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Are you pregnant or trying to get pregnant? Are you concerned about a lump you feel in your breast? It important to schedule an appointment with a licensed OBGYN to get the help you need. What services does an OBGYN provide? How do I find an OBGYN near me?
An OBGYN works in the specialty fields of obstetrics and gynecology alike. Healthy pregnancies, pregnancies with medical issues and a wide assortment of other female-only issues are all dealt with by an OBGYN. Many popular online resources are available to help locate an OBGYN practice in your area. Read ahead for tips on how to find an OBGYN near you today.
Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB/GYN)
An OBGYN is a certified, trained physician with advanced education in the fields of Obstetrics and Gynecology. While both these fields fall under the OBGYN umbrella, they are each also distinct areas of practice. What is Obstetrics, what is Gynecology and in what ways do they differ?
Obstetrics
Obstetrics (OB) is the medical field dedicated to caring for women before, during, after pregnancy and during all pregnancy-related processes. An obstetrician examines women as they prepare to get pregnant to make sure they are healthy enough to carry a baby. This includes diagnosing and treating infertility issues and other complications. An obstetrician also treats women during pregnancy, during childbirth (parturition/labor) and immediately after labor is complete. The puerperium is the initial six-week period after childbirth during which woman’s body returns to a non-pregnant state. An obstetrician is a vital part of this process for new mothers as well.
Gynecology
Gynecology (GYN) is practice of medicine relating to overall female health issues. While gynecology does focus most commonly on the female genital track and breasts, it also includes a wide variety of other specializations. For example, gynecology deals with endocrinology and female reproductive physiology. Endocrinology is the practice of medicine specializing in hormones and endocrine glands. Gynecology also deals with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), chronic pain and the diagnosis and treatment of all female-specific medical issues.
What Does an OBGYN Do?
OBGYN medicine is a complex practice with many important areas of specialization. What does an OBGYN do? Medical duties performed by an OBGYN are vast. The issues an OBGYN deals with also range from common to severe in nature. For example, an OBGYN screens for common and/or mental health issues, orders blood work, fills prescriptions and performs PAP smears. An OBGYN also performs cesarean sections, hysterectomies and removes ovarian cysts. Sexual issues, whether performance, fertility or STI-related are all diagnosed and treated by your OBGYN. Fertility treatments sometimes also involve counseling and guidance with regard to possible alternative solutions. Fertility solutions might involve egg freezing, egg retrievals and even naturopathic treatment options.
Some OBGYN duties are routine and others are more intense. For example, PAP smears are often conducted to test for cervical cancer. Some OBGYNs perform pelvic surgery to repair organ damages or injuries to the female reproductive system. An OBGYN also tests for, diagnoses and treats anemia and urinary incontinence/urinary tract infections (UTIs). An OBGYN also removes uterine fibroids growths.
An OBGYN also focuses on breast health management. Every woman in the U.S. has a thirteen percent chance average chance to develop breast cancer. Some of the most important jobs an OBGYN performs include conducting mammograms and other cancer-screening procedures.
OBGYN Specialty Areas
Some OBGYNs choose to specialize in obstetrics, while others specialize only in gynecology. Many OBGYNs also work in both fields. Both obstetrics and gynecology each have additional categories of specialization as well. For example, some OBGYNs focus on performing vaginal births after a cesarean delivery (VBAC). An osteopathic OBGYN provides services using holistic methods as certified by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Some OBGYNs are maternal-fetal medicine specialists who deal with high-risk pregnancy issues. Others are:
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Reproductive endocrinologists (infertility) specialists.
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Gynecological oncologists (cancer - reproductive organs, ovaries or cervix)
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Pelvic medicine specialists.
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Reconstructive surgeons.
Why Visiting an OBGYN Is Important
It is recommended every woman visit her OBGYN at least once per year. For some women, their OBGYN is also their sole primary care physician (PCP). The importance of visiting an OBGYN at an early age cannot be overstated. Creating a positive, comfortable and trusting relationship between you and your OBGYN during your teenage years helps you better deal with important and potentially stressful issues later. Your first pelvic examination and PAP smear is recommended around the age of twenty-one. Regular, preventative visits to an OBGYN keeps you updated on the health of your reproductive system, breasts and overall health as a female. Maintaining regularly scheduled visits might even save your pregnancy and/or your life.
OBGYN To-Do List - What’s Next After Becoming Pregnant
When you discover you are pregnant your entire life changes. What’s next to do after taking a positive pregnancy test? Read this handy OBGYN to-do list below:
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Take a second, different pregnancy test to confirm your results.
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Contact your OBGYN to set up a pre-natal appointment immediately.
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Contact your insurance for any necessary updates to benefits.
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Make a calendar & to-do list notebook based on trimesters, divided into three 3-month sections.
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Begin taking pre-natal vitamins & changing your health routines accordingly.
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Clear your home of any products and foods potentially harmful to you and/or your baby.
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Schedule regular OBGYN visits.
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Research ways to mitigate morning sickness.
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Document all stages of your pregnancy.
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Tell your friends & family at a time most suitable for you.
Tips to Find an OBGYN Near You
Finding an OBGYN near you has never been easier than it is today. Basic Google and Yelp searches generate significant numbers of results. Contact your insurance provider about in-network OBGYNs in your area. Finally, take advantage of the following online resources to help find an OBGYN near you today: