Who is an OB-GYN?
An OB-GYN is an obstetrician-gynecologist. While a gynecologist specializes in female reproductive health, an obstetrician provides prenatal and postnatal care and delivers babies. As the name suggests, OB-GYNs specialize in both these domains.
Your OB-GYN can help you with some of your most essential health decisions, such as birth control, childbirth, and menopause. An OB-GYN can also perform cancer screenings, perform surgery for pelvic organ or urinary tract issues, and treat infections.
What procedures can OB-GYNs perform?
OB-GYNs are surgeons who can perform a variety of procedures, including:
- instrumental deliveries during childbirth
- cesarean sections
- removing growths like ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids
- a hysterectomy
- surgery to repair pelvic organ injuries
- Pap smears to test for cervical cancer
- pelvic ultrasounds to assess the pelvic organs and monitor pregnancy
- fertility treatments, like egg retrievals for IVF or egg-freezing
- STI tests
- management of urinary issues, urinary tract infections (UTIs) and urinary incontinence
- infertility treatments and counseling
- breast health management and breast exams, including mammograms and breast cancer screenings
What are some of the subspecialties of OB-GYN?
A vast majority of OB-GYNs are generalists. However, the number of OB/GYNs obtaining board certification in a specialty field has recently increased, as per the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) data. The board recognizes seven subspecialties:
- Critical care medicine: This specialty involves diagnosing, treating, and supporting critically ill and injured patients.
- Complex family planning: An OB/GYN specializing in this field works with patients with severe medical conditions and consults with other medical professionals to ensure that individuals receive the best reproductive care possible.
- Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery: The specialists treat women with pelvic floor disorders medically and surgically.
- Gynecologic oncology: This OB-GYN subspecialty aims to provide the best possible treatment to women with gynecologic cancers.
- Hospice and palliative medicine: OB/GYNs specializing in this field work with patients with life-limiting illnesses to alleviate suffering and upgrade their quality of life.
- Maternal-fetal medicine: OB/GYNs who practice maternal-fetal medicine are skilled in addressing health issues for both the mother and the baby and assisting in managing pregnancy complications.
- Infertility and reproductive endocrinology: Reproductive endocrinologists are OB/GYNs who assess and treat fertility problems and hormonal dysfunctions.
Talking to your OB-GYN
It would help to visit an OB-GYN near you at least once a year. During this visit, you can ask all possible questions to relieve worries, avoid neglecting illnesses/disorders/issues, save money, and much more. Share all your qualms with your reliable OB-GYN without any hesitation. Remember that your OB-GYN will likely be well-equipped to address your concerns professionally, comfortably, and safely.
Your OB-GYN may also question you extensively. While these questions may feel too personal to some, it is essential information for your doctor to maintain your health and treat or detect plausible conditions. There may be discussion around the following topics:
- Your period and any problems with it, such as missed or heavy periods
- Frequency of sexual activity
- Sexual issues or problems
- Vaginal discharge
- The number of sexual partners, both that you might have now or in the past
- Birth control methods
- Any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) you have been diagnosed with or suspect symptoms of
- Vaccination history
What is abnormal menstrual bleeding?
Menstrual bleeding typically occurs almost every 28 days. It lasts about five days and involves losing 2 to 8 tablespoons of blood. When a woman experiences vaginal bleeding differently from the normal menstrual cycle, it is called abnormal menstrual bleeding or irregular periods. Since every woman is biologically different, the many variations in bleeding duration, amount, and timing are considered normal. Common signs of abnormal menstrual bleeding include the following:
- Shorter or longer periods than normal
- Bleeding post menopause
- Bleeding or spotting between periods
- Bleeding after sex
- Unusually light or heavy flow during periods
- Missing periods
- The more frequent or less frequent menstrual cycle than normal
See an OB-GYN near you immediately if you notice symptoms of such an irregular period.
Causes
The various causes of abnormal menstrual bleeding include the following:
- Hormonal changes in the body
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Birth control pills
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Cervical disorders
- Endometrial hyperplasia (build-up or thickening of the inner and outer lining of the uterus)
- Menstrual dysfunction
- Use of intrauterine devices for birth control
- Tumors, fibroids, or polyps in the cervix, uterus, fallopian tube, or vagina
- Pregnancy complications
- Certain medications
- Cancer
Diagnosis and treatment
OB-GYNs may ask for your detailed medical history, including your menstruation cycle. Therefore, you should record your monthly cycles, such as the start and end dates, the amount of blood flow, and any other abnormal changes during periods. They may also conduct a detailed physical exam. Depending on the condition, OB-GYNs may recommend additional screening tests such as ultrasound, blood test, urine test, diagnostic hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, and endometrial biopsy.
Treatment for irregular periods mainly depends on a proper diagnosis, the woman's age, and other biological factors. OB-GYNs may suggest simple lifestyle changes, prescribe medicines, or advise surgery depending on the problem's severity. Regular well-women health checkups help detect underlying conditions early.
How do we maintain sexual and reproductive health?
Women must take proactive steps to maintain their sexual and reproductive health to enjoy lifelong well-being. While it is best to discuss this topic with your OB-GYN for tailored advice, the below-mentioned tips are a good starting point until your next appointment.
Follow feminine hygiene tips
- Clean your intimate area with mild soap and clean water.
- Stay away from douching, scrubbing, and steaming down there, as it can negatively affect your vaginal pH balance.
- Always wipe front to back (vagina to anus) and not the other way around.
- Remember to pee and wash your genitals with plain water after sexual activity.
Follow safe sex practices
- Avoid having multiple sexual partners.
- Always use barrier protection such as condoms for any intimate activity to prevent STIs.
- Besides condoms, use additional contraception methods such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) or birth control pills if you are not planning for a pregnancy.
- Immediately clean your sexual devices after use.
- Use the correct type of lube to avoid condom breakage or slippage and vaginal pH imbalance.
Follow preventative care
- Go for routine STI testing if you are sexually active.
- Get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to protect against cervical cancer.
- Go for your annual well-woman checkups and recommended screenings.
- Perform routine breast self-exams.
Follow good lifestyle and diet habits
- Quit smoking and limit your alcohol intake.
- Eat a nutritious diet every day.
How can you find the best OB-GYN near you in Brighton, CO?
Since OB-GYNs deal with personal and sensitive health issues, some women may be concerned about seeing one for the first time. You may be nervous or embarrassed about allowing a doctor to examine the most intimate parts of your body. Alternatively, you may hesitate to trust and discuss your private concerns with an OB-GYN. Therefore, you should carefully consider your OB-GYN selection.
Zocdoc is an online platform that can help you find the top-rated OB-GYNs in Brighton. After you create your free account on the Zocdoc website, you can filter medical professionals according to your requirements. Using the search bar, enter the condition you are suffering from, the clinical procedure you need to avail of, or the health practitioner you want to visit.
Zocdoc even allows you to choose based on languages spoken by the doctor, gender, distance, availability, date and time of visit, patient type, and much more. Zocdoc's algorithm can filter the list of top-rated internists in Jacksonville, Florida. Zocdoc also helps you find "in-network" doctors who accept your insurance plan to help you save a few bucks on bills or clinical procedures.
If you are wondering, "What should I do if I do not have a health plan?" or "What should I do if I do not want to use my health plan for appointment booking on Zocdoc?", we have an alternative for you. You can acknowledge you will be bearing out-of-pocket expenses by selecting "I'm paying for myself" in the insurance drop-down menu of the search bar. When you click the find button, you will receive an extensive list of OB-GYNs accepting patients without insurance. You can go through more insurance FAQs on our patient help center page.
You can visit each doctor's profile to learn more about them, including their academic qualifications, medical expertise, research interests, languages they speak, hospital affiliations, and achievements. Zocdoc also provides verified reviews and ratings by patients who visited these doctors to help you make a better choice. After choosing an OB-GYN near you, you can schedule an in-person or online appointment. The best part about planning your appointments via Zocdoc is that all bookings made are simple, 100% free, and secure!
Women's reproductive health and pregnancy statistics in Colorado
As per the March of Dimes data, there were ~61,494 live births in Colorado in 2020. The fertility rate was about 51.5 per 1,000 women ages 15-44 in 2020. During 2018-2020 (average), the highest fertility rates per 1,000 women were for women ages 30-39 (~72.1), followed by women ages 20-29 (~68.7), ages 15-19 (~13.7) and ages 40 and older (~12.5). Of all live births in Colorado during 2018-2020 (average), ~3.9% were to women under the age of 20, ~43.8% were to women ages 20-29, ~48.6% were to women ages 30-39, and ~3.6% were to women ages 40 and older.
In 2021, women receiving early prenatal care accounted for ~81.9% of live births, ~12.8% of women receiving care in the second trimester, and ~5.3% receiving late or no prenatal care. Approximately one in every 19 infants (~5.3% of live births) will be born to a woman who received late or no prenatal care in 2021. About 70.4% of live births occurred in women who received adequate/adequate plus prenatal care, ~16.7% in women who received intermediate care, and ~12.9% in women who received inadequate care. Approximately one in every eight infants (~12.9% of live births) will be born to a woman who received inadequate prenatal care in 2021.
Sources
Medical News Today
WebMD
March of Dimes[1]
March of Dimes[2]
St. George's University
Baylor Medicine
University OB/GYN Associates
New Jersey Family Planning League
Healthline
