Frequently Asked Questions

The answer is yes! If pressed for time, it is better to have it while on your period. Whereas blood may slightly alter the accuracy of the test (especially if you have a heavy flow) your doctor will take this into consideration when analyzing your results. Spotting may not present as much of a problem. All in all, It’s preferable to do it on those days rather than delay the exam and therefore, the diagnostic.

Dr. Umerah is a board-certified gynecologist and surgeon. As a specialty, you should get a referral from your PCP to have a comprehensive view of your overall health.

Board certification gives physicians a way to prove they have the knowledge and skills needed to provide safe and effective care in a specific area of medicine. Physicians that become certified are up to date with current changes and updates in their specialty. This certification encourages doctors to continue learning; it fosters research and innovation, and leads to improvements in health care practices. At Women’s Health Institute, all of the doctors are board certified in OB/GYN or board eligible.

As clinicians blending clinical expertise in diagnosing and treating health conditions with an added emphasis on prevention and health management, NPs bring a comprehensive perspective and a personal touch to health care. All NPs must complete a master's or doctoral degree program and have advanced clinical training beyond their initial professional registered nurse (RN) preparation. At Women’s Health Institute, our NP’s are certified and work in close collaboration with our providers to offer the highest standard of care.

Although infertility is a common female and male condition, it has been considered a niche issue and therefore those experiencing it are denied coverage. While health insurance companies have indeed broadened their coverage of aspects of reproductive health, infertility remains uncommon.

PReventive care refers to health care services like tests and screenings performed to check on your health status. At Women’s Health Institute, we perform several preventive tests to diagnose our patients. These include:

Pap smears

All Pap smear specimens are reviewed by the lab. If the results come back along the normal parameters, the lab will bill it as a screening/preventive test. If the initial review indicates further review by a pathologist is required, it becomes diagnostic. When STD testing is included in your Pap smear, it may not be covered as preventive.

Mammograms

There are two types of mammogram tests that your doctor may order, a screening or a diagnostic mammogram. Screening mammograms are ordered if you have had no prior problems or history of implants or abnormal results. Diagnostic mammograms are performed when the doctor is aware that the patient has breast symptoms or changes.

At the radiology facility, you will be asked about your symptoms or issues. If you report symptoms, they will recommend a diagnostic instead of a screening test. This applies if the radiology facility has prior information that you have had an abnormal test result in the past.

At Women’s Health Institute, we understand how important accessibility is to our patients. That is why affordability is one of our main goals. Sometimes, more extensive testing is required for a more accurate diagnosis and a better informed decision as to how to move forward. Because of this, costs may increase as some tests imply more complex technology and resources. However, patient wellness and health are our primary concern, so we encourage all of our patients to consider making the effort in order to obtain the best quality of care.

You can get your PAP results via telephone usually 7 days after the sample is taken. When you call (478) 746-2888, you will be asked to follow the prompts and be given your results. If there are issues arising from the test, you may want to schedule a new appointment with the doctor to learn how to move forward.

Our Healow patient portal makes lab results accessible (and confidential to you) 24/7. If our team has observed any abnormality in your results, we will give you a call to personally communicate them to you and let you know how to proceed.

To get a refill, we encourage you to notify your pharmacy, who will in turn contact us about it. Additionally, you can ask for a refill via our Patient Portal.