Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

It is estimated that 43% of American women suffer from sexual dysfunction. One third of all women, regardless of age, have diminished or no sexual interest. In addition, nearly one fourth of all women do not experience orgasm, while one fifth of women suffer sexual pain disorders. Although many women report a decrease in overall libido following menopause due to changes in circulating hormones, many younger women also complain of the same symptoms. Women of childbearing years may also report low sexual desire due to medications such as birth control pills, pain with intercourse, unhealthy sexual relationships, lack of knowledge about their own bodies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, stress and illness. Also women with cancer have unique issues due to changes in their body after cancer, chemotherapy and radiation effects as well as changes in they way they view themselves as before versus after cancer.

We offer Integrative Gynecology: A complete, personalized 360 assessment of overall health with, direct care for Your Hormone Health, Gynecologic Needs, Women’s Optimization and Wellness, and Your Sexual Health,

The Sexual Health Optimization and Wellness (SHOW) Center offers innovative, personalized, non-surgical approaches to care that is based on each individuals needs.

In addition, your SHOW provider integrates a medical and psychological treatment modality to ensure treatment for all facets of your care. Your SHOW provider is trained in not only the medical aspect of your care but also specialized in sexuality counseling and integrative healthcare. This specialized training provides patients with a level of empathy and caring not often experienced from medical professionals in this sub-specialty. In these days of managed care, with shortened, acute visits it is rare to find a medical professional who is able to take the time to really listen. We are a trauma-informed, LGBTQIA+ educated staff where we pride ourselves in making all people fell welcome and safe to discuss all of their healthcare concerns.

In our view sexual health and wellness involves a biopsychosocial approach. Offering sex therapy/counseling or medical expertise alone is almost never the full answer to most sexual problems. The SHOW center is different because it offers both components to meet the patient’s holistic and medical needs. By utilizing multiple aspects to achieve sexual health and wellness, it offers a broader context that includes physiological conditions, psychological problems or relationship issues. Our Center tries to get a full picture of all the contributing factors involved in a person’s sexual health. If you need medical intervention we’ll treat you or coordinate the appropriate care. If you need counseling, education, ideas or behavioral techniques we will work with you on those as part of a treatment regimen.

We believe that everyone is on a different journey in life. Our goal is to meet you where you are and help you customize your plan of care. Because of this we take into account the effects of COVID-19 on our day-to-day lives, here at The SHOW Center, we believe that it’s our responsibility to continue to give our patients the care and attention they need and deserve. What does this mean? It means becoming adaptable and taking every necessary step to protect everyone’s health and safety. We are offer virtual TeleHealth appointments. At the The SHOW Center, we are able to accept new patients for initial consultations through TeleHealth appointments. We will be able to go over your full medical history in details, provide education, counseling, and create a personalized treatment plan. It will be vital that we make sequential follow up visits in person to perform a thorough physical exam, especially if there are pelvic health concerns.

TeleHealth appointments can be scheduled as a follow up on previous procedures, review test results, discuss questions, provide counseling and education services, and evaluate the patient’s progress. Through a virtual video visit, we have limited ability to perform a physical exam, therefore would not be able to give a full examination.  Additional procedures that are offered during a consult or office visit would not possible through a virtual video session.

The WHNP is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) prepared through academic and clinical study for practice as a primary care nurse practitioner that includes a focus on providing care for conditions unique to women from menarche through the remainder of their lives, and reproductive health care for men. The role of the WHNP is to provide evidence-based assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management in wellness promotion, care of women’s common primary care non-gynecologic problems, gynecologic care, male sexual and reproductive health care, and normal and high risk prenatal and postpartum care. They order, conduct, supervise, and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests; prescribe pharmacological agents and non-pharmacologic therapies; and teach and counsel patients, among other services.The WHNP uses leadership and collaboration to provide comprehensive care in a variety of settings to improve health outcomes and to meet the specific needs of each patient. As a licensed healthcare provider, theWHNP is subject to the scope of practice rules and regulations established by and pursuant to the nurse practice actin the state in which she/he works.

What sets NPs apart from other clinicians is their school of thought:

• They are PATIENT FOCUSED and take the time to listen to concerns, including the patient in the plan of care.
• They have a unique emphasis on the health and well-being of the WHOLE PERSON
• They use EVIDENCED BASED treatment/healing approaches that include pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and alternative/natural treatments.
• They are passionate about PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE and educating/ encouraging their patients to live healthier lifestyles.

Sexuality counselors assist the patient to realistically resolve concerns through the introduction of problem solving techniques of communication as well as providing accurate information and relevant suggestions of specific exercises and techniques in sexual expression. Sexuality counseling is generally short term and client centered, focusing on the immediate concern or problem. Sexuality counseling can be individual or couple counseling. Sexuality counselors are trained to identify situations that require intensive therapy and to make appropriate referrals to a licensed sex therapist when needed.

All new patient visits begin with a complimentary 10-minute phone consultation with Dr. Heather Quaile so that she can understand your unique and individualized needs and to be sure The SHOW Center is a good fit for you. In anticipation of your first appointment (if scheduled after the 10 minute consult), you will be asked to complete an online comprehensive history for review by Dr. Quaile. During your first official visit at The SHOW Center, you will spend time (75 minutes) with our practitioner. This time is variable based off the reason for the visit, the intake process, and checkout process. At this time, it is a chance for you to tell your healthcare story – a timeline of various significant events, any symptoms, and concerns, healthcare goals, previous treatment, and testing, be listened to, and discuss your health goals. Dr. Heather Quaile will also take an extensive history. Based on your history and if you are not only being seen for sexuality counseling a comprehensive physical exam will be done with special emphasis on areas of concern. Our goal is to create a road map to address your concerns. Then, together, we will determine testing necessary to optimize care and facilitate a treatment plan. Most blood tests and other medical tests will be ordered during this first appointment. Often, we are unable to provide a treatment plan until the results from all of the tests are completed. Patients will be asked to schedule a follow-up visit where the plan will be implemented during your second office visit. Frequency of follow-up visits will be individually determined by the complexity of care. When you arrive for your appointment, you will be checked in, seen, and discharged by your medical provider.

We see people with a wide variety of women’s health concerns. We treat peri/menopause concerns, sexual health concerns, women’s primary care and integrative gynecology. The center treats people who are experiencing a lack of sexual desire, either as a recent development or those who feel they have never had a sex drive at all. People who are also unable to become sexually aroused are also evaluated, as are people who have sexual pain with intercourse as well as having issues with orgasm.  In some cases, a person is unable to define the problem themselves. In these cases, your provider will help you to the address the concerns and can also offer an individualized plan of care.

Thorough patient analysis, laboratory analysis, education, counseling supplements, medication, therapeutic aids, and ancillary services. Couples counseling is not required but it is highly encourage getting to the root of the problem.

Holistic/Integrative Medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease and engages both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, Integrative Medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. Holistic Medicine practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease.

Integrative Medicine is healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person (body-mind-spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and makes use of all appropriate therapies, both conventional and alternative. Integrative practitioners also believe that collaboration with other medical professionals is important for optimal healing (specialists, physical therapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, rehab specialists, sex therapists, and more). They believe that there is no “one size fits all” approach to medicine.

The principles of integrative medicine include:

– A partnership between patient and practitioner in the healing process

– Appropriate use of conventional and alternative methods to facilitate the body’s innate healing response

– Consideration of all factors that influence health, wellness and disease, including mind, spirit and community, as well as body

– A philosophy that neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies uncritically. They use evidenced based medicine.

– Use of natural, effective, less-invasive interventions whenever possible

– Use of the broader concepts of promotion of health and the prevention of illness as well as the treatment of disease

– Training of practitioners to be models of health and healing, committed to the process of self-exploration and self-development

Payment for office visits and procedures are due at the time of service. We accept most major credit cards. We do not accept insurance, as we are an out-of-network provider for all insurance plans.  This allows us to spend more time with you without the limitations placed by insurance plans.  We do not bill insurance, however as a courtesy, we will provide a “super bill” for you to file with your insurance company. The amount of reimbursement will depend on your specific insurance plan and deductible.  We encourage you to contact your insurance plan to determine if you will be reimbursed for any of your services.  We do not accept Medicare.  However, you can utilize your HSA or FSA account.

Any lab work performed or ordered in the office, such as pathology specimens or cultures, will be billed directly by the lab to you.  They often work with insurance companies and can bill your insurance if you provide your insurance information.  All blood work will be performed at the lab. Some unusual specialty labs do not take insurance. We will advise you at the time if this applies to you.

All prescriptions need monitoring for therapeutic effectiveness and potential side effects. This is part of treatment. If you don’t have refills, you most likely need your follow-up appointment. This is purposeful to prompt you to review our treatment goals. Please make an appointment before you run out. Refills require time, evaluation and management, so please respect the process. We will review notes and deny scripts because of lack of follow up. We will not refill medications if you have not been seen in the past year. If you have been seen in the past year you may be able to elect a HIPAA compliant telehealth visit.

Yes, as a convenience to our patients, we offer select supplements and therapeutic products for purchase via a secure provider site (Fullscript- located on our website). We strongly urge patients to consider the highest-quality supplements due to concerns about the accuracy of dosing and overall safety of product. Because we try and maintain an integrative/functional approach to care we are especially concerned about contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, etc. in many supplements.

If your problem has been burdening you or your relationship or has lasted more than a few weeks or months and the solution is not easily apparent to you, you probably need professional help. Sexual health concerns can be very multifaceted and having an experienced provider to help you through your concerns can be very helpful. We believe that if people were able to resolve these problems they would have done so a long time ago if they were able to. Even if you are still unsure call for a free 10 minute phone consultation to see if the The SHOW Center can help you. We are very experienced at helping you clarify your concerns and understand if there is a medical or psychological problem or both.

Life happens, but we ask that you do this as early as possible. We respectfully ask for at least 24 hours to avoid cancellation fees ($50 dollars). Canceling an appointment last minute, or failing to show up for an appointment prevents someone else from being served who could have taken your place. There is also a lot of prep work involved for visit and we want to make sure you give us adequate time to reschedule you if it is needed.