Who is an OB-GYN?
An OB-GYN specializes in both gynecology and obstetrics. It makes them qualified to deal with women's reproductive health, provide prenatal and postnatal care, and deliver babies. They can address issues such as menopause and infertility and conduct cancer screening tests. If you're wondering about the differences between an OB-GYN and a gynecologist, read on to learn more.
Differences between obstetrics and gynecology
Obstetrics and gynecology are related but separate fields of medicine. The primary difference between the two branches is that gynecology ensures comprehensive medical care for female bodies and reproductive systems right from the onset of puberty. They focus on various health issues concerning women's breasts, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus.
On the other hand, obstetrics focuses on providing care to women before, during, and after pregnancy. They cater to labor, pregnancy, childbirth-related complications, and postpartum health. Women should ideally start seeing a gynecologist after menarche to ensure proper reproductive health and wellness and consult an obstetrician only after pregnancy.
Education and training of an OB-GYN
The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) outlines aspiring OB-GYN practitioners' education and training requirements.
After graduating from an approved medical school, they must complete an OB-GYN residency program of at least four years. This residency program must have the American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accreditation. During the residency, the doctors will undergo rotations in different fields. Examples are gynecology, obstetrics, reproductive endocrinology, gynecologic oncology, and ultrasonography.
The aspiring OB-GYNs will also gain experience in preventive and primary care for about six months of residency. That includes inpatient care, ambulatory care, lower urinary tract disorders, diagnosing and managing breast disease, and performing and interpreting diagnostic pelvic and transvaginal ultrasounds. With each year of training, their inpatient responsibility increases.
After graduating, an OB-GYN must undergo a two-step certification process by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG). The first involves an online multiple-choice exam taken immediately after graduation. On passing this, they qualify for the second three-hour oral assessment by specialized examiners of the ABOG. Board eligibility or certification is a requirement for serving at most of the hospitals in the country.
OB-GYNs can also pursue further training in a subspecialty after they finish their residency. This takes approximately three years to complete, after which they can start practicing or pursue another subspecialty.
What are the various OB-GYN specialties?
Obstetrics and gynecology is a diverse field with various subspecialties requiring additional fellowship training. Participation in the National Resident Matching Program service is common, but acceptance involves a rigorous application and interview process. Most subspecialties also have separate certification processes from general OB-GYN boards.
- Gynecologic oncology: The training for this specialty spans three to four years. Gynecologic oncology comprehensively manages gynecologic cancers such as ovarian, endometrial, and cervical malignancies. The focus is mainly surgical, including chemotherapy and participation in multidisciplinary care teams with various medical disciplines.
- Maternal/fetal medicine: This specialty takes three years to master and focuses on caring for high-risk obstetric patients. It includes those with diagnosed fetal anomalies, underlying complex maternal health conditions, and severe pregnancy complications. Specialists in this field are adept at advanced ultrasound skills for diagnosis and management options.
- Reproductive endocrinology and infertility: The duration of training for this specialty is three years. It focuses on diagnosing and managing infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, and complex endocrine conditions impacting the female reproductive system. This often includes advanced infertility services such as in vitro fertilization and preimplantation diagnosis.
- Female reconstructive pelvic surgery: This specialty is also known as urogynecology and takes three years of training. It focuses on conditions affecting the female urogenital tract, including pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence disorders. This subspecialty is highly surgical and procedural, involving in-office assessments and treatments.
- Complex family planning: This specialty takes two years to complete. It centers on supportive and skilled abortion care. Specialists in this field are also experts in difficult contraception counseling, striking a balance between procedural/surgical practice and office-based counseling and care.
- Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery: This specialty takes two years of training. It involves highly skilled surgical techniques for managing complex benign gynecologic conditions. These specialists are often at the forefront of developing cutting-edge surgical techniques and technology in obstetrics and gynecology.
- Pediatric and adolescent gynecology: This specialty takes two years to complete. It provides gynecologic care for young patients, focusing on routine care and diagnosing and managing abnormalities of puberty and development. Specialists in this field offer office-based and surgical care. They create a friendly and safe environment for even the youngest patients.
What conditions do OB-GYNs treat?
Healthcare professionals recommend getting regular checkups with an OB-GYN to manage your reproductive health. It helps the specialists detect early signs of conditions like breast cancer. Some standard conditions treated by OB-GYNs include the following:
- Cervical cancer: Cervical cancer often occurs due to the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is passed from one person to another through skin-to-skin contact. Hence, most people get exposed to the virus during sexual contact. Those with cervical cancer experience symptoms like changes in bowel and bladder habits, abnormal vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, and irregular vaginal bleeding. Women who smoke, have a weak immune system, and are sexually active from a young age have a high risk of getting cervical cancer.
- Fibroids: Tumors made of fibrous connective tissue and smooth muscle cells developing in the uterus are called fibroids. Some studies estimate that between 70-80% of women develop fibroids, but not all of them may require treatment or develop symptoms. Mostly, fibroids are noncancerous and benign, and cancerous fibroids are extremely rare. Some of its symptoms include difficulty getting pregnant, low back pain, pain during intercourse, pelvic pain and pressure, and bleeding between periods.
- Ovarian cancer: The American Cancer Society has reported that one in every 78 women may be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Previously, ovarian cancers were believed to be benign, but recent reports have provided new evidence. It has been found that the cancerous cells actually begin developing in the fallopian tubes and then spread to the ovary to grow there. Some symptoms include changes in bladder function, pelvic or abdominal pain, and abdominal bloating.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is one of the most common hormone conditions in women between the reproductive ages of 15 and 44. In this condition, the body begins producing an excess of androgen hormones, which are responsible for reproductive development and growth. Hence, it can cause issues like emotional and mental health changes, increased weight gain, acne, infertility, insulin resistance, and irregular uterine bleeding.
Why should you see an OB-GYN when nearing menopause?
Menopause is when your body undergoes many changes, just as it did at puberty. During menopause, your estrogen levels start to reduce, and your period will become less frequent till it finally stops. You will likely experience the mental and physical effects of this significant change. Talking to the best OB-GYN near you can help you understand everything happening to you and better handle this phase.
Some symptoms you might experience during menopause are sleep issues, hot flashes, mood changes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, and weight gain. Your OB-GYN can assess the symptoms and run relevant tests to determine if they are related to menopause or some serious underlying medical problem. Menopausal women are prone to uterine fibroids, osteoporosis, strokes, and urinary incontinence. Diseases such as cancer can also cause similar symptoms.
Surgical procedures performed by OB-GYNs
OB-GYNs are experts at performing both inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures. Listed below are a few procedures they commonly carry out:
- Dilation and curettage (D&C) - This procedure helps remove uterine tissues, which can treat or diagnose certain medical conditions, such as unusual or heavy bleeding. D&C is also used to clean the uterine lining after miscarriages and some cases of abortions. During this procedure, the surgeon opens the lower part of your cervix (or dilated) using medication or a surgical tool. Next, an instrument called a curette, which might also come with a suction device, is inserted to extract uterine tissues. The doctor may recommend an endometrial sampling or biopsy before proceeding with D&C.
- Pelvic laparoscopy - Typically conducted under general anesthesia, laparoscopy helps with tying the fallopian tubes, removing the gallbladder, and treating endometriosis, fibroids, hernia, etc. The procedure includes making a tiny incision (smaller than an inch) on the lower abdomen and pumping carbon dioxide into the abdomen, which allows OB-GYNs to get a clearer view of your internal organs. Laparoscopy can also help remove ovaries and scar tissues.
- Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) - The OB-GYN might recommend this procedure if a PAP smear detects abnormal cervical cell growth. To carry this out, a thin, electrically charged loop of wire is used to perform a quick excision and remove the abnormal cells. LEEP is a quick procedure performed under local anesthesia to reduce pain and discomfort.
Ways of ensuring good reproductive health
Your diet, fitness regimen, genes, and lifestyle determine your reproductive health. Eating healthy by including whole grains, fiber, protein, and Omega-3 fatty acids in everyday meals is a good move. Avoid processed foods and excessive caffeine to keep your endocrine system functioning optimally. It would help if you started taking supplements appropriate for your age and phase of life. For instance, folic acid supplements are a must if you are trying to get pregnant. For menopausal women, vitamins D and B12 are an excellent choice.
Keep a watch on your glycemic index. This figure indicates how much carbohydrate your body can tolerate before it causes your blood glucose levels to rise. Check food nutrition information to avoid items with a high glycemic index and replace them with those with a lower glycemic index. Doing this is highly recommended if you have conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome with insulin resistance.
Draw up an exercise schedule that is manageable and light enough. Being active boosts your metabolism and helps alleviate stress. It also allows you to meet your weight goals. If you are still determining how much to exercise or the type of workout best suited to your abilities, you can check with your doctor. If you smoke, then it might be time to take steps to quit. Smoking can adversely impact fertility and, in some instances, cause early menopause.
At the end of each day, ensure you get a good night's rest. Remember to be proactive in getting regular screenings and checkups. They can help detect problems early on, improving the odds of successful treatments.
Finding the best OB-GYN near you in Oviedo, Florida
An OB-GYN is essential in all phases of a woman's life. An experienced doctor can help you navigate the different stages of your reproductive cycle. When you create a free account on the Zocdoc platform, you will have a hassle-free experience choosing the best OB-GYN for your needs.
Use our convenient filters to get a list of doctors matching your criteria. Available filters include gender, language, symptoms, location, and hospital affiliations. Our insurance detector lets you find an in-network OB-GYN from hundreds of practitioners in our extensive database. You can get automated results by updating your Zocdoc account's insurance information. Alternatively, you can photograph your health plan card and upload it on the Zocdoc app. It will help you find OB-GYNs near you who accept your insurance. Feel free to browse Zocdoc's patient help center for more insurance-related FAQs. It has detailed answers to common questions and the necessary information to help you find the right provider.
Clicking on individual profiles will give you comprehensive information about their experience, board certification, educational qualifications, areas of expertise, etc. Past patients' verified reviews and ratings will help you understand the doctor's approach.
Zocdoc lets you book a virtual appointment with the OB-GYN before scheduling an in-person session. The easy booking process allows you to pick slots based on the doctor's availability. Some physicians may be available on weekends and outside of regular business hours.
Booking appointments with the best OB-GYNs near you through Zocdoc is simple, free, and secure!
Statistics on maternal health in Florida
According to the 2020 data collated by the Florida Department of Health on preconception health and behavior, among women aged 15 to 34 in Seminole County (Oviedo is a city in this county), about 2007.2 per 100,000 women had bacterial sexually transmitted diseases. For the same period, the state-level number was nearly 2,851.9 per 100,000 women. Maternal morbidity for the same period in the county was around 16.7 per 1,000 delivery hospitalizations as against 20.4 at the state level.
The same report shows that births with adequate prenatal care (Kotelchuck index) for 2018-20 were 59.1% of births with known PNC status, much lower than the state average of about 69.2%. The number of Cesarean section deliveries in the county for 2020 was around 32.1% of the total births, against the state average of 35.9%.
In addition, one of the 2022 data provided by the Florida Department of Health shows that the fertility rate for women (15-44 years) was 47.8 per 1,000 females in Seminole County. With the state average at around 55.5 per 1,000, the county is in the first quartile for this measure.
Sources
WebMD
The University of Illinois College of Medicine
Harbor Community Health Centers
Washington University School of Medicine
Florida Department of Health[1]
Florida Department of Health[2]
Healthline
Verywell Health
Mayo Clinic
UCLA Health[1]
UCLA Health[2]
UCLA Health[3]
UCLA Health[4]
