OB-GYNs and their role in healthcare
Primary care physicians (PCPs) specializing in the female reproductive system and related illnesses are called obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYNs). They advise women before, after, and throughout pregnancy to assist them in making sound decisions regarding their reproductive health. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, women must have yearly health examinations at their OB-GYN facilities starting in their teenage years, ideally between 13 and 15.
Education and training requirements of an OB-GYN
To become an OB-GYN, a doctor must earn a bachelor's degree and four years of medical school. After medical school, they undergo four years of residency in obstetrics and gynecology, where they learn about diagnosing, treating, managing, and preventing reproductive and women's health issues under the supervision of an attending physician in a hospital setting.
After residency, OB-GYNs require an additional three years of specialized training. After completing all training requirements, the doctor must pass exams conducted by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology training requirements. To maintain certification, OB-GYNs must pass a maintenance exam every six years.
Subspecialties in OB-GYN
Some OB-GYNs choose to further their training to obtain a subspecialty in obstetrics and gynecology. They can become:
- Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists: They provide prenatal care for women with high-risk pregnancies, assist in managing the mother's/patient's underlying health issues like diabetes or high blood pressure, and perform ultrasounds to monitor the fetus' growth and development. They also check for genetic disorders using procedures like chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or umbilical cord sampling. They diagnose and treat congenital disabilities in developing babies, perform surgery as necessary, and manage the mother's health complications after birth.
- Reproductive endocrinologists (RE): They deal with intricate issues with infertility and reproductive endocrinology. Both men and women can become infertile at any age. It is time to get advice from an OB-GYN if, even after a year of unprotected sex, you are still unable to conceive. Diagnostic tests, such as an X-ray of the uterus or fallopian tubes, semen tests, or an ovarian reserve fertility test, are performed by reproductive endocrinologists to identify the issue. Based on the outcomes of the tests, they could advise surgeries like laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, or abdominal myomectomy. Additionally, they support assisted reproductive techniques such as IVF (in vitro fertilization) and IUI (intrauterine insemination).
- Gynecologic oncologists diagnose and treat malignancies of the reproductive system with chemotherapy, surgery, and palliative care.
- Complex family planning specialists: Patients with complicated medical conditions receive care for abortion and contraception from them. They also assist patients in making family plans by teaching and guiding patients.
- Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgeons: They deal with conditions affecting the genitourinary system, such as persistent pelvic discomfort, sexual dysfunction, urine incontinence, fecal incontinence, and defecatory disorders. They identify issues using physical examinations and diagnostics such as urodynamic testing, endoanal sonography analysis, and office cystoscopy. They might carry out procedures including mid-urethral sling, sacrospinous fixation, uterosacral ligament suspension, and abdominal sacrocolpopexy.
- Critical care medicine specialists: They diagnose and treat critically ill and injured patients.
- Hospice and palliative medicine specialists: Patients who have terminal illnesses or who require end-of-life care are relieved of their agony by them. People nearing the end of their lives may struggle with despair and loneliness and are more vulnerable to the effects of medications. Physicians specializing in palliative care assist in managing pain, disease symptoms, and adverse effects of medication. They attempt to raise people's quality of life by treating them holistically. Teams made up of nurses, pharmacists, and social workers may work with them.
After training in the subspecialties mentioned above, certification from the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) is mandatory.
How to choose an OB-GYN?
One of the best options for choosing your ideal doctor is to research internet reviews or ask friends and family for advice. Further, your primary care physician or other medical professionals can recommend an appropriate OB-GYN near you. Selecting a doctor you are comfortable with can enhance your pregnancy and childbirth experience.
Consider what matters most to you during pregnancy and childbirth, such as communication style, views on vaginal delivery, and unmedicated birth. Reflect on questions like:
- Do I and my partner feel comfortable with this healthcare provider?
- Does the provider explain things clearly and answer my questions?
- What are their views on childbirth options that are important to me?
- Who will cover my care if my preferred provider is unavailable?
In group practices, you might see multiple healthcare providers during prenatal care to ensure familiarity with whoever is on-call during delivery. Some practices may accommodate your preference for a specific provider during prenatal visits. For scheduled C-sections, selecting a personal OB-GYN near you might be more feasible.
Remember, while personal preference is natural, all OB-GYNs ensure the best outcomes for your pregnancy and childbirth.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in women
Generally, STIs or STDs are transmitted in women via oral, vaginal, or anal sexual contact with an infected person. Most women might not even know that they have a sexually transmitted infection because it does not usually show any symptoms. However, if left untreated, STIs can increase the risk of cervical cancer and even cause fertility issues. The most common sexually transmitted infections in women include:
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Genital herpes
- Syphilis
According to the Healthline website, almost 1 in 6 Americans may have genital herpes, but most are unaware since it doesn't display any symptoms. One of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in women and a leading cause of cervical cancer is HPV. In the advanced stages, STIs do show various physical symptoms, such as:
- Vaginal itching
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Unusual vaginal discharge with a foul smell
- Vaginal or pelvic pain
- Rashes or sores
- Pain or burning sensation during urination
- The presence of blood in the urine
- Pain during sexual intercourse
Pregnancy and STIs
Sexually transmitted infections can infect the developing baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or post-childbirth. They can even be life-threatening for the mother and the baby. Sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis can easily pass on to the fetus and cause fatal infections. Untreated syphilis can lead to premature delivery and cause problems in multiple organs of the baby, like the heart, eyes, ears, bones, and skin. Gonorrhea infection, if left untreated, can cause blood infections, joint infections, blindness, or eye infections in the baby.
For this reason, OB-GYNs generally conduct a comprehensive STD panel screening at the beginning of pregnancy to detect and treat any STIs early. If the woman comes in sexual contact with an infected person after initial STI screenings, they must get tested again for STIs to ensure a healthy pregnancy and childbirth. Most OB-GYNs advocate the need for women to practice safe sex for their overall health and well-being.
How can you prepare for a well-woman exam?
In addition to pregnancy care, OB-GYNs offer routine preventative care such as a pelvic exam, Pap smear, and breast exam. You may have various queries if you are due for your first annual well-woman exam. What is the best time to schedule the appointment? Do I need to shave down there? What should I wear? You can read the following guide to get all the information you need to have a comfortable and productive consultation:
- Be mindful of the appointment time: It is best to schedule your routine checkup when you are not on your period because menstrual blood can impact the accuracy of your exam results. However, if you want to address specific issues such as heavy bleeding or irregular cycles, your OB-GYN may need to check you during your period.
- Avoid pelvic grooming: Shaving or waxing pubic hair may cause redness, itchiness, and swelling in the pelvic area. It can also make the well-woman exam more uncomfortable and painful. Hence, avoiding hair removal in your intimate area is better before your OB-GYN visit.
- Do not have sex or use any vaginal products: Having sex, douching, or using vaginal products such as lubricants, powders, creams, or tampons can temporarily change your vaginal flora and pH balance. As a result, your OB-GYN may miss signs of bacterial overgrowth, yeast infections, and similar issues. Moreover, your Pap smear results may also be inaccurate and unreliable. At least two days before your well-woman exam, you must avoid all the mentioned activities.
- Dress for comfort: You will likely change into a hospital gown for your well-woman exam, so wear outfits that are easy to remove and wear back. Consider loose-fitting, comfortable clothes such as a T-shirt, hoodie, and sweatpants.
- Write down your questions: A preventative visit is a good time to discuss your sexual and reproductive health concerns with your provider. Make a list of everything you want to ask beforehand so you don't forget anything in the exam room.
Finding the best OB-GYN near you in Long Beach, New York
A regular OB-GYN appointment is necessary to check one's reproductive health. Since having a long-term connection with your doctor is advantageous, you should look for someone you feel at ease with and who can ensure you receive the finest care.
You can use Zocdoc to find top-notch medical specialists in Long Beach, New York. By registering for a free Zocdoc account, you may start searching for a female gynecologist near you. Add your location or zip code to receive an extensive list of medical specialists near you.
You may narrow your search based on factors such as your ailment's symptoms or your healthcare insurance company or plan. Opting for an in-network doctor is advised to avoid paying out-of-pocket medical expenses, which can be a massive headache.
The doctor-patient interaction is handled professionally at Zocdoc. All the doctors listed with us have unique profiles, including their credentials, years of experience in this field, hospital affiliations, whether or not they treat children, licensing, and other pertinent information. The gender and languages a healthcare provider speaks are also on display. Verified reviews submitted by other patients make a section of their profiles, which can further assist you in making the best choice.
Once you've determined which OB-GYN near you is best for you, you can arrange an appointment online. You may view the doctors' availability on Zocdoc by viewing their schedules. This way, you can schedule an appointment for a time and date that works for you. Another choice is to arrange a video consultation.
When booking an appointment on Zocdoc, you must either provide your insurance details or indicate that you will be paying out-of-pocket. Some providers require insurance information for appointment bookings. If you prefer not to use or do not have insurance, you can search for another provider on Zocdoc who accepts out-of-pocket payments. For further queries, you can contact the patient help center.
Zocdoc makes scheduling appointments with medical professionals easy, safe, and free.
OB-GYN and fertility statistics in New York, U.S.
A U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report suggests that the nation had almost 21,570 OB-GYNs as of May 2021. Of these, nearly 2240 were in New York, which makes it the state with the highest employment of OB-GYNs.
According to March of Dimes, nearly 209,338 live births occurred in New York in 2020. The number of women of reproductive age (ages 15 to 44) in that year was close to 3,835,773. The fertility rate was almost 54.6 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44.
In addition, the birth rate in the United States is still dropping rapidly. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, there were roughly 2% fewer births in 2018 than in 2017. This decline is more pronounced for millennial women; birth rates among women aged 20–24 declined by almost 4% from 2017 to 2018, while birth rates for women aged 25–29 fell by nearly 3%. Likely, financial pressures and lack of standard prenatal care due to a shortage of trained OB-GYNs would have resulted in this decline.
Sources
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
March of Dimes
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists[1]
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists[2]
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
WebMD[3]
American College of Surgeons
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Cleveland Clinic[2]
Medline Plus
Healthline
HealthCentral
Associates in Women's Healthcare
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