Who is an OB-GYN?
An obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) is a doctor specializing in female reproductive health. OB-GYNs are doctors who have received training in both obstetrics and gynecology.
Obstetrics involves helping pregnant women deliver their babies. Conversely, gynecology involves various medical issues associated with the female reproductive system. It also includes STDs and other chronic conditions.
OB-GYNs provide preventive care treatment, including STD testing, pelvic exams, ultrasounds, and blood tests. You can turn to an OB-GYN if you have questions about sex, pregnancy, reproductive health, menstrual cycles, infertility, and other topics. Most women see their OB-GYNs at least once a year, and many consider them their primary care doctors.
The education and training of an OB-GYN
The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) sets the following educational requirements for medical students to qualify as OB-GYNs:
- Aspirants must have graduated from a board-approved medical school.
- They must complete a residency program in the specialty, accredited by the American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)."
- A doctor in a residency program has to work different shifts in obstetrics, gynecology, gynecologic oncology, and reproductive endocrinology.
- During the first six months of residency, doctors should gain experience in preventive and primary care. Each year, they are assigned increased responsibility, which improves their medical expertise.
After graduation, all OB-GYNs must undergo a thorough certification process to get licensed. ABOG provides the licenses and monitors the entire process. The first step starts with a multiple-choice question exam. Students pass on to the second step only if they pass the first.
The second step is a three-hour oral examination, which special examiners supervise at ABOG headquarters. If an OB-GYN wants to work at a hospital in the country, they must earn the certification.
What are the subspecialty options for OB-GYNs?
OB-GYNs can specialize in several areas within their field. Some choose to specialize in obstetrics and provide dedicated care to pregnant women. Others offer only gynecological care and also deliver babies.
A few OB-GYNs focus on more specific fields, like vaginal births after a previous cesarean delivery, while others treat women using a more holistic approach. This type of care prioritizes natural remedies. Today, many people believe in natural remedies over pharmaceutical medicines. That is why this specialty is gaining popularity nowadays.
OB-GYNs may also specialize in fields that require additional training and certification, such as:
- Maternal-fetal medicine specialists: These specialists only come into the picture in case of a high-risk pregnancy. They have to ensure the mother and child's safety during high-risk deliveries.
- Reproductive endocrinologists: Reproductive endocrinologists treat infertility issues. Couples who have trouble conceiving a child take the help of these specialists. They diagnose infertility issues and develop a treatment plan like an IVF procedure.
- Gynecologic-oncologists: Oncologists are doctors who treat cancer. Gynecological oncologists treat cancers of reproductive organs. Cancer can spread to the female reproductive organs and cause medical problems like ovarian and cervical cancer.
- Female pelvic specialists: Female pelvic specialists focus on injuries to the pelvic floor. They treat problems like incontinence, provide physical therapy to get the patient better, and perform surgery to repair damaged pelvic organs.
What conditions do OB-GYNs treat?
Gynecologists treat various conditions affecting the female reproductive system, such as:
- Ovarian cysts - These fluid-filled sacs form inside both your ovaries. Its symptoms include bloating, abdominal aches, and experiencing pain or discomfort during sex. While most ovarian cysts are harmless, some indicate medical conditions like infertility and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
- Endometriosis - Endometriosis is when your endometrium (the uterine lining) grows outside the uterus. It can form in your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic walls. Endometriosis can result in chronic pelvic pain, extremely painful periods, and infertility.
- Uterine fibroids - These noncancerous tumors can grow in and around your uterus. Not all uterine fibroids have symptoms, but some fibroids can cause back pain, frequent urination, heavy periods, and painful intercourse. Your gynecologist can prescribe medications or perform surgery depending on your symptoms.
- Vaginal yeast infection - This is a kind of fungal infection. Your body contains candida, a yeast. There are no concerns when candida is present in normal quantities, but it can cause an infection if out of balance. Early signs of the condition include a burning sensation while urinating, itching in and around your vulva, and changes in the consistency of your vaginal discharge.
What procedures do gynecologists perform?
During their training, OB-GYNs learn to perform a wide range of surgeries. These include:
- Hysteroscopy - Doctors use this procedure to diagnose and treat uterine conditions. They insert a hysteroscope (a thin, telescopic tool) into your uterus via your vagina. The device takes pictures of the insides of your uterus for further assessment. Hysteroscopy can help remove scar tissue, locate an intrauterine device (IUD), and identify the reason for miscarriages.
- Cervical cryosurgery - During cryosurgery, doctors use extremely cold chemicals, such as liquid nitrogen, to destroy suspicious cervical cells and tissues. This procedure can help women with irregular bleeding from the cervix and prevent cervical cancer.
- Tubal ligation surgery - Tubal ligation is a permanent form of contraception. During the surgery, your doctor cuts, seals, or ties off your fallopian tubes, which stops sperm from reaching your eggs and prevents pregnancy. They can perform this procedure using a laparoscopy or as an open surgery. Many women, especially with children, prefer tubal ligation over other birth control methods since it is a one-time procedure and does not have hormonal side effects.
- Dilation and curettage (D&C) - During this procedure, your doctor removes parts of your uterine lining using a suction device or a curette (a surgical tool for scraping). D&C helps diagnose uterine conditions like polyps and endometrial hyperplasia (when your uterine lining becomes abnormally thick).
Additionally, gynecologists use it during abortion procedures, miscarriages, and molar pregnancies (a pregnancy complication when the fertilized egg grows into a tumor instead of a fetus).
When should you see an OB-GYN?
Most women should visit an OB-GYN for the first time when they are young. This establishes an understanding between the patient and the doctor from a young age, which makes the doctor better acquainted with the patient's needs. In such cases, the doctor usually only needs to perform medical examinations if the patient complains of any symptoms.
It is a good idea to have your first pelvic examination when you become sexually active. It reduces the risk of any unknown STDs.
Avoid participating in any sexual activity before 24 hours of your appointment. The sexual activity could irritate the vaginal tissue and affect the results of your pap smear test. Before the appointment, the nurse will check your weight, height, blood pressure, and pulse. They will include all this information in their report to the OB-GYN before your appointment.
You should consult an OB-GYN near you if you think you are pregnant, have pregnancy-related complications or concerns, or if you have any other reproductive health concerns, such as:
- STDs
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Pain during urination
- Infertility problems
- Questions regarding best practices for maintaining sexual health
Tips for choosing an OB-GYN during pregnancy
You will see your OB-GYN multiple times before, during, and even after pregnancy. Generally, women require one prenatal visit per month between week 4 and week 28 of their pregnancy. The frequency of prenatal visits increases once every two weeks from weeks 28 to 36. After that, you will have a visit every week. Depending on risk factors like pre-existing health conditions, being over the age of 35, and complications during pregnancy, you may have to see your OB-GYN more often.
Having a trusted OB-GYN during this new phase of your life is crucial- one who answers all your questions and concerns without judgment, anticipates and handles complex health problems, and ensures you feel comfortable throughout your pregnancy.
While choosing an OB-GYN is a personal decision, there are some factors that you should consider before selecting one:
- Credentials and specialties matter when selecting an OB-GYN. For example, it may be beneficial for women with pre-existing conditions to find an OB-GYN who has experience in assessing risk factors and handling complications that arise during pregnancy. Further, a board-certified provider will be up-to-date on the latest advancements and practice standards.
- Ask people you know for recommendations. While your pregnancy experience may differ from that of your colleagues, friends, and relatives, learning about their recommended OB-GYN's bedside manner and the kind of care they provide is still helpful.
- Check your insurance and finances. If you have a health insurance plan, check what services your policy covers and look for OB-GYNs who participate in that plan in your area. Call your OB-GYN's office and ask if their practice accepts your insurance.
- Considering you need to see your provider frequently, having an accessible one is essential. An OB-GYN near your home or workplace is ideal.
- It would be best if you were also prepared for unusual symptoms or unexpected emergencies during pregnancy. Ask your OB-GYN how they plan for emergency situations.
- See if your OB-GYN takes virtual appointments. If your doctor is away or you have questions that don’t require an in-person visit, ask which physician will cover their appointments in their absence.
- Check to see if your OB-GYN's practice offers services such as blood tests, ultrasounds, and other imaging or laboratory services.
- Ask your OB-GYN about their delivery practices. Your delivery schedule can vary depending on the type of practice your doctor has. In many group practices or hospitals, OB-GYNs have rotating schedules where doctors take turns performing deliveries. Therefore, the OB-GYN who delivers your baby may not necessarily be the one you have been consulting for prenatal care.
- Choose an OB-GYN who aligns with your personal beliefs. Talk to your doctor about pain management, your birth plan, if they will perform a C-section as per your preference, etc.
- Choose an OB-GYN who prioritizes your safety. If you have experienced or are still experiencing issues such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, or trauma, you need an OB-GYN who is sensitive and trained in providing care for such concerns.
Finding the best OB-GYN near you in Warwick, New York
You should feel comfortable around your OB-GYN because these exams can be invasive. That is why you cannot just pick any OB-GYN and book an appointment. You must select individuals and ensure they excel in their roles.
If you live in Warwick, New York, you should check out Zocdoc to find a suitable OB-GYN. You can start your search by downloading the app or visiting the website. Enter details like the doctor you want to see, your symptoms or condition, and the location, which will be Warwick, NY. Select the date of the visit and the details of your insurance carrier. You can also select those options if you want to pay for the consultation or check with your insurance option later.
If you are unable to find your specific insurance plan, you may upload a photo of your insurance card. Zocdoc will then scan the image of your card and show you a plan that best matches your card. Note that this service is only available for medical insurance cards. Dental and vision are excluded. If you need assistance uploading your medical insurance card or have any other query, reach out to Zocdoc's service team, available 365 days a year via chat or email. You may also go through Zocdoc's patient help center for more details on insurance.
Once you've entered all your details, click on the search icon. Zocdoc will present you with numerous gynecologists in your area to choose from. Finding an expert can be complicated. However, Zocdoc has filters that can help you find the right OB-GYN.
You can add filters like date of visit, common conditions treated by the practitioner, specialty, availability, distance from your location, time of the visit, gender, hospital affiliation, insurance carriers in their network, and the languages the OB-GYN speaks. Such filters help improve the quality of your search.
Once you have applied them, click on the profiles of the OB-GYNs you like for their detailed profiles. You can find valuable information in their profile, such as:
- Recommendation rate
- Average wait time
- Overall rating
- Doctor's bio
- Insurance plans they accept
- Office location
- Educational background
Once you have chosen the right OB-GYN near you, go ahead and book an in-person or virtual consultation. All appointments booked through Zocdoc are safe, secure, and free!
Statistics on sexually transmitted infections in New York City
According to 2020 figures from the New York City Health Department, the primary and secondary syphilis rates have increased by 30.7% for women in the city compared to the statistics from the previous year.
The citywide gonorrhea rate among women has increased by 5% from 2019 to 2020.
Women in the city who are still in adolescence are affected by chlamydia more than others. In 2020, 26% of female chlamydia cases were among adolescent females.
Despite the availability of contraceptives in the city, women were more susceptible to sexually transmitted infections in 2020.
Sources
WebMD[1]
University of Illinois College of Medicine
Medical News Today
NYC Health Department
Verywell Health[1]
Verywell Health[2]
Verywell Health[3]
Verywell Health[4]
Verywell Health[5]
Verywell Health[6]
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Cleveland Clinic[2]
Cleveland Clinic[3]
WebMD[2]
Healthline
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health
Sutter Health
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