Who is an OB-GYN?
OB-GYN is a specialty in medicine that combines two closely related medical disciplines: obstetrics and gynecology. An obstetrician is a physician who specializes in women's pregnancy care and childbirth. A gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing/treating issues in the female reproductive system.
Since both specialties are closely related and interlinked, most doctors specialize in both fields and are called OB-GYN doctors or specialists. An OB-GYN doctor serves only female patients from puberty till menopause and beyond. They can effectively handle pregnancy-related complications, menstrual and menopause issues, and other reproductive health issues in female patients.
Like all physicians, OB-GYNs must graduate from medical school, complete a postgraduate residency, and potentially a fellowship. This entire process takes at least eight years. They must also successfully pass each United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) stage, including USMLE Step 1 and Step 2. For those interested in a subspecialty, an additional fellowship is required to obtain board certification in their chosen field.
What are the various OB-GYN subspecialties?
While most OB-GYNs are generalists, data from the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) indicates a recent increase in OB-GYNs obtaining board certification in subspecialties. The ABMS recognizes seven subspecialties:
- Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery: Specialists in this field provide medical and surgical treatment for women with pelvic floor disorders.
- Maternal-fetal medicine: These experts address health concerns for both mother and baby and manage complications that arise during pregnancy.
- Critical care medicine: This specialty focuses on diagnosing, treating, and supporting critically ill and injured patients.
- Complex family planning: OB-GYNs in this subspecialty work with women with complex conditions, collaborating with other providers to ensure proper reproductive care.
- Reproductive endocrinology and infertility: Reproductive endocrinologists evaluate and treat fertility issues and hormonal dysfunctions.
- Gynecologic oncology: These doctors perform various techniques to treat patients with gynecologic cancers.
- Hospice and palliative medicine: OB-GYNs in this subspecialty care for patients with life-limiting illnesses, aiming to improve quality of life and lower suffering.
Areas of focus of an OB-GYN
Obstetrics and gynecology are closely linked medical fields that focus on women's reproductive health. Obstetrics deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, while gynecology focuses on overall reproductive health. Together, they ensure women receive continuous and specialized care throughout different stages of life.
Obstetrics
Obstetrics involves medical care before, during, and after pregnancy to support both maternal and infant health.
- Preconception care: Women planning to conceive can benefit from medical counseling to optimize health and address potential risks. Lifestyle modifications, nutritional advice, and genetic screenings may be recommended. Fertility specialists may assist with conception and infertility treatment.
- Prenatal care: Pregnancy care includes regular checkups to monitor fetal development. From weeks 4 to 28, appointments are scheduled monthly, then twice a month from weeks 28 to 36, and weekly from week 36 until delivery. Additional screenings and ultrasounds may be conducted as needed.
- Neonatal care: This refers to the medical attention newborns receive immediately after birth. Care is categorized into level I (routine newborn care), level II (specialized nursery care), and level III (intensive neonatal care for critically ill infants).
- Postpartum care: After childbirth, medical checkups help monitor recovery, assess mental and physical health, and provide guidance on breastfeeding and postpartum depression. Care continues for at least six weeks after delivery.
Gynecology
Gynecology addresses conditions related to the female reproductive system, including the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and breasts. Gynecologists offer both preventive care and medical or surgical treatments for reproductive health concerns.
Preventive care includes routine screenings such as pelvic exams, pap smears, mammograms, HPV vaccinations, STD testing, and bone density scans.
Common conditions treated include:
- Menstrual disorders: Painful, irregular, or heavy periods, PMS, and hormonal imbalances
- Reproductive health issues: Endometriosis, fibroids, infertility, pelvic organ prolapse
- Infections: UTIs, vaginal infections, STDs, and pelvic inflammatory disease
- Cancer and bone health: Cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancers, osteoporosis
- Other conditions: Urinary incontinence, painful intercourse, vaginal dryness, abnormal discharge
Women experiencing symptoms such as pelvic pain, unusual bleeding, discomfort during urination, or vaginal irritation should seek medical advice. Regular visits to an OB-GYN help maintain reproductive health and overall well-being.
What are pregnancy complications?
Pregnancy complications are any health problems or conditions that may arise during pregnancy. Such complications can affect the mother and baby's overall health and well-being. Health issues during pregnancy can vary from routine matters to severe or potentially fatal health issues. Your OB-GYN monitors your health for any signs of complications throughout the pregnancy. They may conduct physical exams, ultrasounds, and lab tests to help prevent such complications or detect them early for effective management and treatment.
Common health issues during pregnancy
Some of the most common health concerns faced by pregnant women include:
Anemia: If a woman has a lower-than-average count of healthy red blood cells in her blood, the condition is called anemia.
Symptoms: Looking pale, feeling weak or tired, shortness of breath, feeling faint.
Depression: Feeling of extreme sadness during pregnancy or after childbirth.
Symptoms: Irritability and helplessness, intense sadness, thoughts of harming oneself or the baby, and changes in appetite
Ectopic pregnancy: A condition wherein the fertilized egg begins to develop outside the uterus, generally in the fallopian tube.
Symptoms: Abdominal pain, shoulder pain, feeling faint or dizzy, vaginal bleeding
Fetal problems: Health issues with the unborn baby (fetus), such as heart problems or poor growth.
Symptoms: The baby's size is smaller than expected for the gestational age, and the baby's movement is less than expected. Some problems don't show any signs but get detected during prenatal tests.
Gestational diabetes: Higher levels of blood sugar during pregnancy.
Symptoms: Extreme thirst, fatigue, or hunger; screening tests indicate higher blood sugar levels. Usually, there are no symptoms, and screening tests help detect the issue.
Hypertension (High blood pressure) during pregnancy: Doctors usually detect higher blood pressure after or during the 20th week of pregnancy, which generally goes away after childbirth.
Symptoms: High blood pressure without additional symptoms or signs of preeclampsia
Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG): Persistent, severe vomiting and nausea during pregnancy, which is more extreme than usually experienced morning sickness.
Symptoms: Vomiting several times daily, nausea, dehydration, reduced appetite, weight loss, fainting, or feeling faint
Miscarriage: Pregnancy loss due to natural reasons before the 20th week of gestation. Approximately 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. A miscarriage often occurs before the woman even knows that she is pregnant.
Symptoms: Abdominal pain or cramping, vaginal bleeding or spotting, tissue or fluid passing from the vagina
Note: Early spotting in pregnancy does not always indicate a miscarriage. Contact the OB-GYN specialist immediately if you experience any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy.
Placenta previa: Placenta covers the entire or partial cervix opening inside the uterus.
Symptoms: Painless vaginal bleeding during the 2nd or 3rd trimester. Some women may not experience any symptoms.
Placental abruption: The placenta detaches or separates from the uterine wall during or before childbirth. In this case, the fetus doesn't get the required oxygen.
Symptoms: Vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, cramping, uterine tenderness
Preeclampsia: A complication that begins after the 20th week of pregnancy and causes
hypertension and issues in the kidney and other organs. It is also called toxemia.
Symptoms: High blood pressure, blurred vision, sweating in the face and hands, stomach pain, headache, dizziness, and too much protein in urine.
Preterm labor: The woman enters labor before the 37th week of pregnancy.
Symptoms: Increased vaginal discharge, contractions, cramping, and pelvic pressure, back pain that radiates to the abdomen.
When to call the OB-GYN physician?
Don't wait for any issues or symptoms during pregnancy to call the OB-GYN doctor. More often, physical changes or signs can indicate underlying health complications. Call the OB-GYN specialist immediately if you experience the following symptoms:
- Leaking fluid or bleeding from the vagina
- Persistent or severe headaches
- Severe or sudden swelling in hands, face, or fingers
- Discomfort, camping or pain in the lower abdomen
- Chills or fever
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Burning sensation, pain, or discomfort during urination
- Blurred vision
- Having thoughts of harming baby or self
- Suspect less than average movement by the baby after the 28th week of pregnancy(counting less than ten baby movements within 2 hours).
What happens during well-woman exams?
Scheduling routine well-woman exams with an OB-GYN near you is essential. It can help you maintain your sexual and reproductive health throughout all stages of life, including puberty, reproductive years, and postmenopause.
Even if you do not visit your OB-GYN, there is always time to start. Before you schedule your appointment, you can read up on what to expect so that you can prepare for it and make the most of your visit. Here's a broad overview of the well-woman exam:
- Personal and family history: Your OB-GYN will ask you questions about your past and current conditions, gynecological symptoms, medications you take, lifestyle habits, and home situation. They will also want to know about the medical problems that run in your family to assess your health risks.
- Physical exam: After a brief discussion about your health, they will check your vital signs, general appearance, skin, heartbeat, breathing, thyroid gland, and other factors depending on your unique situation. They will also do a pelvic exam to examine your reproductive organs and look for abnormal signs. They will follow up with a Pap test and breast exam to scan for cervical and breast cancer.
- Vaccinations: Your OB-GYN will recommend the most appropriate vaccinations based on your health.
- Age-specific discussions: Besides evaluating your overall health, OB-GYNs educate you on the topics relevant to your age group. The younger age group of 15-21 will likely receive a talk on birth control, sexually transmitted infections, HPV vaccine, and breast self-exam. If you are in your reproductive age group, you may visit for preconception counseling or to discuss fertility options. As age progresses, you may need help dealing with the new bodily changes that occur postmenopause. They will also discuss your risks of health conditions such as heart disease, cancer, urinary incontinence, low libido, and bone loss.
- Questions: Your provider will also encourage you to ask your queries regarding your sexual and reproductive health. Remember, they aim to help you and not judge you, so do not hesitate to have an open and honest discussion.
Finding the best OB-GYN near you in Forest Hills, NY
Are you seeking a qualified OB-GYN specialist to advise and guide you on your pregnancy or reproductive health issues? Do you have doubts about your reproductive health and want to consult an OB-GYN Expert? With Zocdoc, you can easily find the best and most experienced OB-GYN specialist in Forest Hills, New York.
Simply begin by signing up for a free account on Zocdoc. Choose the specialty or condition, location, date, and insurance plan. A comprehensive list based on your search criteria will appear. Zocdoc has partnered with qualified, experienced OB-GYN doctors in Forest Hills, New York. If you need help with your insurance plan, use the Zocdoc insurance detector. Each OB-GYN specialist on Zocdoc has a separate profile. The profile includes a brief introduction, education qualification, practice location, visit reasons, and, most importantly, patient reviews.
If you need assistance finding dentists who accept your insurance, our online patient help center is here to help. On Zocdoc, you can link your medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your account. Remember, each appointment can only utilize one insurance plan.
If you have multiple insurance plans, don't worry. You can add your secondary insurance details in the appointment notes. Additionally, if your provider uses Zocdoc's Intake forms, you can easily enter your secondary insurance information.
After the appointment, Zocdoc encourages patients to leave feedback. You can see these verified reviews to find the best OB-GYN or gynecologist near you in Forest Hills, NY. You can also book video appointments on Zocdoc before an in-person visit to better understand your OB-GYN doctor. Look for a purple video icon on OB-GYN specialists' profiles, or filter the video appointment selection.
You can book appointments with OB-GYNs near you who accept your insurance plan in real time on Zocdoc. It's simple, secure, and free!
Pregnancy and childbirth statistics, New York, USA
According to the 2020 data published on the March of Dimes website, New York had almost 209,338 live births. The state's fertility rate was around 54.6 per 1,000 females in the 15-44 age group. The total population of women of childbearing age was around 3,835,773.
According to the 2020 report by the New York State Department of Health, almost 89.7% of women initiated breastfeeding after a successful delivery, and the percentage was 94.1% among women under the 20-year age group.
As per the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention 2020 statistics, about 3,613,647 live births happened in the USA, with a birth rate of 11.0 per 1,000 people. The US fertility rate is around 56.0 births per 1000 women in the 15-44 age group. The percentage of births with lower birth weight is about 8.24%, while the rate of preterm births is around 10.09%.
The number of teen or live births for mothers in the 15-19 age group is around 158,043. The birth rate of mothers in the 15-19 age group was 15.4 live births per 1000 females in the age group.
Sources
Office on Women's Health
Centre for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
St George's University
Centre for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
Centre for Disease Control and Prevention[3]
New York State Department of Health
March of Dimes
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Tufts Medicine
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