Zenette M – Gynecology Specialists

About Dr. Leao

Dr. Zenette Leao is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. A Hampton Roads native, Dr. Leao has proudly served women and families in the community through private practice since 2004.

Dr. Leao earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia before attending Eastern Virginia Medical School, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She completed her internship and residency training at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

For Dr. Leao, caring for women goes far beyond diagnosing and treating medical conditions. She describes her role as being a teacher, confidant, problem solver, and healer—someone her patients can trust through every stage of life.

“I love improving the quality of life for thousands of women through behavioral, medical, and surgical interventions. It is immensely gratifying to cure disease and alleviate symptoms for women throughout their premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal years.”

Dr. Leao believes open, honest communication is an essential part of excellent gynecologic care. She encourages women to ask questions, even when a topic may feel uncomfortable or embarrassing. As she often reminds her patients, “No question is too embarrassing. We’re here to help, and we’ve heard it all.”

Dr. Leao Encourages Women To

Prioritize their sexual health.
Intimacy should be enjoyable, healthy, and mutually fulfilling throughout adulthood.
Take control of their menstrual health.
Your menstrual cycle should not interfere with your ability to enjoy your everyday life.
Never ignore a breast lump or change.
Any concerning breast change deserves prompt evaluation.
Stay proactive about cervical health.
Regular Pap screenings and appropriate follow-up of abnormal results are important tools in preventing cervical cancer.

Areas of Special Interest

Dr. Leao has a special interest in helping women feel their best at every stage of life, with clinical interests including:

Vaginal health and restoration
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy
Long-acting reversible contraception
Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery
Adolescent gynecology
Uterine fibroid treatment
Cervical dysplasia and abnormal Pap results
Advanced laparoscopy

Outside of the office, Dr. Leao enjoys spending time with her husband and their three sons. Much of her free time is spent playing pickleball. When she finds a quiet moment for herself, she enjoys reading and listening to audiobooks.

For Dr. Leao, caring for women is both a privilege and a passion. Her goal is to create a welcoming environment where every patient feels heard, informed, and comfortable discussing their health at every stage of life.