At Women's Integrated Healthcare, we provide patients throughout Grapevine, Keller and Alliance with the highest quality ob-gyn care in a friendly and relaxed enviroment.
Thinning bones and calcium deficiency can make all older adults, particularly females, vulnerable to fractures and breakage in the event of a fall. Having a bone mineral density test performed can help your gynecologist to detect, begin treating, and even prevent further bone loss. In the video below, learn more about the technology behind bone mineral density scans.
Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry, or DEXA, technology uses thin beams of x-rays to measure bone density. These beams pass over the area being scanned and are absorbed by the bone and soft tissue, painting a picture of your bone health. The rate of absorption allows the machine to measure mineral content and calculate a bone density score, which is then compared to other standardized groups to find a patient’s T and Z scores. These scores can help your doctor determine your risk for developing osteoporosis and prescribe an appropriate course of treatment to prevent further damage.
At Women’s Integrated Healthcare, we combine the latest in technology in obstetrics and gynecology with compassionate care for women throughout the Grapevine, Keller, and Alliance areas. For more information about the ob-gyn services and care we provide, please visit us online or call us today at (888) 870-5671.
Our patients come to us from around the DFW metroplex, including Grapevine, Keller, Alliance, Southlake, Highland Village, Lewisville, Irving, HEB, Arlington, Grand Prairie, and the surrounding areas.
on Women's Integrated Healthcare Patient Testimonials
Dear Tammy,
You were so sweet when you did my scan. I left there, and went to get some extra calcium-- in the form of a malt at Braum's.
You and your daughter need to watch your calcium levels too, so I wanted you to take your daughter for an ice cream cone! It's for your health :-). Enjoy!
We have the sweetest patients! Thank you for taking the time to write us and for the delicious note!
At Women's Integrated Healthcare, we combine the latest in technology with compassionate care to provide for patients throughout the Grapevine, Keller and Alliance areas. For more information about the services and care we provide, please visit us online or call us today at (888) 870-5671.
While many women are familiar with sonograms during pregnancy, they may not know that sonogram technology has a wide range of applications in the field of female health. In addition to monitoring your pregnancy and fetal development, sonograms can be used by your gynecologist for the detection of disease or other potentially problematic conditions.
How a Sonogram Works
Sonograms use sound waves to form images of soft tissues. The sound waves bounce off tissues and structures and are then interpreted by a machine to produce detailed images. This is usually done with a transducer that is placed on top of the abdomen. To obtain images of certain areas of the body, the transducer may be inserted transvaginally. Sonogram waves cannot penetrate bone or gas, so their use is limited to areas of soft tissue between bones. This safe procedure does not emit radiation, so there is no possible damage to mother or baby.
Types of Sonograms
Medical professionals use different types of sonography depending on their needs. Below are a few varieties of sonograms that your gynecologist may use:
Standard ultrasound: A standard ultrasound is the most common ultrasound procedure. It creates 2-D images of tissue.
Advanced ultrasound: This type of sonogram employs the same basic technology as a standard ultrasound but examines a smaller area to create more detailed images.
Transvaginal ultrasound: Used mostly in the early stages of pregnancy, this sonogram technique involves inserting a transducer into the vagina.
Doppler ultrasound: A Doppler ultrasound is best for viewing moving structures, like blood within vessels.
3-D ultrasound: Using special probes, a 3-D ultrasound develops a moving three-dimensional image of tissue or a fetus.
At Women’s Integrated Healthcare, we combine the latest in technology in obstetrics and gynecology with compassionate care for women throughout the Grapevine, Keller, and Alliance areas. For more information about the ob-gyn services and care we provide, please visit us online or call us today at (888) 870-5671.
Our patients come to us from around the DFW metroplex, including Grapevine, Keller, Alliance, Southlake, Highland Village, Lewisville, Irving, HEB, Arlington, Grand Prairie, and the surrounding areas.
With age, the body breaks down bone tissue more rapidly than it rebuilds it, which results in fragile bones. Osteopenia, the natural thinning of bones due to calcium loss, can eventually lead to osteoporosis, a condition that affects more females than males. Talk to your doctor or gynecologist about a bone mineral density test to measure the strength or thinness of your bones. Because bone loss has no symptoms, many women may not realize they are vulnerable until they experience a fracture.
What is a bone mineral density scan? As the name implies, a bone mineral density scan measures the density of your bones using x-rays. Healthy, dense bones absorb more of the rays, while thinner, porous bones allow more rays to pass through. Because they are most likely to break, the spine and hip bones will be scanned; your doctor may also evaluate the density of your wrist and hand bones.
What kinds of technologies does this scan use? Bone mineral density scans use very low concentrations of radiation, roughly the same amount you would be exposed to during a flight from Los Angeles to New York. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is the most commonly-used form of radiation to measure bone density. Unlike some other methods, it can measure denser bones in the hip and spine.
How are bone density scans measured? There are two metrics used to evaluate a bone density scan: a T score and a Z score. The T score is the comparison of a patient’s bone density to that of an average 30-year-old woman. This indicates how much bone has been lost over the years. Scores are expressed as deviations from this average, with negative numbers indicating thinner bones and positive scores indicating denser bones. The Z score additionally measures bone density by comparing your score to that of other people your age. This score tells a patient how he or she fares against the average bone density measurement for his or her age group.
At Women’s Integrated Healthcare, we combine the latest in technology in obstetrics and gynecology with compassionate care for women throughout the Grapevine, Keller, and Alliance areas. For more information about the ob-gyn services and care we provide, please visit us online or call us today at (888) 870-5671.
Our patients come to us from around the DFW metroplex, including Grapevine, Keller, Alliance, Southlake, Highland Village, Lewisville, Irving, HEB, Arlington, Grand Prairie, and the surrounding areas.
Some of the most exciting changes in a woman’s life can also have the most significant impact on her health and body. From puberty to pregnancy and beyond, the female body is in constant change. Talk to your ob-gyn about how to prepare for and what to expect with these changes, and learn more in the resources below.
If you are experiencing hot flashes, mood swings, or insomnia, you may be going through menopause. The natural cessation of a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle, menopause also indicates a slowing in the production of female hormones. Learn more about how these hormonal changes affect the female body with this guide to menopause symptoms.
By taking medications or supplements containing hormones the body is no longer producing, women may be able to relieve some of the discomfort associated with menopause and its symptoms. With this WebMD guide to hormone replacement therapy, learn more about the treatment, its risks and benefits, and if it may be right for you.
Just as women will have different experiences with pregnancy, some women may be seeking a different experience with labor and delivery. Visit the American Pregnancy Association for more information about the different labor and delivery options that exist for expectant mothers.
At Women’s Integrated Healthcare, we combine the latest in technology in obstetrics and gynecology with compassionate care for women throughout the Grapevine, Keller, and Alliance areas. For more information about the ob-gyn services and care we provide, please visit us online or call us today at (888) 870-5671.
Our patients come to us from around the DFW metroplex, including Grapevine, Keller, Alliance, Southlake, Highland Village, Lewisville, Irving, HEB, Arlington, Grand Prairie, and the surrounding areas.
