March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, and ladies, if you suffer from endometriosis, you’re not alone, as 176 million reproductive-age women have the disease worldwide. At Metro OBGYN, we think it’s important to bring additional awareness to this often misunderstood disease. Here are several ways you can raise awareness about this painful pelvic health disorder this March (and beyond).

Most people don’t like to talk about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), as they often carry a negative social stigma. If you are one of the approximately 14 million people in the United States who will be infected this year with the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection (STI), there’s no need to be embarrassed. We’re here to help clear up the confusion and break the stigma.

With a staggering number of people affected by this one STI alone, we decided to take the time to talk about what HPV is, associated health issues, prevention, and dispel some myths concerning HPV.

When thinking of a newborn baby, many people envision a picture-perfect image of a smiling, glowing mother side-by-side with her child. While countless women experience the joy and happiness that motherhood brings, nearly 80% will experience something called the “Baby Blues,” according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Unfortunately, 15% will experience something much more severe, called Postpartum Depression (PPD), which is an extreme variation of the baby blues.

Explore our guide to postpartum depression by learning the difference between PPD and the baby blues, signs and symptoms, causes, treatment options, risks and prevention, and when to see a provider.

Pregnancy brings a lot of joy and excitement for expecting mothers but can also mean an increase in health concerns for you and your baby. If you’re pregnant and dealing with a medical issue, do you go to an emergency room or an urgent care? While these two options will both work, it depends on the particular health issue. We’ll take a look at when it’s best to go to an urgent care for pregnancy services and when it’s best to go to an ER instead.

For many women, the thought of attending an annual gynecological exam can bring up feelings of embarrassment or anxiety, which, unfortunately, may lead to avoidance. Some women choose not to visit their gynecologist for modesty reasons or possibly because they are worried something may be wrong. In reality, annual gynecological exams are incredibly important for all women.