Overview
Our center focuses on diagnosing and treating infections that impact a woman’s gynecologic and reproductive health. The infections may be those of the female reproductive tract and female genitalia, infections during pregnancy, pelvic infections, post-operative infections, and sexually transmitted infections.
In addition, we evaluate and manage non-infectious disorders of the vulva as well as vulvar diseases and/or care for women with non-infectious diseases or symptoms of the vulvar and vagina, such as vulvar and vaginal pain, lichen sclerosus and dermatitis.
About Dr. Goje
Oluwatosin Goje, who leads the Reproductive Infectious Diseases Program at Cleveland Clinic, is an Obstetrician Gynecologist fellowship-trained in Infectious Diseases at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, one of four academic centers that offer this specialty training in North America.
What We Treat
- Auto-Immune Disorders (like Bechet’s) - In auto-immune disorders, the body’s immune system is triggered to attack healthy cells and tissues.
- Bartholin’s Cyst - When a Bartholin’s gland becomes blocked and the gland becomes inflamed a cyst may result.
- Condyloma Accuminata (Genital Warts) - Genital warts are growths or bumps on the penis, vagina, vulva (vaginal lips), cervix (the opening between the vagina and the womb), rectum, or groin. The warts are caused by a number of different viruses. These viruses are among a group of more than 60 viruses that are called HPV.
- Contact or Irritant Dermatitis of the Vulva - Skin condition characterized by exposure to allergens or irritants that produce vulvar or vaginal itching and burning.
- Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis - With this condition, the lining of the vagina becomes inflamed and is often characterized by greenish-yellow vaginal discharge, vulvar irritation and pain during intercourse.
- Genital Graft vs Host Disease (GvHD) - GvHD is an immune disorder that occurs as a complication of stem cell transplant. Symptoms include dryness, burning, itching, tender to touch (vulva) and painful intercourse.
- Hepatitis A - Hepatitis is a disease that damages the liver. Viruses cause most cases of hepatitis, but alcohol, drugs, and other factors can also cause the disease.
- Hepatitis B - Hepatitis B is a serious form of hepatitis caused by a virus. It affects people of all ages around the world. The hepatitis B virus attacks the liver. The virus can lead to serious illness, liver damage and, in some cases, death.
- Hepatitis C - Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. It is mainly transmitted by parenteral means (by way of infected needles or blood, not by contaminated food).
- Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) - There are two subtypes of herpes simplex viruses. The first type is herpes simplex type 1 (or HSV-1). HSV-1 occurs most often on or near the mouth and appears as a chancre or cold sore. The second type, herpes simplex type 2 (or HSV-2), occurs most often on or near the sex organs and is sometimes called “genital herpes.” Herpes virus is spread by close personal contact, such as kissing or sexual intercourse. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection, or “STI.”
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa - A chronic disease characterized by clusters of abscesses or nodules that form under the skin.
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus - Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus, that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The virus weakens a person's ability to fight infections and cancer. People with HIV are said to have AIDS when the virus makes them very sick and they develop certain infections or cancers. With advances in technology and new drugs, our team is able to manage these patients so that they can have a productive life.
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease - Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an inflammatory condition of the female reproductive organs cause by polymicrobial ascending infection. PID can damage the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes or other parts of the female reproductive system. It also can cause severe pain and make it difficult to become pregnant.
- Post Herpetic Pain/Neuralgia - Nerve pain due to damage caused by the varicella zoster virus.
- Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis - An imbalance of bacteria normally found in the vagina.
- Recurrent Vaginal Yeast Infections - If the population of yeast in the vagina increases greatly, a yeast infection is said to occur.
- Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) - Sexually transmitted infections, commonly called STIs, are diseases that are spread by having sex with someone who has an STI.
- Syphilis - Syphilis is an infection caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. It is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), which means that it is spread by having sex with an infected person.
- Tubal Ovarian Abscesses - Tubal Ovarian Abscesses are a complication or severe form of PID, and could be life threatening if not managed appropriately.
- Vaginitis - "Vaginitis" is a medical term used to describe various disorders that cause infection or inflammation of the vagina. The symptoms of vaginitis can vary depending on what is causing the infection or inflammation. Some women have no symptoms at all. Vaginitis could be infectious in origin when it is caused by candida, bacterial vaginosis ( BV) or trichomonas vaginalis. It could also be allergic or contact dermatitis or inflammatory vaginitis. Other conditions of the vagina include atrophic vaginitis, desquamative inflammatory vaginitis, Lichen planus and Lichen sclerosis.
- Vulvar Abscess - An infection that develops in vulvar skin or subcutaneous tissues.
- Vulvar Lichen Planus - An inflammatory disease that can cause an itchy or burning rash or painful purple lesions, occurring on the skin of the arms or legs, or affecting the vulva and vagina.
- Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus - Chronic skin disease that mainly affects the vulva, but it can also involve skin outside the genital region.
- Vulvodynia and Vulvar Vestibulitis - Condition characterized by chronic discomfort inside the vulva, the entrance to the vagina and the urethra.
- Yeast Infections - A yeast infection is caused by fungi that normally grow in the body. (Yeast is a kind of fungus). A change in the chemical balance in the vagina allows the fungus to grow too rapidly and cause symptoms. Yeast infections most often occur in a woman's vagina.
Services
Vulvar and Vaginal Disorders Clinic (VVDC)
Cleveland Clinic's Ob/Gyn and Women's Health Institute VVDC specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of women with chronic vulvo-vaginal disorders. Vulvo-vaginal disorders could be infectious or non- infectious in etiology. Women who suffer from vulvar or vaginal health conditions may experience any of the following symptoms:
- Abnormal, or heavy vaginal discharge that is gray, yellow, or milky in color
- Abnormal vaginal odor
- Vulvar irritation
- Vulvar lesions, boils or sores
- Painful intercourse
- Itching or burning in the genital area
- Unusual pain and redness in the genital area
- Fragile skin in the genital area
- Hypopigmentation or depigmentation of the skin of the area
Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy
The team using a multi-disciplinary approach manages HIV in pregnancy, syphilis in pregnancy, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HSV in pregnancy to mention just a few.
In collaboration with Cleveland Clinic's Infectious Disease department, we offer preconception counseling to HIV positive men and women. We provide pre-conception counseling for sero-discordant or sero-concordant HIV couples and offer Pre-exposure prophylaxis ( PreP) counseling, as well.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Treatment
- HIV
- Syphilis
- Hepatitis
- HSV
- Trichomoniasis
- Genital warts
- Gonorrhea
- Chlamydia
Our Doctors
*Dr. Crawford only treats non-infectious disorders.
Appointments
To make an appointment with one of our specialists, please call 216.444.6601 (toll-free 800.223.2273 Ext. 46601).
Locations
In Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, appointments are available at the following locations:
Research & Education
Research activity in the areas that comprise gynecologic infectious disease is multi-disciplinary and on-going. For information about women’s infectious disease and pelvic health issues:
