Hysterectomy & Uterine Problems

At Nickel Obstetrics and Gynecology, we strive to help the women in the communities of Tacoma, University Place, Gig Harbor, and Puyallup, and the surrounding area, to navigate through major life and health changes.

 

When a woman has questions about uterine problems, it is important for her to consult with a Physician. At Nickel Obstetrics & Gynecology, we strive to help consult and treat women in Tacoma, Gig Harbor, and Puyallup and the greater Tacoma area in navigating the best individual treatment plan for themselves.

There are many conditions that may affect the uterus. A few examples are: pain or heavy bleeding, cancer or growths and more. These conditions may be treated with medical therapy or various types of surgery including hysterectomy. A patient’s choice of treatment also takes into consideration personal factors like future fertility plans.

Tacoma, Gig Harbor and Puyallup women have many questions regarding a hysterectomy and uterine problems. We encourage women to know the facts about these issues and to discuss openly with our team their questions and concerns and treatment options.

A Hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus. Because it is a major surgery some doctors suggest trying other treatments before a hysterectomy. Therefore, it is important to consult with your doctor and find out what other options are available and right for each patient. Hysterectomies may be preformed due to abnormal bleeding, uterine fibroids, cancers, pelvic support problems, and pelvic pain.

Many of our Tacoma, Gig Harbor and Puyallup patients wonder if they will ever have to deal with a hysterectomy or uterine issues.

Dr. Adam Nickel and his team look forward to helping the women in the greater Tacoma, Gig Harbor and Puyallup areas.

 

Dr. Adam T. Nickel, Obstetrics and Gynecology doctor was born and raised in Tacoma, WA and University Place, WA.  He serves patients all over from Gig Harbor, to Puyallup and the greater Tacoma area. 

Remember to “BE PROACTIVE IN YOUR CARE!”

Please call and schedule your appointment today!

(253) 572-4664

 

This is for informational purposes and should not be taken as medical advice and treatment. Please consult your doctor for further information and treatment options.


Depression and Women’s Health

Depression and Women’s Health: Hitting Tacoma, Gig Harbor and Puyallup Women!

For women in the Tacoma, Gig Harbor and Puyallup areas, Nickel Obstetrics & Gynecology is here to assist in treating those who are suffering from the common illness of Depression.

Depression can affect anyone. According to ACOG, one in 20 Americans suffers with depression. And the condition is reported twice as often in women as in men. The good news is that depression is a medical condition that can be treated.

Depression is a medical disorder and has many possible causes. Some causes for depression in women may include, chemical imbalances, other medical illness, medicines they are taking, the use of drugs and alcohol, stress or grief, single parenthood, sexual or physical abuse, and many more.

For woman all over the Tacoma, Gig Harbor and Puyallup areas, depression can occur around the time of certain reproductive events such as, pregnancy, loss of baby (miscarriage), birth of baby, menstruation, infertility or menopause. Sometimes, these events can lead to situational depression that may not need treatment, in other cases these events can trigger true depression and may need to be treated.

If you are experiencing feelings of depression, Dr. Adam Nickel encourages you to seek medical help to assist you and get you feeling better. At Nickel Obstetrics & Gynecology, we are compassionate and understanding of the many women’s health issues. Please call us today to schedule an appointment so we can assist you with any questions or concerns you may have.

Remember, ”BE PROACTIVE IN YOUR CARE!”

Please call and schedule your appointment today.

(253) 572-4664

 

This is for informational purposes and should not be taken as medical advice and treatment. Please consult your doctor for further information and treatment options.


Pregnancy and Birth in the U.S.

pregnancy


Flu Shot Facts from Tacoma OBGYN Dr. Adam Nickel

At Nickel Obstetrics and Gynecologist in Tacoma, we believe that preventing the flu is essential. The flu vaccine prevents not only you from getting sick, but your loved ones around you as well.

Dr. Adam Nickel, your Tacoma OBGYN, stresses the importance of understanding the myths and facts surrounding the flu and the vaccine.

 

Let’s get our facts straight on the flu vaccine. It’s that time of year that viruses are lurking everywhere. Rather than walking around with masks and gloves, let’s talk about the flu vaccine and its positive effects in prevention.

Prevention is key here at our OBGYN practice in Tacoma, and the flu vaccine is a way to prevent illness and disease that has potentially extreme and permanent effects on your health. We also advise our expecting patients to receive the flu vaccine to protect not only their newborn, but also a recovering mother from suffering from the flu after childbirth.

Liz Szabo on USA Today discusses the myths regarding the flu virus:

Myth 1: The flu is just a bad cold.

A cold is an annoyance. The flu kills up to 49,000 people a year and hospitalizes 200,000, the CDC says. Last year, 114 children died. Flu symptoms tend to appear suddenly, unlike a cold. People who get H1N1 (swine flu) are often laid up for a week with fever, body aches, sore throat, fatigue, headaches and a runny or congested nose, says the CDC.

Myth 2: The flu shot causes the flu.

About 35% of consumers think the flu vaccine can cause flu, CVS found. But that’s impossible, CDC says, because the viruses in the flu shot are dead. Its most common side effect is a sore arm. Mist nasal spray contains weakened viruses, so they don’t cause severe symptoms, either. Side effects in kids can include a runny nose, wheezing and headache.

Myth 3: New “combined” shots are riskier than older ones.

This year’s shot, which protects against both H1N1 and seasonal flu, was made the same way as every other flu shot, says Randy Bergen of Kaiser Permanente in Walnut Creek, Calif. Every year, vaccine makers include viral strains that are most likely to cause illness. Typically, these include two influenza A strains — an H1N1 and an H3N2 — and a strain of influenza B, Abramson says.

Myth 4: Only sickly people need a flu shot.

Half of consumers think flu shots are only for kids or sick people, CVS found. Actually, the most vulnerable members of society, such as newborns or those with weak immune systems, often can’t get flu shots. The only way to protect them is to vaccinate everyone around them, keeping flu viruses out of circulation, Bergen says. Because babies can’t be vaccinated until they’re 6 months old, they depend on vaccinated friends and family members to create a “cocoon” of protection , Bergen says.

Myth 5: Flu shots contain toxic chemicals such as mercury.

About 14% of those surveyed said flu shots were dangerous. Concerns about mercury have revolved around a preservative called thimerosal, once commonly used in vaccines but mostly phased out since 2001 . Today, no thimerosal is added to FluMist nasal spray or to flu shots from single-dose containers, says Paul Offit, infectious-disease expert atChildren’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Companies add thimerosal to only flu vaccine stored in multi-dose vials, to prevent fungus or other potentially dangerous germs, Bergen says. There’s no evidence that the low levels of thimerosal in shots cause any harm, says Offit. Thimerosal contains ethyl mercury, not methyl mercury, the type that can cause brain damage, he says. The low levels of ethyl mercury found in multi-dose flu shots have never been shown to cause harm, Offt says. There’s also no data to prove that thimerosal causes autism, either, Offit adds. In fact, seven studies now refute that idea. Offit notes that flu shots don’t use aluminum, which is used in other vaccines as an “adjuvant” to stimulate a stronger immune response.

 Please call our office on Tacoma, WA to schedule a visit and get your flu vaccine. We are hear to answer any questions, and Dr. Adam Nickel, OBGYN, treats patients in the surrounding Tacoma area. 


Importance of Annual Women’s Visit


Dr. Adam Nickel, your OBGYN in Tacoma, Washington stresses the importance of the pelvic exam for preventive care.

 

We focus on preventive care to protect our patients and Tacoma families. The annual women’s visit plays an important role in prevention. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that women should have an annual OB/GYN exam whether they need a Pap smear or not.

Why come see our Tacoma Obstetrics and Gynecology office for an annual visit?
Many women’s health issues, such as cervical or breast cancer, have the highest rate of successful treatment when identified early. Many of these medical problems can be caught and diagnosed during an annual gynecological exam, even before symptoms of the condition are present. Coming into see Dr. Adam Nickel, Tacoma’s OBGYN, keeps you on top of health concerns and gives you peace of mind. Additionally, Nickel Obstetrics and Gynecology can help you sort out issues related to birth control, breast health and sexual and menstrual issues. It is important to come in annually to keep small problems from turning into more complicated issues.
The exam can also include information on which vaccinations are recommended, by age and risk groups, including the flu shot, Hepatitis A and B, human papillomavirus (HPV), and measles. Annual testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea is recommended for all sexually active adolescents and young women up to age 25. Routine HIV testing is recommended for all sexually active adolescents and women beginning at age 19 until age 64. For women who are experiencing menopause and pre-menopausal symptoms, the annual exam is an important opportunity to talk about managing symptoms and hormone treatment options in addition to supplements and prevention of osteoporosis.
Dr. Adam Nickel also values the annual visit as an opportunity to check in with his patients, discuss new health concerns or worries, address new family events, stresses or joys and ultimately connect and build a relationship. Cultivating relationships is an important part of Dr. Nickel’s Tacoma OBGYN practice, so he can read his patients and help them be at their best.

 


HPV Important For Women’s Preventive Care

Here at Nickel Obstetrics & Gynecology, we focus on preventative care for our patients in Tacoma, WA.

Research is showing that women in Tacoma, WA can benefit from The Human Papillomavirus Vaccine.

What is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)? “The human papillomavirus virus (HPV) is a collection of viruses that cause warts on the hands, feet, and genitals. Some HPVs are sexually transmitted and also cause cervical cancer. An HPV vaccine may reduce your risk.” Web MD. It is one the most common sexually transmitted viruses. Some research suggests that three out of four people who have sex will obtain a genital HPV infection during their lifetime.

The HPV vaccine is helping to prevent cervical cancer and can protect women and their families and loved ones from its effects. We have included a few resources via websites that have definitions and how to prevent HPV.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hpv-infection/DS00906/DSECTION=prevention

http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/hpv-genital-warts/

Dr. Adam Nickel, Tacoma’s OBGYN,  believes that patient education is an important part of preventative care, and we encourage our patients to research their options and to make informed decisions about their personal healthcare needs.

Dr. Adam Nickel, your Tacoma OBGYN, is here to help and assist you in making the best choices for your needs. Nickel Obstetrics and Gynecology strongly encourages our patients to “Be proactive in your care.”

We are a small private Obstetrics and Gynecology practice located in Tacoma, Washington; our physicians strive to maintain a personal intimate doctor/patient relationship. This not only includes your personal obstetric and gynecological needs, but also includes helping you with your insurance and billing account.


This Video is So Funny!


Adam Nickel Tacoma OBGYN Importance of HPV for Prevention

Here at Nickel Obstetrics and Gynecology, we focus on preventive care for our patients in the Tacoma, WA area It is essential that we provide the most up-to-date information to protect our patients. New research is showing that women in Tacoma can benefit tremendously from the human papillomavirus vaccine, more than previously thought.

Dr. Adam Nickel, your Tacoma OBGYN, puts faith in this type of research and believes in the importance of prevention to protect families and loved ones.

The article by Medical News Today (click HERE for original) points out that, ” From this, researchers from the US, Costa Rica, the Netherlands and France set out to determine whether one or two does of the Cervarix HPV vaccine may have similarly protective effects against HPV. Using data from a phase III trial funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to test the effectiveness of Cervarix in women from Costa Rica, the researchers found that around 20% of these women had not received the full three doses of the HPV vaccine.”

We are a small private Obstetrics and Gynecology practice located in Tacoma, Washington. Our focus is on Individual Patient Care. Our physicians strive to maintain a personal intimate doctor/patient relationship.  We handle all of our billing in house.  We have Ultrasound and Lab facilities on site for our patients’ convenience.

Our practice stems from 1964 when Dr. Lueken sold his practice to Dr. Richard Huish. Dr. Huish served the greater Tacoma community as an Obstetrician and Gynecologist for 30+ years. In 1986, Dr. Huish invited Dr. Gary Nickel to join his practice as he began to transition into retirement. Dr. Huish Retired in 1993.

Dr. Gary Nickel has been practicing as an Obstetrician and Gynecologist since 1981. In 2012 Dr. Nickel invited his son Dr. Adam Nickel to join him in private practice. Dr. Adam Nickel and his family moved from Cincinnati Ohio to return to Tacoma to serve the community he was raised in.

Nickel Obstetrics & Gynecology strongly encourages our patients to “Be proactive in your care!”We look forward to helping you with your Health Care needs.

Basically, they researched and studied in various countries to pull a great amount of data. This is great news for our patients here in Tacoma, WA because it means that we can almost fully prevent cervical cancer. Here’s the data they came up with that allows us to believe this,
“The researchers then measured the antibody levels in blood samples from the women, in order to detect presence of an immune response to the vaccine. The blood samples were taken from 78 women who received one dose of the vaccine, 192 women who received two doses, and 120 women who received three doses.100% immunization found ‘even with one dose’ The results revealed that 100% of these women in all three groups showed the presence of antibodies against HPV 16 and 18 – the two HPV types that can cause cervical cancer – for up to 4 years.”

Wow, this is great! Even at just one dose, your body will produce the antibodies needed to protect you from the HPV causing strands. Of course, there is ALWAYS more and more research that needs to be done to continue to prove and re-prove these kind of findings. But, it supports our philosophy here at Nickel Obstetrics and Gynecology. We believe in protection and prevention. Dr. Adam Nickel, OBGYN in Tacoma practices with the goal to be proactive in your care and avoid disease in any way possible!

 


Great Video From Conception to Birth!

Dr. Adam Nickel is sharing this fantastic visual by Alexander Tsiaras. What a great way to understand and marvel at the beautiful process!


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