FAQ

General Medical Questions

OFFICE: 636-936-8777 EMERGENCY: 800-759-9322 For all non-emergent situations (example: refill of prescriptions, lab results, chronic problems that have not changed, etc), please call the office during normal business hours. If you think you are in labor, go directly to the hospital and the hospital staff will contact us directly. For urgent calls, please use the exchange/emergency phone number. For a true emergency, please call 911.

For a list of medical questions relating to obstetrics please click here.

• What hospitals are you affiliated with?
  St. Luke’s Hospital 232 South Woods Mill Road Chesterfield, MO 63017 314.434.1500  Mercy Medical Center 14528 S. Outer Forty, Suite 100 Chesterfield, MO 63017 314.251.6000  Missouri Baptist Medical Center 3015 North Ballas Road St. Louis, Missouri 63131 314.996.5000
• How much time should I schedule out for an appointment?

  We respect the value of your time and want to spare you long waits. Please allow for 1-1.5hr for a new patient and 30-45min for an established patient. Gynecology does involve emergency procedures, surgical delays, miscarriages, and other unavoidable delays; consequently, we ask for your understanding.  If we are running behind schedule, our staff will attempt to notify you, so please make sure we have the phone number where we can reach you on the day of your appointment. WCS does enforce a fee for no-show appointments and for late cancelations within 48 hours of your appointment.  

• Will I need to leave a urine specimen?

  If you are coming in for your annual well woman exam and have experienced any symptoms of a urinary tract infection or urinary incontinence we will want to do a quick urinalysis.  If you have not had any problems then we will not ask you to leave a specimen. For ALL procedures performed in our office you will be required to leave a urine specimen so that we can perform a pregnancy test prior to the procedure unless you’ve had a hysterectomy. At each and every Obstetrical appointment we will ask that you leave a urine specimen after signing in so that we can check for protein and glucose. If in doubt, leave the specimen.  Be sure to label it with your name

• Do I have to have a full bladder for my ultrasound?

  Yes, a full bladder does help with the viewing during an ultrasound. However please refer to the form we give to you that specifies for each ultrasound what preparation is required

• How often do I need a pap smear?

  It depends on your age and health history. Talk with your medical provider about what is best for you. Most women can follow these guidelines, however we still recommend a yearly pelvic exam:

  • Starting at age 21, have a Pap test every 2 years.
  • If you are 30 years old and older and have had 3 normal Pap tests for 3 years in a row, talk to your medical provider about spacing out Pap tests to every 3 years.
  • If you are over 65 years old, ask your medical provider if you can stop having Pap tests.

  Ask your medical provider about more frequent testing if:

  • You have a weakened immune system because of organ transplant, chemotherapy, or steroid use
  • Your mother was exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) while pregnant
  • You are HIV-positive (Women who are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, are at a higher risk of cervical cancer and other cervical diseases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all HIV-positive women get an initial Pap test, and get re-tested 6 months later. If both Pap tests are normal, then these women can get yearly Pap tests in the future.)
• When should my daughter see a Gynecologist for the first time

  Her first appointment should be at 21 years old or if she is sexually active or is having a gyn issue.

• What is an 'abnormal' pap smear?

  There are many degrees to an abnormal pap smear. The main cause is exposure to Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Most of the time additional testing is recommended to confirm a diagnosis. The criteria on which testing is preformed is based on age, medical history and degree of abnormality. This decision is also individualized to each patient in accordance with national guidelines. More information on abnormal pap smear can be found on the helpful links page.

• UTI symptoms and recommended over the counter (OTC) medications

  UTI symptoms include burning or painful urination, increased urinary frequency, and a feeling of being unable to empty bladder completely. Your urine may have an odor, appear cloudy, or contain blood. Treatment usually consists of antibiotics prescribed when you are evaluated in the office, however, there are some over the counter medications that can provide some relief to your symptoms until you are able to come in for an appointment. Those medications include AZO, Uristat, and Cystex. Cranberry juice or pills can help with prevention of UTI but should not be taken at te same time as antibiotics because it can decrease the effect of the antibiotics.

• Recommended Calcium / Vitamin D supplements?

  Adolescent and premenopausal women  should take at least 1000mg of calcium daily and at least 400-600iu of Vitamin D daily. Postmenopausal women should take 1500mg of Calcium and at least 800iu of Vitamin D daily. Do not exceed 2000mg if Calcium daily through both supplements and diet,  therefore women who consume dairy products regularly require less supplementation.