Health Topics

Find information on many health topics, listed A to Z.

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) provides care designed for your whole body, including prenatal care, child birth and preventive measures. We view our role in women's health as a partnership — helping you understand the options available — so you can make decisions that fit your lifestyle.

Classes & Events

Nursing Moms Network

Prenatal & Parenting

Eau Claire, WI
02/19/2020
9-10:30 a.m.

Baby Café

Prenatal & Parenting

Fairmont, MN
02/19/2020
9-11 a.m.

Family Birth Center Tour

Prenatal & Parenting

Eau Claire, WI
02/19/2020
6:30-7 p.m.

Family Birth Center Tour

Prenatal & Parenting

Eau Claire, WI
02/19/2020
6-6:30 p.m.

Prenatal Workshop & Caring for Baby

Prenatal & Parenting

Barron, WI
02/20/2020
4-8 p.m.

Baby Café

Prenatal & Parenting

Mankato, MN
02/20/2020
12:30-2:30 p.m.

Childbirth Education – Tuesdays

Prenatal & Parenting

Mankato, MN
02/25/2020
6-8 p.m.

Birth Basics

Prenatal & Parenting

Eau Claire, WI
02/27/2020
6:30-8:30 p.m.

Childbirth Education

Prenatal & Parenting

Fairmont, MN
03/02/2020
7-9 p.m.

Cesarean Delivery: Red Wing - March 2020

Prenatal & Parenting

Red Wing, MN
03/02/2020
6-8 p.m.

Siblings Class: Red Wing - March 2020

Prenatal & Parenting

Red Wing, MN
03/03/2020
6-7:15 p.m.

Childbirth Preparation Class: Albert Lea - March 2020

Prenatal & Parenting

Albert Lea, MN
03/04/2020
9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

In The News

Barron welcomes first baby of 2020

Nevada James Hanson was born at 8:08 a.m. on Jan. 7.

January 8, 2020
Menomonie welcomes first baby of 2020

Xander Hang, was born at 8:18 a.m. on Jan. 2.

January 3, 2020
Eau Claire welcomes first baby born in 2020

Frances (Frankie) Rachel Hagedorn, was born at 3:05 p.m. on Jan. 1.

January 1, 2020
Baby blessings counted in 2019 in Northwest Wisconsin

What’s in a name? Ask Lydia, Aria and Emma. Or Caleb, William and Jackson. Those names topped the lists of babies born in Northwest Wisconsin in 2019.

December 20, 2019
Eau Claire earns nurse-midwife best practice award

For the fifth consecutive year, the nurse-midwife group in OB-GYN at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire has won the Triple Aim Best Practice Award.

September 10, 2019
Nurse practitioners seeing obstetrics patients in Springfield and Lamberton

OB Shared Care program partners family medicine providers with OB-GYNs.

April 12, 2019
New OB-GYN welcomed in Red Wing

Sarah Helm, D.O., recently joined the women’s health team.

July 19, 2018

From The Blog

5 steps you can take to help avoid birth defects

You have lots of things to think about and do if you are starting or expanding your family. One of the most important is to take care of your body before and during pregnancy. Here are five steps to take to increase your chance of having a healthy baby.

Dennis Costakos MD By Dennis Costakos February 17, 2020

Special delivery: Teleneonatology helps deliver baby 10 weeks early

Lizzie Stoltz was only 30 weeks pregnant when her water broke. Things happened so quickly, there was no time to get to a hospital with labor and delivery or a neonatal ICU. Find out how a telemedicine call with Mayo Clinic eased delivery of her baby girl.

February 6, 2020

Should women take supplements while pregnant?

Searching for reliable information about taking supplements during pregnancy can be confusing. Read this Q&A for advice on those you should and shouldn't take.

Kristina Rauenhorst MD By Kristina Rauenhorst January 15, 2020

What is urge incontinence, and how is it treated?

Urge incontinence — the loss of bladder control — is a sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine. Treatment options range from conservative to more invasive.

Susan Johnston, P.A.-C. By Susan Johnston August 23, 2019

Uterovaginal prolapse — What's that?

There’s so much to know about how a woman’s body changes. Women talk about periods, breastfeeding, stretch marks, weight gain and hot flashes. But, so often, many of the details of the aging process go undiscussed. Here’s a little quiz to check your knowledge when it comes to uterine prolapse.

July 17, 2019

Using ovulation kits to predict fertility

Search for ovulation kit or ovulation app online, and you’ll quickly see that finding the right tool can be a little overwhelming. Check out this advice on how to choose the best one for you and use it successfully.

Alicia Ogle, N.P. By Alicia Ogle July 11, 2019

Trying to get pregnant? Select a lubricant that is most helpful for sperm

Lubrication can be an easy way to increase comfort during intercourse. However, many couples who are trying to conceive don’t realize that lubricants can adversely affect sperm.

Alicia Ogle, N.P. By Alicia Ogle June 18, 2019

5 FAQ about laughing gas for pain relief during labor and delivery

Laughing gas is one of many options women may choose from to control pain during childbirth, but you may misunderstand how it really works. Get answers to five common questions about nitrous oxide use during labor and delivery.

June 12, 2019

Special delivery: Neonatologist helps welcome baby from 50 miles away

Clara Louis couldn't wait to be born — she came eight weeks early. But her mom had a team of doctors ready at the bedside and 50 miles away for this special delivery.

May 17, 2019

Midwives offer care during pregnancy, throughout a woman's life

Molly Slama's pregnancy was considered high risk because of previous miscarriages. But she discovered the obstetrics nursing experience of nurse-midwives, in addition to caring for women through all ages and stages of life, fit her situation well.

May 16, 2019

Busy mom finds virtual appointments convenient option for prenatal care

During her second pregnancy, Briana Rachick worked full time while organizing a hectic household and chasing around her 3-year-old. She enrolled in Mayo Clinic OB Nest for a more convenient and time-saving prenatal care option. Learn about Briana's journey, which combined traditional prenatal care office visits with in-home monitoring.

May 9, 2019

Too dry for tampons: Now what?

No one looks forward to their menstrual cycle and the pain and other symptoms it brings with it, but what if you’re too dry to use tampons to combat the bleeding? There are a few factors that can cause dryness and a few ways to treat the problem.

April 29, 2019