Women's care

Women's Health in Anchorage, Alaska

At Alaska Regional Hospital, we believe that women deserve exceptional care. As such, our team of dedicated medical professionals promote optimal health throughout each stage of a woman's life.

Whether you are seeking healing and restorative medical treatments, navigating pregnancy, screening for cancer, managing heart disease or fighting chronic conditions, our knowledgeable, experienced staff has you covered.

For more information about the women's health services we offer, call (907) 276-1131, or our 24/7 Consult-A-Nurse® line, (907) 264-1722.

Women's medical services

The women's health specialists at Alaska Regional provide high-quality care that you can count on. Through a combination of cutting-edge medical knowledge, innovative technology and sincere dedication to meeting a woman's unique healthcare needs, we are ready to help you achieve better health at every stage of your life.

Our team offers a full range of advanced, women's health services, including:

Breast care

Our doctors, nurses and specialists take your breast health very seriously. We encourage early breast cancer detection through regular mammograms and breast exams. A mammogram can often detect breast cancer early, when it's small enough that a lump can't even be felt and the rate of cure approaches 100%. Alaska Regional also offers digital mammography, which uses computer-based electronic conductors, rather than traditional X-ray film, to display pictures of the interior of the breast for more accurate images.

Gynecology

We provide a variety of gynecological services to meet women's needs. Whether in need of gynecologic surgery, a well-woman exam or guidance through menopause, your wellbeing is our top priority. Our gynecologic care combines the expertise of our women's specialists with the latest in surgical procedures, including minimally invasive techniques.

Labor and Delivery

Our labor and delivery unit is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year in preparation for all birthing scenarios. In addition to a selection of preparatory labor and delivery classes, we provide mothers the latest medical technology, spacious birthing rooms and mother-baby suites to ensure you have the best amenities for a successful birthing experience. Additionally, we offer hydrotherapy, lactation services, a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and a neonatal abstinence evaluation support and treatment program.

Women's heart disease care

Gynecologic, labor and breast care services are only the beginning, as Alaska Regional is also specially equipped to address women's cardiac issues. More women in the U.S. die from diseases of the heart and circulatory system than from breast cancer. While one in 31 American women die from breast cancer each year, heart disease is responsible for one out of every three deaths, equating to almost one death every minute. Moreover, women are referred for cardiac testing less frequently than men and the probability that a woman suffering a heart attack will die within one year is almost twice that of a man.

Despite all of this, women's heart attacks frequently go unnoticed or unreported. This can be attributed to some women and their doctors not always taking heart disease symptoms seriously, and also to the fact that those heart disease symptoms are often more subtle in women than in men.

It is vital for women and their doctors to understand that there are significant differences in heart disease between genders. These differences can be seen in heart attack warning signs and cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Prevention of heart disease in women

Some women are predisposed to a risk for heart disease because of their family health history. For instance, African American women are particularly vulnerable to a higher predisposition for heart disease and stroke. Being aware of your family history and sharing it with your physician is extremely important so that they can monitor your health with appropriate cardiac screening tests. Other, more easily controlled, factors that can help prevent heart disease include:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Physical inactivity and obesity
• Smoking