Our Services

Alpine Women’s Center of Whitefish, Montana serves the women of Whitefish, Kalispell, Bigfork, Columbia Falls and the entire Flathead Valley with their women’s heath needs.  Alpine Women’s Center specializes in Gynecological, Obstetrics, In-Office Procedures, and Surgery.

 

Below you find all of the services we offer as well as a brief description of each.

 

If you don’t see a service listed or you have questions about a service, please give us a call.

406.862.6436
Gynecological Services
Routine Annual Exam

For some people, the annual physical examination is a source of reassurane they they’re as healthy as they feel.  Other see it as an alarm system to catch health problems before they become serious.

The value of the routine annual exam has been debated recently but it remains a cherished tradition among many doctors and patients.

Pap Smear

A Pap test is a test of a sample of cells taken from a woman’s cervix. The test is used to look for changes in the cells of the cervix that show cervical cancer or conditions that may develop into cancer.

It is the best tool to detect precancerous conditions and hidden, small tumors that may lead to cervical cancer. If detected early, cervical cancer can be cured.

Pap screen testing should begin at age 21. Routine screening is recommended every two years for women 21-29 years old. For certain women 30 years and older who have had three consecutive normal screening test results, testing can be done every three years.

Breast Exam

A Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) is a physical examination of the breast done by a health professional. Clinical breast examinations are used along with mammograms to check women for breast cancer. Clinical breast examinations are also used to check for other breast problems.

A clinical breast examination is done to:

  • Find a lump or change in the breast that may mean a serious problem is present, such as breast cancer.
  • Check other breast problems that may need more treatment, such as mastitis or a fibroadenoma.
Ultrasound

A prenatal ultrasound test uses high-frequency sound waves, inaudible to the human ear, that are transmitted through the abdomen via a device called a transducer to look at the inside of the abdomen. With prenatal ultrasound, the echoes are recorded and transformed into video or photographic images of your baby.

The ultrasound can be used during pregnancy to show images of the baby, amniotic sac, placenta, and ovaries. Major anatomical abnormalities or birth defects can show up on an ultrasound.

Most prenatal ultrasound procedures are performed topically, or on the surface of the skin, using a gel as a conductive medium to aid in the quality of the image. However, a transvaginal ultrasound is an alternative procedure performed using a tubular probe that is inserted into the vaginal canal. This method of ultrasound produces an image quality that is greatly enhanced, but it is not a common prenatal procedure. However, it may be used early in pregnancy to get a clearer view of the uterus or ovaries if a problem is suspected. It may also be used early in pregnancy to determine how far along you are in your pregnancy (gestational age).

Infertility

Infertility is defined as the inability for a couple to become pregnant after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse. The male partner, the female partner, or both may have a fertility problem. In women younger than 35 years old an evaluation and possible treatment is needed after six months of unprotected intercourse.

A person who is infertile has a reduced ability to have a child. It usually doesn’t mean a person is sterile — that is, physically unable ever to have a child.

For many couples, infertility is a crisis. Fertility problems often come with feelings of guilt or inadequacy. But a diagnosis of infertility is not necessarily a verdict of sterility. Up to 15% of all couples are infertile, but only 1% to 2% are sterile. Half of couples who seek help can eventually bear a child, either on their own or with medical assistance.

Men and women are equally likely to have a fertility problem. In about one in five infertile couples, both partners have contributing problems, and in about 15% of couples, no cause is found after all tests have been done, called “unexplained infertility.”

Menopause/Post-Menopause Management

Menopause is the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle and fertility and is a normal condition that all women experience as they age. It occurs when the ovaries no longer produce estrogen and progesterone, two necessary hormones for a woman’s reproductive cycle to function.

Though it naturally occurs with age, menopause may also come on suddenly as a result of a surgical procedure, treatment of a disease, or illness. In these cases it is referred to as induced menopause.

When menopause occurs naturally, it tends to take place anywhere between the ages of 40 and 58, with an average age of 51. But for some women it can occur as early as the late 30s, or as late as your 60s. When menopause occurs before 35, it is considered premature menopause, but just as menarche is genetically predetermined, so is menopause.

For many women who enter menopause, their menstrual cycle becomes irregular and then stops, and they don’t have any other symptoms. But, for others, the decreasing levels of estrogen associated with menopause may cause more distressing symptoms that include:

  • Mood swings
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Hot flashes
  • Sweating
  • Racing heart (palpitations)
  • Headaches
  • Vaginal dryness and soreness
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Bone thinning (osteoporosis)

These symptoms can last from a few months to up to 10 years

Contraceptive Counseling

There are many new and changing options available to women today who want to practice birth control. Providers are current on all the new prescriptions including the contraceptive patch, vaginal ring, continuous and non-continuous oral contraceptives, as well as IUDs and permanent sterilization.

Your provider will consult with you to determine which method will be best for you based on your health history, age, smoking history, desire for fertility, lifestyle, and other factors. We can also provide you with information on safe sex methods.

Urinary Incontinence Treatment

Urinary incontinence, or loss of bladder control, is a frustrating problem for more than 13 million Americans. Never knowing when and where you might have an accident can impact everything from work to exercise to your social calendar. Urinary incontinence affects people of either gender but is twice as common in women. Research suggests that half of older women may have some form of incontinence.

Obstetrics Services
Pre-conception Consultation

A pre-conception check up is a consultation with your doctor about your plan to become pregnant and what you need to do to help prepare your body for an impending pregnancy. This type of thing would have been unheard of a generation ago. Most women wouldn’t have scheduled an appointment to see the doctor until pregnancy was confirmed by a home pregnancy test, or at least expected due to a missed period or two. And that may remain true for some women today, but more and more woman are beginning to understand the importance of being healthy before you become pregnant, and giving your child the best chance from the very beginning.

Routine Prenatal Care

Regular prenatal visits are an important part of your pregnancy, making sure that both you and your baby are healthy.

During your visits your caregiver will be alert for potential problems, planning to stop them before they become serious. This could even be something as simple as making sure that you are getting enough iron to prevent anemia or an ultrasound scan to ensure that your baby is developing normally. routine prenatal visits will give you the tremendous reassurance that your pregnancy is going exactly as you planned.

Ultrasound

A prenatal ultrasound test uses high-frequency sound waves, inaudible to the human ear, that are transmitted through the abdomen via a device called a transducer to look at the inside of the abdomen. With prenatal ultrasound, the echoes are recorded and transformed into video or photographic images of your baby.

The ultrasound can be used during pregnancy to show images of the baby, amniotic sac, placenta, and ovaries. Major anatomical abnormalities or birth defects can show up on an ultrasound.

Most prenatal ultrasound procedures are performed topically, or on the surface of the skin, using a gel as a conductive medium to aid in the quality of the image. However, a transvaginal ultrasound is an alternative procedure performed using a tubular probe that is inserted into the vaginal canal. This method of ultrasound produces an image quality that is greatly enhanced, but it is not a common prenatal procedure. However, it may be used early in pregnancy to get a clearer view of the uterus or ovaries if a problem is suspected. It may also be used early in pregnancy to determine how far along you are in your pregnancy (gestational age).

Vaginal & Cesarean Delivery

Vaginal delivery refers to the delivery of a baby through the birth canal without surgery. Women will experience contractions which indicate the beginning of labor and the cervix begins to widen (dilated). When the uterus is fully dilated, the baby’s head will begin to appear and the baby will come out of the vaginal canal.

A cesarean section is the delivery of a baby through a cut (incision) in the mother’s belly and uterus. It is often called a C-section. In most cases, a woman can be awake during the birth and be with her newborn soon afterward.

If you are pregnant, chances are good that you will be able to deliver your baby through the birth canal (vaginal birth). But there are cases when a C-section is needed for the safety of the mother or baby. So even if you plan on a vaginal birth, it’s a good idea to learn about C-section, in case the unexpected happens.

A C-section may be planned or unplanned. In most cases, doctors do cesarean sections because of problems that arise during labor. Reasons you might need an unplanned C-section include:

  • Labor is slow and hard or stops completely.
  • The baby shows signs of distress, such as a very fast or slow heart rate.
  • A problem with the placenta or umbilical cord puts the baby at risk.
  • The baby is too big to be delivered vaginally.
Postpartum Care

Postpartum is the period of time following the birth of the baby. It is the time the mother’s body is changing back to the non- pregnant state. It lasts approximately 6 weeks or until the reproductive organs return to their normal size.

Your provider determines when it is necessary for you to return for an after-delivery visit. For a normal delivery, it is usually 4 to 6 weeks. For a C-section, it is usually within 1 to 2 weeks. A follow up appointment may be scheduled sooner if there were any medical problems during the pregnancy, such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes.

In-Office Procedures
Colposcopy

Colposcopy (kol-POS-kuh-pee) is a procedure to closely examine your cervix, vagina and vulva for signs of disease. During colposcopy, your doctor uses a special instrument called a colposcope.

Your doctor may recommend colposcopy if your Pap test has shown abnormal results. If your doctor finds an unusual area of cells during colposcopy, a sample of tissue can be collected for laboratory testing (biopsy).

LEEP Procedure

Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure – If your doctor has told you that you need to have a LEEP procedure, it’s because your annual Pap smear indicated the presence of abnormal cervical cells, or cervical dysplasia. The LEEP procedure is one of several procedures your doctor has available to help diagnose and treat abnormal cervical cells.

LEEP uses a thin wire loop electrode which is attached to an electrosurgical generator. The generator transmits a painless electrical current that quickly cuts away the affected cervical tissue in the immediate area of the loop wire. This causes the abnormal cells to rapidly heat and burst, and separates the tissue as the loop wire moves through the cervix.

This technique allows your physician to send the excised tissue to the lab for further evaluation which insures that the lesion was completely removed, as well as allowing for a more accurate assessment of the abnormal area.

Cryo Therapy

Cryotherapy (or Cervical Cryosurgery) is a gynecological treatment that freezes a section of the cervix. Cryotherapy of the cervix is most often done to destroy abnormal cervical cells that show changes that may lead to cancer. These changes are called precancerous cells. Your gynecologist will probably use the term cervical dysplasia.

Cryotherapy is done only after a colposcopy confirms the presence of abnormal cervical cells. It is performed in your doctor’s office while you are awake.

Surgery Services
Hysteroscopy

A hysteroscopy is a way for your doctor to look at the lining of your uterus. He or she uses a thin viewing tool called a hysteroscope. The tip of the hysteroscope is put into your vagina and gently moved through the cervix into the uterus. The hysteroscope has a light and camera hooked to it so your doctor can see the lining (endometrium) on a video screen.

A hysteroscopy may be done to find the cause of abnormal bleeding or bleeding that occurs after a woman has passed menopause. It also may be done to see if a problem in your uterus is preventing you from becoming pregnant (infertility). A hysteroscopy can be used to remove growths in the uterus, such as fibroids or polyps.

Your doctor may take a small sample of tissue (biopsy). The sample is looked at under a microscope for problems. Another surgery, called a laparoscopy, may also be done at the same time as a hysteroscopy if infertility is a problem.

Laparoscopy

Laparoscopy is a surgery that uses a thin, lighted tube put through a cut (incision) in the belly to look at the abdominal organs or the female pelvic organs . Laparoscopy is used to find problems such as cysts, adhesions, fibroids , and infection. Tissue samples can be taken for biopsy through the tube (laparoscope).

In many cases laparoscopy can be done instead of laparotomy surgery that uses a larger incision in the belly. Laparoscopy can be less stressful and may have less problems and lower costs than laparotomy for minor surgeries. It can often be done without needing to stay overnight in the hospital.

Prolapse Repair

The network of muscles, ligaments, and skin in and around a woman’s vagina acts as a complex support structure that holds pelvic organs, and tissues in place. This support network includes the skin and muscles of the vagina walls (a network of tissues called the fascia). Various parts of this support system may eventually weaken or break, causing a common condition called vaginal prolapse.

A vaginal prolapse is a condition in which structures such as the uterus, rectum, bladder, urethra, small bowel, or the vagina itself may begin to prolapse, or fall out of their normal positions. Without medical treatment or surgery, these structures may eventually prolapse farther and farther into the vagina or even through the vaginal opening if their supports weaken enough.

The typical surgical strategy is to correct all vaginal weaknesses at once. Surgery is usually performed while the woman is under general anesthesia.

Vaginal Surgery

Over the last few years female cosmetic surgical procedures have become increasingly popular and more common. Many women do not even realize there are surgical techniques to solve their problems. We at Alpine Women’s Center are here to help you in a warm and comfortable setting.

Labiaplasty: A treatment for enlarged or irregular labia often done for cosmetic enhancement or medical reasons.

Hymen Repair: A Treatment for Torn Hymen. This surgery is also often referred to as Hymenoplasty. Repair of a torn hymen is frequently done for religious or cultural reasons.

Hysterectomy

A hysterectomy is an operation to remove a woman’s uterus. A woman may have a hysterectomy for different reasons, including:

  • Uterine fibroids that cause pain, bleeding, or other problems
  • Uterine prolapse, which is a sliding of the uterus from its normal position into the vaginal canal
  • Cancer of the uterus, cervix, or ovaries
  • Endometriosis
  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding
  • Chronic pelvic pain
  • Adenomyosis, or a thickening of the uterus
Robotic Surgery (da Vinci)

Alpine Women’s Center specializes in advanced robotic surgery procedures for the treatment of endometriosis, uterine fibroids, pelvic pain and vaginal or uterine prolapse including hysterectomy, myomectomy and sacrocolpopexy.

Women’s robotic surgery procedures offer you shorter, less painful recoveries and successful outcomes that get you back to a normal, active life as quickly as possible.

Thanks to a breakthrough in surgical technology, there is a new category of minimally invasive surgery for which you may be a candidate. It is an effective, minimally invasive alternative to both open surgery and laparoscopy. Through the use of the da Vinci® Surgical System, we are now able to offer a minimally invasive option for complex surgical procedures.

Location

2002 Hospital Way
Whitefish MT 59937

Alpine Women's Center Whitefish Montana Map

Make an Appointment

We appreciate your interest in our clinic!  We are currently accepting new patients.  If you'd like to make an appointment, you can do so by contacting us at:
406-862-6436

Our office hours are Monday- Friday 9am - 5pm.

We look forward to hearing from you!