Who is an OB-GYN?
OB-GYN is a specialty in medicine that combines two closely related medical disciplines: obstetrics and gynecology. A physician or doctor specializing in obstetrics is called an obstetrician. They specialize in women's pregnancy care and delivery. A doctor specializing in gynecology is called a gynecologist. They specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions in the female reproductive system.
Most doctors specialize in both medical disciplines and are called obstetricians-gynecologists (OB-GYNs). They mainly focus on female patients and can effectively handle pregnancy-related complications, childbirth, menstrual and menopausal issues, and other reproductive health issues.
What qualifications do OB-GYNs require?
The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology certifies all OB-GYNs in the United States. To become an OB-GYN, a person follows these steps after graduating from high school and college:
- They graduate from medical school, with the first two years focusing on general medical education, including human anatomy and physiology. In the last two years, medical students actively devote a significant portion of their time to clinical or hospital rotations, where they serve as apprentices under the guidance of doctors.
- After medical school, doctors practice medicine under the supervision of a more senior doctor, known as a residency. During the residency, a doctor selects their specialty. An OB-GYN residency typically lasts four years, allowing one to observe and perform various procedures.
- Following the residency, a doctor can take specialty board examinations, including a day-long oral examination for OB-GYNs. After an additional two years, they must also pass an oral exam with questions from six different doctors.
- OB-GYNs pursuing additional board certifications may need to take other board examinations.
- Doctors must meet state licensure requirements, usually completing a certain number of continuing education credits each year.
Most OB-GYNs are active and engaged members with potential additional qualifications. Some teach at medical schools, supervise residents, publish research work, or provide commentary on other doctors' academic publications. Others participate in professional conferences, and some support patient or consumer organizations.
Which specialties can OB-GYNs pursue?
OB-GYNs have a wide array of specialization options. Some may opt for exclusive specialization in obstetrics, focusing on the care of pregnant women, while others may solely provide gynecological care and refrain from delivering babies.
Furthermore, certain OB-GYNs may decide to concentrate on specific field facets. For example, an obstetrician could choose to specialize in vaginal births after cesarean delivery (VBAC).
In addition to these options, some OB-GYNs adopt a holistic or osteopathic approach to women's care, emphasizing natural or traditional remedies. Osteopathic OB-GYNs are certified by the American Osteopathic Association.
Moreover, OB-GYNs can pursue specialized areas that demand extra training, expertise, and accreditation, including:
- Maternal-fetal medicine specialists: These specialists manage high-risk pregnancies, focusing on the health of both the mother and the baby. They may also oversee complex or high-risk deliveries, such as breech births.
- Reproductive endocrinologists: These specialists focus on infertility, diagnosing other fertility issues, and developing treatment plans. Many provide in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures as well.
- Gynecologic oncologists: These doctors specialize in cancer treatment and primarily treat cancers of the reproductive organs, such as ovarian and cervical cancer.
- Female pelvic medicine specialists and reconstructive surgeons: They concentrate on pelvic floor injuries and related disorders, addressing issues like incontinence, providing pelvic floor physical therapy, and performing surgeries to repair prolapsed pelvic organs.
Reasons to visit an OB-GYN
Visiting an OB-GYN is essential for maintaining reproductive health, addressing specific health concerns, learning about preventive care, or managing ongoing health conditions. If you're unsure about scheduling an appointment, here are key reasons why visiting an OB-GYN could be beneficial to you:
If you've been sexually active and experienced a missed period, scheduling a visit with your OB-GYN is a wise step. Additionally, if you suspect pregnancy or have a positive at-home test, visiting your OB-GYN promptly will ensure proper guidance and early prenatal care.
OB-GYNs play a crucial role in diagnosing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), which result from viral or bacterial infections in the genitals. These infections can be transmitted through various forms of intimate contact, including sexual intercourse and exposure to bodily fluids like blood, semen, or vaginal secretions. Common symptoms include itching, pain, abnormal discharge, and sores. Your OB-GYN can conduct tests using blood samples, urine samples, or tissue swabs to detect STDs.
OB-GYNs also perform breast exams to check for lumps, which could signal potential health concerns, including breast cancer. While breast exams become increasingly important after age 40, those with a family history of breast cancer may need to undergo them more frequently.
- To get pelvic exams and pap smears
These are crucial for reproductive health, especially for individuals 21 and older. OB-GYNs recommend these exams if you experience pelvic pain, unusual vaginal discharge, or menstrual irregularities. A pap smear includes collecting cells from the cervix to check for abnormalities, and it is a critical preventive measure against cancer and other health issues.
- To learn about birth control and fertility
Once you're sexually active, taking proactive steps to prevent unwanted pregnancies is essential. An OB-GYN can guide you through various birth control methods, teaching you how to use them effectively. For those planning to conceive, your OB-GYN can provide essential insights into your menstrual cycle and ovulation to support your fertility goals.
- To address menstrual issues
Any sudden changes in your menstrual cycle, such as irregular periods, extended bleeding, or skipped months, warrant a visit to your OB-GYN. These symptoms could indicate underlying reproductive health issues that may worsen if left untreated.
- For post-sexual activity checkups
Though it's not necessary to visit your OB-GYN after every sexual encounter, it is important to consult them if you experience issues such as pain during sex, missed periods, or unusual symptoms on your genitals. Early detection and treatment of sexually related matters can prevent more severe complications.
Common health issues during pregnancy
Early pregnancy care is crucial since a healthy pregnancy leads to a healthy baby. However, if you are an expecting mother, you may experience some pregnancy-related conditions requiring the care and expertise of an OB-GYN near you. These include:
- Anemia: If you have a lower-than-average count of healthy red blood cells in your blood, the condition is called anemia. The symptoms include looking pale, feeling weak or tired, shortness of breath, and fainting.
- Depression: Pregnancy may cause feelings of extreme sadness during gestation or after childbirth. Its symptoms include irritability and helplessness, intense sadness, thoughts of harming yourself or the baby, and appetite changes.
- Miscarriage: Pregnancy loss due to natural reasons before the 20th week of gestation is called a miscarriage. According to Women's Health, approximately 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. A miscarriage often occurs before the woman even knows that she is pregnant. Some symptoms include abdominal pain or cramping, vaginal bleeding or spotting, and tissue or fluid passing from the vagina.
Note: Early spotting in pregnancy does not always indicate a miscarriage. Contact an OB-GYN immediately if you experience any vaginal bleeding during pregnancy.
- Ectopic pregnancy: This is a medical issue in which the fertilized egg starts to develop outside the uterus, typically within the fallopian tube. Its symptoms include abdominal pain, shoulder pain, fainting or dizziness, and vaginal bleeding.
- Fetal problems: These include issues with the unborn baby(fetus), such as heart problems or poor growth. Common symptoms include the baby's size and movements being lower than expected for the gestational age. Some problems don't show any signs but get detected during prenatal tests.
- Gestational diabetes: Women can experience extreme thirst, fatigue, or hunger during gestation. Screening tests indicate higher blood sugar levels or gestational diabetes as the cause.
- Hypertension (high blood pressure): Higher blood pressure is usually detected after or during the 20th week of pregnancy and generally goes away after childbirth.
- Hyperemesis gravidarum (H.G.): Persistent, severe vomiting and nausea during pregnancy, which is more extreme than morning sickness, is called hyperemesis gravidarum. The symptoms include vomiting several times daily, constant nausea, dehydration, reduced appetite, weight loss, fainting, or feeling faint.
- Preeclampsia: This complication begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy and causes problems in the kidney and other organs. It is also called toxemia. Its symptoms include high blood pressure, blurred vision, sweating in the face and hands, stomach pain, headache, dizziness, and too much protein in the urine.
- Preterm labor: It refers to the mother entering labor before the 37th week of pregnancy. Some common symptoms include increased vaginal discharge, contractions, cramping, pelvic pressure, and back pain radiating to the abdomen.
How to find the best OB-GYNs near you?
If you already have a health plan, choosing an in-network OB-GYN can save you money. Your ideal OB-GYN will accept your insurance, be available when needed, and offer you a say in your healthcare decisions. With Zocdoc, you can easily find the best and most experienced OB-GYN in Yorba Linda, California, who accepts your insurance and suits your healthcare requirements.
To begin your journey, create a free account on Zocdoc. Next, choose your specialty or condition, location, date, and insurance plan. A comprehensive list of doctors based on your search criteria will appear. You can even perform an area-specific search to locate licensed providers near you. If you prefer to find female or male OB-GYNs in Yorba Linda, California, you can actively filter the search results by gender.
All medical providers on Zocdoc have unique profiles. You can read about their educational qualifications, board certifications, clinical interests, expertise, experience, and spoken languages. If you have insurance, include your insurance carrier's name in the search, and the website will show you the best OB-GYNs who accept your plan.
If your insurance plan isn't listed on Zocdoc, you may try uploading a photo of your insurance card (this option is only available for medical insurance, not vision or dental). We'll scan the image and show you your most likely plan. Contact our service team for assistance if you have difficulty uploading the picture. You can check Zocdoc's insurance page if you have more insurance-related questions.
Furthermore, before you visit a nearby OB-GYN, updated and confirmed patient reviews and user ratings can assist you in making an informed choice. You can also book video appointments on Zocdoc before an in-person visit to better understand your OB-GYN. Look for a purple video icon on the provider's profiles or apply the video appointment filter.
You can now book appointments with OB-GYNs near you who accept your insurance plan in real-time. And what's more, all bookings on Zocdoc are simple, secure, and free!
Statistics on OB-GYNs, fertility rate, childbirth, and pregnancy-related mortality ratio in California, U.S
According to May 2021 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, America has about 21,570 practicing OB-GYNs, while California's number was about 2,220, making it the second-highest among all states in the country.
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- In 2020, the Californian fertility rate was about 52.4 births per 1,000 women in the 15-44 age group, while the teen birth rate was about 11 births per 1,000 girls in the 15-19 age group. The infant mortality rate was found to be 3.7 per 1,000 live births.
- In 2021, the U.S. birth rate was about 11.0 per 1,000 people, with the fertility rate being 56.3 per 1,000 women in the 15-44 age group. The average age of first birth was 27.3 years, and the low birthweight and preterm birth rates were 8.52% and 10.49%, respectively.
- In 2019, the cesarean delivery rate in California was about 30.8%, while the preterm and low birthweight rates were 8.8% and 6.9%, respectively.
Further, according to data published by the California Department of Public Health 2019, California's pregnancy-related mortality ratio (PRMR) was 12.8 deaths per 100,000 live births, lower than the 2018 PRMR of 16.1. California's PRMR peaked in 2018 and is now on a downward trend.
Sources
Medical News Today
St. George's University
New York State Department of Health
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Office on Women's Health
UCSF Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[3]
California Department of Public Health
Hamilton Health Center
