Understanding the gynecology procedure for detecting and removing precancerous cells from a cervix

Gynecology Procedure in Fulshear Tx Area

Maintaining your annual well woman checkups is important to your overall health and wellbeing. This appointment gives your physician a chance to focus on preventative care, rather than monitoring a pregnancy or treating an ailment or problem. Dr. Jenkins of Jenkins Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine urges patients to schedule and keep these appointments.

One piece of the well woman checkup is a pap smear, where a small amount of cells are scraped from the opening of the cervix. The cells are tested to determine if you have an infection, abnormal cells, or cervical cancer. The Pap test can find the earliest signs of cervical cancer which can keep the disease from growing and ultimately save your life. In the early stages of cervical cancer, patients generally feel no pain or have any symptoms.

If abnormal cells, also known as cervical dysplasia, are found, Dr. Jenkins will schedule a follow up appointment with you to discuss your options. Some of the possible next steps include repeating the Pap test. Sometimes very mild cases of dysplasia will clear up without medical intervention. If Dr. Jenkins believes that this could be the case for you, he will schedule a series of Pap tests to be sure.

Alternatively, Dr. Jenkins could schedule you for a gynecological procedure to detect the extent of the dysplasia. A colposcopy is common for patients with dysplasia. During a colposcopy, a magnified exam of the cervix will be conducted and a small biopsy will be taken. Additionally, a cone biopsy could be used to rule out invasive cancer.

If the colposcopy shows that the dysplasia detected is not likely to go away on its own, Dr. Jenkins will either destroy or remove the cancerous cells. Dr. Jenkins can destroy the cells through carbon dioxide photoablation, using a laser to vaporize the abnormal cells, or through cyrocautery, which uses nitrous oxide to freeze the abnormal area. To remove the abnormal cells, Dr. Jenkins uses the loop electrosurgical procedure (LEEP.) The LEEP procedure removes abnormal tissue using a thin, low voltage electrified wire loop.

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Regardless of which detection or treatment procedure you and Dr. Jenkins decide to use, know that you will be kept comfortable during the entire process. Hearing the words “cervical cancer” can be scary and overwhelming. Dr. Jenkins will make sure that you understand your test results and his recommended next steps. If you’re in the Fulshear, TX, area and are looking for a physician who will treat you with expert and gentle care, call today to schedule an appointment.

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Jenkins Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Medicine
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We offer general care, gynecology, and obstetrics services that span all stages of a woman's life. Dr. Taryll L. Jenkins, MD, received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and his Doctorate of Medicine from Meharry Medical College School of Medicine, TN. He completed his residency training at the University of Texas and Hermann Hospital, TX and is Board-certified from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, with years of research experience.

Having graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Chemistry in 2011, Dr. Stephanie Roy received her Doctor of Medicine Degree in 2015 from the University of Texas Medical Branch. Today, she is a leading Board-certified physician who works hard to provide you and your family with high-quality services. In addition to spending time at the practice, Dr. Roy possesses extensive volunteer experience in the community. She was also a tutor at the Medical Careers Diversity Program in 2012 and, since then, has spent her free time volunteering for the St. Vincent’s Clinic.

Dr. Tiffany Ikwuagwu is passionate about caring for the diverse communities in Katy, TX. Having completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Houston, her medical degree at the Baylor College of Medicine, and her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the McGovern Medical School, she worked as principal investigator on a research project with Dr. Nana Ankumah at UT Houston. A member of the American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Dr. Ikwuagwu has served in several leadership roles and has made many contributions to the community.

Yara Ramirez, MD, earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Baylor University and her doctorate in medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, where she also completed her residency. She won the Resident Teaching Award from UTMB’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for two consecutive years.
Dr. Ramirez has researched extensively on many obstetrics-related topics. She has been a Junior Fellow Representative for the UTMB Residency Program and a Medical Student Education Committee Member at the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has volunteered for various local and foreign community programs. Her fluency in Spanish and French is an asset to her organization.

Nadia Alexander is a Board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center. With seven years of experience in women’s health and a focus on obstetrics and ambulatory gynecology (vaginitis, UTI, and vaginal bleeding), she provides quality, compassionate care to patients in various stages of reproductive life. She is fluent in English and Spanish and is the lead contact for our Telehealth service.