Antheia Gynecology is excited to announce that Dr. Yana Markidan has joined its practice. Dr. Markidan is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, is a Fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gy- necologists.
Dr. Markidan has been providing care to the women in our community since 2012 and is highly regarded as a skilled clinician, surgeon, and an advocate for her patients. Dr. Markidan is a recurring recipient of the Pa- tient’s Choice Award and has been interviewed by national media outlets including Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Parents, and Fit Pregnancy on issues ranging from sexual health to family planning.
Dr. Markidan earned her medical degree from The George Washington University School of Medicine, in Washington D.C., where she was the recipient of Rachel Morris Dominick Award: “Presented annually to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated outstanding ability in the field of obstetrics and gyne- cology,” and completed her residency at the Pennsylvania Hospital, currently of the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia.
With the addition of Dr. Markidan, Antheia Gynecology continues to build on its commitment to excellence in patient care and on being recognized by its patients, team, and peers, as the gynecological and women’s health provider of choice.
Conveniently located in East Windsor, NJ, Antheia Gynecology delivers compassionate, personalized care based on the most up to date thinking and utilizing the latest most innovative technologies in the field. The care provided is comprehensive, ranging from routine well visits, family planning and sexual health, to non-surgical and surgical management of gynecological conditions. The state-of-the-art Mona Lisa Touch laser for meno- pausal intimacy, the NovaSure procedure for heavy bleeding, and the InTone device for urinary incontinence are just some of the many treatment alternatives available to our patients.
Women interested in learning more about the practice, or who would like to make an appointment can visit antheiagyn.com, or call 609-448-7800. In this issue, Dr. Markidan will be answering an important question:
When should your daughter start seeing a gynecologist?
It might come as a surprise to some parents and teens that the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology advises that girls should have their first gyne- cologic visit between the ages of 13 and 15. There are several very important reasons for this recommendation and it is worth heeding. The girls at this age are experiencing significant changes to their bodies, fluctuating hormone levels, new social pressures, and emotions.
Physiologically, most girls begin having periods between 12 and 13 years old. For many, periods will be irregular for the first three to four years; for some very uncomfortable and possibly excessive. Fortunately, in most cases, simple and safe solutions proven in this age group are available to regulate menstruation and greatly improve their quality of life. Conversely, girls who do not have their first period by 14 to 15 years of age should be evaluated to identify potential causes for concern. Also, girls who have not received the HPV vaccine earlier, which the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends to be done at the age of 11 or 12, should receive it at this time.
Likewise, emotionally, this is a very unfamiliar time in a young woman’s life. In addition to the medical evaluation, the initial visit is meant to establish a foundation for a strong patient-physician relationship built on openness and trust. This includes both, education about development and hygiene, as well as a conversation about making smart decisions and any other questions or concerns which the girl might have; especially, answering questions which she is too embarrassed or uncomfortable discussing with her parents.
For the mom, dad, or daughter who are understandably anxious about the first visit, it is usually comforting to know that for most patients, only a general physical and sometimes external genital exam are performed at this age. Internal exams and pap smears are not typically performed until the age of 21 and breasts exams become recommended around the age of 20.