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Dr. Stephen Joseph Blaha, MD

Accepting New Patients

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Specializes in: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and Gynecology
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Professional interests include: laparoscopic hysterectomy, fibroids (leiomyoma), amenorrhea (missed periods), and more.
6030 W. Highway 74
Indian Trail, NC 28079

Dr. Stephen Joseph Blaha, MD is an infertility specialist in Indian Trail, NC specializing in reproductive endocrinology and infertility and gynecology. He graduated from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Dr. Stephen Joseph Blaha, MD is affiliated with Atrium Health and EASTOVER OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY ASSOCIATES INC.

View Doctor's Full Profile (980) 993-2030

Office Locations

Address:

6030 W. Highway 74
Indian Trail, NC 28079

Some issues Dr. Stephen Joseph Blaha, MD can help you with:

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.

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.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse is the bulging of pelvic organs into the vaginal canal due to a weak pelvic floor, causing symptoms like discomfort, pain, urinary problems, and constipation. The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that support the pelvic organs, which are made up of the bladder, rectum, small bowel, uterus, and vagina. Vaginal childbirth, menopause, pelvic surgery, radiation treatments, or being extremely overweight may cause the pelvic floor to weaken. Pelvic organ prolapse is a very common disorder among women, particularly for those who are over 50.

The choice of treatment for pelvic organ prolapse depends on the severity of the condition. Mild to moderate prolapse may be managed by doing pelvic floor strengthening exercises, taking hormone replacement therapy, or using pessaries. Pessaries are small devices inserted into the vagina to help support the pelvic organs. Pessary fitting is a quick procedure done in a doctor's office. For severe prolapse, surgical treatment may be necessary. Pelvic organ prolapse surgery repairs the following:

  • Cystocele or bladder prolapse, where the bladder sags into the vagina. The surgeon repairs a cystocele by strengthening the front wall of the vagina using stitches so that the bladder will no longer sag.
  • Enterocele or small bowel prolapse, which occurs when the small bowel descends towards the vagina. To correct an enterocele, the tissues between the small bowel and the vagina are sewn together, allowing them to provide more support.
  • Rectocele or posterior prolapse, which is the bulging of the front wall of the rectum into the back wall of the vagina. Surgery to repair a rectocele removes the excess stretched tissue between the rectum and vagina.
  • Uterine prolapse, which occurs when the uterus slips down to the vagina. To treat a uterine prolapse, the surgeon may secure the neck of the uterus (called cervix) to a ligament in the pelvis using stitches. Another option for this type of prolapse is a vaginal hysterectomy, which is the removal of the uterus.

Each of these procedures is performed through a vaginal incision, but an enterocele repair may use the abdominal approach as an alternative. If two or more pelvic organs have prolapsed, a combination of any of these procedures may be performed during the same surgical session.

For women who no longer wish to have intercourse, an operation called colpocleisis

may be a surgical option as well. By closing the vaginal canal, colpocleisis treats pelvic organ prolapse and eliminates any risk of its recurrence.

In most instances, pelvic organ prolapse surgery only requires a hospital stay of one day. Patients may experience vaginal bleeding for the first few weeks following surgery. If this happens, patients should use sanitary pads rather than tampons, as a higher risk of infection is associated with the use of tampons. To further help with recovery, patients should begin doing gentle pelvic floor strengthening exercises a few days after surgery. Doing these exercises at least three times a day as a routine tightens the pelvic floor muscles and prevents the recurrence of prolapse.

In The News 

“"It's another in the list of competing recommendations for breast cancer screening," said Dr. Stephen Blaha of Eastover OB/GYN Associates in Charlotte.”—"Some Charlotte doctors disagree with new mammography guidelines", Charlotte Observer, October 2015

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Stephen Joseph Blaha, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Stephen Joseph Blaha, MD treated as an infertility specialist in Indian Trail, NC were lab tests, ultrasound (sonogram), pelvic imaging and women's imaging.

doctor visit 17
lab tests 24
pelvic imaging 10
ultrasound (sonogram) 10
women's imaging 10

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen Joseph Blaha, MD.

Gender
Male 0
Female 33
Age
75 to 84
85 and over
Less than 65
65 to 74 15

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Stephen Joseph Blaha, MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Stephen Joseph Blaha, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol and depression.

Hypertension 45
High Cholesterol 37
Stroke
Ischemic Heart Disease
Depression 12
Chronic Kidney Disease
Asthma
Osteoporosis
Heart Failure
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Diabetes
Atrial Fibrillation
Cancer
Dementia

Education & Training

Dr. Stephen Joseph Blaha, MD graduated from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He completed residency at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center. He has a state license in North Carolina.

Medical School: Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Residency: Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center

Licensed In: North Carolina

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Stephen Joseph Blaha, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Atrium Health
EASTOVER OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY ASSOCIATES INC

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General Payments

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

Payments by Company
Hologic, LLC $163 ACESSA PROVU SYSTEM
$149 		CoolSeal Generator
$12 		MYOSURE TISSUE REMOVAL DEVICE
$2
Applied Medical Resources Corporation $106
$106
AbbVie, Inc. $101 Lupron
$101
Organon LLC $36 JADA SYSTEM
$36
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. $12 Mirena
$12
Other $32 MINASTRIN 24 FE
$11 		Prenate Mini
$11 		WOUND THERAPEUTICS
$10
Types of Payments
Food and Beverage $451

Research Payments

Dr. Stephen Joseph Blaha, MD has received 3 research payments totaling $350.

Biography

Dr. Stephen Blaha sees patients in Indian Trail, NC. His medical specialty is obstetrics & gynecology. Dr. Blaha is affiliated with Atrium Health.

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