Blog Archive

If you have urinary incontinence or a lack of vaginal lubrication as you age, you’re not alone. Nearly 40% of menopausal women experience vaginal atrophy, which is the thinning and weakening of vaginal tissues due to the decline of the hormone estrogen. It can lead to many issues affecting your...

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are more common than you might think: An estimated one in five people in the United States has an STD at any given time, with many not knowing of their infection. This is because many STDs have no symptoms or outward signs.  Many health organizations and...

Sex should be a pleasurable experience. Yet, many women experience pain in the pelvic region after sex, a condition called dyspareunia. This pain can vary in its intensity, location, and duration. Whether or not your pelvic pain is intense, you may be concerned about the potential underlying cause and what...

Under any circumstances, periods aren’t exactly something you look forward to, yet each month, you get through a few days of cramping and bleeding without much fuss. You do this knowing that some cramping is just part of the menstrual journey, and more than half of women experience a day...

Among the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century, which include things like airbags and vaccines, is family planning. The ability to choose your family size, the spacing, and the timing of family building has led to incredible benefits, and you want to figure out which family planning...

Every day in the United States, 6,000 women start their journey into menopause, which adds up to two million women each year. While each woman’s experience with this hormonal transition is unique, there are some common complaints that we tackle here. Whether you’re trying to figure out how to handle...

You used to enjoy your sex life, but now it’s become uncomfortable thanks to vaginal dryness. You’re certainly not alone in this — 17% of American women between the ages of 18 and 50 report vaginal dryness, and this percentage rises exponentially after age 50 as women transition through menopause....

There are many reasons you should keep up with your annual well woman exams here at Tahoe Women’s Care, and screening for reproductive cancers, namely cervical and breast cancer, are on this important list.  Nearly 14,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer each year, and...

While periods aren’t exactly convenient for any woman, those who deal with heavy bleeding have an even tougher time of this monthly visit. From ruined underwear and sheets to painful cramping and fatigue due to blood loss, heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) can cast a wide net over your life. About...

You’re struggling to get pregnant or stay pregnant, and you’re becoming more and more frustrated by the lack of success and answers. Well, you’re certainly not alone in this — worldwide, about 1 in 6 people experience infertility. The reality is that there are dozens of reasons why people have...

Women are no strangers to urinary incontinence — up to 45% of women experience the issue, either temporarily or as part of menopause and aging. While many of the risk factors for urinary incontinence may be inevitable, dealing with involuntary leakage certainly isn’t something you need to resign yourself to....

Each year in the United States, about half a million women undergo hysterectomies to improve their health. Thanks to advanced minimally invasive techniques and robotic technology, today’s hysterectomy is very different from a few decades ago. At Tahoe Women’s Care, Dr. Gary Willen and our team have performed our fair...

You’re exploring your options when it comes to preventing an unplanned pregnancy, and you’re overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices. About two-thirds of women between the ages of 15 and 49 use contraceptives in the United States. Of this number, more than 10% turn to long-acting reversible contraceptives —...

You long for the day when you no longer have to deal with your monthly periods. But when that day comes, you realize you’ve traded that freedom for a host of more unpleasant consequences. For the one million women who enter menopause each year in the United States, side effects...

Sexual dysfunction — it’s little wonder that the issue isn’t exactly a common topic of conversation with a name like that. Yet, it might surprise you to learn that sexual issues affect up to 43% of women, which means it’s likely that many women in your world face some of the...

Of the many reproductive health issues that can affect women, endometriosis is one of the most common. In the United States alone, about 11% of women in their reproductive years (between the ages of 15 and 44) have endometriosis and experience varying degrees of symptoms, five of which we discuss here. As gynecology...

Nonsurgical fat reduction sounds too good to be true — you can get rid of 20% of unwanted fat in your target areas without breaking a sweat or undergoing a painful procedure? We assure you that this approach to body sculpting really does work. We’re so impressed by the technology that Dr. Gary...

The condom broke, you didn’t use your birth control, your partner didn’t pull out in time — these are just a few of the reasons why women turn to emergency contraception. Not to mention, emergency contraception is important for women who were forced to have sex and who didn’t have...

After decades of education and awareness efforts, the rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States are still alarmingly high. In 2021 alone, more than 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were reported. One of the best ways to control the spread of STDs and to...

You look at the calendar and realize you’re getting your period that day, so you plan accordingly with some tampons or pads. Other than a few cramps, you’re anticipating that your menstrual cycle will come and go quietly, like it always does. If you laughed or shook your head while...

You dread the arrival of your period, which tends to hijack your life for a week or so thanks to heavy bleeding. You’re in good company — more than 10 million women in the United States (about 1 in 5) struggle with heavy bleeding. While you’re anxious to find a...

Winters can be long here in Nevada, but inevitably the warmer months come around, often catching us not as prepared as we’d like to be. If you want to welcome summer with a body you’ll be proud to show off, our innovative CoolSculpting® fat-reduction technology can help. Here at Tahoe Women’s...

You start to make the transition through menopause and you’re happy to endure the hot flashes and night sweats in exchange for a period-free and pregnancy-free sex life. Unfortunately, changes in your vaginal health have other plans. Called vaginal atrophy, or atrophic vaginitis, the condition affects between 40% and 57% of...

By the time women reach the age of 50, between 20-80% of them may have uterine fibroids — non cancerous growths in the uterus. The reason for the large range in numbers is that we can only guess at how many women develop fibroids since most don’t cause any symptoms....

As the name suggests, a well-woman exam is an essential component of every woman’s overall health care. In fact, these annual visits with us should be considered as important as your primary care visit, as women have unique health care concerns. At Tahoe Women’s Care, Dr. Gary Willen and the team help...

Vaginal atrophy — the term alone sounds awful, but the effects can be even more so, as vaginal dryness, itchiness, and thinning vaginal walls wreak havoc on your ability to enjoy sex. The primary driver of vaginal atrophy is transitioning through menopause and the subsequent drop in estrogen levels, leaving 40%...

Pain can affect many areas of your life, but the one are where it has no business is in your sex life. Unfortunately, sex can become painful for women for many different reasons, and the condition is called dyspareunia. Thankfully, we can remedy many of these issues. The team here...

Millions of men and women experience urinary incontinence, but the problem is far more prevalent in women — by two to one. There are several reasons why twice as many women develop problems with bladder control and they all have to do with circumstances that are unique to women. To...

You’ve been struggling with a uterus that’s causing problems — from heavy bleeding to pain — and you’ve decided you want the organ removed. Like the half a million women who undergo a hysterectomy each year in the United States, your next step is to figure out the best approach. At Tahoe...

You have a condition called endometriosis, and it’s causing you a good deal of pain. You’re not alone. Approximately 10% of women in their reproductive years develop endometriosis, and many of them are experiencing the same discomfort as you. One of the best ways to combat the pain of endometriosis is to...

You have an active sex life and you’ve developed itching in and around your vagina — and you wonder whether the two might be related. The answer is that, yes, the two are potentially linked, as vaginal itching is a common symptom of a sexually transmitted infection. That said, there...

Your uterus has become more of a liability than an asset, and you want to learn more about whether you should undergo a hysterectomy.  To help with this important decision, Dr. Gary Willen and the team here at Tahoe Women’s Care have pulled together a list of some of the more common...

Life is full of surprises, and you may not want pregnancy to be one of them. The ability to choose when you want to have children (or, if you want children), how many, and at what intervals, which all fall under family planning, was labeled by the CDC as one of the 10 greatest...

For years, your reproductive hormones have worked quietly to regulate your ovulation and so much more. When you begin your transition through menopause, you start to truly understand what we mean by “so much more.” From a decline in vaginal health to hot flashes that plague you day and night,...

Transitioning through menopause can certainly be beneficial for your sex life — no more periods and no threat of pregnancy. These benefits, however, can be offset by unwanted side effects, including painful intercourse, that develop due to the drop in your reproductive hormones. If you’re struggling with painful sex, the...

We acknowledge that urinary incontinence can be embarrassing, but we also want to underscore the point that it’s probably more common than you think. More than 25 million adults in the United States report urinary incontinence, and the majority (75-80%) are women. As a Gynecologist, a women’s health expert, Dr....

In previous blog posts, we’ve discussed some of the pros and cons of different birth control methods, but we want to take a different approach here. In this month’s post, Dr. Gary Willen and our team here at Tahoe Women’s Care want to go a step further to discuss birth...

Vaginal dryness is one of the hallmarks of menopause — half of postmenopausal women between the ages of 51 and 60 experience the problem. Thankfully, there are solutions that can restore lubrication to your vagina, allowing you to enjoy your sex life once again. Here at Tahoe Women’s Care, Dr....

Fat—this tiny word carries the weight of the health, hopes, and happiness of so many and presents a formidable and frustrating hurdle. If stubborn deposits of fat are standing between you and your dreams, new technology in the form of CoolSculpting® can help. At Tahoe Women’s Care, we pride ourselves...

Each year in the United States, more than one million women are diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and one in eight women who have (or have had) PID experience fertility issues as a result.  These stats are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to PID, which...

Endometriosis is a fairly common reproductive problem — up to 10% of women between the ages of 25 and 40 have the condition. The symptoms that come with endo, as it’s called, are common to many different reproductive health issues, which makes fully understanding this condition important. At Tahoe Women’s...

There are many lessons to come out of the COVID pandemic, including the threat of communicable diseases and the value of testing. We’d like to make the case that these are lessons we’ve already learned, especially when it comes to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), yet the numbers in the United...

You long for the day when you no longer have to worry about the arrival of your monthly period, but this gain is often quickly replaced by a new set of concerns called genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). Also referred to as vaginal atrophy or atrophic vaginitis, this condition can...

Whether you fell victim to the Quarantine 15 or you’re engaged in a seemingly never-ending battle against those last lumpy areas of fat that develop in areas where you want them least, we can help you freeze away the fat, once and for all. Dr. Gary Willen and the team...

There are many events that can cause physical changes in your vagina, from childbirth to menopause. We also understand that when these changes interfere with your sex life, they affect your overall wellness. To help restore your sex life, Dr. Gary Willen and the team here at Tahoe Women’s Care...

There’s a dizzying array of birth control options that can help you better control your family planning. In fact, choosing the one that’s right for you can be confusing, thanks to the abundance of choices. To help you narrow down the field of possibilities, Dr. Gary Willen and our team...

Vaginal dryness, pain during sex, urinary incontinence — these are some of the more common complaints that come with genitourinary syndrome of menopause. It used to be that women simply accepted these unwelcome changes and adjusted their lives accordingly. Today, we can help restore your vaginal health with our MonaLisa...

Despite increasing awareness efforts over the past few decades, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that rates of infection for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia reached all-time highs in the United States in 2018. These alarming statistics about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are cause for concern here at Tahoe...

Let’s start with the most important thing you should know about urinary incontinence — it's far from uncommon. In fact, one-quarter to one-third of adult men and women in the United States have urinary incontinence for various reasons. As women’s health experts, Dr. Gary Willen and the rest of our...

Menopause is often referred to as “The Big Change,” and for good reason. As you transition out of your reproductive years, your body undergoes significant changes that can bring on unwelcome side effects, including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood issues, to name just a few. At Tahoe Women’s Care,...

If your goal is to prevent pregnancy, the good news is that you have plenty of options. In fact, you might find the sheer number of choices overwhelming. At Tahoe Women’s Care, Dr. Gary Willen and our compassionate staff of women’s health care experts offer birth control options that suit...

Approximately 14% of women in their childbearing years suffer from painful, irregular, and/or heavy periods each month, and up to 40% of women report period symptoms that prevent them from functioning normally.  If you find yourself among these women whose lives have been disrupted by abnormal menstrual cycles, the good...

The war against fat can be a frustrating one. No matter what the scale says, you may have developed unwelcome deposits of fat where you least want them, and no amount of targeted exercise seems to help. Thankfully, our CoolSculpting® technology can solve the problem, helping reshape many areas of...

Bloating, cramping, mood swings — these are only a few of the symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). While most women  — 90%, in fact — experience at least mild PMS symptoms, others struggle with debilitating problems that have a serious impact on their quality of life. If you find...

Millions of women in the United States struggle with abnormal periods and pelvic pain for a variety of reasons. One of the more common causes — affecting approximately 11% of women between the ages of 15 and 44 — is endometriosis. At Tahoe Women’s Care, Dr. Gary Willen and our...

The passage through menopause brings both good news and some not-so-great news. While saying goodbye to your menstrual cycles releases you from the monthly hassle of managing your periods, you may be left struggling with hot flashes, sexual health issues, and other problems. At Tahoe Women’s Care, Dr. Gary Willen...

Winters in Carson City, Nevada are a great time to hide behind your clothes, but all too soon the warmer months are upon us, which means that you’ve got to bring out your bathing suit again. If you’re hesitant to do so because of stubborn fat deposits that cling to...

Sexual health in women is complex and involves everything from cultural issues to physical, mental, and emotional health influences. When it comes to sexual dysfunction, the problem takes on many different forms, but all end with the same result — a lackluster sex life. At Tahoe Women’s Care, Dr. Gary...

The decision to undergo a hysterectomy is one that shouldn’t be taken lightly, but in many cases, the removal of your uterus can bring you much-needed relief from some very painful conditions. Not to mention, if you’ve received a cancer diagnosis, the first defense is eradicating the disease by removing...

For decades, men have benefitted from untold hours and dollars dedicated to improving their sexual health. In the meantime, women were left with few alternatives when it came to sexual dysfunction. Thankfully, new treatments are now available that specifically address vaginal health (and sexual health), and leading the charge is...

Urinary incontinence affects women at a far higher rate than men, especially as they get older. In fact, 1 out of 3 women over the age of 45 reports stress urinary incontinence, and this number jumps to 1 out of 2 over the age of 65. While there may be...

Most people who’ve looked into getting birth control have probably heard of intrauterine devices, or IUDs. The device is a small, t-shaped contraceptive that is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. The results can last for 3-12 years, and once it’s removed, fertility can go back to normal. Now more than...

Obviously, the first thing you need to consider before choosing sterilization as your birth control method is: Do you want children in the future? Sterilization is a common method of permanent birth control. In fact, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), sterilization is the most common...

If your period produces bleeding so heavy and long-lasting that it disrupts your normal routine, you may have a medical condition called menorrhagia, or “heavy periods.” The primary characteristic of this condition is having a menstrual flow so heavy it interferes with your social, emotional, and/or material quality of life....

Women experience pelvic pain in the area under the navel and above the groin, in the front portion of the lower abdomen. While pelvic pain often originates from common issues related to menstruation or digestive problems, it can also indicate conditions that require emergency treatment. The first step in relieving...

Do you look in the mirror and see a double or triple chin? We can help improve this with Coolsculpting!  What causes double chins? Double chins happen when a layer of fat around your neck begins to sag, causing a wrinkle that makes it look like you have two chins....

Women’s bodies are equipped to do amazing things throughout their reproductive years — grow and nourish a baby for nine months; give birth; and produce nutrient-rich breast milk that’s a perfect mix of everything a newborn needs to thrive. On the flip side of that coin, women also go through...

The summer is getting closer and closer. But no matter how carefully you eat or how much you exercise, there’s still a muffin top that makes you feel self-conscious, or thunder thighs that don’t seem to slim down. CoolSculpting® is an innovative technology designed to target problematic areas where fat...

At some point in every woman’s life, her body stops releasing eggs and halts the uterus from preparing for pregnancy. This is a natural process known as menopause. Dr. Gary Willen of Tahoe Women’s Care in Carson City, Nev., knows how tough this loss-of-hormone process can be, and he’s ready...

Diet and exercise may help you obtain your ideal weight, but not your ideal shape. Dr. Willen at Tahoe Women’s Care knows how frustrating it can be to work hard, but still not feel completely satisfied with your body. That’s why he offers CoolSculpting® technology to help women in Carson...

When you are sexually intimate, you likely experience more than just the immediate physical pleasures of sexual activity. You also feel comfort, relaxation, and a stronger connection with your partner. As you progress through life, you can become used to forming these physical and emotional bonds, yet it’s frustrating when...

Menopause is the biological process that signals the end of a woman’s reproductive years. Typically, a woman is diagnosed as menopausal if she hasn’t had a menstrual period for one full year. Women can go through menopause in their 40s or 50s, and while every woman must experience it, the...

Do you long for the slimmer body you once had? There weren’t so many places that fell to gravity, and you had the confidence of knowing you looked good. While wishing won’t bring back the body of your youth, you can reclaim that confidence with noninvasive CoolSculpting. And unlike the...

Having surgery can be a terrifying prospect when you hear about risks, recovery time, and potential for complications that can come with invasive open surgery techniques. The great news is that robotic-assisted surgery minimizes those risks and brings a number of benefits, enabling you to have safer surgery with less...

There are various birth control options out there for you to consider, all working slightly different to suit your values and needs as a woman. It can be challenging knowing which contraceptive option is the right one for you. Rest assured that Gary F. Willen, MD, MBA, and the staff...

Vaginal atrophy is a common condition for many women who are post-menopausal, but it can occur in younger women, too. Otherwise known as atrophic vaginitis, it’s all because there’s less estrogen in your body, which results in your vaginal walls becoming dry, thin, and inflamed.The effects of vaginal atrophy can...

The frustrating thing about pockets of fat like love handles and muffin tops is that they simply refuse to go away. You can cut calories and exercise, never slipping up once, and get down to your healthy weight — and still be stuck with problem fat. But that stubborn fat...

Robotic-Assisted Surgery: Hysterectomies Have Come a Long WayNot long ago, women only had one option when they needed a hysterectomy: open surgery. But hysterectomies have come a long way. Today you can undergo a hysterectomy with robotic-assisted surgery.When you have robotic-assisted hysterectomy, our team at Tahoe Women’s Care combines compassionate...

It seems like no matter how much you exercise or what diet you’re on, the stubborn fat on your belly, thighs, and buttocks just won’t go away. Genetics most likely dictates where most of your fat accumulates, although women tend to store fat in the hips and thighs, in addition...

More than half of pregnancies are unplanned. A wide range of contraceptives is available to help you prevent unplanned pregnancy until you’re ready to start or add to your family, but each option offers different benefits. More women are choosing the intrauterine device, which is a small, T-shaped piece of...

Given the wide range of gynecological conditions and problems that can cause pelvic pain, it’s not surprising that it ranks as one of the most common complaints among women of all ages. Pelvic pain is any unmistakable sensation of discomfort that affects your lower belly, or the area below your...

If, for whatever reason, a hysterectomy looms in your future, there are many things you can do ahead of time to ease the process. While surgery of any kind is no one’s idea of fun, with a little forethought and planning, you can ensure that everything goes as smoothly as...

Despite the ubiquity of those ads about silver foxes and their quest for sexual rejuvenation, approximately half of postmenopausal women have an equivalent condition called vaginal atrophy (VA). Vaginal atrophy occurs during or after natural, surgical, or medical menopause because your levels of the hormone estrogen drop. Estrogen stimulates your...

Tips for Preventing Urinary IncontinenceChances are, urinary incontinence (UI) was nowhere near your radar until after you had your first baby. That’s probably the first time you noticed the muscles involved in bladder control seemed didn’t work if you were hit by a bout of coughing, sneezing, or uncontrolled laughter.It’s...

For women of the world over, the onset of menopause is an incredibly stressful time in life that can vary dramatically in how it affects each person. While some women may feel that the symptoms of menopause are readily manageable, others may find that their experiences with hot flashes, metabolism...

When it comes to finally achieving one’s ideal figure or physique, there are many factors that can make an already challenging goal even more difficult. Perhaps you’ve dedicated yourself to a rigorous diet and workout routine only to find those final pounds seemingly impossible to lose. Maybe you’re making great...