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Dr. Ellen Marie Whitaker, MD

Accepting New Patients

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Specializes in: Obstetrics & Gynecology
Georgetown University School of Medicine (1986)
Professional interests include: preconception counseling, laparoscopic hysterectomy, implant removal, and more.
106 Irving Street Northwest Suite 1500
Washington, DC 20010

Dr. Ellen Marie Whitaker, MD is an obstetrician and gynecologist in Washington, DC specializing in obstetrics & gynecology. She graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1986 and has 38 years of experience. Dr. Ellen Marie Whitaker, MD is affiliated with MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Health and WHC PHYSICIAN GROUP LLC.

View Doctor's Full Profile (202) 877-7101

Office Locations

Address:

110 IRVING STREET NW
Washington, DC 20010

Address:

106 Irving Street Northwest Suite 1500
Washington, DC 20010

Some issues Dr. Ellen Marie Whitaker, MD can help you with:

Cesarean Section (C-Section)

A Cesarean section (more often known as "C-Section") is a surgery performed during labor and delivery. A C-Section is a procedure that delivers a baby through an incision in the lower abdomen and uterus. In the United States, about a third of all births are performed by Cesarean section. Most often, a C-section is done by an obstetrician/gynecologist (OB-GYN), or in certain regions, a general surgeon or family physician.

C-section incisions can be up-and-down (vertical), from belly button to lower abdomen or side-to-side (horizontal), across the lower abdomen. Side-to-side incisions are more frequently used. After the exterior incisions are made, the doctor then cuts into the uterus and amniotic sac and delivers the infant and cuts the baby's umbilical cord. The mother receives medicine to expel the placenta and the doctor helps to safely remove it. Finally, the doctor uses sutures to seal the uterus and tissue incisions. The initial C-section skin incision is also closed with sutures or staples.

C-sections are typically performed with regional anesthesia, which inhibits pain in the lower half of the body, but allows mothers to be awake. However, some mothers may receive general anesthesia, where they are put to sleep during the surgical procedure.

C-sections may be planned or unplanned, depending on the circumstances of the birth.

Pre-existing conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, herpes, and HIV may prompt a doctor to prescribe a C-section. Other situations for C-section include:

  • A large baby or birth to multiple children
  • Pelvic fracture or limited birth canal
  • Baby in the "breech position," where a baby is positioned feet or bottom first in the uterus
  • Baby with a developmental disorder
  • Irregular fetal heartbeat
  • Mother with a history of previous C-sections

Other mothers may require a C-section due to complications arising during delivery. These unplanned, emergency C-sections allow for a healthy birth even when complex complications are present. Problems during labor which may necessitate a C-section include:

  • Labor not progressing
  • Fetus switching position during labor
  • Distressed infant
  • Blockage of the cervical opening by the placenta
  • Prolapsed umbilical cord

Mothers should expect about a six-week recovery period following a C-section, including an initial hospital stay of two to three days. While in the hospital, mothers may spend time with their baby and begin breastfeeding. After returning home, mothers should limit strenuous activities such as lifting, reaching, and exercise, and should make sure to get plenty of rest.

Hysterectomy (Uterus Removal)

A hysterectomy is an extremely common surgery performed to remove the uterus. Sometimes the fallopian tubes, ovaries, or cervix will be removed as well. A woman who has had a hysterectomy will no longer have periods and cannot get pregnant.

There are a variety of reasons that women have hysterectomies, including:

  • Heavy bleeding or pain, such as that due to fibroids, endometriosis, or adenomyosis
  • Cancer
  • Prolapsed uterus, where the pelvic muscles can no longer completely hold the uterus in place

It is important to note that having any of these conditions does not necessarily mean that a hysterectomy is necessary. There are other available treatment options in most cases.

Although the uterus is responsible for a period, it is the ovaries that control the hormonal changes that women go through every month. So if a woman has a hysterectomy but keeps her ovaries, she might still experience hormonal swings every month even if she no longer has a period. Alternately, if a younger woman has a hysterectomy where her ovaries as removed, she will essentially be in immediate menopause.

A hysterectomy can be performed traditionally through one large cut in the abdomen, laparoscopically using tiny incisions and small tools, or through the vagina. Full recovery may take four to six weeks. After a hysterectomy, patients might experience sexual changes such as vaginal dryness or a change in libido. It is common to experience strong emotions after a hysterectomy, including both grief and relief. If a patient's ovaries were removed, they may be at higher risk for certain diseases, such as heart disease and osteoporosis. Taking hormonal birth control might reduce this risk.

Pessary

A pessary is a device that is inserted into the vagina to relieve symptoms associated with mild to moderate pelvic organ prolapse, a condition in which the womb, bladder, or rectum bulges into the vaginal canal. This device is made of either rubber or plastic and is a safe, nonsurgical way to provide support for prolapsed organs.

Pessaries come in different shapes and sizes, and finding the right one can take some trial and error. Before a pessary fitting, patients will be examined and evaluated based on prolapse-related symptoms they may be experiencing, which may include discomfort, urine leakage when sneezing or coughing, and trouble keeping tampons in.

The following tips can help guide the process of finding the right fit:

  • Once in place, patients should not be able to feel the device at all. If there is even slight pressure, patients should let their healthcare provider know, and she will find a pessary of a different size or shape.
  • The pessary should not fall out with sneezing, coughing, jumping, or squatting. While getting fitted, patients should try jumping or squatting to see if the device will fall out. If it does, a different pessary will be inserted until they find one that stays in place.
  • Patients and their healthcare providers should make sure the device is improving symptoms by having a check-up 5 to 15 days after it is inserted. If there is no improvement, patients may have to be re-fitted with a different pessary, or patients may be asked to consider surgical options.

The device should be kept clean to avoid issues like vaginal odor, discharge, or irritation. To clean a pessary, it must be taken out and washed with soap and water. Healthcare providers will instruct patients on how to remove and reinsert the device. If patients are unable to do this on their own, they will need to get it done at the doctor's office at least once every two months.

In The News 

“"It's amazing to me the number of women who come into my office in their late 40s completely freaked out because their periods have changed and they didn't think of this as a possibility," says...”—"Moodiness? Hot flashes? Sleep problems? It may be peri-menopause.", Washington Post, October 2012
“Dr. Ellen Whitaker, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Washington Hospital Center, says yoga's impact as a muscle-toning exercise often is overlooked. "”—"Yoga: A labor of love", The Washington Times, May 2003

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Ellen Marie Whitaker, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Ellen Marie Whitaker, MD treated as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Washington, DC were gynecologic procedures, breast exam, preventive care and cytology.

breast exam 51
cytology 21
diagnostic procedures 14
doctor visit 61
gynecologic pathology 21
gynecologic procedures 54
preventive care 21

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Ellen Marie Whitaker, MD.

Gender
Male 0
Female 95
Ethnicity
Black / African American 66
Asian / Pacific Islander
Non-Hispanic White 12
Native American / Alaskan Native
Hispanic
Other
Age
75 to 84
85 and over
Less than 65 32
65 to 74 39

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Ellen Marie Whitaker, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Ellen Marie Whitaker, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension 49
High Cholesterol 30
Stroke
Ischemic Heart Disease 10
Depression 12
Chronic Kidney Disease 14
Asthma 3
Osteoporosis
Heart Failure 8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Diabetes 25
Atrial Fibrillation
Cancer 4
Dementia

Education & Training

Dr. Ellen Marie Whitaker, MD graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1986. She completed residency at Andrews Air Force Base, Malcolm Grow Medical Center. She is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology and has a state license in District of Columbia.

Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine (1986)

Residency: Andrews Air Force Base, Malcolm Grow Medical Center (1988)

Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Licensed In: District of Columbia

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Ellen Marie Whitaker, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

MedStar Washington Hospital Center
MedStar Health
WHC PHYSICIAN GROUP LLC

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Ellen Marie Whitaker, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: CIGNA Choice Fund PPO, MAMSI, First Health PPO, Blue Choice, Golden Rule, Great-West Healthcare, TRICARE, Community Care Network (CCN), Coventry, TRICARE Reserve Select, Aetna Managed Choice POS, Aetna HMO, Kaiser Select, Kaiser Permanente, CIGNA EPO, Aetna Medicare PPO, CIGNA Indemnity, AmeriHealth, AARP, Medicare Advantage, Coventry National Network PPO, Amerigroup, United Healthcare, Medicaid, Humana, Cigna, Virginia Premier Health Plan, WellPoint, Aetna, CIGNA Network Open Access, Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS), HealthyBlue PPO, MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice, CareFirst NASCO, CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO, Traditional Medicare Fee for Service, United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO), Innovation Health: Open POS Plus, MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families, Carefirst EPO, Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus, United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program, CareFirst Administrators, United Student Resources, United Select HMO - EPO/NPP, United MD IPA Preferred (POS), United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO), Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP), Innovation Health: Network Only Plus, United MD IPA (HMO), United Choice Plus, CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans), Innovation Health: PPO, HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO, MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance, United Choice, United Optimum Choice, Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus), Innovation Health: POS, Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS), Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus, United Select Plus (POS), CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced, United Erickson Advantage Plans, Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice, Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS), Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN), D-SNP), I-SNP, CareFirst MedStar PPO, CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity, United Core Essential (HMO), Innovation Health: POS Plus, HumanaChoice PPO, United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP, Innovation Health: Open POS II, Innovation Health: Indemnity, United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose, Veterans Affairs Community Care Network, United Navigate, Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO, Police and Fire Clinic and CareFirst MedStar Select PPO.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Ellen Marie Whitaker, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

CIGNA Choice Fund PPO
MAMSI
First Health PPO
Blue Choice
Golden Rule
Great-West Healthcare
TRICARE
Community Care Network (CCN)
Coventry
TRICARE Reserve Select
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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Ellen Marie Whitaker, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

Payments by Company
GENZYME CORPORATION $125 DISEASE STATE
$125
Pfizer Inc. $22 ESTRING
$22
Types of Payments
Food and Beverage $125
Education $22

Biography

Dr. Ellen Whitaker is an obstetrics & gynecology specialist in Washington, DC. She attended medical school at Georgetown University School of Medicine.

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