Overview
Cleveland Clinic provides Primary Care Women’s Health providers. Board-certified internal medicine and family medicine doctors and certified nurse practitioners practice in a patient centered environment, offering care and compassion. They collaborate to provide ongoing support and education that our female patients need to manage changes that occur throughout their lives. Our physicians consider the relationship with each patient to be a partnership-one built on respect, courtesy and confidentiality.
Why Choose Cleveland Clinic?
With convenient locations around Northeast Ohio, there is a primary care women’s health provider close to home, who has at his or her fingertips all the resources of Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic patients benefit from the most advanced medical equipment and technologies in use today. From adolescence to senior adulthood, Cleveland Clinic Primary Care Women’s Health providers can address all of a woman’s healthcare needs in one place.
What We Treat
Bone Health
- Exercising Safely with Osteoporosis
- The Role of Calcium in Preventing Osteoporosis
- Menopause & Osteoporosis
- Surgical Treatment of Vertebral Compression Fractures
- Hip Fracture
- Bone Densitometry & Menopause
- The Role of Vitamin D in Your Health
- Osteoporosis
Cancer
- Breast Cancer Glossary
- Breast Cancer Recurrence
- Cancer Pain
- Anatomy of the Breast
- Breast Self-Exam
- The Controversy Over Silicone-Gel Implants
- Breast Cancer Surgery
- Preventive Breast Surgery
- Local Treatment Options
- Breast Health
- Hormone Therapy
- Breast Cancer
- MRI & Breast Cancer
- Health Aspects & Complications
- The Diagnosis is Breast Cancer
- Sentinel Node Biopsy
- Second Opinions
- Surgery - Options in Breast Surgery
Menopause
- Menopause and bladder control.
- Menopause and osteoporosis.
- Menopause resources.
- Emotional aspects of menopause.
- Menopause and sleep concerns.
- Hot flashes.
- Hormone therapy.
- Menopause.
- Pelvic floor dysfunction.
- Kegel exercises.
- Pelvic pain.
- Pelvic exam.
- Sex and menopause
Pregnancy & Reproductive Health
- Breastfeeding: The First Weeks
- Over-the-Counter Medications & Breastfeeding
- Storing Breast Milk
- Benefits of Breastfeeding
- Birth Control Options
- Contraception Myths
- Finding a Comfortable Position: Correct Posture & Body Mechanics During Pregnancy
- Preconception Counseling
- Your First Trimester of Pregnancy
- Avoiding Illicit Drugs During Pregnancy
- Exercise During Pregnancy
- How Smoking Affects You and Your Baby During Pregnancy
- Medication Guidelines During Pregnancy
- Sex During Pregnancy
- Sleep During Pregnancy
- Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension
- Toxoplasmosis
- Pregnancy & Healthcare Providers
- Dental Care During Pregnancy
- Having a Healthy Pregnancy
- Kegel Exercises in Pregnancy
- Getting Pregnant
- Am I Pregnant?
- Good Nutrition During Pregnancy for You and Your Baby
- Increasing Iron in Your Diet During Pregnancy
- Nutrition During Pregnancy for Vegetarians
- Prenatal Vitamins
- Physical Changes After Delivery
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases & Pregnancy
- Home Pregnancy Test
- Asthma & Pregnancy
- Heartburn During Pregnancy
- Expecting Twins or Triplets
Sexual Health
- AIDS & HIV
- Bacterial Vaginosis
- Cervicitis
- Chlamydia
- Genital Warts
- Gonorrhea
- HIV Testing
- HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) | Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment
- Molluscum Contagiosum
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
- Pubic Lice
- Sexual Health: Genital Itching
- Scabies
- Syphilis
Sleep
- Biofeedback
- Circadian Rhythm Disorders
- Insomnia
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Shift Work Sleep Disorder
- Sleep Apnea
- When to Seek Help for a Sleep Disorder
Urological Health
- Urinary tract infection.
- Bladder irritating foods.
- Interstitial cystitis.
- Kegel exercises.
- Menopause and bladder control.
- Neurogenic bladder.
- Nocturia.
- Overactive bladder.
- Pelvic floor dysfunction.
- Urinary incontinence.
- Urodynamic testing.
Wellbeing
- Acupuncture.
- Alternative therapies for depression.
- Herbal supplements.
- How does exercise improve depression.
- Hypnotherapy.
- Music therapy.
- Running injuries (prevention).
- Smoking cessation.
- St. John's wart.
- Strength training.
Our Doctors
Laura Lipold, MD
Director, Primary Care Women's Health
Amherst Family Health Center
Beachwood Family Health Center
Chagrin Falls Family Health Center
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Independence Family Health Center
Lorain Family Health & Surgery Center
Lutheran Hospital
Mentor Medical Office Building
Richard E. Jacobs Health Center
Rockside Medical Building
Solon Family Health Center
South Russell Family Practice
Strongsville Family Health & Surgery
Twinsburg Family Health & Surgery Center
Willoughby Hills Family Health Center
Common Health Concerns for Women
You can be proactive about preventing some major issues listed below and be sure to discuss with your primary care physician a screening and mammography schedule that works for you.
Cancer
Breast cancer: Lower your risks by not smoking, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol use and controlling your weight. Discuss breast cancer screenings with your primary care physician.
You may need earlier, more frequent screening if you have breast cancer in the family or other risk factors. Be sure to ingest enough vitamin D.
Cervical cancer: Get your periodic Pap test to screen for cervical cancer and ask about getting tested for HPV at the age of 30. If your pap is normal and you do not carry HPV, you can space out pap smears of the cervix to every 5 years.
Colorectal (colon) cancer: Start screening with a colonoscopy at age 45. If it’s normal, continue to get a screening every 10 years.
Cardiovascular Disease / High Blood Pressure / High Cholesterol
If cardiovascular disease runs in your family, or if your blood pressure or cholesterol levels are high, ask your doctor about taking medications to control blood pressure and cholesterol. Your doctor can also advise you about whether you’ll benefit from taking a daily aspirin.
Osteoporosis
To preserve bone mass, avoid all tobacco products, limit your alcohol intake, get adequate calcium and Vitamin D, and do weight-bearing exercises such as walking. Risks of bone fragility are greatest after menopause, so supplement your diet with 1,200 mg of calcium plus at least 1,000 IU of Vitamin D3 starting at age 50.
Begin bone-mineral density screenings at age 65, or earlier if you have one or more risk factors (at age 50 if you’ve suffered a bone fracture.) Screening every two or three years will detect any bone loss, and if needed, medications are available to decrease bone fracture risk.
Menopause
If lack of sleep, continuous hot flashes or severe mood swings are disrupting your life, consider menopausal hormone therapy. Your physician will guide you to the right hormone combination and best mode of administration. For many women, the benefits of hormone therapy outweigh the risks.
Weight Management
Eat smaller portions and healthier foods, and exercise more as your metabolism slows down with age. This will help prevent type 2 diabetes, arthritis and other weight-related problems.
Many medical problems can be controlled with relative ease by eating well, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol intake, protecting the skin from sun damage, taking the right vitamins and supplements, and staying actively involved in life as you work with your physician to design a personalized regimen.
- Learn more about Weight Management programs at Cleveland Clinic
Appointments & Locations
For an appointment with one of our primary care providers, please call us toll-free at 866.320.4573. You can also request an appointment online.
Locations
Our women's health specialists see patients at Cleveland Clinic's main campus, as well as our family health centers located throughout Northeast Ohio, including Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Medina Counties.
