Frequently Asked Questions

No current mask requirements

Many medications that are restricted in pregnancy are safe in lactation. Lactmed.com is a good resource for checking common medications. Some medications can cause complications like decreased milk supply even though they are safe for baby. If you have more specific questions about certain medications or combinations of medications our lactation consultant is a good resource for additional information.

Yes!  Many women experience birth anxiety and it is an important issue to address.  We encourage our patients to discuss their specific concerns with their provider.  In addition our childbirth classes provide many coping strategies.  This brief video by IOWEME addressing birth anxiety and provides many helpful hints  https://youtu.be/P2mPfsgfBPc

If birth anxiety is related to a past pregnancy loss a support group provided by 3Hopeful Hearts may be helpful https://www.3hopefulhearts.com/support-groups/pregnancyparenting-after-loss/

If you experience any of the following symptoms you should reschedule your appointment and call your primary care provider.

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Chills
• Body or muscle ache
• Headache
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Loss of smell or taste

We have reviewed our policies and protocols with the health department to assure we are compliant with their guidelines and to confirm that we are maintaining a safe environment for our patients and employees.  We are staying vigilant during this difficult pandemic period. We are screening our employees, requiring masks be worn by all of our employees and patients, restricting guests in our lobbies,  and implementing extra cleaning after each patient.  We continue to vigorously manage this process and we are in regularly communication with the healthcare system and the health department to monitor changes in guidelines.

No! Our classes are going strong- with both virtual and in person formats available throughout 2021..  Please see individual class descriptions for more information.

We don’t have a lot of specific information on how COVID-19 affects pregnant women. What we do know is that “pregnant women experience changes in their bodies that may increase their risk of some infections. With viruses from the same family as COVID-19, and other viral respiratory infections, such as influenza, women have had a higher risk of developing severe illness (CDC, 2020).”

For this reason we are taking extra precautions as directed by federal, state, and county public health authorities to protect our patients by using the best information available at this time.

You can read more about pregnancy and COVID-19 here.

Breast milk provides protection against many illnesses and it is rarely recommended to discontinue breastfeeding due to illness because of the unique immune protective properties in breastmilk. In limited studies on women with COVID-19 and another corona virus infection, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), the virus has not been detected in breast milk; however we do not know whether mothers with COVID-19 can transmit the virus via breast milk(CDC, 2020).” What is known is that it is not the typical route of transmission for upper respiratory illnesses. We also know that babies who are not fed breastmilk are more susceptible to URI and GI infections. It is for this reason that the CDC is currently recommending that breastfeeding be continued and that women communicate and work with their care team to determine the best course of action in their particular situation.

You can read more about these recommendations from the CDC here.

If you have additional breastfeeding or lactation questions please reach out to our lactation consultants at 970.493.7442 ext 3951.

On March 16th The Women’s Clinic has made the following changes in the interest of patient and staff safety.

• All healthcare workers with direct patient contact will be wearing surgical respiratory masks.
• At this time, we are requiring masks to be worn by both patients and our team in clinic to ensure your safety and ours.
• Patients may bring 1 support person with them to appointments.
• No children under 16 years old with the exception of newborns will be allowed to attend appointments with the patient.
• There will be no  walk up scheduling in our phone departments until further notice.  Patients will need to call to make  appointments. Clinical staff can also schedule appointments for patients who need immediate follow-up appointments.

Our goal is to minimize the number of people coming through the clinic at this time. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to implement protocols to provide the highest level of care and safety.

We are now offering Telehealth appointments for patient safety and convenience.

We are currently operating during our normal business hours,  8-5pm Monday-Thursday and 8-4pm on Fridays. Telehealth appointments continue to be available to patients. Our Greeley office is now closed.

Yes, we are able to provide many appointment types via Telehealth. Please call the office to see if your appointment qualifies and to schedule. We use the platform ZOOM and you do not need an account to participate in a visit, but you will need a phone or computer with audio and video capability. We have put together a guide for using the ZOOM Telehealth platform for your appointment.

Yes! We are seeing our prenatal and postpartum patients through our Telehealth platform and in the office if necessary. The Telehealth option for lactation allows for flexible and prompt appointment scheduling and is an excellent way to receive breastfeeding support.  All patients can call 970-493-7442 ext 3951 or email hooverj@fwc.com to speak directly with a lactation consultant to determine which appointment is best and schedule.

No, The Women’s Clinic of Northern Colorado does not perform elective abortions.

Of course.  This class is included in many of the childbirth education classes.  The specific dates and times for the separate classes are listed in the breastfeeding section.  We also offer a weekly, free breastfeeding support group for all moms during postpartum.

You should verify your benefits with your insurance directly. Please, call the number listed on the back of your card.

Women’s Clinic handles the notification requirements, but we encourage you to call your insurance before you have surgery.

You do not need to register them separately, they are included in your registration.

Yes, we do. However, Medicare and Medicare replacements may apply co-pays or coinsurance or Part B deductibles prior to paying for your service these amounts are yours to pay.

You may wish to call your insurance company directly to verify coverage. Our tax i.d. number to verify whether they consider us in network is     840596245.  If one of our providers are listed they will all be in network.

We are not currently accepting new Medicaid/CHP+/CICP patients.  Should your current medical care provider feel your medical needs require a specialist attention he/she will contact our office directly.

No it does not at this time.  In some situations financial assistance is available and some companies will reimburse for lifestyle education classes.  Please call Kristin Glenn at extension 7966 for information.

We do charge a $25.00 fee for patients who are scheduled for procedures and fail to cancel their appointment 1 business day prior as extensive preparation of sterile equipment is taken to perform a procedure must then be redone.

Online registration is available on our website at www.fcwc.com. Payment is required at the time of registration for all classes. There are some scholarships available. The Prenatal Yoga classes can be taken anytime throughout pregnancy and the birth and parenting preparation classes are usually taken during your second trimester. Contact Kristin Glenn at 493-7442 ext. 7966 or by email at glennk@fcwc.com for all your class content questions. We do not bill insurance for childbirth classes. Space is limited, so please register for classes as early as possible.

A working knowledge of how your insurance works is important.  Women’s Clinic can give estimates of the surgeon’s charge, help you get estimates from the hospital or surgery center, and then with your working knowledge of your specific plan, we can estimate how much you will owe.

Pap Smear/Pelvic Exam – 1 time every 2 years
Bone Density Scan – 1 time every 2 years
Mammogram – 1 time every year
Breast Exam – 1 time every 2 years
FIT Rectal Screen – 1 time every year
NOTE: exceptions may apply for certain recipients that have history of certain cancers

Sometimes payments from Fridays have not gone through our posting system when statements are printed the following Monday.

Make an appointment for your OB intake appointment at the Women’s Clinic. This will be an opportunity to talk about your pregnancy symptoms, receive some guidelines for the healthiest pregnancy possible, and gain knowledge about your pregnancy care and insurance coverage.

We know the minute you see that positive pregnancy test you may have questions about what you should do right away- so even before we see you for that first appointment- here are the Women’s Clinics’ providers top ten suggestions:

DO:

• Take a prenatal vitamin with 200 mg of DHA and 800 mcg of Folic Acid
• Eat a variety of foods & try to get 1200 mg of Calcium/day
• Exercise
• Limit caffeine to 200 mg/day
• Drink 3-4 liters of water/day

Don’t:

• Use alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other recreational drugs
• Eat raw or under cooked fish or meats or drink anything unpasteurized
• Expose yourself to chronic, high stress
• Travel to places with a CDC Zika warning
• Change the cat litter

Yes it is an alternative, complete childbirth class for patients who want to learn self-hypnosis techniques.

FAQs

The Issue     Menopause can affect a woman’s quality of life in unexpected ways. Now, there is a gentle laser therapy that can help millions of women who are silently suffering from vaginal dryness and pain with intimacy due to lack of estrogen after menopause.

What is the MonaLisa Touch?        The MonaLisa Touch is a gentle laser therapy that delivers controlled energy to the vaginal wall. It restores vaginal health by generating new collagen, elastin and vascularization. The MonaLisa Touch has been available in the US since 2014 and thousands of patients have been treated worldwide.

For which patients is this treatment appropriate?        The MonaLisa Touch maybe appropriate for any woman suffering from symptoms of a decline in estrogen such as dryness, pain with intercourse, urinary urgency, or mild stress incontinence. Women who suffer from lichen sclerosus, a skin condition, may also benefit from treatment.

Where can I have this done?        The MonaLisa Touch is an in-office procedure performed by our gynecologists.

Does the procedure hurt?        The procedure utilizes a topical anesthetic, but the actual treatment is not painful. Many patients report that it feels like a gentle vibration or cramping

How long does it take?          Treatments take about 5 minutes to perform.

 When will I see results?          Many patients feel improvement after the very first treatment, although most patients will require multiple treatments that are generally spaced 4-6 weeks apart.

How long does it last?          Some patients may need a follow up treatment at one year.

 What are my limitations after the procedure is done?          Patients should refrain from sexual activity for at least 24 hours. Your doctor will determine a post-procedure regimen

 How much will the procedure cost?          Patients should contact the clinic directly for information.

Is this procedure safe for women with breast cancer?          Yes, the MonaLisa Touch therapy is particularly well suited for patients who cannot or prefer not to use estrogen therapy.

We protect your privacy by verifying you are the person that matches the chart since we will be discussing the information in that chart.  Sometimes the changes are subtle on an insurance card and we need to have the most current information available. Data entry mistakes can happen.  Errors in information may cause claims to not process or delay the process causing you undue stress.  We verify information in an effort to minimize the stress caused by accidental errors.

Yes if possible! Most women find if very helpful to have a support person attend the classes with them.  However this is not a requirement.

If a class you are interested is full, please contact Kristin Glenn at (970) 493-7442 ext. 7966 to be placed on a waitlist for that class.

Many segments of the childbirth classes will remain very relevant such as the hospital tour, postpartum, baby care and breastfeeding.  Please call Kristin Glenn (Ext. 7966) for specific information.

If class registrations are below 4 registrants classes may be cancelled.  This clinic decision will be made at least 4 days prior to class start date and attendees will be given options of other classes and/or a class refund.  Cancellation by attendees must be done within 48 hours of class.

Approved Medications for Pregnancy

Cold, Allergies, Hay Fever

• Chlortrimeton
• Robitussin (plain)
• EmergenC
• Mucinex
• Claritin
• Benadryl
• Zyrtec
• Rhinocort
• Sudefed

Constipation

• Colace
• Milk of Magnesia
• Surfak
• Metamucil

Diarrhea

• Imodium
• Kaopectate

Gas

• Simethicone

Headache

• Tylenol

Heartburn

• Gaviscon
• Pepcid
• Zantac
• Tums
• Pepcid
• Tagament
• Prilosec

Hemorrhiods

• Dermoplast
• Preparation H or HC
• Witch Hazel

Iron Supplements

• Slow Fe

Nausea

• Vitamin B6 (10-25mg 3-4 times per day)
• Unisom 25mg (Take 1/2 tablet up to 3-4 times per day)

For any of our classes you can bring 1 or 2 pillows to make yourself more comfortable and for some of the childbirth preparation classes you may be sitting on the floor for exercises.  We understand that it is important for all expectant mothers to get the nutrition and hydration they need, so please feel free to bring snacks or drinks with you.

If you would like a refund for your classes please contact Kristin Glenn at 493-7442 ext. 7966 and a request will be sent to the billing department.  If you have an outstanding balance with the Women’s Clinic, your refund will be applied to that balance; If you do not, then you will be issued a check for your full or partial refund.  This usually takes around 14 business days.

Most Fort Collins classes meet at our Fort Collins clinic on the 3rd floor classroom- USE Elevators as stairwell door will be locked.  Also look at the registration because some classes meet on the first floor of the clinic building.  The clinic is located at 1107 South Lemay Avenue.  Parking is available on the Southwest side of the building and can be accessed from Lemay onto Garfield Street (under the bridge).

Some services have what is called first dollar coverage which means that the insurance company will pay the first dollar and not apply any deductible or copay to your service- this is typical with wellness.

Services that do not have first dollar coverage typically have a copay or deductible and co-insurance that are the part you agreed to be responsible for when you signed up for your insurance.  If you feel like you should not have a balance you should call your insurance company immediately and then contact us or any provider with the information you received.

Some services are not a benefit of your insurance plan, therefore, they are not paid and remain your responsibility.

To verify your insurance information is current and correct.  We want to make sure that your claim is properly submitted.

This is just one of the ways the Women’s Clinic follows federal and state laws protecting against identity theft and fraud.

The Women’s Clinic of Northern Colorado currently participates*  with:

• Aetna/Cofinity
• Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Beech Street/Health Infonet
• CIGNA/GreatWest Healthcare
• Colorado Choice Health Plan/Peak Health
• Coventry/First Health
• First Choice of Midwest
• Humana/Choice Care
• Medicare
• Multiplan/PHCS
• Rocky Mountain Health Plan
• United Medical Alliance/PVHS/PR1/Columbine
• United Healthcare/Pacificare/Secure Horizons
• WinHealth Partners

*Participation is a matter of contractual arrangement with the payer or network. These do change from time to time. Please check both with your insurance company and our office to ensure we are in network and you have benefits at the time you are receiving services.

Your plan may offer a limited network design that has many restrictions. Please make sure you understand your benefits and your limitations.