Who is an OB-GYN?
An obstetrician cares for women during pregnancy and after delivery (the postpartum period). They also deliver babies. A gynecologist cares for a woman's reproductive health from puberty to menopause. An obstetrician-gynecologist or OB-GYN receives training to perform both of these roles.
They are primary care doctors who offer a range of general and specialized services.
They help you with birth control, menopause, cancer screenings, and treating infections and urinary tract problems. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) advises girls to have their first OB-GYN visit when they turn 13.
Why should you have an OB-GYN?
Having a gynecologist or OB-GYN near you whom you can regularly consult ensures your sexual, reproductive, and overall well-being. They also conduct regular health checkups.
A few regular checkup exams that your OB-GYN could perform are as follows:
- Physical exam and weight and blood pressure observation
- Blood and urine tests
- Pap tests (to check for cervical cancer)
- Pelvic and breast examinations
- Rectovaginal exam
- Tissue swab test to check for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and HIV.
Also, you can talk to your OB-GYN about the following:
- Menstrual cycle
- Sexual problems or issues
- Birth control methods
- Vaccinations
- Reproductive health
- Genital itching
- Urinary incontinence
- Vaginal infections
- Hormonal imbalances
- Infertility
- Breast disorders
Your doctor can even guide you through pregnancy and postpartum care. Prenatal care entails the healthcare and checkups a woman receives from an OB-GYN, a nurse, or a midwife throughout their pregnancy and before the delivery. It ensures their well-being and that of the baby. If a woman is already expecting, regular OB-GYN visits are vital for a smooth and healthy pregnancy.
Everything you should know about prenatal care
Routine prenatal testing can prevent several problems that could harm you or your baby. Your doctor will also monitor the baby's growth and answer any questions you have. You can begin having regular appointments when you find out you're pregnant. Your visits will get more frequent as your pregnancy advances. You'll start by visiting your OB-GYN every four weeks to weekly towards the end of your pregnancy. A few tests that your OB-GYN may perform during prenatal care are as follows:
- Blood tests
- Physical exam
- Weight checks
- Testing urine sample
- Imaging tests such as ultrasound
Your doctor may recommend proper diet, exercise, and avoiding harmful substances (such as lead or radiation, certain medications, alcohol, tobacco, etc.). This awareness is essential as such substances, such as alcohol, can cause several problems, such as abnormal facial features, intellectual disability, poor coordination and memory, and problems with the heart, kidneys, or lungs. Controlling diabetes and high blood pressure is also essential to prevent complications.
Infants who don't get prenatal care are three times more likely to have had low birth weight. Not getting proper care also puts mothers at risk; they are 3–4 times more likely to have life-threatening complications than those who receive care.
How can OB-GYNs help with family planning?
OB-GYNs provide family planning assistance to help you decide and create your desired family. They enable you to plan the size of your family and achieve your family goals. A qualified OB-GYN near you can help you with the following:
Pregnancy prevention
OB-GYNs can suggest appropriate contraception options to prevent pregnancy. It can help if you don't want more children or want to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Birth control or contraception is a personal choice, but OB-GYNs can help you determine the most suitable contraception method for safe pregnancy prevention. Temporary pregnancy prevention options include:
- Vaginal rings
- Birth control pills
- Intrauterine devices
- Hormonal birth control patches
- Diaphragms
- Birth control shots
If you no longer wish to grow your family size, you can ask the OB-GYN for permanent birth control solutions. They will examine your body and suggest safe methods for permanent pregnancy prevention.
Pregnancy planning
OB-GYNs can regularly guide you on the best practices and lifestyle changes for a successful conception. They suggest when to start taking prenatal vitamins to diminish the chances of neural tube defects. They even help you follow a nutrient-rich diet, review your existing medications, and instruct you to stop alcohol intake and smoking to ensure the healthiest pregnancy.
OB-GYNs can diagnose and treat underlying health conditions and improve your chances of natural conception. They also help you with fertility issues and recommend safe assisted pregnancy options. If you wish to start a family, visiting the OB-GYN to review your reproductive health and check for any underlying issues to prevent pregnancy complications later is good.
Interpreganancy care
A few women may prefer to keep a few years gap between two children. OB-GYNs can help such women with appropriate interpregnancy family planning assistance.
Sometimes, the woman is too weak after the first childbirth, and another pregnancy soon after can be risky for the woman and the baby. In such cases, OB-GYNs recommend spacing the pregnancy to allow the woman to recover before another pregnancy fully. This kind of care is called inter-pregnancy care. It begins during the postnatal stage until the woman is entirely healthy. For instance, in a C-section delivery, the doctor advises the patient to wait at least 18 months before planning another baby.
Inter-pregnancy care also includes women who have suffered a miscarriage, dilation, curettage (D&C), and complications during childbirth. OB-GYNs first conduct detailed physical examinations in these cases to identify safe pregnancy planning timelines. It helps to minimize the risks and achieve better pregnancy outcomes.
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
- 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
- Birth control pills
- 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 and bleeding. Therefore, you need to record your monthly cycles, including the start and end dates, other bleeding instances, amount of blood flow, and any other abnormal signs 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. Depending on the problem's severity, OB-GYNs may suggest simple lifestyle changes, prescribe medicines, or advise surgery. Regular well-women's health checkups help detect underlying conditions early. They also help receive holistic treatment, which prevents the disorder from becoming a significant health complication.
What pregnancy complications do OB-GYNs treat?
While your body changes throughout pregnancy, your OB-GYN will monitor your and your baby's progress and assess your risk for certain pregnancy complications. A pregnancy complication is a kind of physical or mental health condition that can affect a pregnant person's and/or fetus' health. Complications can occur due to new issues arising during pregnancy or even due to preexisting medical conditions. Even women who are healthy before pregnancy can face complications. These problems can be detected and discussed with your OB-GYN during one of your prenatal appointments. Some common factors that increase your risk for complications include being younger than 20 or older than 35, smoking and drinking, obesity, having a previous miscarriage, anemia, high blood pressure, and being pregnant with twins or triplets.
Most complications can be treated. However, early detection and prompt care are necessary to reduce the risk of these issues becoming severe or life-threatening for the mother or baby. Some complications may be detected early on in a pregnancy, while some occur during the last stages.
- Gestational diabetes: Typically, food digested by the body turns into glucose, the body's energy source. The pancreas produces insulin to help the glucose move out of the blood and into the cells. During pregnancy, hormonal changes may cause the pancreas to not produce enough insulin or not use it normally, leading to an increase of glucose in the blood, therefore causing gestational diabetes. Women who did not have diabetes before their pregnancy can develop it during pregnancy. It's essential to have a glucose screening during your prenatal visits to detect this condition.
- Low amniotic fluid (also called oligohydramnios): In this complication, the amniotic fluid (a fluid that surrounds the fetus in the uterus) is lower than expected at that gestational age. This fluid is responsible for protecting the fetus from infections and umbilical cord compression. It also helps develop your baby's digestive and respiratory system and regulates its temperature. The amount of amniotic fluid in the uterus is usually determined during an ultrasound.
- Preeclampsia: Beginning at 20 weeks of pregnancy, a patient with preeclampsia will have high levels of protein in the urine (which could be a sign of kidney damage) as well as high blood pressure. The condition may become life-threatening for the mother and the baby if left untreated. Common signs of preeclampsia include shortness of breath, pain in the upper belly (typically below the ribs), severe headaches, a decrease in platelet count, and vomiting.
- Ectopic pregnancy: This complication occurs when a fertilized egg, which is supposed to be implanted in the uterus, is implanted outside it, where its growth cannot be supported. This often happens in the fallopian tube. Symptoms like vaginal bleeding and pain in the abdomen or pelvis may indicate an ectopic pregnancy. If a fallopian tube ruptures, it can cause low blood pressure, fainting, rectal pressure, and bowel problems.
Find the best OB-GYN near you in Charleston, South Carolina
Now that you understand how important an OB-GYN is for your and your baby's health, there's no doubt that you must begin regular consultations. So, how do you find a professional, qualified doctor who understands your needs?
You can search for a doctor on Zocdoc, a platform with hundreds of experienced healthcare providers registered across the US. Start by registering for free on the forum, then use the search bar to find an OB-GYN in your area.
There are various filters that you can use in your search. For instance, to connect with an in-network healthcare professional, you can enter the name of your insurance carrier. It fetches you a list of OB-GYNs accepting your healthcare plan to cover the costs.
If you suffer from a specific condition, you could search using the same and find suitable doctors with relevant experience. If unsure, you could enter your symptoms instead and let Zocdoc figure out the rest.
Finding an OB-GYN is easy with Zocdoc and helps you save travel time. It also makes it easier to attend appointments regularly, especially if you are in the later stages of your pregnancy. You can use Zocdoc's location-specific search to find doctors in Charleston, South Carolina. If travel is impossible, you can book a video consultation by clicking the purple icon next to your chosen doctor's name.
If you want to know your insurance plan, upload an image of your medical insurance card to your Zocdoc account, and we will find and display information regarding your insurance plan (this facility is not available for vision or dental plans). You can also check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more information and solutions related to insurance.
Further, you can click on a doctor's name to access their complete profile, which contains pertinent information such as their educational background and qualifications, accreditations, hospital affiliations, licenses, years of experience, etc. You can also see their schedule to find free slots and schedule your appointment at a convenient date and time.
Some women feel more comfortable with a female OB-GYN. If so, you can filter your search by gender and consult one. Most importantly, the verified patient reviews written by patients who have previously consulted a particular doctor should be reviewed. This information is also available in the profile section, allowing you to make an informed choice. The best part? All bookings on Zocdoc are simple, secure, and 100% free!
Women's health statistics in Charleston, South Carolina
According to America's Health Rankings, the US has an average of 49.5 OB-GYNs and midwives per 100,000 females aged 15 and older. In September 2021, this number was 43.4 in South Carolina, which is lower than the national average and puts South Carolina at the 33rd rank out of the 50 US states.
Regular prenatal care ensures a healthy pregnancy and birth, whereas not getting regular prenatal care can adversely affect the mother and the baby. In 2020, out of the total live births in South Carolina, 78.4% of the mothers had received prenatal care right from the first four months of pregnancy, followed by the recommended number of visits for the baby's gestational age. Around 77.7% of births in the US are to mothers receiving early prenatal care. On the other hand, only 1 in 16 infants (6.25%) are born to a mother receiving no or late prenatal care.
Sources
WebMD
Planned Parenthood
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
America's Health Rankings[1]
America's Health Rankings[2]
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Gynecology and Obstetrics Medical Group
Baylor Medicine
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Cleveland Clinic[2]
Cleveland Clinic[3]
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Mayo Clinic
