Blog Archive
When you think about family planning, you probably assume that if you’ve had one healthy pregnancy and birth, you can do it again as many times as you’d like. That’s true sometimes, but for others, it is not the case. If you’re struggling to get and stay pregnant after having...
When it comes to menstrual cycles, plenty of old wives’ tales, superstitions, and flat-out falsehoods exist. Happily, it’s fairly easy to set the record straight on many such myths—most women know that their cycle is a perfectly normal occurrence, for example. But, when it comes to things about your period...
Most people urinate seven to eight times each day, and people in their 40s and 50s usually have to get up to go to the bathroom once per night, while those who are 60 or older may need to go two or three times. If you need to go more...
Around one-third of women ask for treatment for heavy bleeding during their periods, and likely many more don’t realize that they have heavy bleeding. Although it’s common, it’s not normal. In this post we discuss how you know if you have heavy bleeding or not, and when you should talk...
There are several different types of urinary incontinence, but the most common is called stress incontinence. If you leak urine when you cough, or lift something heavy, or if sneezes feel dangerous, you likely have stress incontinence. Although no one enjoys talking about how they sometimes leak a bit of...
Even though it’s a common issue affecting a quarter of women in their 40s, a third of women in their 60s, and fully half of women over 80, pelvic organ prolapse isn’t something most women know about. The causes of pelvic organ prolapse are varied, but the good news is...
Pregnancy can be exciting, confusing, scary, joyful, and many other adjectives. When you combine all of those feelings with “helpful” advice from family members, friends, and coworkers — or even random people — you might feel like you shouldn’t do much of anything while you’re pregnant. Dr. Parisa Pourzand and her...
Around 4% of women in the United States use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to address symptoms of menopause. HRT can be an important tool to preserve your quality of life, but it’s not for everyone. Dr. Parisa Pourzand recommends HRT to some patients, but advises others to avoid it. That’s because hormone therapy can pose...
Pregnancy brings many new routines and experiences, and it’s entirely possible you’ll visit your doctor more than you ever have before! Although few people relish the idea of seeing their doctor more often, you may find that you do look forward to your prenatal visits. Dr. Parisa Pourzand sees many...
Endometriosis affects between eight and nine million women and girls of reproductive age in the United States. It’s a painful, chronic condition that researchers don’t fully understand. The symptoms can vary, but one tends to be consistent and that is pain.When a patient comes to her office and describes painful periods, Dr. Parisa...
In some ways, polycystic ovary syndrome, commonly known as PCOS, is a mysterious condition. For example, doctors and researchers aren’t sure exactly how many women have the condition, and think that it’s somewhere between 2-27% of women between the ages of 15 and 44. However, we do know a bit...
Have you ever sneezed and realized a bit of urine escaped? Or had a very sudden urge to go to the bathroom but failed to make it in time? These kinds of things happen when you have urinary incontinence. Dr. Parisa Pourzand and her staff have helped hundreds of women with urinary...
Most women experience bleeding between periods, or intermenstrual bleeding, on occasion. It is generally not a cause for concern. However, some serious conditions that require treatment can also cause spotting. The best way to find out if you should be worried or not is to schedule a visit with Dr. Parisa...
Infertility is defined differently, depending on your age. Women under the age of 35 who have been having unprotected sex at least twice a week for a year may be considered infertile, while women over the age of 35 who haven’t become pregnant after six months of trying fall into...
You’re busy! You have obligations, hobbies, social engagements, a family, and more taking up your time. You probably don’t want to spend your time or energy worrying about whether or not your period arrives regularly. But, if you’re wondering if you have regular menses, you may want to make the...
According to the Office on Women’s Health, about 6.5 million women in the United States have endometriosis. It’s a common issue that causes pain, bleeding between periods, and in rarer cases, infertility or digestive issues. Dr. Parisa Pourzand and her staff know that being common doesn’t mean that endometriosis is a small problem. We’ve...
You probably don’t want to talk about it — most women don’t — but urinary incontinence, or involuntary loss of urine, is a relatively common symptom of menopause. However, being common doesn’t mean that it’s something you can’t do anything about. Parisa Pourzand, MD and her staff offer treatments that can help...
Hormone replacement therapy has waxed and waned in popularity from the 1970s through today. Early on, it was viewed as a “cure” for menopause, but in the early 2000s research seemed to indicate HRT raised women’s risk of breast cancer. Later studies appeared to show that the timing of HRT,...
Many women have uterine polyps and never know it. These growths in your uterus are usually very small, less than 1 centimeter, and are very rarely cancerous. Dr. Parisa Pourzand and her staff, serving patients in Glendale, Burbank, and Los Angeles, California, have the training and experience necessary to diagnose uterine polyps, as...
Often we use the word “menopause” to refer to the physical changes that happen as a woman’s body changes so that she can no longer become pregnant. In fact, menopause is one day — the day 12 months after your last period. The time period that most of us think...
Before we can discuss reasons your period may be irregular, we should define a regular period. For the majority of women, a menstrual cycle is somewhere between 21 and 35 days. However, 14%-25% have cycles that are either longer or shorter, that are heavier or lighter than most women, or that involve...
About 75% of women develop uterine fibroids at some point or other, but many never realize they have the growths. Many fewer women develop polyps, around 30%, and it’s far more common among women either experiencing menopause and those who are post-menopausal. Though both fibroids and polyps are examples of...
As many as 50% of women experience urinary incontinence at some point, and as many as 10-20% of them have urine leakage that is disruptive to their lives. Even though it’s so widespread, urinary incontinence isn’t normal and there are treatments that can help. If you have urinary incontinence, you...
In modern society, when you hear the word “stress” you most likely think of negative things, like traffic, work worries, and feeling like you have too much to do. Stress isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. When you’ve had an accident, for example, stress can help you keep a cool...
Some 6.5 million women between the ages of 15 and 44 have endometriosis, making it a common condition. Endometriosis can be quite stressful, and it can disrupt your life. It may also affect your ability to get pregnant. Dr. Parisa Pourzand and her staff treat endometriosis and also provide prenatal...
How long should I try to get pregnant before seeking help? What if I can’t conceive? I already had a baby; how can this be possible? If you’re trying to get pregnant and having trouble, these may be just a few of the questions that cross your mind. Infertility is...
Prenatal care is the best way to make sure you enjoy a healthy pregnancy, birth, and newborn child. Proper, regular prenatal care can help prevent complications before they occur and help you understand what’s happening with your own and your baby’s health. Dr. Parisa Pourzand and her staff can guide...
Do you know when to expect your next menstrual cycle? Do you know what to expect during your period? If you aren’t sure of the answers to those questions, you may have irregular menses, or an irregular period. Dr. Parisa Pourzand and her staff meet many patients who don’t know...
Menopause, and the period of time leading up to it, called perimenopause, can cause uncomfortable symptoms. For many women, symptoms are simply annoying; but for others, they can be bad enough to degrade your quality of life. Dr. Parisa Pourzand offers hormone replacement therapy to help with symptoms related to...
Incontinence is far more common among women that most people realize, but not all incontinence is the same. Different underlying causes mean there are different treatment options. Dr. Parisa Pourzand and her staff have helped many women who were experiencing urinary incontinence. If you’ve been told that incontinence is just...
Somewhere between 2 and 10% of American women aged 25-40 years old have endometriosis. It can cause pain, heavy bleeding during your period, and infertility. It’s possible that you have endometriosis and don’t know. Dr. Parisa Pourzand and her team are experts in recognizing and diagnosing endometriosis. If you have...
One thing that is sure about pregnancy is that people love to offer you guidance and advice. While most people have good intentions, they often repeat information that isn’t exactly reliable. When it comes to providing nutrition to your baby, it’s important to be able to delineate myth from fact...
When it comes to pregnancy, every experience is different. There are, however, some general timelines that it may be helpful for you to know. It’s helpful to understand both the stages of growth for your baby and what kinds of changes and symptoms you should expect. Dr. Parisa Pourzand provides...
Infertility, which is defined as not being able to become pregnant after a year of unprotected sex, is a common issue. It affects about one in six couples. At one time, it was considered a female issue, but we know now that men can have problems that cause infertility, as...
One of the most important women’s health services Dr. Parisa Pourzand offers is prenatal care. Regular appointments for prenatal care are one of the best ways to insure you and your baby enjoy a normal and healthy labor and delivery. If you’ve ever wondered why prenatal care is important, keep...
You probably already know the importance of good prenatal care, but do you know about preconception health? Dr. Parisa Pourzand and her staff are here to help you — from the time you decide you’d like to have a baby, through your pregnancy and delivery, and after your baby is...
Endometriosis is a complex and life-disrupting condition. You may have abnormal bleeding, irregular periods, heavy bleeding, or pain. There are options for treatment, but no cure. Dr. Parisa Pourzand has helped many patients with endometriosis find relief from their symptoms, but choosing the most appropriate treatment depends on numerous factors....
From November through January, most families enjoy gatherings, shopping trips, celebrations, and other traditional activities. For some people, all of that sounds great! For others, it feels like a tsunami of stress. Plus, this year, we need to take COVID-19 into consideration. If you’re receiving prenatal care from Dr. Parisa...
The biggest risk for developing breast cancer is being a woman. Men can — and do — get breast cancer, but 99% of new breast cancer cases are diagnosed in women. Dr. Parisa Pourzand counsels all of her patients who have risk factors about breast cancer prevention. Since October is...
Leiomyoma or myoma are other names for uterine fibroids — non-cancerous growths that can appear in the muscle of your uterus. Many women have fibroids but never know it because they don’t have symptoms, but others endure very uncomfortable symptoms that may seem mysterious if they don’t know they have...
If you occasionally or frequently experience urinary incontinence, you may feel uncomfortable talking about it. Dr. Parisa Pourzand and her staff understand your discomfort with the topic, but we would also like you to know that you’re far from alone. Millions of people have this issue, and there are effective...
The symptoms associated with perimenopause can be severe, and when they are, you may find it difficult to function and meet your day-to-day obligations. Dr. Parisa Pourzand may have solutions to help you, including hormone replacement therapy, or HRT. There’s a significant amount of confusion regarding HRT, largely because researchers...
COVID-19 is a new illness, emerging in late 2019. Scientists, researchers, and doctors around the world have been working to understand the virus, how it affects the human body, and what kinds of treatments are most likely to be effective in fighting it. Although they are learning rapidly, much is...
If you have severe period cramps, you know how disruptive it can be. It’s really difficult to carry on with your normal, daily activities when you’re in terrible pain! Especially bad cramps may not respond to over-the-counter medications, leaving you wondering what to do. Dr. Parisa Pourzand has helped many...
You would be unusual if you found hot flashes pleasant, yet about 8 out of every 10 women in the US experience them in the weeks, months, and years leading up to menopause. Dr. Parisa Pourzand has helped many women manage hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, but you...
An estimated 10-18% of couples struggle to get pregnant or have a successful delivery, so if you’re not finding it as easy as you expected, you’re certainly not alone. Dr. Parisa Pourzand has helped many women identify the reason for infertility, and can often suggest treatments. Defining infertility If you...
The medical name for heavy bleeding during your period is menorrhagia. Because the word “heavy” is subjective, you may not be aware you have menorrhagia, but you are probably very aware of how inconvenient and disruptive it can be to your life. Dr. Parisa Pourzand has the skills and knowledge...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 6% of women who are married and between the ages of 15 and 44 either can’t get pregnant after a year of trying, and are classified as infertile. In about 8% of cases of infertility, an identifiable male factor...
Have you seen that old cartoon that has a drawing of a mother and daughter? The daughter asks, “Mom, what’s normal?” The mother answers, “A setting on the dryer.” When it comes to your menstrual cycle, “normal” is what’s normal for you. Dr. Parisa Pourzand has treated thousands of women,...
Pregnancy is exciting, and there’s much to anticipate. However, many women find themselves worried and wondering if they’re making the best choices for good health during pregnancy. Dr. Parisa Pourzand can help. She offers thoughtful and thorough prenatal care services. When you see Dr. Pourzand regularly, you have the opportunity...
Endometrial tissue is the lining of your uterus. Each month, during your menstrual cycle, your body sheds that lining. However, if you have endometriosis, there’s a problem. When endometrial tissue grows where it’s not supposed to be, outside of your uterus, you have endometriosis. This condition is painful, and during...
Some experts estimate that as many as half of women experience urinary leaking after giving birth, while others put the number at about one third. Either way, postpartum urinary incontinence is incredibly common — but not often talked about, so it may come as an uncomfortable surprise. What is urinary...
The average age for menopause is 51, and 95% of women experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. In this day and age, 45-55 years old is not “old” at all! But, the symptoms that often accompany menopause may very well make you feel old, particularly in the...
For many years, people believed there was some connection between infertility and stress, and there is; but people had it wrong. The theory was that stress could cause infertility, but that’s not true. Certain stressful things — like the physical stress of training for a marathon, or the stress of...
You have lots of options when it comes to choosing a safe and effective method of birth control. But, if you’re not sure what’s going to work best for your life, having so many options can be a bit of a double-edged sword. Choosing a birth control method is an...
Do you sometimes feel as if something is falling out of your vagina? Is intercourse painful? These are just a couple of the symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse, a condition in which the muscles supporting the organs in your pelvis become weak, allowing the organs to droop. The involved muscles...
Uterine fibroids are growths in the muscle tissue of your uterus. Fibroids are frequently diagnosed incidentally — Dr. Pourzand may notice that you have them during a routine pelvic exam, for instance. It can be scary to hear that you have growths of any kind, on any part of your...
Are you expecting a baby? Congratulations! Everything about pregnancy can be nerve-wracking, so you may be feeling nervous about your first visit with your obstetrician. Here’s what you should expect during your first prenatal visit with Dr. Pourzand. Scheduling Generally, you should aim to have your first prenatal visit about...
Your ability to conceive a child is impacted by many factors, some of which are within your control and some not. There are some fairly simple, day-to-day choices you and your partner can make to increase your chances of getting pregnant. Generally, the lifestyle choices that improve your fertility are...
The symptoms of menopause range from being slightly uncomfortable to being nearly unbearable. Since you’re an individual, you experience menopause uniquely, and your symptoms may be more or less intense than someone else’s. The most common symptoms of menopause include: Erratic or less frequent menstruation Hot flashes Night sweats Sleep...
If you experience urinary incontinence, you’re not alone. In fact, millions of Americans, especially women, have some involuntary loss of urine. There are different types of urinary incontinence, and there are also a variety of solutions. About 80% of cases of urinary incontinence in women can be effectively treated. But,...
The symptoms of menopause are difficult to manage in the comfort of your own home, but at work they can be particularly thorny. You can’t simply turn down the thermostat in order to keep your cool during a hot flash at the office. Follow these seven tips to help you...
For women who are trying to conceive, there are few things more frustrating than going months or even years without seeing the plus sign on a pregnancy test. Women with endometriosis not only endure the pain accompanying the condition; they also find that their fertility is affected. Fortunately, helping women...
Congratulations on your decision to start or expand your family. Like other women who are planning to become pregnant, you have a lot to consider, yet this as an exciting time. Your OB/GYN is your best resource for women’s health and wellness and can guide you through the process of...