Who are OB-GYNs?
Obstetricians-gynecologists, or OB-GYNs, are medical specialists who treat issues related to women's health, including menstruation, childbirth, and menopause. They have expertise in women's reproductive health, pregnancy, and general health and offer various health services and preventive screenings. OB-GYNs can also diagnose and treat reproductive system disorders such as ovarian cysts, endometriosis, infertility, and pelvic pain.
OB-GYNs go through rigorous training before they start practicing. Once they complete medical school, they begin their residency, where they work under the supervision of an experienced doctor in a medical setting. After completing residency, the doctors must pass a specialty board certification exam accredited by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
What are some specialty areas of OB-GYNs?
Although most OB-GYNs treat general health issues, which include various services, some may specialize in one or more subspecialties. Some of the OB-GYN subspecialties are:
- Maternal-fetal medicine: OB-GYNs attend to individuals experiencing high-risk pregnancies and other associated medical conditions. You might need to visit a maternal-fetal medicine specialist if you suffer from chronic or gestational high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, blood clotting disorders, or premature labor.
- Reproductive endocrinology and infertility: Medical professionals specializing in reproductive endocrinology and infertility address problems related to the hormones produced by the endocrine system and the inability to conceive. If you have trouble conceiving, these specialists can assist you with reproduction procedures such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF), intrafallopian gamete transfer, and embryo transfer.
- Female pelvic medicine and reproductive surgery: These specialists treat urinary tract disorders in women. They also address issues of the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissues. These occur due to several conditions, such as pregnancy, age, or certain medical conditions, which can weaken the pelvic floor. OB-GYNs also address overactive bladder, urinary or fecal incontinence, vaginal or urinary tract infections, and pelvic organ prolapse.
- Gynecologic oncology: OB-GYNs specializing in gynecologic oncology focus on diagnosing and addressing cancers of the female reproductive system, including those of the uterus, cervix, ovaries, and vulva.
Why do you need to see an OB-GYN near you?
OB-GYNs not only treat various conditions related to women's health, but they also provide preventive care. Women who are generally healthy should also visit an OB-GYN for preventive check-ups and counseling. These specialists will conduct physical examinations, immunizations, and various lab tests during your visit to screen for diseases.
Additionally, it would help if you visited your OB-GYN during changes in your reproductive cycle. These changes can be routine, expected, or planned, such as your first menstrual cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause, or menopause. OB-GYNs can also counsel sexual practices such as birth control and safe sex tips and advice on preventing sexually transmitted infections, vaccinations for HPV infections, abnormal vaginal discharge, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
OB-GYNs can help you with prenatal care, labor and birthing options, genetic testing and screenings, and advice on breastfeeding and postpartum depression. They can also manage irregular bleeding, cysts and fibroids, mood swings, and cramps and advise on premenstrual syndromes and pelvic support problems.
What should you be discussing with your OB-GYN?
If you find yourself hesitant to discuss your sexual and reproductive health with your OB-GYN, you are not alone. Many women face embarrassment and nervousness talking about such topics due to the fear of getting judged.
However, remember that OB-GYNs have met many patients with different concerns and queries, so they have heard and seen it all. Their objective is to help their patients achieve optimal health. They maintain safe, comfortable, and non-judgmental environments to ensure discussing sexual and reproductive health is not as challenging. So, the next time you schedule an appointment with them, consider asking the following questions:
Vaginal health
- How to prevent foul vaginal odor?
- Is my vaginal discharge normal? How can I tell if something is wrong with it?
- Is it safe to douche?
- Can I remove my pubic hair? Will it affect my vaginal health?
Menstruation
- Are my painful periods normal?
- How should my menstrual flow be?
- What are considered irregular periods? When should I be concerned?
- How can I manage premenstrual syndrome (PMS) better?
Sexual health
- What birth control options do I have?
- How can I alleviate pain and discomfort during intercourse?
- What signs of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) should I be aware of?
- How often do I need to undergo STI testing? Should my partner get tested too?
Pregnancy
- When should I stop using contraceptives if I want to get pregnant?
- What can I do to improve my chances of pregnancy?
- Can you suggest lifestyle changes, diet plans, and supplements to have a healthy pregnancy?
Menopause
- How do I know I have attained menopause?
- How can I manage vaginal dryness and low sex drive?
- What are some practical ways to cope with stress and mood swings?
Difference between obstetricians and gynecologists
Obstetricians specialize in managing all aspects of pregnancy, from before birth to after delivery. They handle childbirth and can provide fertility treatments. In contrast, gynecologists don't deliver babies. Obstetricians also guide parents through Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) for premature births. Their focus is ensuring a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Obstetricians excel in addressing pregnancy complications such as ectopic pregnancies, fetal distress, placental problems, preeclampsia, and performing cesarean section deliveries. Additionally, they support postpartum issues, including postpartum depression, after childbirth.
On the other hand, a local gynecologist specializes in female reproductive health spanning from puberty to post-menopause, offering diagnosis, treatment, screenings like pap smears, breast exams, and pelvic exams, along with procedures such as hysterectomies and tubal ligations.
A female gynecologist near you can also guide you on sexual health, safe sexual practices, contraceptives, protection against STDs, addressing concerns like irregular periods, infections, pain during sex, reproductive cancers, pelvic organ prolapse, endometriosis, polyps, ovarian cysts, and uterine fibroids.
Some doctors obtain specialization in both obstetrics and gynecology to provide complete care to patients.
What is uterine cancer?
Uterine cancer broadly refers to cancer that occurs within your uterus. Uterine cancer can encompass both endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma. Endometrial cancer originates in the endometrium, the inner lining of your uterus, and is one of the most common gynecologic cancers affecting the reproductive system.
On the other hand, uterine sarcoma forms in the myometrium, which is the uterus' muscular wall, but it's exceptionally uncommon.
People often use endometrial and uterine cancer interchangeably because endometrial cancer makes up approximately 95% of all cases of uterine cancer. A diagnosis of uterine sarcoma is a rare occurrence.
In the United States, endometrial cancer is the leading reproductive system cancer in women and those assigned female at birth. It typically occurs post-menopause. Roughly 3% of women and individuals assigned female at birth will receive a uterine cancer diagnosis during their lifetime, with an annual rate of approximately 65,000 diagnoses.
Tips to increase female fertility
Female fertility refers to a woman's ability to get pregnant now or in the future. Apart from medical issues, it is significantly affected by the lifestyle choices you make. Hence, it is crucial to:
- Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or underweight can interfere with ovulation. In other words, it can keep you from releasing eggs, leading to irregular cycles.
- Prevent sexually transmitted infections: Preventing sexually transmitted diseases should be a priority as infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia are a leading cause of not being able to conceive.
- Avoid working a night shift if possible: Working a night shift all the time can affect your hormone levels, elevating the risk of not being fertile. If you work the night shift and cannot avoid it, get enough sleep when you're not working.
- Keep a check on your mental health: While stress alone is not likely to keep you from getting pregnant, it can have many indirect effects. You can try stress-reducing practices like yoga, deep breathing, meditation, and other activities while trying to conceive.
- Stay away from smoke: Tobacco use is associated with lower fertility. Smoking can age the ovaries, affecting the egg supply. If you smoke, consult your healthcare provider to help you quit.
- Limit or avoid alcohol when trying to get pregnant: Excessive drinking is linked with a raised risk of problems ovulating. It is advised to stop drinking while you're trying to conceive and throughout the pregnancy.
- Limit caffeine: Drinking too much caffeine can also affect ovulation. Anything more than 200 milligrams, that is, two six-ounce to eight-ounce cups of coffee daily, can cause problems. Therefore, try to keep it lower than this.
- Not exercise too hard or too long: For people at a healthy weight, too much strenuous or prolonged exercise can affect ovulation and lower levels of the progesterone hormone. If you want to get pregnant, limit hard workouts, such as fast cycling or running, to less than 60 minutes a day and five hours a week.
Besides, it is best to consult an OB-GYN for the best advice.
How can you find the best OB-GYN near you in Plano, TX?
OB-GYNs play a vital role in maintaining women's overall and reproductive health. They can help you through all the critical changes you go through in life, such as menarche, pregnancy, and menopause. If you experience any abnormalities in your menstruation, such as changes in the frequency of menstrual bleeding and unusual cramping, it is wise to consult an OB-GYN. They can also aid you in preventing significant diseases through regular preventive screenings like pap smears, lab tests, and pelvic exams. Once you turn 14 or 15 years old, you can start visiting an OB-GYN.
Finding a skilled OB-GYN can be a bit of a challenge. You require a specialist who can handle your concerns, support you in challenging healthcare situations, and be available whenever you need. Zocdoc is a solution that can help you discover the right OB-GYN. It can even effortlessly assist you in finding a top female gynecologist near you. This platform aids you with your medical needs by granting access to a directory of the finest healthcare providers in the USA. First, input your preferences like specialty, condition, location, and health plan into the search bar. Then, a list of suitable doctors will appear.
Each healthcare and medical provider associated with Zocdoc has a unique profile where you can read about their educational background, board certifications, clinical interests, expertise, experience, and language. You also can check authenticated feedback and user scores from past clients, enabling you to make a well-informed choice. Additionally, Zocdoc streamlines the payment process with your health insurance. Include your insurance carrier's name in the search, and the website will show you all OB-GYNs near you who accept your health plan.
If you cannot find your insurance plan from the drop-down menu, you can use Zocdoc's insurance detector feature. Go to the insurance section in your account settings and upload an image of your insurance card. Zocdoc will quickly scan it and suggest your likely plan. You can add that information to the search bar and receive a list of in-network providers nearby. If you are worried about protecting your personal information, rest assured that Zocdoc implements the best data security protocols. Do you have any more insurance-related queries? Get all answers on the Zocdoc patient help center page.
Thanks to Zocdoc, finding the desired OB-GYN near you is now easier! All bookings on Zocdoc are fast, secure, and 100% free!
Prevalence of uterine-related cancers in Texas and the U.S.
Endometrial cancer, which affects the uterine lining, is one of the most common cancers of the female reproductive organs in the United States. The American Cancer Society reports of 2024 suggest that there will be around 67,880 new uterine cancer cases in the U.S. Data from the same source indicates that approximately 13,250 women will die from some form of uterine cancer in the same year. Endometrial cancer primarily affects women aged sixty years and above, and there are more than 600,000 endometrial cancer survivors in the U.S.
The National Cancer Institute states that the country's annual rate of new uterine cancer cases was nearly 29.1 per 100,000 women in 2021. Regarding Texas, the American Cancer Society estimates 4,790 new cases and almost 990 casualties due to uterine cancer in 2024.
Sources
WebMD
Medical News Today
Healthline
National Cancer Institute
American Cancer Society[1]
American Cancer Society[2]
Wooster Community Hospital
Cleveland Clinic
Everlywell
Ochsner Health
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Mayo Clinic
