We understand that choosing the right OB-GYN care team is an important decision. At Ascension Saint Agnes OB-GYN Columbia, we deliver compassionate, personalized care for women in Columbia, Maryland. Whether you need female wellness exams, preconception and pregnancy care, or care during the menopause transition – we're here to listen and understand your needs. If you need help managing menopause, pelvic health conditions, or cancer risk factors, we’ll work together to develop the right care plan for you. To help you focus on being healthy, we promote wellness screenings including mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, and referrals for thyroid screening and bone density testing. Find a provider at our location.
Our care teams take the time to get to know you and learn about your health history. We deliver a wide range of personalized gynecological services:
- Annual well-woman exam, including screenings for HPV, clinical breast exams, and sexually transmitted disease testing
- Cervical cancer screening, including Pap smears and evaluation for abnormal test results
- Menstruation concerns, including premenstrual syndrome menstrual pain and abnormal bleeding
- Menopause care, including hormone replacement therapy and referrals for bone density testing (DEXA Scans)
- Diagnosis and treatment of pelvic health conditions such as incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction
- Minimally invasive surgical procedures, including treatment of abnormal bleeding, endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts and hysterectomy
- Diagnostic ultrasounds
- Obstetrical care including midwifery care
Your annual exam
Your annual gynecologic exam is an important part of your overall health. We typically recommend that annual exams begin between the ages of 16 and 21 years. Your doctor will assess your overall health as well as check your reproductive system each year. Establishing your gynecologic care early on is important so that we can establish a benchmark from which we can assess and screen for any changes and/or abnormalities that may need to be followed or treated. The annual exam consists of:
- Your personal history
- A breast exam
- Pelvic exam and Pap smear
*A Note about Pap Smears – The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that women begin Pap smears at age 21. Women between the ages of 21-29 should get a Pap smear every three years, and then every three to five years after age 30. Screening will be more frequent for women with abnormal Pap smears.
Understanding menopause
Menopause is a normal part of a woman’s aging process. For many women, stopping menstruation is a welcome part of life that typically begins in your 40’s and 50’s. The average age of menopause in the U.S. is 51 years, but symptoms can begin earlier. You may first begin to notice changes in your cycle several years before your last period. This period of time is called Perimenopause. Because every woman is unique, menopause symptoms may vary.
