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Patricia Geraghty

Bio

Patricia Geraghty, Sharecare Editorial Advisory Board Member, is a Nurse Practitioner with a passion for women’s health. She loves translating complicated cutting edge health information into practical and achievable plans that make women’s lives better. Ms. Geraghty did her graduate work on exercise and working mothers. She was the coordinator of an innovative Nurse Practitioner program in Oakland, California, before returning to her first love, patient care. She now practices in northern California and teaches women’s health content in local graduate nursing education programs. She speaks nationally on topics pertinent to women’s health across the lifespan. She has authored articles for professional journals. She lives in northern California with her husband and has two grown sons.

Affiliations:
• Holy Names University, Oakland, California Education
• Post Master’s Special Studies Family Nurse Practitioner
• Masters in Nursing Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, University of California, San Francisco
• BS, Biological and Behavioral Development, University of California, Davis Certifications
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, National Certification Corporation
• Family Nurse Practitioner, American Nurse’s Credentialing Center

Specialties:

Location:

Activity

  • Patricia Geraghty
    Patricia Geraghty answered:
    How often should a 67 year old get a pap smear?

    A woman who has had normal pap smears and negative HPV tests should continue to have pap smears every 5 years. She may stop having pap smears at age 65. Once Pap smear screening is stopped, it should not be resumed even if she has a new sexual partner.

    If a woman has had abnormal pap smears or is HPV positive,

    ...  Full Post
  • Patricia Geraghty
    Patricia Geraghty answered:
    Is estrogen progesterone therapy safe?
    The safety of estrogen and progesterone therapy depends on why you are using it and who is using it. These are the hormones produced by a woman's ovaries. The same hormones are given in low doses as birth control pills/patch/vaginal ring. Women who have a history of blood clots in their vessels,...  Full Post
  • Patricia Geraghty
    Patricia Geraghty has posted a blog entry: Why Do Pap Smear Guidelines Keep Changing?

    Pap smear guidelines have changed repeatedly and dramatically over the last 10-15 years. This is because of the explosion of knowledge in the cause of abnormal pap smears, human papilloma virus.

    There are over a 100 strains of human papilloma virus (HPV). Some of these strains cause changes to cells

    ...Full Post
  • Patricia Geraghty
    Patricia Geraghty answered:
    Why have guidelines for getting PAP smears changed?

    Pap smear guidelines have changed repeatedly and dramatically over the last 10-15 years. This is because of the explosion of knowledge in the cause of abnormal pap smears, human papilloma virus.

    There are over a 100 strains of human papilloma virus (HPV). Some of these strains cause changes to cells

    ...  Full Post
  • Patricia Geraghty
    Patricia Geraghty answered:
    Who should have a Pap test?

    Women should begin having pap smears at age 21. If the pap smears are normal, she should repeat the test every 3 years. At age 30, she may also test for HPV (human papilloma virus) with the Pap smear.

    A woman who has had normal pap smears and negative HPV tests should continue to have pap smears

    ...  Full Post
  • Patricia Geraghty
    Patricia Geraghty answered:
    At what age should I stop having Pap smears?

    A woman over 30 years old, who has had normal pap smears and negative HPV tests, should continue to have pap smears every 5 years. She may stop having pap smears at age 65.

    If a woman has had abnormal pap smears or is HPV positive, or has high risk conditions such as diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure

    ...  Full Post
  • Patricia Geraghty
    Patricia Geraghty answered:
    How often should I have pap smears after menopause?

    A woman who is no longer having menstrual periods, and has had normal pap smears and negative HPV tests, should continue to have pap smears every 5 years. She may stop having pap smears at age 65.

    If a woman has had abnormal pap smears or is HPV positive, or has high risk conditions such as diethylsti

    ...  Full Post
  • Patricia Geraghty
    Patricia Geraghty has posted a blog entry: Why Do Pap Smear Guidelines Keep Changing?

    Pap smear guidelines have changed repeatedly and dramatically over the last 10-15 years. This is because of the explosion of knowledge in the cause of abnormal pap smears, human papilloma virus.

    There are over a 100 strains of human papilloma virus (HPV). Some of these strains cause changes to cells

    ...Full Post
  • Patricia Geraghty
    Patricia Geraghty answered:
    Is osteoporosis life-threatening?
    The problems caused by osteoporosis can be life threatening. The weakening of the bones, along with weakened muscle tone and poor balance increase the risk of fractures. If a weight bearing bone, such as the hip, is fractured the risk of serious negative changes in lifesyle are very high. In women...  Full Post
  • Patricia Geraghty
    Patricia Geraghty answered:
    How can osteoporosis be reversed?

    There are several different groups of medications that reverse osteoporosis. The first choice is a group called bisphosphinates. These include alendronate (Fossamax) and ibandronate (Boniva) among several others. There are special instructions on how to take these medications that are very important

    ...  Full Post
  • Patricia Geraghty
    Patricia Geraghty answered:
    Why is it important to drink water when pregnant?

    Water supplies the volume you need in pregnancy for all the extra tasks your body performs.

    By the end of the second trimester a pregnant woman has almost 150% of the blood volume of a non-pregnant woman. She notices the extra volume as engorged blood vessels in the nose, causing a natural stuffiness,

    ...  Full Post
  • Patricia Geraghty
    Patricia Geraghty answered:
    Is it true that going on birth control pills can help clear up acne?

    A recent Cochrane review, a review of all the scientific studies, showed that birth control pills reduce acne. Although a few brands actually have FDA approval be labelled as reducing acne, the Cochrane review found all types of birth control pills to be equally effective.

    The way birth control pills

    ...  Full Post
  • Patricia Geraghty
    Patricia Geraghty answered:
    What are complications of osteoporosis?
    The most obvious complication of osteoporosis is breaking bones. If the vertebrae in the spine break, this can cause loss of height, difficulty walking, and chronic pain. If a weight bearing bone such as the hip breaks, there is a high risk of less ability to move around independently. Immobility...  Full Post
  • Patricia Geraghty
    Patricia Geraghty answered:
    Can progestin-only birth control cause infertility?
    Progestin only birth control is available as pills, injectibles and implants. All progestin only methods are reversible birth control methods. They do not cause infertility. However, the injectible, DepoProvera, may have a delayed return to fertility. The injectible should be given every 12 weeks...  Full Post
  • Patricia Geraghty
    Patricia Geraghty answered:
    Can birth control pills cause weight gain?

    This is such an important question! About 75% of people, including health care providers, think that birth control pills cause weight gain. Yet when two groups of women are given pills, with one group taking hormonal contraception or birth control, and the other group taking placebos, the weight

    ...  Full Post