Dr. Maureen Muoneke

Long-term Health Effects from Female Genital Mutilation

Outside of her work as a women’s health care practitioner, Dr. Maureen Muoneke has a strong interest in improving healthcare across West Africa. Dr. Maureen Muoneke is also an ardent supporter of banning the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), a tradition that contributes to immediate physical and psychological damage and long-term health risks.

FGM involves cutting or removing outer parts of the vagina for non-medical purposes. It is practiced all over Africa, but most commonly in Mali, Guinea, Egypt, and Sudan. In some cultures, FGM is practiced for religious reasons or beliefs about femininity and promiscuity. The procedure has no health benefits and can lead to long-term complications.

Women and girls who have undergone FGM are more susceptible to vaginal and urinary tract infections, complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and menstruation issues. Since the procedure is often carried out in non-sterile conditions, it can also cause keloids and scar tissue to develop at the incision site. This can result in ongoing pain and a higher risk of infection.Close

Pelvic Organ Prolapse – Symptoms and Treatments

A member of the Pro-Health Organization, Dr. Maureen Muoneke is a medical consultant at the Georgia Division of Aging Services. With over two decades of experience obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr. Maureen Muoneke has provided health care to patients with various gynecologic conditions, including pelvic organ prolapse and uterine fibroids.

Pelvic organ prolapse happens when an organ situated within the pelvis or lower abdomen drops from its normal position, pushing against the walls of the vagina. Although bladder prolapse is the most commonly seen, other organs that can prolapse include the vagina, urethra, rectum, small bowel, and uterus. In some cases, more than one organ prolapse simultaneously.

Pelvic organ prolapse often occurs due to a weak or overstretched pelvic muscle. This may result from childbirth or certain surgeries. Aside from sensing constant pressure in the vagina, other symptoms may include feeling like something is falling out through the vagina, painful sex, constipation, incontinence, and pain in the lower back.

Although pelvic organ prolapse can run in families, older women are more likely affected. During diagnosis, a doctor may ask about the patient’s symptoms and also perform a physical examination. Treatments depend on which organ is affected and how bad the symptoms are. Special exercises called Kegels are recommended for mild symptoms. If symptoms persist, the doctor may have the patient fitted with a pessary, a device that helps with the pressure and pain of pelvic organ prolapse. Surgery is another option, but not suitable for a patient who plans to have a child in the future.

Molar Pregnancy – Primary Types And Treatment

A member of the Pro-Health Organization, Dr. Maureen Muoneke is a former attending physician at Southern Maryland Hospital Center. Dr. Maureen Muoneke has provided complete prenatal and gynecologic care to pregnant women and other female patients.

A rare complication of pregnancy, molar pregnancy, or hydatidiform mole, is a form of the gestational trophoblastic disease which is caused by a group of tumors that develops inside the uterus during pregnancy. In a molar pregnancy, finger-like structures that normally surround embryo, called villi, swell abnormally.

There are two types of hydatidiform moles: complete hydatidiform moles and partial hydatidiform moles. Complete hydatidiform mole form when one or two sperm cells fertilize a single egg cell that lacks nucleus or DNA. In this case, the entire genetic material is paternal, and no fetal tissue will form. Partial hydatidiform mole, on the other hand, happens when two sperm cells fertilize a normal egg, which causes a mixture of some fetal tissue with the trophoblastic tissue if the villi. In both cases, a viable fetus will not develop. Surgery can be done to remove the tumors (moles).

FUS as a Non-Invasive Treatment for Uterine Fibroids

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Maureen Muoneke provides support to the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency as a medical consultant. Dr. Maureen Muoneke has a range of professional interests in areas related to women’s health, including treatment options for ectopic pregnancy and non-invasive treatment approaches to manage symptomatic uterine fibroids.

Uterine fibroids grow inside the uterus and typically develop during a woman’s childbearing years. Although fibroids are non-cancerous growths, they can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms including heavy menstruation, pressure in the pelvic region, bladder problems, and more.

Focused Ultrasound Surgery (FUS) is a common treatment option for uterine fibroids and is non-invasive since it is performed as an outpatient procedure and does not require an incision. The FUS procedure is performed while the patient lies inside an MRI scanner which is used to identify the exact location of the fibroid(s). FUS involves the use of an ultrasound transducer to heat and eliminate the fibroid tissue. Research demonstrates that this treatment method is safe and effective for eliminating uterine fibroids.

Uterine Fibroids – Symptoms and Diagnosis

A member of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in America, Dr. Maureen Muoneke is a former attending physician in obstetrics and gynecology at Seton Medical Group. Dr. Maureen Muoneke has provided health care for female patients at various age groups and has treated and managed various reproductive disorders, including symptomatic uterine fibroids and polycystic ovary disease.

Common among older women, uterine fibroid, also known as myoma or leiomyoma, can result in a variety of obstetric complications. Often, the surgical approach to treating uterine fibroid can affect a woman’s fertility, and for this reason, the choice of treatment will also be determined by whether or not a patient desires to preserve their fertility.

Depending on the location and size of the fibroid, about 30 to 40 percent of fibroid cases exhibit symptoms; However, many uterine fibroids are asymptomatic. Some symptoms, such as menstrual bleeding, result in subsequent anemia, which can be life-threatening. Large fibroids can exert pressure on the bladder, which may lead to bladder dysfunction resulting in urinary incontinence and increased daytime urinary frequency. Dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain are some common symptoms of uterine fibroids. In some cases, uterine fibroids result in infertility and recurrent miscarriage due to distortion of the uterine cavity, which often results from the fibroid developing at the uterine wall and mucous membrane of the uterus. Constipation, bowel dysfunction, and low back pain can also result from uterine fibroid.

ACOG Updates OTC Contraceptive Guideline

Pregnant woman having fetal monitoring by doctor

A graduate of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Dr. Maureen Muoneke serves as a medical consultant at the Georgia Division of Aging Services in Atlanta, where she assists in disability evaluations. Originally trained as an OB/GYN, Dr. Maureen Muoneke is a fellow in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

In September 2019, ACOG updated its guidelines concerning over-the-counter birth control methods. The organization added vaginal rings, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) injections, and contraceptive patches to its list of safe methods that are safe to give over-the-counter.

In addition to expanding options, ACOG also urges reforms when it comes to insurance coverage for birth control. Many carriers only cover one type of birth control, but some women may better tolerate a different method that isn’t covered. This creates an artificial barrier to the cost that the organization says should be eliminated.

The most updated guideline, “Over-the-Counter Access to Hormonal Contraception,” can be found in the October 2019 edition of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Types of Female Genital Mutilation

The former owner of a women’s healthcare clinic, Dr. Maureen Muoneke serves as a medical consultant with the Georgia Division of Aging Services. Dr. Maureen Muoneke also makes frequent trips to Africa where she has worked with American Health Management to develop hospitals and advocated against female circumcision and infibulation practices.

Infibulation, a controversial and injurious procedure, is one type of female genital mutilation (FGM). According to the World Health Organization, FGM refers to any procedure that causes injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons.

FGM provides no health benefits and leads to a range of immediate and long term consequences that range from severe pain and urinary issues to scar tissue and infections. In spite of this, the practice is carried out for sociocultural reasons such as cultural norms and a belief that it prepares a girl for marriage and promotes virginity and marital fidelity. The practice occurs in more than thirty countries, but is concentrated within Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Infibulation is one of the more severe types of FGM. It involves removal of the clitoris, labia minora, and most of the labia majora in addition to stitching the vaginal opening closed. Other types of FGM include type 1, where the clitoris is partially or fully removed, and type 2, where the labia minora is removed in addition to the clitoris. For additional information on the consequences and damage caused by FGM, visit http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/fgm/fgm-obstetric-outcome-study/en/.

Why Endometriosis Is Often Underdiagnosed

Prior to joining Pashka Women’s Care, Dr. Maureen Muoneke owned and operated her own private clinic for nearly a decade. Dr. Maureen Muoneke is an OB/GYN who is highly knowledgeable on conditions impacting the female reproductive system, including endometriosis.

By some estimates, nearly one out of every 10 women in the United States is afflicted with endometriosis, a condition that causes intrauterine tissue to grow on the outside of the uterus. Despite its prevalence, women may experience painful symptoms for years before receiving an accurate diagnosis. Experts believe that a lack of awareness amongst the public and health care providers contributes to low diagnosis rates.

Many women don’t interpret the condition’s symptoms, such as excessive bleeding or intense menstrual cramps, as abnormal. If women do seek treatment, doctors may have difficulty pinpointing endometriosis as the cause since many conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome, have similar symptoms. Further, common over-the-counter pain medications can mask cramping and pain symptoms, which can also hinder women from seeking medical treatment.