Women’s Health Specialists of Birmingham provides the highest quality prenatal to postpartum care for expectant mothers and newborns in a caring, comfortable environment.
Women’s Health Specialists of Birmingham offers high-risk pregnancy care, advanced labor and delivery services and educational resources for new parents.
However, one of the most important services Women’s Health Specialists of Birmingham offers — and one that more women should take advantage of — is preventive care.
“The well-woman visit, or annual exam, gives providers an opportunity to counsel patients about healthy lifestyle habits and health risks,” said Dr. Alexia Novara.
“When a woman comes for her annual check-up, we discuss menstrual cycle patterns, sexual activity and health, reproductive concerns, menopausal symptoms and any other genito-urinary tract complaints she may have,” Dr. Novara said.
Dr. Novara said she will talk to the patient about her personal medical history, medications and any family history that may affect her health, as well as the immunizations the patient needs based on her age and risk factors.
“The main screening exams that we perform are the breast exam and pelvic exam with a pap smear, but we generally do a head-to-toe overall assessment, as well — especially if there are any areas of concern,” Dr. Novara said.
Well-woman exams are critically important because the physician can determine if the patient may have a potentially life-threatening condition.
“Cervical cancer is often preventable with routine pap smears that can diagnose pre-cancer lesions or HPV related changes on the cervix that can be managed with minor procedures,” Dr. Novara said. “If routine preventative visits are missed, these are potential missed opportunities to find early changes that can lead to more advanced disease.”
The same is true with breast cancer.
“If we can diagnose early or small changes in the breast with an exam or with a routine screening mammogram, we can often find earlier stage disease that typically makes treatment options less invasive and more likely to be successful,” Dr. Novara said.
Sadly, not all women are getting the preventive care they need.
“We see so many women who are missing out on routine gynecologic care because they just assume they don’t need it,” Dr. Novara said. “It’s so important for women to have both a primary care physician and an OB/GYN in order to get well-rounded care.”
Dr. Novara grew up in Vestavia Hills, has an undergraduate degree from Auburn University, completed medical school at UAB School of Medicine and finished her OB/GYN residency at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans.
She believes strongly that patients should choose Grandview for their OB/GYN care.
“We pride ourselves in giving excellent care to our patients, and our clinical team and staff work day in and day out to care for our patients in a way that is unlike any that I have seen before,” she said.
For more information regarding well-woman exams, Dr. Novara suggests visiting the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website at acog.org/womens-health/infographics/reasons-to-see-your-ob-gyn-this-year.
For more information about OB/GYN care at Grandview Medical Group, call 205-623-5944 or go to womenshealthgrandview.com.
