Did you know that over 3 million births took place in the US in 2020?
An ObGyn doctor provides medical care to women before, during, and after pregnancy. They have the skills to deliver babies through surgery when necessary.
ObGyn doctors specialize in women’s health. They study the different biological functions of women’s bodies. Menstruation, childbirth, and menopause are a few things they specialize in and study.
An ObGyn doctor plays a crucial role in the lives of many women. Now, what exactly is an ObGyn? Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about these doctors.
What Is an OBGYN?
An ObGyn or an obstetrician gynecologist is an expert in female reproductive health. Their specialty includes pregnancy and childbirth.
They provide women with primary medical care. ObGyns provide preventive care like pap smears, pelvic exams, and ultrasounds. They also do STI testing and blood work.
With their expertise, they give recommendations and preventive measures to women. They care for female patients from puberty through menopause. ObGyn doctors treat patients from all walks of life regardless of age.
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Obstetrics and gynecology focus on specific aspects of the female reproductive system.
An expert on obstetrics focuses on the welfare of pregnant women. They ensure that the baby and the mother are healthy.
Gynecology focuses on aspects like puberty, menopause, and beyond. They diagnose and treat diseases like ovarian and cervical cancer.
Qualifications to Be an ObGyn
There are several steps before one becomes an ObGyn. The best ObGyn in the country has to graduate from medical school first. In med school, the first two years focus on general medical education.
Medical students spend the final two years of school as doctor apprentices. They spend most of their time learning in clinics and hospitals.
After medical school, they go through residency. At this stage, they practice under the supervision of a senior doctor who chooses their specialty. A hospital residency for an ObGyn doctor usually lasts four years.
ObGyns observe and perform various medical procedures during this stage. After completing their hospital residency, they take a specialty board examination. They must pass this day-long examination to qualify.
Board certifications and state licensure requirements are some of the preparations ObGyns take. Some of them even attend conferences to further their knowledge.
Areas of Specialty
After medical school and hospital residency, ObGyns can choose their specialties. Some of them focus on obstetrics and care for pregnant women. Others can provide gynecological care without having to deliver babies.
Specialties like maternal-fetal medicine need extra training and accreditation. In this field, ObGyns treat high-risk pregnancies. They oversee the high-risk deliveries like cases of babies in the breech position.
ObGyns can be reproductive endocrinologists as well. They can conduct tests and exams to diagnose hormone problems in women. They offer IVF procedures as a solution for their patients.
Gynecologic oncology is another area of specialization for ObGyns. An oncologist is a doctor that specializes in cancer treatments. They treat cancer in reproductive organs like ovarian and cervical cancer.
Some ObGyns focus on reconstructive surgeries. They are female pelvic specialists. Injuries and disorders of the pelvic floor are some of the issues they treat.
Female pelvic specialists may also treat incontinence and conduct physical therapy. They can perform surgeries and procedures to address prolapsed pelvic organs.
Procedures They Perform
What is an ObGyn, and what procedures do they perform? The ObGyn doctors are surgeons trained to perform a wide range of medical procedures.
Cesarean section delivery is a surgical procedure for delivering babies. It involves incisions in the abdomen and uterus with the help of the ObGyn. C-sections are for women whose labor isn’t progressing.
Reasons for having a C-section include delivering a baby in an abnormal position. ObGyns ensure safe delivery. This case happens when the feet of the baby enter the birth canal first.
Another procedure ObGyns perform is the removal of growths on reproductive organs. The list of cases includes ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids.
Ovarian cyst removal is a procedure that removes cysts from one or both ovaries. Reasons for removal include pain and the threat of cancer. ObGyn doctors address this issue to prevent complications like blood clots and bleeding.
When to See an OBGYN
Did you know that there are over 18,000 obstetricians and gynecologists in the US? They provide medical care related to pregnancy and childbirth. ObGyns help prevent and treat diseases involving women.
Women should start visiting an ObGyn between the ages of 13 and 15. These visits will help establish a healthy relationship between the doctor and the patient. The patient can learn about care practices for their reproductive organs.
At the age of 21, women should have their first pelvic exam. When the patient becomes sexually active, the ObGyn may order a pap smear. These procedures help diagnose potential health risk factors in women, like cervical cancer.
Patients should visit their ObGyn when they encounter any reproductive issues. These issues include miscarriages. This visit will confirm the end of pregnancy via pelvic exams and an ultrasound.
Suspected infertility is an issue that ObGyns can address. ObGyns will perform a preliminary evaluation to find the cause of the problem. After some tests, they will discuss solutions that will address issues on ovulation.
Other issues to discuss with an OBGYN include problems associated with urination. They address these issues with medication and even therapy.
Breast exams and health management are routines checkups ObGyns perform on a regular. Regular breast exams can help detect cancer at an early stage. During the exam, the ObGyn feels for lumps or enlarged lymph nodes.
They also check for skin changes on the breast that can indicate the presence of cancer. The ObGyn can also give instructions so patients can perform regular breast self-examination.
Consult an ObGyn Doctor Now
We hope this guide answers the question of what is an ObGyn. Remember that you can talk to your ObGyn about all your health needs. Follow this guide to know the procedures that can improve your health.
Get more tips and helpful guides by reading more of our articles. We give health guides and tips on tech. We also cover topics on lifestyle, business, and education.
