What is Integrative Gynecology?
Integrative Medicine takes into account all factors that influence health, wellness, and disease and appropriately uses both conventional and alternative methods to facilitate the body's innate healing response. Effective interventions that are natural and less invasive are used whenever possible, however integrative medicine neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies uncritically.
Integrative medicine utilizes dietary modification, mind-body therapies, dietary supplements and botanical treatments, conventional medicines and surgical interventions, and referrals to outside alternative health care providers when appropriate.
There are many gynecologic conditions that are particularly well suited to an integrative approach, including:
General Preconception and Infertility Care
Breastfeeding Challenges
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS
Chronic Vaginitis
Pelvic Pain
PMDD
Menstrual Irregularities
Painful Menstruation
Painful Intercourse or other sexual dysfunction
Perimenopause and Menopause
What should I expect at my consultation?
Dr. Aristizabal is a board certified OB/GYN, with over ten years in practice providing holistic women's health care, and has completed an additional fellowship in Integrated Medicine at the University of Arizona, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. She performs all of our integrative gynecology consults. Consultations are typically 1 hour long and consist of an in depth evaluation of your medical history, diet and lifestyle, genetic history, and current symptoms. A complete physical exam will be performed, as appropriate, and any indicated diagnostic tests ordered, including any routine screening tests that are due. Patients will typically receive a written plan of care and plan for follow up, which will include 1-3 follow-up sessions of 30-45 min depending on the condition.
What should I expect at a preconception consultation?
Making the decision that you are ready to “start trying” is extremely exciting but it may also bring up a lot of questions and worries. Preconception consultations which give future parents a better idea of what to expect, while also focusing on: optimization of health and wellness prior to pregnancy, ways to enhance natural fertility, counseling and care for specific infertility concerns, and genetic testing, if desired. If you are due for an annual exam at this visit, we will perform that as well.
If you are new to Wombkeepers, this is a great chance to get to know our team and our unique approach to prenatal care. It also establishes you in the practice and guarantees that we will be able to care for you for all future pregnancies, regardless of our patient load, as we never limit the number of established patients we accept for obstetrics care but we sometimes have to limit new patients for obstetrics if we are too full, which is how we keep our low patient-doctor ratio.
Do you accept insurance?
Wombkeepers does accept most commercial insurances, however we are an out-0f-network provider. For most patients, we will require a deposit on care to bill your insurance or, alternatively, you may pay up front and receive a prompt-payment discount and we will provide a super-bill that you may submit to your insurance for reimbursement.
I just need a new gynecologist. Do you offer routine Gynecology Care?
Our practice is tailored to care for the needs of women in their childbearing years and patients looking for an integrative approach to their gynecologic care. We do offer routine gynecologic care to our established patients, including routine annual exams, pap smears, breast exams, and contraception, including IUD placement and removal, but our practice is best for patients who are looking for something more than a quick 15 minute annual exam. New patients need to establish care through an integrative consult, preconception consult, or during pregnancy.
I don't live in the area. Do you offer tele-medicine consultations?
Yes! Integrative Medicine is well-suited for tele-medicine, as most of the care provided is consultative and problem focused. We will recommend that you maintain care with your local OB/GYN for physical exams and routine gynecology care.