When we are trying to determine what may be causing fertility challenges, one of the key tests that we recommend is a fertility ultrasound. This ultrasound is very similar to a pelvic ultrasound but is done by an ultrasonographer with experience and training in the evaluation of infertility.
Read MoreSo much of what we do in the field of fertility is interconnected. I often see patients who have been trying to get pregnant for months (or years) and are seeking answers as to why it hasn’t happened! I also see patients who have gone through the painful experience of miscarriage (sometimes multiple). Starting a fertility evaluation early can help identify what challenges may be causing the difficulty in conceiving.
Read MoreEvery day we see patients in our clinic who have experienced loss in the form of a miscarriage. Miscarriage is more common than most people realize. It can occur in as many as one in four women in their lifetime. Evaluation of a couple having miscarriages focuses on anatomic, genetic, immune, and hormonal issues that can be detected in a couple. However, before testing, I warn patients that most often the tests come back normal. Hearing that we will most likely not find a reason for the miscarriage/s can be frustrating for a couple.
Read MoreAs a private practice we pride ourselves on being able to deliver expert level, compassionate care at a cost patients can afford. However, we understand that sometimes any amount of out-of-pocket cost can add financial stress. Your health is worth investing in! One of the ways we are able to help alleviate the financial burden of a cash pay practice is accepting HSA and FSA. An HSA or Health Savings Account or an FSA (Flexible Spending Account) are tax advantage accounts that are tax free!
Read MoreDana Ramsey Finds Fertile Ground in Santa Cruz by Suki Wessling | When she opened her new business two-and-a-half months before Covid-19 hit Santa Cruz, Dana Ramsey remembers feeling her stress level dive. “It was life-changing to go from practicing full-scope midwifery for the past 15 years to a much slower-paced, patient-focused practice,” Dana remembers.
Read MoreStress . . . a word we all use on the daily to describe strain or pressure that quite literally is a series of physiologic responses called the stress response. Any number of triggers can threaten your sense of security or safety: work, family, finances, caretaking, etc. The stress response is a beautiful thing, that in all honesty we cannot live without. The problem is when there is TOO MUCH or a CONSTANT state of stress our body starts to suffer.
Read MoreHere are the top five signs to tell if you’re ovulating. Our bodies are amazing! What must happen in a single cycle to produce an egg and then combine with sperm and go through chromosomal separation and cell division is magical.
Read MorePeri-menopause, pre-menopause, menopause, post-menopause. So many words! The transition through all these stages is very different for every woman. Types of symptoms and severity can vary wildly. I would say the majority of women experience mild to moderate symptoms that benefit from support and guidance along the way.
Read MoreOn Talk of the Bay, host Suki Wessling interviews Dana Ramsey, a nurse-midwife and holistic women’s health practitioner, about women’s health and fertility in Santa Cruz and beyond.
Read MoreA complex symphony of hormonal changes occur every month and throughout a women's life cycle. Hormone imbalances can lead to some pretty miserable symptoms and can happen anytime in a women's life cycle. There are many causes of hormonal imbalances and it often it takes a skilled practitioner to determine the root cause of such challenges.
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