Breasts can change throughout your life. Hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause, medications and noncancerous breast conditions can all affect how your breasts look or feel.

Many breast changes are not caused by cancer. However, a new, unexplained or persistent change should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. Knowing what is normal for your body can help you recognize when something deserves attention.

A New Lump or Area of Thickening

A new breast lump is one of the most recognized reasons to contact a provider. Breast lumps can feel hard or soft, painful or painless, smooth or irregular.

Many lumps are benign, meaning they are not cancerous. Cysts, fibroadenomas and hormonal changes are common causes. Still, it is not possible to identify the cause of a lump by touch alone.

Contact your healthcare provider if you feel a new lump, an area of thickening or breast tissue that feels noticeably different from the surrounding area.

Changes in Breast Size or Shape

Breasts are rarely identical, and some natural asymmetry is common. What matters is whether you notice a new or unexplained change.

Schedule an evaluation if one breast suddenly appears larger, lower or differently shaped. Swelling in all or part of a breast should also be discussed, even if you cannot feel a distinct lump.

Dimpling, Puckering or Skin Changes

Changes in the skin over the breast can sometimes signal an underlying concern. Contact your provider if you notice:

• Dimpling or puckering
• Skin that resembles the texture of an orange peel
• Persistent redness
• Unexplained warmth or swelling
• Thickened, dry, scaly or flaky skin
• A rash on or around the nipple

Skin changes can have several possible causes, including irritation or infection. A professional evaluation can help determine whether additional testing or treatment is needed.

Nipple Changes or Discharge

A nipple that has always pointed inward may be normal for you. A nipple that recently begins turning inward should be evaluated.

You should also contact your provider about unexpected nipple discharge, especially when it is bloody, clear, occurs without squeezing or comes from only one breast.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding commonly cause breast milk production. Other types of discharge may be related to medications, hormonal changes, noncancerous conditions or an issue that requires further testing.

Persistent Pain in One Area

Breast tenderness can occur with menstrual cycles, pregnancy, menopause and hormonal medications. Pain that comes and goes in both breasts is often related to hormonal changes.

Persistent pain in one specific area deserves attention, particularly when it is accompanied by a lump, swelling, nipple change or skin change.

Breast pain alone is not usually a sign of cancer, but ongoing or unusual pain should still be discussed with your healthcare provider.

A Lump Under the Arm or Near the Collarbone

Breast tissue and lymph nodes extend beyond the area many people consider the breast. A lump or swelling under the arm or near the collarbone can have several causes, including infection or inflammation.

If the swelling does not resolve or you cannot identify an obvious cause, schedule an evaluation.

Do Not Wait for Your Next Mammogram

A routine mammogram screens for breast cancer in patients who do not have symptoms. If you have discovered a breast change, contact your provider rather than waiting for your next annual screening.

Your provider may recommend a clinical breast examination, diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound or another evaluation based on your symptoms and health history.

Women’s Health and Menopause Center provides 3D mammography and breast imaging services in West Bloomfield. Appropriate patients with dense breast tissue may also be evaluated for Automated Breast Ultrasound.

Know What Is Normal for You

There is no single appearance or texture that is normal for every woman. Breast awareness means becoming familiar with your own body so you can recognize a meaningful change.

You do not need to diagnose the problem yourself. If something looks or feels different, write down when you first noticed it and whether it changes during your menstrual cycle. Share those details with your provider.

Schedule a Breast Health Evaluation

Most breast changes have noncancerous explanations, but every new or unusual change deserves appropriate attention. Seeking an evaluation can provide answers and help ensure that any necessary follow-up is not delayed.

If you have noticed a breast lump, nipple change, unusual discharge, skin change or persistent pain, call Women’s Health and Menopause Center at (248) 932-9223 or request an appointment online.

Our office is located at 5777 West Maple Road, Suite 200, West Bloomfield, Michigan 48322.

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We remember and honor the babies who have passed away due to miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, and due to other causes. 1 in 4 lives are forever changed by the death of a child during pregnancy, at birth and in infancy. Today, we want to honor these babies, raise awareness to the community, and encourage individuals and families to talk and get the support they need to cope with their  loss.

The post Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day appeared first on Women's Health and Menopause Center.

It is helpful to know when you ovulate if you plan to become pregnant. Ovulation occurs when the ovum, or egg, is released during menstruation. It travels through the fallopian tube where it can come in contact with sperm for fertilization.

Ovulation with a Regular Period

Women with regular period cycles will have an easier time knowing when ovulation occurs. First, you should determine the length of your cycle. The first day you notice regular bleeding is day one. This is counted until the day before you started bleeding again (when your next period begins). There may be some variation, but this will give you a good idea about what’s happening in your body.

Ovulation occurs around 14 days before your next period. So if you have a 28-day cycle, then ovulation will happen around the 14^th day. Your most fertile period is a couple of days before ovulation. A woman with a 28-day cycle should try to conceive on days 12 through 14.

Ovulation with an Irregular Period

Having an irregular period doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant. It does mean that the process may be more challenging. You should begin by talking to an OB/GYN to determine the cause of your irregular periods. There may be an underlying cause that needs to be addressed before you attempt to get pregnant.

If you are healthy and have irregular periods, then there are some methods you can use to conceive. You can chart your cycle to look for patterns. This data may also be helpful if you have to go to a fertility specialist later.

You can also take your basal body temperature. A spike in temperature can indicate that ovulation is occurring. Another option is to look for cervical mucus changes. Cervical mucus is dryer early in your cycle but increases as you near ovulation. This material is clear and very slippery in texture. Some women compare it to the consistency of an egg white.

Contact Women’s Health in West Bloomfield today for a prenatal visit.

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It’s the timeless question that young women have been asking their moms for generations if feminine hygiene product advertisements are to be believed. Don’t listen to them.

While scenes of lush parks and beautiful beaches may inspire feelings of “freshness,” you don’t need a special product to keep your vagina clean.

Don’t Remove What Your Vagina Needs

Vaginal cleanliness can be confusing because the things that we want to wash away are things that your body needs. The vagina contains a delicate ecosystem of bacteria and acidity. Both are needed to maintain good pH levels.

Douching is a method of cleaning that uses a store-bought mixture. It’s squirted into the vagina to flush out what’s inside. Despite those charming commercials, it’s not a great choice because it can disrupt that delicate environment your vagina needs to prevent infections.

How Can I Be Clean Without Cleaning?

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t clean yourself. It just means that you need to know the right way to do it.

The best way to get that oh-so-fresh feeling without risking your reproductive health is to only clean the exterior with soap and water. Yes, it’s that simple. The same way you wash your arms, legs, and behind your ears.

Also, keep in mind that the vagina can be sensitive, so you should avoid using anything harsh or heavily fragranced. These can irritate, and no one wants that. If you notice discomfort or aren’t sure what to use, contact Women’s Health in West Bloomfield for an OB/GYN appointment.

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Uterine fibroids can appear in women, usually during their childbearing years. Also known as leiomyomas or myomas, this condition is a noncancerous growth that develops in the uterus. They can range in size from small enough to be undetectable by the human eye to larger masses that can affect the inside of the uterus.

Signs of Uterine Fibroids

It is possible to have uterine fibroids and experience no symptoms. The most common signs of uterine fibroids include:

• Heavy menstrual flow
• Pressure or pain in the pelvic area
• Periods that last longer than one week
• Frequent need to urinate
• Backache
• Leg pain
• Constipation

The severity of the symptom will depend on the size, quantity, and location of the uterine fibroids. Talk to your gynecologist if you notice any combination of the symptoms listed above.

Treating Uterine Fibroids

Your doctor may recommend an ultrasound and lab tests to diagnose the condition. If you have uterine fibroids, then you may be prescribed one of several treatment options.

• Treatment with Medication – Several medication options are available depending on your situation. These include non-hormonal Lysteda, a progestin-releasing IUD, or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists like Lupron or Synarel.
• Treatment with Ultrasound Surgery – A non-invasive ultrasound surgery may be prescribed. This is done inside an MRI scanner that provides a view of the uterine fibroids during the procedure.
• Other Treatment Options – Other possible treatments include monitoring, uterine artery embolization, endometrial ablation, and robotic or laparoscopic myomectomy.

Only a medical professional can recommend the best course of action to take when you have uterine fibroids. Contact Women’s Health and Menopause Center today to schedule an appointment.

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To all the wonderful women that I have been blessed to help provide health care,

I regret to inform you that because of family issues, I am going to be taking an early retirement, effective October 17, 2019. This will be a permanent retirement as I do not plan on returning to work at any time in the future.

I have been fortunate enough to work very closely with Dr. Jerrold Weinberg since January 2000 and he provides the same excellent care to the women he sees as I have been able to provide for you. Please do not hesitate to see him for your health care in my absence.

For those of you who prefer a female practitioner, Dr. Weinberg is training a female nurse practitioner, Teresa Sienkiewicz, who will be joining him next June.

Thank you for honoring me with the opportunity to be a small part of your lives and for all the blessings you gave me in return.

With warmest regards,
Mimi Kuykendall, PA-CMS

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