughly 20% of American women are unable to conceive even after a year of trying. That’s partly because getting pregnant isn’t easy. Conception involves lots of factors, and infertility can...
Millions of Americans suffer from overactive bladder (OAB), a chronic condition that causes symptoms like urinary incontinence and frequent urges to urinate, interrupting sleep and taking a toll on everyday activities. Not surprisingly, people who suffer from OAB can be plagued by anxiety, depression, and embarrassment. OAB happens when the...
Vaginal atrophy is a common problem for many women, especially during the menopause years. Yet despite how common it is, many women never seek treatment, incorrectly believing that the symptoms they have are just part of getting older. In fact, there’s nothing natural about the uncomfortable symptoms associated with vaginal...
Every year, more than 2 million American women enter menopause — roughly 6,000 each day. But before your periods completely end, you go through perimenopause, when your body begins slowing down estrogen production and undergoing lots of other related changes. Perimenopause can begin in your 30s or 40s, causing symptoms that can range...
About 11% of women of childbearing age suffer from endometriosis and its painful symptoms. Endometriosis happens when the tissue that lines the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside the uterus, causing pain and cramps at specific times during your menstrual cycle. Rafael J. Perez, MD, FACOG, and our team at the Center for Urogynecology...
Chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted disease (STD) among Americans, causing more than 4 million infections every year. Like other STDs, chlamydia responds best to treatment when it’s identified early. The problem is, chlamydia doesn’t always cause symptoms until more serious complications occur. At the Center for Urogynecology and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery in...
More than a million women enter menopause every year in the United States, dealing with the seemingly endless symptoms that it causes. Hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog, sleep problems, and mood swings are just a handful of some of the more common problems that can take a toll on...
Up to a third of American adults have urinary incontinence, a chronic condition that causes urine leakage. While many people find their symptoms too embarrassing to talk about, seeking medical care is the best way to find a solution. As a top-rated urogynecologist in South Miami, Florida, Rafael J. Perez, MD, FACOG, offers...
Adenomyosis is a condition in which the uterine lining (endometrium) grows into the wall of the uterus. While many women are unaware of the condition, it’s actually fairly common. In a recent study of women who underwent hysterectomies, adenomyosis was present in almost 90% of cases, while among the general...
Abnormal menstrual or vaginal bleeding can be alarming, but the good news is, it’s not uncommon and the cause is often benign. But abnormal bleeding can be a sign of a more serious problem, so have it evaluated to determine the cause and find out how to treat it. Although...
Robot-assisted surgery sounds like it’s something straight out of science fiction, but it’s actually a state-of-the-art approach to surgery that uses surgical robots to assist the surgeon. Robot-assisted surgery using the da Vinci® surgical robot system offers a high degree of precision and accuracy, along with much smaller incisions that...
Every year in the United States, more than 14,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and roughly 4,000 women die of the disease. While those numbers are concerning, they represent a dramatic decrease from what they were decades ago — before Pap smears became a regular part of women’s health...
Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition in which ligaments and other connective tissues weaken and can no longer support one or more of your pelvic organs. Up to 50% of women experience pelvic organ prolapse at some point in their lives, along with the uncomfortable (and sometimes embarrassing) symptoms it...
Each time you look in the mirror, you notice the signs of aging in your face. But at least you know what to do about it: Fillers, lasers, and microneedling procedures can stimulate collagen and add lost volume back to your face to make you look and feel younger. But...
Whether you’ve recently delivered a beautiful bundle of joy or have gone through menopause, chances are that you may not be feeling 100% confident about your vaginal area right now. After all, hormonal changes, delivery, and other life experiences can lead to a loss of vaginal laxity. This loss of...
If you’re one of the 28 million women in the United States who suffers from Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI), you know just how nerve-wracking it can be to laugh, sneeze, or even just lift an object off the ground. It seems as though any kind of pressure on your stomach...
It seems as though whenever you switch on the television, you see an ad that’s promising another solution to vaginal dryness and recurrent infections. Yet despite all their promises, you still see no sign of relief. Instead, you’re dealing with messy creams and gels that do little to alleviate your...