Expert gynecologists in San Antonio, Texas

Gynecologists are doctors who specialize in women's health, with a focus on the female reproductive system. In addition, gynecologists help treat menstruation and fertility issues, hormone disorders and more.

At Methodist Healthcare, we offer four Methodist Family Health Centers throughout San Antonio for free pregnancy testing, Medicaid application assistance, free physician referrals and more.

To learn more about our gynecologic care services, please call the Methodist Healthcare HealthLine at (210) 575-0355.

Gynecologic treatment

Hysterectomy surgery

A hysterectomy is a surgery to remove a woman's uterus. Your doctor may recommend a hysterectomy if you have uterine fibroids, gynecologic cancer, endometriosis or another condition impacting the health of your uterus and/or reproductive system.

Depending on the reason for the hysterectomy, your surgeon may choose to remove all or only part of the uterus. A total hysterectomy removes the entire uterus and cervix. In a partial hysterectomy, only the upper part of the uterus is removed.

In more serious cases, such as cancer, a radical hysterectomy may be performed. This procedure removes the whole uterus, surrounding tissue, cervix and the top part of the vagina.

Laparoscopic fibroid ablation procedure

Are you in need of laparoscopic fibroid ablation?

70 percent of women will have uterine fibroids by age 50; 25 percent are symptomatic. If you have fibroids, you may experience heavy period bleeding, periods extending beyond one week, pelvic pain or pressure, frequent urination or difficulty emptying the bladder, constipation, back or leg pain or pain during intercourse.

Options for treatment

Women who suffer from uterine fibroids now have an alternative procedure to hysterectomies and myomectomies. If you desire to be fertile but suffer from fibroid symptoms, you no longer have to sacrifice one over the other. While the traditional treatments require longer recoveries and are more invasive, the Acessa™ Procedure offers a minimally invasive laparoscopic fibroid ablation treatment that identifies and destroys fibroid tissue, while protecting your uterus. With this uterine-sparing option, patients can return home within the same day and perform normal activity within three to five days.

Robotic-assisted option

Methodist Hospital Stone Oak can perform the laparoscopic fibroid ablation procedure robotically. In addition to the benefits of the regular procedure, the robotic-assisted option is able to more precisely remove very large fibroids.

Family Health Center services

At Methodist Family Health Centers, our team provides free, confidential pregnancy testing and other women's health services close to home.

There are three locations located throughout the San Antonio area:

All locations are open Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Our centers offer:

  • Immediate results
  • Walk-in availability
  • Bilingual staff
  • Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) assistance

Pregnancy testing

Your pregnancy test is a self-urine test. The steps are easy, and the results are interpreted within three minutes. No appointment is needed for pregnancy testing.

While your pregnancy test is free, other services are generally covered by your insurance. If you do not have insurance, we can help you apply for Medicaid and CHIP for your baby. Our on-site representatives can provide a quick screening to determine your eligibility status. Ask us for details on your insurance options.

Pregnancy symptoms

Many early signs of pregnancy could be symptoms of other conditions. If you are sexually active and are experiencing any combination of these, consider taking a pregnancy test to determine your condition.

These signs may include:

  • Delayed or missed menstrual cycle
  • Swollen/tender breasts
  • Fatigue/tiredness
  • Nausea or morning sickness
  • Backaches
  • Headaches
  • Frequent urination
  • Darkening of areolas
  • Food cravings

About 25 to 30 percent of women experience some type of spotting or bleeding in early pregnancy. Many women who have this light bleeding go on to have normal pregnancies and healthy babies. Be sure to share any of these symptoms with your doctor.

However, if your bleeding gets heavier and is accompanied by painful cramping, back pain or stabbing pains, seek medical attention right away.

Physician referrals

We can help you find a physician who provides prenatal care and delivers at Methodist Hospital Metropolitan (located downtown) or Methodist Hospital (located in medical center).

Even if your doctor doesn't deliver at a Methodist hospital, your pregnancy test is still free.

Conception and due dates

Doctors are only able to estimate your date of conception. After a positive pregnancy test, doctors use the first day of the last period and ultrasound measurements to gauge the gestational age of a baby and estimate when the baby was conceived. Due dates are not an accurate tool for determining conception since they also are only an estimation of dates. (Only 5 percent of women give birth on their proposed due dates.)

A negative pregnancy test result could mean a few things: you are not pregnant, you took the test too early or something went wrong with the test. Pregnancy tests vary in sensitivity to the hormone hCG, and your body may not have had enough time to produce enough hCG hormones to show up on the test.