Services provided by the Department include inpatient and outpatient obstetrical and gynecological care. Consultation services concerning maternal health care in West Alabama and outlying rural communities are available.

The Ob/Gyn Clinic: All faculty members and our Nurse Practitioner see patients Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and includes an Obstetrical High Risk Clinic one half day per week as well as colposcopy clinics. All faculty members are Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. The goal of the clinic is to provide Maternal health care to women of West Alabama and outlying rural communties.

Patient fact sheets and answers to frequently asked questions on topics including:

• Birth Control
• Gynecologic Procedures
• Pregnancy and Childbirth
• Special Procedures
• Women’s Heath
• Your Annual Exam

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Please select required forms form the following list:

• New Patient Information Form
• Medical History - 6 to 18 years old, Adult Medical History
• Acknowledgement of Notice of Health Information Practices
• OB/GYN – Patient Information
• Patient Rights and Responsibilities Statement
• Patient Rights and Responsibilities Signature Form
• Request to Communicate at Different Locations

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• Derechos Y Obligaciones Del Paciente

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4D ultrasound is the latest ultrasound technology which takes three-dimensional 3D ultrasound images and adds the 4th element of time. The 4D ultrasound allows you to see your unborn baby in amazing detail.  The 4D ultrasound can also capture movements made by your baby during the session.

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Pregnancy

• Ovulation and Due Date Calculator
• Your Pregnancy Week by Week

Menopause

• Pause – Your complete guide to midlife health

Women’s Health

• National Women’s Health Resource Center

If you are facing a hysterectomy, the da Vinci® surgery may be your preferred treatment option.  The da Vinci® procedure uses a robotic system that is the most precise using  just a few tiny openings versus the traditional abdominal hysterectomy.  For most women, the da Vinci® offers many potential benefits including:

• Quicker recovery and return to normal activitiesSignificantly less pain
• Shorter hospital stay
• Small incisions for minimal scarring.

The above information was provided by da Vinci® Surgery.

The OB/GYN physicians at University Medical Center are currently the only physicians in Tuscaloosa providing this state-of-the art procedure.  Please call 348-1267 to schedule a consultation.

This brief video shows the beginning and end of a da Vinci® surgery performed by Dr. Dwight Hooper:

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Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog

Common OB/GYN Questions

Should I consider Natural Childbirth after Cesarean Delivery?

Attempting a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is a safe and appropriate choice for most women who have had a prior cesarean delivery. Approximately 60-80% of appropriate patients who attempt VBAC will be successful. A VBAC avoids major abdominal surgery, lowers a woman’s risk of excess blood loss and infection, and shortens recovery after childbirth. The risk of uterine rupture during labor after cesarean section is low—between 0.5% and 0.9%—but if it occurs, it is an emergency situation. Please be sure to discuss the plan to VBAC carefully with your doctor.

Read more at acog.org

Should I receive the HPV Vaccination?

OB/Gyns recommend that girls age 11 to 12 receive HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccination to prevent cervical cancer, ideally before they have sex. The vaccine may also be given to young women up to age 26 after they have become sexually active, but should not be given during pregnancy.

Approximately 70% of cervical cancers are caused by just two strains of the virus prevented by the vaccine—HPV 16 and 18. About 90% of genital warts are associated with two other strains known as HPV 6 and 11. There are now two HPV vaccines approved by the FDA. The Cervarix® vaccine protects against the cancer-causing HPV strains 16 and 18. The Gardasil® vaccine protects against HPV 16 and 18, as well as HPV 6 and 11. Both vaccines are available at the University Medical Center OB/Gyn Clinic.
Read more at acog.org

How often do I need a Pap smear?

A pap smear is obtained to screen for cancer of the cervix. For most women, doctors recommend that your first pap smear be obtained at age 21. However, most teenagers and young women should visit a gynecologist each year to discuss health issues including birth control and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Many teenagers may not need a pelvic exam or speculum exam during their visit with a gynecologist.

Women older than 21 should have a pap smear every 1-2 years, even if they have received all three doses of the HPV vaccination. If you are older 30, and have never had an abnormal pap smear, you may be able to have less frequent testing. Please talk to your doctor about your need for a pap smear. Again, women in this age group should continue to see their gynecologist every year to maintain their reproductive health.