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Home > PA Providers > Obstetricians & Gynecologists: OB-GYNs

Dr. Joseph Defulvio, DO

(Joseph D. DeFulvio, DO)

(429 Ratings)

Specializes in: Obstetrics & Gynecology and Gynecology

Nova Southeastern University, College of Osteopathic Medicine (1995)

Professional interests include: vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), cesarean section (C-section), dilation and evacuation (D&E), and more.

1665 Valley Center Parkway Suite 130
Bethlehem, PA 18017

(610) 317-0208

Dr. Joseph Defulvio, DO is an obstetrician and gynecologist in Bethlehem, PA specializing in obstetrics & gynecology and gynecology. He graduated from Nova Southeastern University, College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1995 and has 30 years of experience. Dr. Joseph Defulvio, DO is affiliated with Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG), Lehigh Valley Health Network and LVPG Obstetrics and Gynecology-Valley Center Parkway.

Office Locations

Address:

1665 Valley Center Parkway Suite 130
Bethlehem, PA 18017

Some issues Dr. Joseph Defulvio, DO can help you with:

Breast Biopsy

Breast biopsy is a procedure where a small sample of tissue is collected from the breast for testing. A physician may prescribe a breast biopsy for a variety of reasons, but they are most frequently prescribed for a lump found in the breast. Biopsy samples extracted are examined by pathologists in a laboratory setting and are tested to determine if they are cancerous or benign, or indicative of some other condition. Depending on the lab results, physicians may prescribe additional treatment. Other circumstances which may prompt a breast biopsy include:

Mammograms that detect other unusual features in the chest, such as a cyst or calcium deposit
Breast scans or ultrasounds that display abnormalities
Nipple changes, such as scaling, crusting, or bloody discharge

Breast biopsies are collected through several different procedures and the specific type of biopsy that a patient receives depends on the size, location, and features of a breast lump or irregularity. The three main methods of collecting a breast biopsy include:

Fine needle aspiration (FNA biopsy), where a thin needle is directed into a breast lump or abnormality, extracting a small sample of tissue or liquid
Core needle biopsy (CNB biopsy), where a hollow needle is directed into a breast lump or abnormality, extracting cylinders of tissue called "cores"
Open (surgical) biopsy, where a breast lump is removed through an incision in the breast

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) and core needle biopsy (CNB) are sometimes image-guided, where a mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI helps direct the physician performing the needle extraction.

Fine needle aspiration, the most common biopsy method, generally requires few patient preparations. It is recommended patients avoid using lotion, deodorant, and perfume prior to their biopsy procedure. FNA biopsy is performed with local anesthesia (topical numbing cream) and typically has a quick recovery, but patients may experience soreness for a few days. Core needle biopsy extracts slightly more tissue than an FNA biopsy.

Open (surgical) biopsy is more invasive and requires general anesthesia, where patients are put to sleep during the procedure. Patients must fast prior to the surgery. After the biopsy is performed, patients are monitored in a recovery room for a time before being discharged, when they will need someone else to provide transportation.

Although some may consider breast biopsy to be a simple procedure, it can catch critical issues - particularly breast cancer - that impact wellness. If a breast biopsy reveals an underlying condition like life-threatening cancer, patients can receive the diagnosis and medical treatment that is necessary for their long-term health.

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.

Hysteroscopy

A hysteroscopy is a diagnostic procedure performed to examine the inside of the uterus. A thin tube with a camera and light at the end, called a hysteroscope, is inserted through the vagina. It allows the physician to view the cervix and uterine walls. Sometimes, gas or liquid is used to expand the uterus and allow a better view. If necessary, tiny instruments can also be passed through the tube and used for certain procedures, such as taking a biopsy or removing a polyp.

Hysteroscopy is often done to figure out the cause of abnormal menstrual bleeding. However, it can also be used to:

Identify the cause of recurrent miscarriage
Remove polyps or fibroids, non-cancerous growths in the uterus
Remove adhesions, scar tissue within the uterus
Identify uterine septums, a wall of tissue dividing the uterus
Perform ablation, the removal of excess uterine lining

If surgery is necessary, hysteroscopy is often used along with laparoscopy, a kind of surgery performed through small incisions in the abdomen. Tiny tools are passed through the incisions, and the hysteroscope guides the doctors while surgery is performed.

In The News

“Dr. Joseph DeFulvio, a fourth-year resident at Lehigh Valley Hospital, won the society's question-and-answer 'bowl' and shared the S. Leon Israel award for an original research paper with...”—"BOWLED OVER", The Morning Call, May 2000

breast exam	55
cytology	22
doctor visit	32
gynecologic pathology	22
gynecologic procedures	55
pelvic imaging	17
preventive care	22
ultrasound (sonogram)	17
women's imaging	17

**Age**
From 65 to 74	41
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	28

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	52
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	13
Depression	34
Chronic Kidney Disease	13
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	26
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

breast exam	44
cytology	10
doctor visit	20
gynecologic pathology	10
gynecologic procedures	44
pelvic imaging	13
preventive care	10
ultrasound (sonogram)	13
women's imaging	13

**Age**
From 65 to 74	40
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	24

Hypertension	48
High Cholesterol	46
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	15
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	0
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	18
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

breast exam	42
cytology	11
doctor visit	21
gynecologic pathology	11
gynecologic procedures	42
pelvic imaging	10
preventive care	11
ultrasound (sonogram)	10
women's imaging	10

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	130
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	92
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	40

Hypertension	47
High Cholesterol	53
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	16
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	0
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	16
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

breast exam	49
cytology	16
doctor visit	26
gynecologic pathology	16
gynecologic procedures	49
pelvic imaging	23
preventive care	16
ultrasound (sonogram)	23
women's imaging	23

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	74
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	46
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	20

Hypertension	53
High Cholesterol	51
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	20
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	15
Asthma	19
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	16
Dementia	0
Cancer	16

breast exam	53
cytology	20
doctor visit	22
gynecologic pathology	20
gynecologic procedures	53
pelvic imaging	18
preventive care	20
ultrasound (sonogram)	18
women's imaging	18

**Age**
From 65 to 74	50
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	20

Hypertension	51
High Cholesterol	45
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	15
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	15
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	21
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	21
Dementia	0
Cancer	19

breast exam	41
cytology	15
doctor visit	19
gynecologic pathology	15
gynecologic procedures	41
pelvic imaging	12
preventive care	15
ultrasound (sonogram)	12
women's imaging	12

**Age**
From 65 to 74	37
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	56
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	0
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	0
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	0
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

breast exam	44
cytology	14
gynecologic pathology	14
gynecologic procedures	44
preventive care	14

**Age**
From 65 to 74	45
From 75 to 84	11
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	67
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	16
Depression	26
Chronic Kidney Disease	19
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	16
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	19
Dementia	0
Cancer	19

breast exam	27
cytology	11
gynecologic pathology	11
gynecologic procedures	27
preventive care	11

**Age**
From 65 to 74	20
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	14

Hypertension	46
High Cholesterol	59
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	0
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	0
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	0
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

breast exam	64
cytology	11
gynecologic pathology	11
gynecologic procedures	64
preventive care	11

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Joseph Defulvio, DO for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Joseph Defulvio, DO treated as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Bethlehem, PA were breast exam, gynecologic procedures, ultrasound (sonogram) and pelvic imaging.

breast exam	46
cytology	14
doctor visit	23
gynecologic pathology	14
gynecologic procedures	46
pelvic imaging	15
preventive care	14
ultrasound (sonogram)	15
women's imaging	15

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joseph Defulvio, DO.

**Gender**
Male	0
Female	68

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	20
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	0
75 to 84	1
Less than 65	14
65 to 74	37

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joseph Defulvio, DO From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Joseph Defulvio, DO treated were high cholesterol, hypertension, depression and diabetes.

Hypertension	42
High Cholesterol	42
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	9
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	6
Asthma	1
Osteoporosis	5
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	11
Atrial Fibrillation	0
Dementia	0
Cancer	5

Education & Training

Dr. Joseph Defulvio, DO graduated from Nova Southeastern University, College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1995. He completed residency at LeHigh Valley Hospital Network. He is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology - Obstetrics and Gynecology Publications & Clinical Trials View Clinical Trials View Scholarly Works and has a state license in Pennsylvania.

Medical School: Nova Southeastern University, College of Osteopathic Medicine (1995)

Residency: LeHigh Valley Hospital Network (1997)

Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology - Obstetrics and Gynecology Publications & Clinical Trials View Clinical Trials View Scholarly Works

Licensed In: Pennsylvania

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Joseph Defulvio, DO is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG)

Lehigh Valley Health Network

LVPG Obstetrics and Gynecology-Valley Center Parkway

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Joseph Defulvio, DO has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.88 out of 5 stars based on 429 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Joseph Defulvio, DO from all over the web to help you find the right in Bethlehem, PA.

4.88

Overall Rating

(429 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Joseph Defulvio, DO. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Ethicon Inc.	$105 Energy# Enseal $105
HOLOGIC INC	$88 NovaSure $88
Olympus America Inc.	$44 Surgical Energy Products $44
Warner Chilcott LLC	$24 MINASTRIN 24 FE $24
Mission Pharmacal Company	$13 $13

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$275

Biography

Dr. Joseph Defulvio's area of specialization is gynecology. Dr. Defulvio obtained his medical school training at Nova Southeastern University, College of Osteopathic Medicine and performed his residency at LeHigh Valley Hospital Network. His areas of expertise include colposcopy, adolescent gynecology, and hysterosalpingography. He has received a 5.0 out of 5 star rating by his patients. Dr. Defulvio is professionally affiliated with Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG). Yext reports that he is closed to new patients at this time.