During Women’s Health Awareness Month, our providers are reaching out to educate patients about a variety of conditions.
OB/GYN Florene Odulana, MD, MS, FACOG, is helping patients understand the symptoms of abnormal uterine bleeding and how doctors can help through surveillance, medication and surgery.
Dr. Odulana provides comprehensive OB/GYN care including well-woman checkups, prenatal and childbirth care, and diagnosis and treatment of conditions like fibroids, endometriosis and pelvic pain.
For Regional One Health OB/GYN Florene Odulana, MD, MS, FACOG, caring for patients is the realization of a goal she’s had since childhood.
“I really was that little girl who always wanted to be a doctor – I remember having the game Operation and playing with it all the time,” she said. “I love learning about the human body, and I love taking care of patients.”
During Women’s Health Awareness Month, Dr. Odulana is not only providing exceptional care, but she is also reaching out with information patients can use to protect and improve their health. She is bringing awareness to abnormal uterine bleeding, one of the most common concerns among her patients, and discussing the symptoms, evaluation, and treatment.
About Dr. Odulana
Dr. Odulana, who is originally from Birmingham, received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Spelman College and her master’s degree in medical science from Indiana University School of Medicine. She briefly considered an alternative career, but the pull of patient care led her to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, where she earned her Doctor of Medicine.
“When I had to make a decision on which specialty to practice, I narrowed it down to pediatrics and OB/GYN,” she said. “I realized as an OB/GYN, I could do everything: provide primary care, perform procedures in the operating room, and offer continuity of care to women as they experience different stages of life.”
“I love taking care of my patients, and it’s gratifying to be able to help them. I’ve been here since 2015, and I’m still here enjoying it and loving what I do!” says Dr. Florene Odulana.
She completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Regional One Health. It was a perfect fit.
“Having the experience and knowledge of our patient population that goes back to my residency has really aided my ability to care for our patients,” Dr. Odulana said. “I can appreciate their experiences and be empathetic. Earning their trust and building that relationship is very important.”
Care for women of all ages
As a board-certified OB/GYN, Dr. Odulana cares for patients from teenagers to senior citizens.
On the gynecology side of her practice, she provides evidence-based routine care including Pap smears, pelvic exams, cancer screenings, birth control counseling, and STD screening and treatment. She also offers diagnosis, surveillance, and both medical and surgical treatment for issues including fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, and pelvic pain.
In obstetrics, she provides comprehensive prenatal care in the typical clinic setting and group prenatal care classes for low and high-risk patients. During the pregnancy, she ensures that patients have the appropriate lab tests, and ultrasounds to monitor the baby’s growth and position. She also performs and oversees vaginal and C-section deliveries. In addition, she can help patients with pregnancy complications like pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes.
“I can be a woman’s provider throughout every stage of her life,” she said. “Building long-term relationships with patients is important to me because they feel open about discussing their concerns. I want my patients to know they can talk to me about anything that is important to their health, and I will be non-judgmental while providing the care they need.”
Raising awareness
An annual well-woman visit with an OB/GYN gives women a chance to talk about health concerns, birth control options, screenings and more.
Education is a big part of Dr. Odulana’s mission, and she’s reaching out during Women’s Health Month to raise awareness about abnormal bleeding. “It’s a major concern of women. I enjoy managing patients with abnormal bleeding by helping them address their symptoms,” she said. “It’s important for patients to understand what’s normal, what’s abnormal, and how OB/GYNs can help.”
Typically, abnormal bleeding shows up in menstrual cycles that are very heavy, long, or painful.
Dr. Odulana said you should talk to your doctor if your cycle is longer than a week, so heavy that you have to change your sanitary product frequently or bleed through your clothing, or so painful that it disrupts daily activities. Irregular cycles – more than one a month or skipping months – should be evaluated, and patients should always see a doctor for bleeding after menopause, as this can be a sign of uterine cancer.
The good news is there are plenty of ways Dr. Odulana can help.
“We have a lot of options in how we can manage a patient,” she said. “We usually classify the treatment options in three ways. If the patient doesn’t have a serious condition and is not interested in treatment, we can choose expectant management where we just keep an eye on things. For those who desire management of their symptoms and reasons for bleeding, we can prescribe medication or perform surgery.” Medications include both hormonal and non-hormonal prescriptions. Surgery and procedures can include uterine artery embolization, endometrial ablation, removal of fibroids, or a hysterectomy.
Take charge of your health!
During pregnancy, it’s important to build a relationship with an OB/GYN for evidence-based prenatal care and a positive labor & delivery experience.
Dr. Odulana encourages women to visit an OB/GYN if they’re pregnant, experiencing symptoms or simply need to get up-to-date on routine care.
“For gynecology, women need an annual checkup – we may be able to see something on an exam before you have symptoms. If you’re pregnant, you need obstetrical care, because it’s not just you – it’s your baby too! Our goal is healthy moms and healthy babies.”
Dr. Odulana always aims to make patients comfortable, communicate clearly, and provide her honest, expert advice on how they can improve their health.
“I love my patients!” she said. “I love taking care of them, and it’s gratifying to be able to help them. I’ve been here since 2015, and I am still here enjoying and loving what I do!”