Our Health Services

We work in partnership with each of our patients to meet their individual needs.

In addition to routine health care, our many areas of expertise include birth control, fertility testing and initial treatment, treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome, abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic floor issues including vaginal pressure and urinary incontinence, treatment of peri- and post-menopausal symptoms including hormone replacement therapy as well as non-hormonal treatment options, pain with sexual intercourse, issues around sexual dysfunction, lichen sclerosus and abnormal Pap smear and HPV results.

Gynecology

Our areas of specialty and expertise include but are not limited to general gynecology, adolescent gynecology, family planning, infertility, management of perimenopause and menopause and the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, pelvic pain syndromes, vaginal bleeding disorders, urinary incontinence and breast health.

Our clinic provides a variety of in-office procedures including ultrasound, IUD and contraceptive implant insertions, colposcopy, LEEP, sonohysterograms, NovaSure™ endometrial ablation and treatment for vaginal atrophy and painful intercourse with the MonaLisa Touch Fractional CO2 Laser.

Our medical providers are often able to accommodate same-day and same week appointments, and evening appointments are available one day a week.

All of our patients are afforded easy access to our clinicians by phone to respond to questions and concerns, in most cases the same day the call is placed.

Contraception

Boulder Women’s Clinic provides a comprehensive array of family planning services including individualized contraceptive management consultations to help you decide which method of birth control best fits your lifestyle and health profile at every stage of your life.

Prescription hormonal contraceptive options include the oral contraceptive pill (with and without estrogen), the contraceptive patch, the vaginal ring, Depo-Provera™ injection. and Nexplanon™ implantable rod. We also provide insertion of intrauterine devices (IUDs), such as ParaGard™ (non-hormonal), Mirena™, Kyleena™ and Skyla™ (progesterone only) for those patients interested in long-term contraception.

Infertility

Boulder Women’s Clinic offers infertility evaluation and treatment to help achieve your goal of starting or expanding your family. We will provide you with a thorough consultation to determine what testing you may need, and to help maximize your chances of conceiving.

We offer complete laboratory evaluation including basic blood tests, Clomid challenge test, and other endocrine tests as needed. We can also refer you for semen analysis for evaluation of male infertility, and hysterosalpingogram to make sure your fallopian tubes are open and to help you interpret the results of these tests.

If the time comes that you need to work with a fertility specialist, we will be happy to refer you to one of the outstanding practices in the area.

Menopause

Boulder Women’s Clinic provides personalized consultations for the management and treatment of perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, painful sexual intercourse, bleeding problems, short-term memory loss, disrupted sleep and urinary incontinence.

During this time of transition, our health-care providers believe it is essential to address not only a patient’s symptoms but also any emotional factors and lifestyle changes inherent during this time of her life.

We also work with each patient to address the crucial management of potential health issues such as bone loss and breast and cardiovascular health during this important transition.

MonaLisa Touch(R)

When estrogen levels decline after menopause or as a result of certain medical procedures or treatments, women experience changes in their vaginal health that may interfere with their personal lives as a consequence. Download pre- and post-operative information here.

The MonaLisa Touch® procedure is a unique treatment that uses a medical laser that delivers controlled energy to the vaginal tissue so cells make more collagen.  As a result, the vaginal tissue becomes healthier.  This is an effective treatment for genitourinary syndrome of menopause including pain with sexual intercourse, vaginal dryness, frequent vaginal infections, lichen sclerosus, frequent urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence and other symptoms associated with changes in vulvovaginal tissue.  MonaLisa Touch® is an excellent alternative for women who cannot or choose not to use hormones to treat these symptoms.

This procedure is

  1. A virtually painless, in-office treatment
  2. Performed without requiring anesthesia
  3. Quick (it takes <5 minutes), resulting in virtually no down time
  4. Able to yield results after the first treatment (3 treatments are recommended)

Surgery

Boulder Women’s Clinic provides a comprehensive range of gynecologic surgeries including exploratory laparoscopy, myomectomy, polypectomy, hysteroscopic fibroid removal, uterine ablation, tubal ligation, abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy.

Dr. Hansen will meet with you to discuss your particular case and complete any necessary pre-surgical evaluation and examination.  At that appointment, you will have the opportunity to discuss risks and benefits of surgery, other treatment options, and what can be expected following surgery.

Dr. Hansen operates at Boulder Community Health Foothills Hospital and the Avista Outpatient Surgery Center located in Boulder.

HPV Vaccine (GARDASIL®)

Boulder Women’s Clinic is proud to offer the GARDASIL-9® HPV vaccine. GARDASIL-9® is a vaccine that helps protect against several diseases caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV), including cervical cancer, abnormal and precancerous cervical, vaginal and vulvar lesions and genital warts. Like many immunizations, it is not possible to get these diseases from the vaccine since it does not contain any of the genetic material from the HPV virus.

Anyone who is sexually active, even without intercourse, can get HPV. Many people with HPV don’t have any signs or symptoms and they can pass the virus on without even knowing it. It is estimated that 80% of women will have contracted at least one of the high risk genital HPV types by age 50 although most people get HPV within the first 2 to 3 years of becoming sexually active.

There are over 100 types of HPV, about 30 of which infect the genital tract of both men and women. Some of these are called “low risk” because they cause genital warts and benign changes to the cervix. Others are called “high risk” because they are capable of causing cancer and precancerous changes that could turn into cancer in the future.  GARDASIL-9® helps protect against the 9 most common genital strains of HPV and includes protection against the 4 types of low risk HPV that cause 90% of genital warts and the 7 types of high risk HPV that cause 90% of cervical cancers. The vaccine will not protect you against types to which you have already been exposed. It will also not protect you against diseases due to HPV types not included in the vaccine. Therefore, it is important to continue getting your regular Pap tests.

GARDASIL-9® is recommended for girls and women ages 9 to 26 and like all vaccines, is most effective when given prior to exposure to the virus, which is by definition prior to first sexual activity. However, everyone in this age group is eligible for the vaccine whether or not they have ever been sexually active and regardless of whether they have ever had an HPV-related disease in the past. It is not recommended for pregnant women. GARDASIL-9® is given as a series of 2 or 3 injections.

Stress Urinary Incontinence

Millions of women suffer from stress urinary incontinence (SUI). This condition results in accidental loss of urine when coughing, laughing, sneezing or simply getting up from a chair. SUI is caused by weakened or damaged pelvic muscles caused by pregnancy, childbirth, obesity, trauma, radiation, prior surgeries, muscle damage or prior surgeries which can cause the bladder and urethra to relax from their normal positions.  SUI is frustrating and embarrassing and causes some women to severely limit their activities.

Many treatment options for SUI are available and at Boulder Women’s Clinic, we’re happy to discuss treatment options with you including prescription medications, pelvic floor physical therapy and the MonaLisa Touch Fractional CO2 Laser to improve pelvic floor health and support for your bladder.

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is one of the most common complaints encountered by primary care physicians and gynecologists. The condition severely impacts quality of life. The traditional primary treatment for AUB caused by submucosal myomas or endometrial polyps involved major surgery, with AUB responsible for almost 20 percent of U.S. hysterectomies. Hysteroscopic fibroid removal is at the forefront of what will become a new, less-invasive standard of care for treating AUB caused by myomas or polyps.

Between 5 and 10 percent of all U.S. women complain to their doctors about AUB, which affects more than 10 million annually. AUB is defined as menstrual loss of more than 80 mL. This translates to menses that continues for more than seven days or the use of more than 10 pads or tampons per day. It is most commonly associated with perimenopause.

AUB can cause chronic anemia, pelvic pain and cramping. The condition also severely impacts quality of life by disrupting work, social functioning and family life.

AUB can have hormonal or non-hormonal causes. Uterine fibroids, or myomas, are a common non-hormonal cause. Clinically, there are three main types of myomas, classified according to their location in the uterus:

  • Intramural myomas grow within the uterine wall.
  • Subserosal myomas develop in the outer portion of the uterus.
  • Submucosal myomas grow just under the lining of the uterine cavity and near the endometrial cavity.

It’s this last group of myomas, the submucosal, that have the most effect on AUB. Because of their location on the endometrium, these myomas place pressure on the uterine lining that builds with each menstrual cycle. This, in turn, can cause heavy bleeding. Even very small submucosal myomas may cause very heavy bleeding.

Endometrial polyps are another non-hormonal cause of AUB. These hyperplastic overgrowths of glands and stroma form a mushroom-like fold that projects into the uterine cavity. They can be single or multiple growths.

Hysteroscopic fibroid removal is one of the most effective treatment option, delivering several advantages over conventional techniques for the removal of submucosal myomas and endometrial polyps.

Approved by the FDA in 2004, Hysteroscopic fibroid removal uses a probe with a “uterine shaver.” Once placed inside the uterine cavity, the device shaves off and immediately suctions out any excised tissue that might impair visibility. The ability to remove and instantly suction out tissue fragments means the hysteroscope and fibroid removal instrument are inserted only once, for initial entry. This is a huge advantage from both the physician’s and the patient’s point of view.

In addition, in 2018 we are proud to offer in-office uterine polyp removals.  For the patient, this means there is no need for general anesthesia and a quicker recovery.

NovaSure™ Ablation

The NovaSure™ procedure is a non-hormonal one-time endometrial ablation treatment. This minimally invasive procedure controls heavy bleeding by using radio-frequency energy to remove the lining of the uterus.

NovaSure™ is a quick, simple procedure performed in our office or as an outpatient procedure at the hospital. The procedure generally takes less than 5 minutes, significantly less time than any other endometrial ablation procedure. NovaSure™ is usually a one-time procedure to lighten or stop your periods.

NovaSure™ has a quick recovery time so you can get back to your life sooner. Most women experience minimal pain after the procedure and can return to work and regular activities within a few days.

For more information on this procedure, go to www.novasure.com.

Bone Density Screening Recommendations

The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends routine bone density testing (DEXA) at age 65 unless you are at an increased risk of a fracture.  Risk factors include height less than 5’4”, weight less than 124 pounds, a bone fracture after age 50, a parent with a hip fracture, tobacco use, more than 3 servings of alcohol a day, onset of menopause at less than 45 years old, or a chronic illness that increases your risk of fracture.

If you are under the age of 65 and have one of the risk factors listed or have other concerns about your bone density, please schedule an appointment.  We are happy to review your particular risks and to discuss the appropriate timing for your bone density testing.