Sara Cooper, MD, FACOG

12/22/2021

LISTERIA OUTBREAK: Do NOT eat, sell, or serve recalled packaged salads.
Brands: Fresh Express, Bowl & Basket, Giant Eagle, Little Salad Bar, Marketside, O Organics, Signature Farms, Simply Nature, Weis Fresh from the Field, Wellsley Farms Organic.

More info: https: https://go.usa.gov/xeJ3t

03/24/2020

03/20/2020

https://www.propublica.org/article/coronavirus-and-pregnancy-expecting-mothers-q-and-a

This article provides a great in-depth summary of what is on the minds of all our moms and moms-to-be!

What we are doing at my office:
-Non-essential visits (example: well woman exams) will be postponed. If you are about to run out of your birthcontrol or another prescription, please call the office!
-Prenatal visits will still continue as scheduled, but will be scheduled so that patients can be taken to exam rooms (which will be frequently cleaned) as soon as they check in
-Only 1 support person per patient, avoid bringing children
-Elective surgeries at St.David's Georgetown will be postponed until further notice

For any questions, please call the office at 512-863-8600.

The above apply to patients of Dr. Sara Cooper

The experience you expected is likely to be very different from the one you actually get. The key to staying sane is to be as ready as possible to throw your best-laid-plans out the window.

03/04/2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1M81AoIyAw&feature=youtu.be

My lovely friend Dr. Danielle Jones has some great info about Coronavirus!

Dr. Danielle Jones, ObGyn, explains waht you need to know about coronavirus in pregnancy, infants, and young kids. We cover everything you need to know about...

02/25/2020

A little (actually not little at all 🤔) weekend project to help make the sono room a little more cozy and functional! Now my patients get an even better view for that first look at their sweet baby...or follicles or fibroids or whatever we happen to be looking at 😊

02/05/2020

When I left for this conference I told my 6 year old that I was going go to learn how to take better care of mommies. He quickly responded, "Well you already know almost all of it." 😅 What I definitely do know is that we need to take better care of women's mental health. OBGYNs have the privilege and responsibility of being in the front line against perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, so this was a valuable day of CME (continuing medical education)! Now time to for a little self care in the form of yoga and a warm cookie 😊

01/29/2020

Nice statement from SMFM:

For the latest information about the novel coronavirus, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

01/25/2020

TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – This year, the American Cancer Society estimates there will be nearly 14-thousand new cases of cervical cancer, with almost 4,300 women dying from it. Anne Zajic from To…

01/16/2020

Sounds like a great event to learn about resources for mental health in the community! Effective screening, adequate treatment, and appropriate follow up are so important for supporting and helping those with mental health concerns to heal. 10% of women will experience major depression in their lifetime and only 50% of women suffering from depression will receive treatment. Additionally 15% of pregnant and postpartum women will struggle with mental health conditions.

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — A one-stop shop for resources and programs aimed to tackle mental health issues is set for Thursday in Georgetown. “It just breaks my heart to think that people feel like they have no other alternative,” Evelyn McLean said.

10/31/2019

Boo(b)!!! Hope your Halloween is the breast one yet!! 😅

10/17/2019

What is a Reproductive Psychiatrist? We are psychiatrist who specialize in the treatment of mental health related to the female reproductive lifecycle - from menarche to pregnancy to menopause. We go through college, medical school, and psychiatry residency like other psychiatrists, and do additional training on mental illness in relation to female s*x hormones, and how to treat psychiatric disorders related to menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, as well as others related to infertility, pregnancy loss and birth trauma. This training includes learning how to safely treat mental illness during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
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Should I see a reproductive psychiatrist? This depends on where you are in your life and what your mental health symptoms have been in the past, as well as, what they are currently. Women who have a history of depression, anxiety or mania (even just one episode) should absolutely see a reproductive psychiatrist as part of their pregnancy planning to become educated on risks and have a plan in place. Women who are taking medication and become pregnant should also see a reproductive psychiatrist before making any changes to their medications. Women who develop depression, anxiety or mania in pregnancy or postpartum should also see a reproductive psychiatrist. Finally, women who have psychiatric symptoms related to the premenstrual phase of their cycle, or women who have symptoms around perimenopause can also benefit from seeing a reproductive psychiatrist. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to one, so it is important to make sure the provider prescribing your medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding verifies their decision with a reproductive psychiatrist if they’re not familiar with what to do. There are a few organizations that provide this service free to other providers, including (PSI) and The Periscope Project out of Wisconsin. Pregnancy and postpartum are very impactful developmental times for the baby. It’s important not to expose the baby to multiple medications, and to treat mental illness during this time as quickly and safely as possible. Untreated mental illness in mom has a lot of risks for baby.
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10/16/2019

Abnormal bleeding!?

How its defined- the normal menstrual cycle should be between 21-35 days long (measure from the start of one period to the start of the next) with bleeding lasting an average 5 days, but sometimes longer. If bleeding is excessively heavy, painful, prolonged, or if there is bleeding between periods or after s*x, this may indicate that there's a problem.

The first step is always to rule out pregnancy! No form of contraception is 100%, so we always check just in case!

Abnormal uterine bleeding can be split into 2 different categories:

1) Structural: Uteruses can grow a lot more than just babies 😉..fibroids, polyps, even pre-cancer or cancer can all cause bleeding. Ultrasound is usually helpful in these cases, but other times other procedures are needed to get a better look and even get a tissue sample for diagnosis.

2) Functional: The endometrium (lining of the uterus) undergoes major changes throughout the menstrual cycle in preparation for possible implantation of a pregnancy. These changes are caused by the hormones produced by the ovaries- estrogen and progesterone. During your period, bleeding is slowed down by platelet aggregation and clotting factors- the same things that help stop bleeding from a cut on your finger! Excessive weight, being underweight, thyroid disorders, bleeding disorders, uterine infection, certain medications and supplements are just a few examples of things that can mess with the function of the endometrium, so your Gynecologist needs to know your whole history!

Lastly, we can't always just blame bleeding on the uterus. The cervix, va**na, urethra, and re**um could also be sources of bleeding, so a thorough exam is necessary to rule out other causes!

10/16/2019

New parents do a lot of research- what's the safest carseat, how do we get the baby to sleep, who's going to watch this kid while we try to go back to work?! But many parents overlook one of the most important pieces of information- what could you be passing on to your baby?

Genetic carrier screening can be confusing and intimidating for parents and physicians alike. Mostly because it is a rapidly developing area and much of the information we receive as physicians is coming from the companies that sell the tests themselves. If we aren't looking at marketing with a healthy dose of skepticism, then we aren't doing our jobs.

Genetic carrier screening currently includes up to 176 conditions. These diseases were chosen because they are either very serious (potentially lethal) and/or there are available interventions that can help to improve clinical outcomes. 80% of babies born with an inherited condition are born to parents with no known family history of the disease 😱, so "being healthy" does not exclude you. The knowledge that baby may be born with one of these conditions could help parents to prepare. Planning could range from life saving early interventions to simply arranging Pediatricians and specialist involvement, delivery at a hospital with a higher level NICU so mom doesn't have to be separated from baby, or even just having childcare for other kids during a longer than usual hospital course.

Ok, that's enough for now! More specifics to come!

10/15/2019

The entire month of October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awarenss Month and at 7pm tonight (October 15th) the International Wave of Light begins as people all over the world light candles to honor babies gone too soon.

10/07/2019

In short, unfortunately no. Mammography is the standard of care for Breast Cancer screening, but I've had several patients lately ask me about Thermography. Thermography's appeal comes from the fact that many consider it to be more "natural" and it avoids radiation exposure. The theory behind it actually makes sense- Thermography uses thermal imaging to map superficial heat and bloodflow in the skin of the breast. Malignant cells are more metabolically active, and therefore could in theory be detected using this imaging modality. There is a sweet story going around on social media and the news about a teenage boy who designed a bra that screens for Breast Cancer using these same principles. Unfortunately, in actual use, Thermography falls short with a false-positive rate of 25% and a false-negative rate of more than 60%. No major organization making screening recommendations recommends Thermography and it is not considered an effective screening tool for finding breast cancer early. So for now, Mammograms it is for my patients!

10/04/2019

I'm sure you've heard by now...October is Breast Cancer Awareness month! I love this article on medscape https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/919316

With a disease that is so prevalent, it's important to know your risk factors and get appropriate screening. This article also references some ways you can take your health into your own hands everyday and make a huge impact!

09/30/2019

Free flu shots at Target AND you get a $5 coupon!! It was easy and fast! Go. Get. It. Now!!

Sad news though, they only do ages 7yrs and up, so I will leave it up to you whether you use the giftcard for bribery after swinging by the Pediatrician or just sneak out at lunch alone 😉

09/25/2019

According to PwC's survey of 1,060 U.S. adults, about 1/3 of consumers are using social media for health discussions. People engage in different ways and to different extents. Almost 90% of individuals ages 18-24 report that they trust and would engage with health information found on social media. This means it is even more important than ever that we make sure the info out there is true and evidence based and why so many physicians and providers are taking to Facebook and Instagram!

Other places to find good information on your health/OBGYN issues: CDC.org, ACOG.org, SMFM.org, SGO.org, AUGS.org

Pic of my sweet Taekwando kid. Watching him at practice last night totally made my heart sing 😍😍

09/24/2019

, also known as , is the most common gynecologic cancer. Getting to and staying at a healthy weight is one way to lower your risk of endometrial cancer. bit.ly/fwc-endo-cancer

The main risk factor for type I (endometrioid) endometrial cancer is excess estrogen. During reproductive years, the uterus responds to balanced changes in the hormones estrogen and progesterone throughout the menstrual cycle. Estrogen is like the gas pedal- it tells the cells of the lining of the uterus to grow. Progesterone is the brake. If these two are out of balance, such as in a patient with irregular cycles or PCOS, there can be too much growth of the endometrium. This can cause heavy bleeding or even precancerous changes. Too much adipose (fat tissue) can also contribute to an imbalance because fat cells can convert androgens to estrone, another estrogen. Hormones can also be imbalanced because of exogenous (outside) sources of estrogen- for example taking estrogen hormone replacement therapy without enough progestin.

Irregular menstrual cycles, including long periods of time between cycles should be discussed with your OBGYN. After menopause, report any bleeding or spotting to your doctor.

09/20/2019

My IT guy brings me coffee 😍

He's also my mover, furniture builder, computer fixer, yoga date, child wrangler, life coach, emotional support person, chauffeur, chef, milk transporter...etc, etc, ect. But seriously, I dont know where I'd be without Mr. Dr. Cooper 😊

09/20/2019

I learned a crazy fact today! In 1900, Cervical Cancer was the number one cancer killer of women in the U.S.!

I've mentioned it before..and I'll keep mentioning it. Cervical Cancer is a horrible, but now almost entirely preventable disease! Here is how you can protect yourself.

First of all, the HPV Vaccine! I feel like I sing its praises all day in clinic..as it should be!

Next, early detection with screening tests:

-Pap Smear: Invented by Dr. George Papanicolaou (the dashing man pictured above). This test looks at samples of cells from the cervix to inspect them for signs of abnormality that could represent cancer or pre-cancerous changes. A sample of cells is collected during a pelvic exam where a speculum is used to get a good look at the cervix and a brush-like tool is used to scrape some cells from the cervix. Please note that a pelvic exam or a speculum exam does not necessarily mean a Pap test was done! Ask your doctor or provider what tests they are doing if they don't explain it to you.

-HPV testing: Using the same sample as the Pap Smear, we can isolate and identify certain types of HPV. If you test positive for certain high risk types, especially 16 or 18, you may need more testing or closer surveillance.

-Quit smoking! Or better yet, never start..The byproducts of smoking, ni****ne, cotineni****ne-derived nitrosamine ketone (NKK) are concentrated in cervical mucous and can inhibit local immunity, i.e, your body's ability to fight off viruses like HPV and get rid of abnormal cells. Cigarette smokers have a 2-4x greater risk of developing cervical cancer!

-Practice safer s*x (i.e. fewer s*xual partners and consistent condom use) to prevent STIs. Co-infections like HSV (herpes) and chlamydia may also modulate local immunity. HIV infection is associated with an increased risk of CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) and these women require even closer routine surveillance.

-There is evidence that higher circulating levels of folate and vitamin B12 can influence the natural history of carcinogenic types of HPV and decrease the development of CIN. Supplementation with folic acid and B12 has been shown to reduce DNA damage caused by HPV. I'll spare y'all the details but you can start by reading more here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4737591/ .TLDR- take a vitamin, eat more veggies, can't hurt!

09/18/2019

Being a doctor, a mom, and starting up at a new practice takes flexibility..sometimes literally 😅! This was my workspace for the first few days ! Don't worry, they did offer me a number of more comfortable accommodations, but my rolling desk was kind of cozy. Finally getting settled and have an office complete with a desk, succulents, and a wall of ginger baby pictures 😁😁😁

09/17/2019

Let's talk ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is the leading cause death from gynecologic malignancy in the US. Part of what makes it such a scary disease is that it is not always easy to detect early and routine screening in average risk women hasn't been shown to be effective or helpful.

But, there are a few things that you can do to know your risks and help take your health into your own hands!

Know your family history: The strongest risk factor for ovarian cancer is family history-ask your family members about history of breast, ovarian, and other cancers and write it down to take to your doctor. Depending on your family history, you may qualify for genetic testing. There are some tests available directly to consumers, but it is best to have this done with a Genetic Counselor because they can help walk you through the implications and limitations of genetic testing and what the next steps are if you test positive!

Maintain a healthy weight- studies have shown that higher BMI (body mass index) is associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Contraceptives: We've known for a while that long term (as in 5, 10, 15+ years) use of combination oral contraceptives, "the pill" reduces the risk of certain type of ovarian cancer. There was recently a study that actually showed that IUDs may decrease the risk as well through a different mechanism. (link in comments!)

Surgery/Sterilization: Some ovarian cancer may actually start in the Fallopian tube, especially the fimbriated (finger like) end. Tubal ligation has been shown to decrease the chance of ovarian cancer and there is evidence that salpingectomy (removal of the entire tube, including the fimbriated end) could have even more benefits.

Breastfeeding: Women who breastfeed for more than 12 months have a 28% lower risk compared to women who never breastfed

09/14/2019

09/10/2019

While not exactly a life-threatening issue, post partum hair loss can be very distressing and not something we always remember to warn you about!

During pregnancy, you may have noticed your locks were thicker and lusher. The normal progression of hairs from anagen (the "growing" stage) to telogen (the "resting" stage) slows down, thereby creating a relative increase in anagen hair.

Then, after you have your baby and are busy caring for said baby, healing physically, emotionally, etc...it happens. The percentage of telogen hairs in the scalp increases and those hairs start to fall out. It most typically starts around 1-5 months postpartum. Sometimes the only effect is that you notice the shocking number of hairs tangled in your fingers and hairbrush and your spouse complains about the small animal left in the shower and on the bathroom floor...but for some, scalp hair may actually become thinner.

Telogen effluvium is usually self limiting, but if it becomes excessive there are a few things you can do. First of all, generally taking care of your health and eating a balanced diet is a good place to start. Women with relatively lower iron stores tend to lose more hair, so iron supplements can help. Lysine supplements have been shown to help in some cases. Biotin, zinc, and vitamin D have also been studied. If things get really bad, lab testing may reveal the cause or we may even send you to Dermatology for treatment. Thankfully telogen effluvium resolves within 15 postpartum.

09/10/2019

We've been called out! Great article from CNN this weekend highlighting what we need to be doing better to eliminate cervical cancer https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/09/07/opinions/cervical-cancer-can-be-eliminated-in-the-us/index.html?fbclid=IwAR04_IYuN-VsPWKHmYBjxGCKFNb8NXYL54hapYG1vRVMe2YbC-xMHD4zGBw&r=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2F

09/10/2019

The HPV vaccine was approved in 2006, but lots of people are still playing catch up! The best time to get the most out the the vaccine is at 11-12 years old- when the immune system will have the most robust response and you have the best chance of gaining protection before any exposure. The FDA approved Gardisil 9 for use in men and women ages 27-45 in 2018, so now and even more people can get protected.

HPV is associated with several types of cancer including oropharyngeal, pe**le, a**l, va**nal, and vulvar. It is responsible for more than 90% of cervical cancers. While s*xual transmission is the most common mode, there are reports of nons*xual transmission as well...so don't miss out on the chance to protect yourself or your children! In fact, many OBGYNs and other healthcare workers are getting vaccinated to protect against potential occupational exposure during cases for cervical cancer or precancer.
Bottom line: the HPV vaccine is safe, effective, and is a good way to protect yourself and your kids from all kinds of badness! My little hooligans will be getting theirs on time!

09/07/2019

Don't worry, the intern has the pager tonight!

09/06/2019

Back in boots! Y'all have no idea how happy this makes me :) :) :)

08/31/2019

08/31/2019