9 Women's Health Issues Your Ob/Gyn Can Treat in a Telehealth Visit

Regular prenatal care during pregnancy is related to improved pregnancy outcomes. But research shows monthly in-person visits are not necessary for a healthy pregnancy. A few academic medical centers were experimenting with telehealth appointments for some prenatal visits even before the coronavirus pandemic, and research shows comparable pregnancy outcomes between telemedicine and traditional care groups.

Telehealth may be a good option for women with low-risk pregnancies, especially those who have a scale and blood pressure cuff at home and can share readings with a healthcare provider. Some in-person visits will still be necessary during pregnancy.

Vaginal yeast infections, caused by an overgrowth of Candida fungus, are uncomfortable and annoying. If you are experiencing the classic symptoms of a yeast infection—itching; redness; swelling; irritation; and thick, white, clumpy vaginal discharge—a healthcare provider may be able to help you via telemedicine.

The provider can help you choose an over the counter (OTC) treatment; available products include miconazole, clotrimazole, tioconazole and butoconazole. If you’ve already tried OTC products and haven’t experienced relief, the provider may prescribe oral medication or vaginal creams, ointments, or suppositories to clear up your infection

Approximately 75% of menstruating women experience some form of PMS. If your PMS symptoms are interfering with your ability to function at work and at home, medical treatment can help.

You can discuss your symptoms with an Ob/Gyn or certified nurse midwife via telemedicine. Depending on your symptoms, your provider may prescribe oral contraceptives (which can decrease menstrual cramps and period-related mood swings), antidepressants (which can improve mood disturbances related to PMS), or diuretics (“water pills”) to reduce bloating

Menstrual cramps can be disabling. If you have extremely painful periods, you may have dysmenorrhea (the word literally means “difficult monthly flow”). Painful cramps can be a symptom of another gynecologic condition, such as endometriosis, a sexually transmitted infection, ovarian cysts, or polycystic inflammatory disease.

A telehealth appointment with a women’s health specialist can help you find relief and may point to the need for additional testing to determine the root cause of your pain. If recommended treatments do not relieve your pain, your provider may recommend a future in-person appointment.

Hot flashes are common during perimenopause, the period that precedes menopause, which can only be officially diagnosed after you’ve gone one year without menstrual periods. Some women experience hot flashes after menopause too.

Other symptoms of pending menopause include night sweats, mood swings, heavier-than-usual periods, irregular menstrual periods, and insomnia. Medical treatment can significantly reduce unpleasant menopause symptoms and increase quality of life. After discussing your symptoms and overall health via telemedicine, your provider may prescribe oral contraceptives, hormones, or antidepressant medication, depending on your symptoms and preferences.

Birth control can easily be managed via telehealth. Planned Parenthood and a variety of private companies offer online video consultations to receive birth control advice and prescriptions; many doctors’ offices now offer this service as well.

Of course, some forms of contraception—including long-acting reversible contraception, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implantable contraceptive implants—are not available via telemedicine. Oral contraceptive pills, the birth control patch, and vaginal ring can be prescribed via telemedicine.

A medical abortion is the use of medication to end a pregnancy. Abortion via medication is an option for women in the earliest weeks of pregnancy; if it’s been more than nine weeks since the start of your last period, a medical abortion may not be an option.

Two drugs are necessary for a medical abortion: mifepristone and misoprostol. According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, mifepristone can only be dispensed by specially certified medical providers, but the regulations do not require an in-person visit. Some providers and clinics provide video consultations for medical abortions.

Telemedicine can be a good option for individuals who were exposed to a sexually transmitted infection but are not showing symptoms. If you recently learned that a sexual partner has chlamydia, for instance, you can connect with a doctor via telehealth. Depending on when you were last intimate with the infected partner, your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics.

You may also choose a telehealth consult if you are experiencing STI symptoms, such as pain with urination, unusual discharge, or sores and bumps. Based on your description of symptoms, the provider may recommend an in-person visit or STI testing.

The American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians recommends that women check in with a healthcare provider within three weeks of giving birth. However, research shows up to 40% of women don’t attend any postpartum visit.

New moms are vulnerable to a host of physical and psychological problems after birth, including increased blood pressure, blood clots, and postpartum depression. A virtual postpartum visit is an opportunity to receive expert care without leaving home. Ask your provider about postpartum telemedicine options.