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WOMEN IN
MEDICINE

(continued from page 16)

function problems and are resistant to learning these new procedures can make the most informed decisions for themselves.
because they are set in their ways. They also don’t give women the Education is the key to better healthcare. I use various social
time and care they deserve due to insurance constraints and the use media platforms to educate women and men and to answer ques-
of Electronic Medical Records. tions including Facebook (I did my first live chat on Labiaplasty a
Women who may need surgery for incontinence can end up with few weeks ago), Instagram, and RealSelf, where questions are pre-
a hysterectomy as well because of the two lines doctors use that I sented daily and reviews and before and after photos are available.
strongly dislike: “While we are in there” and “You don’t need it any- I was asked by the American College of Obstetricians and Gyne-
more.” Unfortunately, some doctors cologists (ACOG) to create an online
remove the uterus and cervix because educational eModule on the Labia Mi-
they make more money without letting nora and Labiaplasty procedures for
their patients know that it doesn’t al- my Ob/Gyn colleagues which they
ways need to come out. It is important copyrighted and published at the end
to understand that the uterus is still of 2015 and have a book on Amazon
useful after childbirth because it con- called “Beneath Your Pink Perfect:
tributes to orgasmic contractions and Everything You Ever Wanted to Know
the cervix not only supports the top of About Labiaplasty But Didn’t Know to
the vagina but lubricates it as well. I am Ask” for women seeking information
always surprised when a patient tells about the extra tissue, why it has oc-
me she has had a hysterectomy but curred, what questions to ask their
doesn’t know if she still has her ovaries doctors and what they can do about it.
or cervix. How can you let a doctor op- I was privileged to be chosen to give a
erate and not fully understand what is TedxTalk in San Antonio last Novem-
being done to you? Consents are ber and picked the topic of Female
signed but it seems that women are Anatomy 101, which can be seen on
signing without fully understanding what procedure(s) they are hav- YouTube. On Nov. 15, I will be giving a dinner presentation on
ing. Also, when you go to your doctor who has taken good care of “Life-Changing Issues Ob/Gyns Don’t Talk About but Should” at
you for many years, and s/he says you need surgery, you trust this Scuzzi’s Italian Restaurant. Anyone who is interested can contact
person’s opinion and don’t know the questions you should be asking. my office.
Too often women are being dismissed with comments like “it’s My years of experience in practice have allowed me to change
all in your head” or “you are normal,” or “squeeze your muscles” women’s lives and give them back their self-esteem and self-confi-
whereas I have patients who couldn’t keep a tampon in, couldn’t dence. I receive hundreds of letters and cards from women whose
run around with their children due to leakage of urine, have inti- lives I have helped dramatically improve and who finally feel com-
macy problems with their spouse or partner, or can’t exercise, do fortable in their bodies.
routine activities or wear a bathing suit due to extra tissue getting Of course, like all women, juggling work and home-life can be
in the way or making them feel self-conscious. So many of my pa- challenging. I’ve been extraordinarily lucky in that my husband has
tients come in with little or no knowledge about their bodies. Every- been extremely supportive as has my son. I think it’s important for
one should be taught about their anatomy and how their parts work him to see his parents work hard to give him a foundation for inde-
to know when something is wrong. I have been trained in the newest pendence and to be passionate about work and helping others.
technologies including heat application and PRP which are non-sur-
gical no downtime options that can replace hormones for vaginal Dr. Troy Robbin Hailparn is a board-certified Ob/Gyn focusing on Ad-
dryness and help with incontinence, vaginal tightness and orgasmic vanced Cosmetic-Plastic Gynecology and Reconstruction techniques. She can be
intensity. As a woman and a doctor, it is imperative to have both contacted at info@cosmeticgyn.net or at (210) 615-6646, and has an inform-
compassion and sensitivity to these issues and tell them about all ative website www.CosmeticGYN.net. Her office is located at 525 Oak Centre
the available treatment options – surgical and non-surgical – so they Drive, Suite 220, SA, TX 78258.

18 San Antonio Medicine • November 2018