Spotlight on Women's Health

Categories: Women's Health2.6 min read

by Stephen Luther, M.D.

Scheduling Your Gynecology Appointment in 2023

Would you rather go to the dentist or the gynecologist? For most women, years of insensitive and disinterested care have made it a toss-up between the two for the most dreaded routine appointment. The good news is the passionate, all-female Symbios Women’s Health team understands your disdain and has become the change every woman wants to experience.

Symbios Health can transform your annual gynecology appointments from uncomfortable to relaxed, silent to informed, and unimportant to highly beneficial. By providing thoughtful, professional, and knowledgeable medical care, we strive to see your gynecology appointments on your list of favorite annual exams in 2023.

New Guidelines with Pap Tests

Pap tests (also known as pap smears) are performed for cervical cancer screenings by examining a collection of your cells. While cervical cancer was once a leading cause of death in women, the invention of the pap smear reduced cervical cancer cases by 50%. Medical advances with the HPV vaccine have reduced cervical cancer cases by 90%.

New pap test guidelines recommend most women between 21 and 65 only require pap smears every three to five years. While you may no longer need a yearly pap test, a once-a-year appointment is still recommended.

Medical Spotlight on Women’s Health

At Symbios, your annual gynecology exam is your time to discuss, treat, and prevent female health problems. What can you expect during your annual Well Woman Exam? At your confidential check-up, we perform screenings for preventable diseases (which may include a pap smear based on new guidelines), pelvic exams, breast exams, and as-needed lab work and prescriptions. A pelvic exam differs from a pap smear as it assesses for abnormal bumps or tissue.

What Are My Options?

In addition to our routine examination, our experienced staff listens to your concerns, then shares ideal treatment options for women’s various healthcare issues, including:

birth control
pelvic pain
intimacy, including non-surgical rejuvenation
menopause & perimenopause (hot flashes)
breast and nipple problems
urinary issues
infections
monthly cycles
endometriosis

Your Hilton Head Women’s Health Team

Debbie Luther, MSN, FNP-BC

Debbie is a board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in general primary care, women’s healthcare, and aesthetics. With over 30 years of nursing and healthcare experience, Debbie’s tender-heartedness, compassion, and attention to detail make her one of Hilton Head Island’s finest board-certified family nurse practitioners.

Sarah Malone MSN, WHNP-BC

Sarah is a board-certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner with over 14 years in nursing. She believes in nonjudgmental, relationship-positive healthcare for all. Her pleasant personality and genuine interest in your health bring comprehensive gynecology and women’s healthcare to a new level.

Piper Hausher, LPN

Piper has over 20 years of experience in women’s health nursing, making her one of the most knowledgeable nurses in the Lowcountry. She is passionate about keeping women healthy and is eager to share her advanced expertise with you.

Please do not hesitate to schedule a confidential consultation with a specialized team member to learn more about any of our services. Our professional and understanding team cares about you and will personalize your appointment to address your individual concerns in our safe space.

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Dr. Luther, you are a man with a long-term vision! This sort of vision is rare. In my 69 years, I have only seen it in my mother, Pastor Owens, and you. It was quite a feat to leave your corporate medical office to form a new practice, incorporating your vision, time, planning, effort, money, and fortitude. You created a great primary care team and added many more services to focus on the whole person, such as the lab, women’s care, physical therapy, spa, and gym. Your steady and faith-filled leadership meets the needs of the entire person, both inside and out. You have the best bedside manner, bar none.

I had the signature facial at Symbios Medical Spa – it was absolutely wonderful. The aesthetician was outstanding – she has a way of making you feel so relaxed and pampered, while taking great care of your skin. The facilities are clean and everything you’d expect in a medical spa. Knowing that Symbios was launched by Dr. Stephen Luther, I felt certain that there would be a focus on doing the best possible for the patient/patient. I was so impressed that I’ve signed up for additional treatments.

Working with Stephanie in pelvic floor physical therapy has been an amazing experience as I had bladder prolapse which improved significantly with therapy. Also other symptoms related to urgency and inability to completely void have also gotten much better. Stephanie is a true professional and has been able to make what could have been an uncomfortable or embarrassing experience feel completely relaxed and normal. She is also able to follow my lead in using humor when it is helpful. She encourages me to do my exercises on my own without preaching. I would recommend Stephanie and this PT for anyone dealing with female related issues. We will also be working on increasing opportunities for more comfortable intimacy with my husband. So everyone is happy.

I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Luther and Dr. Wright. Both are amazing. I have been a patient of Dr. Luther for years and his bedside manners are like no other. Dr. Wright I have seen for the last couple of months. He listens to your concerns and doesn’t rush you. Your concerns matter to both of them and make you feel at ease after each visit. These two are the best of the best. No one can compare to them.

I recently had a yearly wellness visit at this new facility. It is clean and very welcoming inside. The staff folks were great from start to finish. The appointment was right on time as scheduled. Dr. Luther was very nice and attentive to all I had to say. Following up with an appropriate referral as needed. It is really really nice to have the labs done right there. They do a follow-up telehealth visit to review your labs with you which is really reassuring to the patient. The portal also works very smoothly and is easy to use . Can’t say enough good about my visit.

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