Who is an OB-GYN?
An obstetrician-gynecologist or OB-GYN specializes in female reproductive health. Gynecology deals with the female reproductive system's health, while obstetrics entails working with pregnant women and assisting in childbirth.
To qualify to work as an OB-GYN in the United States, a doctor must complete a bachelor's degree and four years of medical school training. Through a four-year residency program in obstetrics and gynecology, they also learn about diagnosing, treating, and preventing reproductive issues. Doctors complete their residency under supervision in medical settings like a hospital. They can also undertake additional three-year training to gain subspecialization in a specific area. OB-GYNs are board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. They maintain this certification by taking an examination every six months.
Among various specialties, OB-GYNs may choose to focus on areas like:
- Maternal-fetal medicine: These specialists tend to high-risk pregnancies, focusing on the mother and baby's health and supervising difficult deliveries, like the vaginal birth of a breaching baby.
- Gynecologic oncologists: Oncologists are doctors who focus on cancer treatment. Gynecological oncologists treat cancers of the reproductive systems, including cervical and ovarian cancer.
- Reproductive endocrinologists: These professionals specialize in treating infertility and hormonal irregularities. They identify the causes of infertility issues and create treatment strategies. Many provide in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.
- Reconstructive surgery and female pelvic health: These experts concentrate on injuries and diseases of the pelvic floor and adjacent structures. In addition to treating incontinence, they might also undertake surgery to fix prolapsed pelvic organs or pelvic floor physical therapy.
- Critical care medicine: Under this, specialists diagnose, care for, and support critically ill and injured patients.
- Complex family planning: OB-GYNs assist women with challenging conditions and consult other medical professionals to ensure their patients receive the best reproductive care possible.
- Hospice and palliative medicine: In this field, OB-GYNs treat patients with life-limiting illnesses, striving to improve quality of life and lessen suffering.
These specializations require more education, certification, and experience.
What can OB-GYNs do?
OB-GYNs can attend to a host of reproductive health issues, such as:
- Abnormal bleeding
- Breast disorders
- Endometriosis
- Genital itching
- Hormonal disorders
- Infertility
- Pelvic pain
- Urinary incontinence
- Urinary tract or vaginal infections
They may also perform major or minor surgeries, such as biopsy, dilation and curettage, laser surgery, hysterectomy (uterus removal), and myomectomy (removal of fibroids).
An OB-GYN can help you during pregnancy, childbirth, and even postpartum. During these stages, they can perform various procedures such as in vitro fertilization, conducting amniocentesis to detect abnormalities, performing vaginal deliveries, carrying out cesarean deliveries, executing vacuum deliveries, etc.
Before starting treatment, OB-GYNs provide preventive screenings and examinations to ensure early detection and timely interventions. These include clinical breast assessments, cancer screenings, mammographies, pelvic tests, and pap smears. Preventive screenings aid in the detection of health problems before they worsen. While you may not always notice the symptoms, annual checkups are highly recommended to see if you are developing any conditions.
When should you visit the OB-GYN?
As per recommendations by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a woman's first OB-GYN visit should occur between 13 and 15 years of age. During this, the OB-GYN usually focuses on building a doctor-patient rapport. The OB-GYN may address concerns related to menstruation, puberty, and safe sex practices and prescribe birth control options like pills, patches, vaginal rings, IUDs (intrauterine devices), and subdermal implants.
From the first visit onwards, you must see the OB-GYN for annual checkups or, based on what they recommend. The OB-GYN will suggest tests depending on age, lifestyle, and health risk factors.
Usually, the appointment includes a general physical examination with blood pressure, height, and weight measurements. The doctor may also conduct a quick external genital exam and ask personal and family medical history questions.
Apart from these periodic checkups, you can visit the best OB-GYN near you when you experience the following:
- Changes in the reproductive cycle: Your OB-GYN can help predict or plan for bodily changes like pregnancy, perimenopause, or menopause. They can also help you in cases of bleeding, cramping, and pain during urination or intercourse.
- Changes in sexual activity: If you are sexually active, you may meet your OB-GYN to get advice or treatment for sexually transmitted infections and other concerns related to your sexual health.
- Pregnancy: If you are or wish to get pregnant, your OB-GYN can help address any concerns about pregnancy, infertility, birthing options, genetic testing, prenatal care, and even postpartum depression.
The nature of your visits to your OB-GYN will depend on your age, current health status, and goals. For optimal care, it is advisable to find an OB-GYN who is nonjudgmental and helps you feel comfortable while discussing your reproductive health.
What exactly is a pelvic exam?
A doctor's visual and physical assessment of a woman's reproductive organs is called a pelvic exam. The doctor examines the vagina, cervix, fallopian tubes, vulva, ovaries, and uterus during the exam. Public and private healthcare practitioners, including the best OB-GYNs near you, commonly perform pelvic exams in their offices or clinics.
When should a pelvic exam be performed?
There are no particular recommendations for how frequently a woman should get a pelvic exam. However, healthcare providers commonly recommend that women must undergo one annually. A doctor may advise you to have this exam more regularly based on your medical history. Unless other health conditions necessitate it earlier, women should get their first pelvic exam at age 21. When seeking birth control, young women often undergo their first pelvic exam.
Women over the age of 21 should have regular pelvic exams, just like everyone else. Special causes for a pelvic exam, however, include:
- Unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge
- Family history of cancer
- Concerns about ovarian cancer, cysts, sexually transmitted illnesses, and other gynecological issues are all causes for concern.
Before providing birth control, a doctor may undertake the exam.
What happens during a pelvic exam?
During a pelvic exam, you will undress and wear a robe, and you may also undergo a breast exam. OB-GYN performs the following procedures:
- Visual examination: Your doctor examines your vagina and vulva for signs of redness, irritation, discharge, cysts, or sexually transmitted infections.
- Pap smear: The doctor may use a small spatula to gather cells for a Pap smear. This aids in the diagnosis of disorders such as cancer and sexually transmitted diseases.
- Speculum exam: The doctor inserts a duckbill-shaped speculum into the vagina for a deeper look. Before insertion, the doctor warms up this stainless steel or plastic device. The doctor can now inspect the cervix.
- Rectal examination: The physician could carry out a rectal examination for the detection of anomalies in the tissue between the rectum and the vagina.
- Manual exam: The doctor inspects internal reproductive organs with lubricated gloves, looking for anomalies in the uterus or ovaries. This can entail measuring the uterus, screening for pregnancy, and diagnosing fallopian tube anomalies.
The entire procedure is designed to examine the health of your reproductive organs, discover potential problems, and provide helpful information for diagnosis and therapy.
Tips to have a healthy pregnancy
Each pregnancy is unique to the person, and it is essential to consult the best OB-GYN near you for pregnancy and receive personalized guidance from them. Understanding what works for your body and what doesn't is crucial. Here are some general tips for maintaining a healthy pregnancy:
- Prenatal care - Scheduling regular appointments with your doctor ensures your and your baby's health. It will help in screening for any medical issues that might lead to further complications in the pregnancy. Prenatal care also includes monitoring your and your baby's health with routine tests, examinations, and checkups. The doctor might also recommend supplements for your nutrient intake. Consuming healthy amounts of calcium, folate, protein, iron, etc, is crucial. An OB-GYN will prescribe any such vitamin supplements for a healthy pregnancy.
- Diet - To maintain your health during pregnancy, you must eat a balanced diet. This should include grains, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and proteins. It is recommended not to skip meals and try to eat healthier.
- Sleep - It is important to be adequately rested and have a good night's sleep. A good sleep schedule is known to reduce the chances of complications arising during one's pregnancy.
- Exercise - Regular exercise and keeping your body active are crucial for the health of the mother and the child. According to experts, engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic workout per week is advised. Exercising also helps reduce the discomforts faced during pregnancy, and serotonin helps maintain a healthy mental state.
- Harmful substances - Substances like alcohol, recreational drugs, and certain medicines can harm the embryo. Additionally, you should avoid caffeine, rare meat, and sushi, as they can also be bad for you. Some sunscreens, too, are not safe to use during pregnancy. It is vital to consult an OB-GYN for pregnancy for guidance on certain things to avoid.
- Stress - High-stress levels can affect the baby's health, so it's essential to avoid stressful situations. To destress, try meditating or getting prenatal massages.
How can you find the best OB-GYN near you in West Nyack, New York?
Whether you require preventive screenings, birth control advice, or treatment for unusual symptoms, you need an OB-GYN that can adapt to your changing needs. If you do not have an OB-GYN, you can browse through the doctors listed on Zocdoc.
Zocdoc is an online platform that lets you connect with healthcare providers who best suit your needs. In the search bar, enter keywords like "OB-GYN" and your location, "West Nyack," preferred appointment date, and healthcare insurance details. If you can't find your medical insurance plan on Zocdoc, upload a photo of your insurance card. Zocdoc will automatically scan the image and display the plan that is most likely for you. This feature isn't available for dental or vision insurance cards. If you face any issues while uploading the image, don't hesitate to contact Zocdoc's service team for assistance. Additionally, you can check out Zocdoc's patient help center for answers to any further insurance-related queries.
Furthermore, you can use filters for availability, distance, hospital affiliations, gender, and language. When you provide this information, Zocdoc matches you with OB-GYNs that meet your preferences. Before choosing, you can find each provider profile with information about their gender, language, education, training, verified patient reviews, ratings, and more.
Once you have selected an OB-GYN near you, you can book an in-person or online appointment. Bookings are simple, secure, and 100% free! Create your free account on Zocdoc today.
Statistics related to OB-GYNs in New York
Along with providing a vast array of gynecological care throughout their lives, OB-GYNs are primary care providers for pregnant and postpartum individuals. A 2019 workforce study published by Doximity mentioned that the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists had predicted a shortage of up to 22,000 OB-GYNs by the year 2050.
In contrast, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, New York had a supply of 3,810 OB-GYNs versus a demand of 3,250 in 2018. By 2030, it is anticipated that there will be an ample supply of OB-GYN experts, with a projected estimate of 3,520 doctors compared to a demand of 3,170, indicating a surplus. A report by the New York State Department of Health showed that the maternal mortality rates in New York State ranked 23rd in the United States.
The maternal death rate from 2014 to 2016 was 18.9 per 100,000 live births. In the most recent cohort of pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated deaths assessed in 2014, over half of the pregnancy-related deaths occurred a week or less after the pregnancy ended (≈66.7%). Most deaths occurred one day after pregnancy ended (≈45.5%). These numbers indicate the need for better medical support from OB-GYNs in the state.
Sources
Medical News Today
Healthline[1]
Healthline[2]
St. George University
Yale Medicine
Michigan Health
Doximity
New York State Department of Health
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
MyHealthfinder
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