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Intimacy and Sexual Wellness

Sex can be difficult to talk about. But it doesn’t have to be. Intimacy and sexual health issues are common and can affect women of any age. That’s why we take an integrative approach to address the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual concerns that might be keeping you from a fulfilling and healthy sex life.

Whether it’s stress from your busy life, physical changes due to menopause or pregnancy, hormonal changes, or complications following cancer treatment, our team listen to you and find personalized therapies and treatments that work. Remember, sexual health is women’s health, and we want to empower you to live a vibrant and healthy life.

Call for an appointment today!

317-621-7120

Patient Testimonials

After a hysterectomy, Ann just wasn't feeling like herself. Working closely with the intimacy team, she received personalized bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to improve her quality of life. For Alvernia, a cervical cancer survivor, the team helped her realize steps she could take to get back to intimacy with her husband. The safe, non-judgmental space, along with the intimacy team's recommendations, allowed them both to get back to feeling like themselves and a happier, healthier intimate life.

I’m able to be more myself with my husband and I enjoy that.
Alvernia
Just because you have a hysterectomy and you age doesn't mean you shouldn't have a fulfilled life.
Ann

Intimate Treatments for Every Aspect of Your Life

Community Health Network offers intimacy and sexual wellness care to help treat a wide range of sexual and intimate health issues to enhance overall wellness in women, including physical, emotional and spiritual health. We can help address many different barriers to a healthy intimate life including:

  • Perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause symptoms
  • Painful intercourse (dyspareunia)
  • Vaginal conditions such as dryness, atrophy and vaginismus
  • Pelvic pain and pelvic floor issues
  • Hormone or metabolic imbalance, e.g., low testosterone in women
  • Physical pain, hormone changes, and emotional challenges related to gynecological or breast cancer treatment
  • Postpartum depression and physical changes after childbirth
  • Decreased libido
  • Stress, anxiety and depression
  • Sexual trauma

Treatment and Therapies

Intimacy and sexual wellness care options focus on integrative medicine — a healing-oriented practice that takes into account the body, mind and spirit. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and makes use of all conventional and alternative therapies to fit your lifestyle.

  • Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy
  • MonaLisa Touch vaginal improvement therapy
  • Pelvic floor physical therapy
  • Counseling services
  • Support with exploring gender identity and sexual orientation
  • Dietitians for weight loss support
  • Acupuncture (referral to Dr. Young Park)
  • Massage therapy

Behavioral Health and Well-Being

There's a connection between your physical health and emotional well-being. To round out our full continuum of care, our clinical team calls in extra mental health for patients who need it. Our behavioral health consultants work together with your physician and other medical providers to help you and your family members with ongoing integrated treatments for your medical and emotional health needs.

Common women's health needs that can be managed by the team include:

  • Anxiety, perinatal anxiety and postpartum anxiety
  • Depression, perinatal depression and postpartum depression
  • Adjustment to perimenopause and menopause
  • Chronic pelvic pain
  • Genitourinary cancers
  • Counseling related to healing from sexual trauma/abuse

It's easy to see a behavioral health consultant. During your visit, just ask your provider and the team will help you find an appointment time that works best with your schedule.

What To Expect

Our number one priority is to make sure you feel comfortable. So, when you have your intimacy and sexual wellness appointment, it won’t feel like your annual gynecological visit. Expect a relaxed conversation in a calming, non-clinical environment where you can freely discuss any thoughts, feelings, and concerns you have about sex and intimacy.

  • Intimacy and sexual wellness is offered within the Ob/Gyn Care North practice at Community Health Pavilion Noblesville.
  • New appointments last 50 minutes; follow-up appointments are 30 minutes. Some treatments may be available at other Community locations.
  • The first appointment should be the patient only; partners are welcome to attend after the initial consult.

Our goal is to reduce anxiety and create a safe and welcoming space. This allows our experts to dive deep into the many possible barriers affecting your intimate health. These barriers might include physical health, relational issues, guilt or shame originating from religious beliefs or families of origin, past sexual trauma, and more. A thorough discussion with the provider team will help identify these barriers, allowing us to create a personalized plan for you to create a more fulfilling sex life.

Meet the Physicians

To schedule an appointment, please call 317-621-7120.

Candace Westgate, DO

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Candace Westgate, DO, ob/gynCandace Westgate, DO, FACOG, earned her medical degree from A.T. Still University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri. She earned a master’s in public health from Tulane University and a bachelor’s degree from Oral Roberts University. Dr. Westgate speaks English and Afrikaans.

She worked for several years as an ob/gyn before shifting to a gynecology-only focus on 2020. Dr. Westgate has additional certifications in midlife women’s health and menopause. In addition to this training and experience, she has also specialized in cancer prevention and early detection, with additional certification in Women’s Genomics Counseling from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Westgate has a strong interest in personalized medicine that treats the whole person. In addition to her experience and training, she brings her expertise in minimally invasive surgery with laparoscopy and vNOTES procedures.

Michelle Murphy, MD

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Michelle Murphy, MD, gynecologistDr. Murphy has been in practice since 1995 and relocated to Indianapolis in 2007. She received her bachelor’s degree from Union College in Schenectady, New York, and graduated from Albany Medical College in New York, where she also completed her residency. In addition to her private practice experience, Dr. Murphy has served on the faculty of State University of New York. She became board certified in obstetrics and gynecology in 1997 and is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has also served as OB/GYN Department Chair at Community Health Network.

Dr. Murphy enjoys staying current in the latest techniques for treating gynecologic problems, including minimally-invasive surgeries. She has special interests in laparoscopic hysterectomies, endometriosis and pelvic bleeding. Dr. Murphy offers in-office Essure® permanent birth control and GYNECARE THERMACHOICE® endometrial ablation procedures. She is a strong believer in healthy lifestyles and is an advocate of good nutrition, exercise and stress control to promote wellness. Dr. Murphy is a certified menopause practitioner.