Conference turris::womannotes-v2

    I am new in Manhattan, and would like the same...
    
    DeBanne
    

    About 3 1/2 to 4 years ago, there was a woman gyn in Manchester,
    NH.  Her name is Paula Leonard Schwartz.  Naturally, she is/was
    very busy so I don't know what her scheduling is like.  Especially
    since she has young children of her own.  Her office is/was located
    on Chestnut St. in Manchester.  She is/was in association with a
    Dr. Gonyea.  

    I'm new to Lexington, MA  (home) and Marlboro, MA (work),
    and I too am looking for a female gynecologist.  Preferably someone
    near Lexington, but near work or in between would be convenient
    too.  I lived in Mass once before, and my second child was born
    here, but I didn't find good care, especially for generally healthy
    processes such as pregnancy, birth and nursing.  Seems like Mass
    is a great place to be really sick -- all the high-tech medicine
    -- but kinda dicey if you and yours are generally well.
    
    Please send me mail directly if you have a recommendation.
    A good doctor is a wonderful find, and it would relieve me of one
    more "moving in" worry.
    
    Thanks,
    Julie

    
    
    	I too just moved to Nashua and am due for my yearly
    	exam.  There must be more than one female gyn.
    	in the Nashua area!!  Can anyone recommend anyone 
    	else?
    
    	Thanks
    
          	Judy
    

When shopping for a OB/GYN, ask if they perform or are planning
to perform "virapap" tests.

The following was taken from one of the recent Digital health
newsletters :

-----------------------------------------------------------------
                     "A New Cancer-Catcher"
                                
Don't be surprised if you start hearing the word "virapap" right
along with "pap smear."  Researchers developed the new test that,
when used along with a pap smear, can be a big help in diagnosing
cervical cancer (which kills about 7,000 women a year).  A pap
smear by itself only uncovers about 70 percent of all
precancerous lesions on the cervix.  Given along with the
virapap, it detects about 90 to 95 percent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Has anyone had this done?  How is the procedure different from a
regular pap smear?

I would personally rather stick pins in my eyes than go to a male
OB/GYN.

Don Henley sums it up best:

"It's hard to come away with anything that feels like dignity,...."    
         (Sunset Grill)
                                                  nancy b.

Although I laughed, I want to speak to the antipathy of male gyns. Though I
prefer female gyns myself, I've had good and bad with both male and female
gyns. My first gyn was a female doc at college. She didn't even ask about what
size whozie-whatsis to use (I found out later they come in sizes, and I should
have asked for small). It hurt alot, and she didn't seem particularly
sympathetic or informative. My current gyn is a woman in the Westford Woman's
Health Center (or something like that), and she is quite informative.

When I was in Nashua and couldn't find a gyn at all, a friend recommended going
to a GP. I did, and he was lovely. Just like my GP from childhood. Very kind
and understanding. And, since he was a GP, he treated me like a whole person.
	Mez

    Mez,
    
    I have to agree with you. One of the least sensitive ob/gyns I ever
    have gone to was the woman who delivered my first son. I'd been
    recommended to her by my gynecologist who was about the most
    sensitive doctor I'd ever gone to, but she'd stopped delivering
    babies due to circulatory disease. The second most sensitive gyn
    I've ever been to was the man who performed my laproscopy operation
    14 years ago.
    
    Bonnie

    The coldest, least sensitive gynecological-type person I've had
    was a man.  The warmest, most understanding, most sympathetic, most
    informative, most helpful were either female nurse practitioners or 
    female general practitioners.
    
    -Jody
    

    re: GP's
    If you are looking for one...Donald Miller in Tewksbury...just
    off of 495 on rt. 38.. He has a female nurse practioner, very
    nice, ...
    phone508-851-4141
    
    deb
    

    I highly recommend Robin Richman.  She is an OB/Gyn in Lexington,
    MA.  She also has a new associate who is also female.  Robin has
    been my doctor for 5 years and delivered my two children.  She is
    also a specialist in Infertility.  I know her schedule is very busy
    as she is also a mother of 3 children, but her associate may be
    taking new patients.  Good luck.
    
    Louise