Annual Gynecological Exams
Your annual exam will start with a review of your medical, surgical, and social history. We will then try to answer any questions you have about your reproductive health and review wellness tips with you. This could include of a review of nutrition, your diet, primary care and dentist visits, lab work, contraceptives, and others. An annual exam appointment usually ends with a full physical exam that may include a Pap smear, breast/chest exam, and/or STI testing as desired.
Typically, appointments are conducted face-to-face with your nurse practitioner or midwife in your own clothing. We’ll ask that you change into one of our comfortable gowns for your physical exam.
Contraceptive Counseling
We are committed to helping you develop a reproductive life plan that fits your needs. A contraceptive counseling visit starts with a review of what methods, if any, have worked for you in the past and an assessment of what methods may work for you now. These methods include:
- Prescriptions for the pill (oral contraceptives) the shot (Depo-Provera), the patch, diaphragms, the cervical cap, and birth control rings.
- IUD (intrauterine device) insertions including the Mirena, Skyla, Kyleena, and Paragard. We also do IUD removals.
- Nexplanon implant
- Plan B (a.k.a. emergency contraceptive, morning-after pill). We have Plan B in-house.
- Natural family planning and fertility awareness. Please see below.
If you need guidance before your visit to figure out which contraceptive method might be right for you, we have found bedsider.org to be a helpful resource.
Urgent health concerns
Our midwives and nurse practitioner can help you address gynecological health concerns and make referrals as needed. Some issues we often treat include:
- Vaginal infections and abnormal discharge
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Breast changes or lumps
- Issues with your menstrual cycle
Sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening and treatment
It’s important to be in charge of your sexual health. One of the best ways to do that is screening for STIs. We can provide in-house screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea, testing and treatment for HSV (herpes simplex virus), and genital warts. We can provide you with referrals or prescriptions for blood work to screen for some STIs as well. We will provide you with appropriate follow-up, including prescriptions for treatment.
Natural family planning & fertility awareness
We can provide you with information and counseling about natural family planning and fertility awareness, sometimes referred to as FAM or CM-BBT. These methods may help you if you’re hoping to plan a family soon or if you do not wish to contracept with hormonal options. We can talk to you about using these methods and can suggest further resources, including reading materials and where you can find classes.
Family building services
We offer Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) or Intracervical Insemination (ICI) services to clients who desire a more home-like experience while conceiving their baby. Our providers will work with you to review your medical history, begin fertility tracking, and provide insemination in a comfortable exam room or birth suite. You are welcome to bring support people to your insemination as well as music and other special elements that will make you feel comfortable. If conception is successful, you can begin prenatal care with the provider of your choice, including The Midwife Center. Learn more here.
Preconception counseling appointments
Preconception counseling can be helpful for clients to receive health promotion education prior to becoming pregnant. Part of the appointment would include a history review to determine if there are any interventions necessary to decrease the risk of adverse perinatal/maternal health effects.
Other services we offer
- Pregnancy verification and ultrasound referrals
- Pregnancy options counseling, including information about abortion, adoption, and parenting
- Referrals for mammograms
- In-house lab work and referrals for lab work. Learn more about getting lab work done at The Midwife Center.
- Flu and Tdap vaccines for current clients (unfortunately, we cannot provide these vaccinations for family members)
- Colposcopies
- Pelvic floor PT referrals
- Cervical polyp removal
- Menopause and menopause transition care
- Gardasil vaccine
- Endometrial biopsies
Accessibility
Our building is designed to be accessible to people of all physical abilities. If you have a physical or mobility disability, our goal is to accommodate you with an appointment room specifically designed for people using assistive devices. This room also includes an accessible exam table that allows for more functionality than a traditional exam table. When scheduling your appointment please let the TMC staff know that you would appreciate an appointment room that is designed for someone with an assistive device.
If you have specific questions, concerns, or needs regarding access to TMC, please feel free to contact us at 412-321-6880.
Language and Translation Services
The Midwife Center is pleased to offer a variety of services for people who speak different languages. Our client-facing staff is trained in using phone, video, and in-person interpretation services and can also arrange for in-person interpretation for some services. We also have several staff people who speak Spanish and many of our forms are available in Spanish. The Midwife Center retired the Con Mujeres program, which served Spanish-speaking people once a month during walk-in hours, in order to make all of our services more accessible to people who speak Spanish and other languages. We are pleased that with partnerships with interpretation services, clients can be seen any time of the week with any TMC provider.
Insurance & Payment
We accept most private insurance plans, most medical assistance plans. We can also talk to you about your options if you do not have insurance. Learn more on our Insurance & Payment page.
Make an appointment
You may call our front office at 412.321.6880 to make an appointment or ask questions about insurance and payment. You may also come to our Wellness Walk-In Fridays same day appointment program on Fridays from 1:00pm-5:00pm.
Please fill out a release of records form prior to your scheduled appointment.
