Common symptoms of STIs

• Genital/Anus itching
• Pain or burning sensation during urination
• Pain in the genitals
• Pain in the pelvic region
• Abnormal discharge from the vagina or urethra
• Abnormal bleeding
• Pain during sex
• Strange odors
• Bumps, sores, lesions in the gentials or anus
• Rashes on the palms or soles of feet

Confidential STI screening in Passaic

Even unexplained flu-like symptoms can be a sign of an STI. In general, if you are feeling off and there is no clear medical explanation, it could be down to an STI. Of course, the best idea is to get screened before symptoms show up at all! Give our office in Passaic a call to schedule an appointment where we offer STI screening and prescribe treatment to help eradicate the cause of your infection. On the other side, once we have prescribed a course of treatment, for example a course of antibiotics, don’t stop taking them just because you feel better! This is a classic mistake; the symptoms go away before the infection meaning that if you don’t completely eradicate it with a full course of antibiotics, it could still linger and cause you problems down the line.

Know when to get tested for STIs in Passaic

• Are you sexually active?
• Have you had unprotected sex?
• Are you showing symptoms of STIs?
• Do you have a new sexual partner?
• Does your current partner have other partners?
• Does your current partner have an STI or symptoms of an STI?
• Are you unsure whether your partner has STIs
• Do you have a history of intravenous drug use?
• Are you pregnant?

Keeping yourself protected from STIs in the Passaic area

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, it is worth getting yourself tested. At Ahkami Medical Group, we offer a nurturing environment where you can have an open and honest conversation about your sexual history with a medical professional. For sexually active women of all ages, STI testing is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Give our office in Passaic a call to start the conversation today.

How do STIs affect a woman’s fertility?

• Damage to the reproductive organs: STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most harmful when it comes to reproductive health, and they often go unnoticed when they don’t produce any symptoms. The longer they go unnoticed, the more likely they are to cause damage.
• Scarring/damage to the fallopian tubes: also known as tubal infertility, this condition can prevent sperm from reaching an egg and prevent a fertilized egg from reaching the uterus. This increases the chances for ectopic pregnancy in which the embryo emplants in the fallopian tube wall, an unviable scenario which can be fatal.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease: when infections go unnoticed for a long time, they can move further up the pelvis and cause PID. This is usually a tell tale sign that damage to the fallopian tubes has occurred.
• HPV treatments: biopses to remove malignant cells from your cervix can alter your cervix, and create potential problems for pregnancy including an increased chance for miscarriage.

Increasing your chances of conception with the help of Ahkami Medical Group

The sooner we can detect conditions such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and PID, the faster we can begin treating them, and they are treatable diseases. If damage to the fallopian tubes has occured, there are still options available to help you have a child. In summary, there are many options available to women who want to conceive but have a history of STIs. Give our office in Passaic a call to start the discussion today.

Dr. Shahrokh Ahkami, M.D.

Health risks that are unique for women include:

• Higher risk for developing breast cancer
• Elevated risk for death following heart attack
• The same STD can affect a woman more seriously than a man
• There is a risk for STD-related tubal damage that can affect fertility
• Osteoarthritis is more prevalent in women than men
• UTIs are much more prevalent among women than men

Getting regular health screenings in Passaic

This makes it all the more important to get regular screenings for breast cancer, cervical cancer and bone density. At Ahkami Medical Group, we safeguard your well being. We believe that early detection gives us the best chance of overcoming any health problem that may occur and as such we offer a full range of services to detect and treat the unique set of health risks that you face as a woman. Give our office in Passaic a call to schedule an appointment today.

Dr. Shahrokh Ahkami, M.D.

Planning for pregnancy

Whether you are fortunate enough to be able to plan for your pregnancy or not, then there are many steps you can take to ensure that your body is ready to provide a nurturing environment for a child-to-come. While avoiding things smoking and drinking is common knowledge, many prospective mothers are surprised to find that they are lacking in the nutrient composition that is conducive to the development of a healthy child. Here are a few ways to ensure that you are are protecting your baby-to-be.

Preconception and prenatal health care: what you can do

• Prenatal/multi-vitamin: the importance of these cannot be stated enough, so in a sense, yes, the expense of a child does start before it is even conceived. A prenatal-specific multi-vitamin ensures that you are getting the vitamins and minerals you need. These vitamins should include the RDA of iron and folic acid for an expectant mother.
• Check your iron level: preventing anemia is important, because it is linked to low birth weight and preterm birth.
• Folic acid: very important for preventing birth defects in the baby’s brain.
• Choose healthy food: healthy choices for your child begin with healthy choices for yourself. Selecting wholesome ingredients and healthy fats and proteins will help you maintain a healthy weight throughout your pregnancy.

Don’t face the prenatal process on your own

At Ahkami Medical Group, we are Passaic’s experts in preconception and prenatal health care. We will provide a high level of care to help you transition from preconception to postpartum life. Give our office a call to schedule an appointment today.

Dr. Shahrokh Ahkami, D.C.