For women, knowing how to choose an OB/GYN is very important. Your gynecologist will help you through many personal issues and help you stay healthy. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, a good obstetrician will care for you through childbirth. You want a doctor who listens to you and makes you feel supported, but there are practical considerations as well.
What is an OB/GYN?
An OB/GYN is a medical doctor who has completed medical school and additional training to specialize in obstetrics and gynecology. Generally speaking, a gynecologist is an OB/GYN who handles a wide range of issues such as annual well-woman Pap smears and breast exams, tests for and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, contraception and other medical issues. An obstetrician is an OB/GYN who specializes in pregnancy and childbirth.
Practical concerns
Your search for an OB/GYN should start by considering some practical aspects of finding a new doctor. If you have insurance, you will want to find an OB/GYN who accepts your coverage. Your insurance company should have a list of participating doctors. You will also want to find a doctor located close to home. It helps to make a list of the additional factors that are important to you, such as gender, primary language and overall approach to health care.
Pregnancy and childbirth
Many doctors have websites that explain the services offered by their practices. This makes it easy to find an OB/GYN who meets your needs. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, you will want to find an obstetrician whose philosophy matches your own. You might also opt for an obstetrics practice where you can see several different doctors during your pregnancy. That approach helps reduce the chance of your doctor being unavailable when you go into labor.
Infertility and other complications
If you are having trouble conceiving or have gynecological issues such as endometriosis, fibroids or polycystic ovarian syndrome, you might want to find an OB/GYN who has additional training in reproductive endocrinology. These specialists could be better equipped than other physicians to treat a variety of underlying conditions or medical problems.
The most important aspect of choosing an OB/GYN is finding a doctor who is compatible with your needs. Ask for recommendations from your general practitioner or family doctor, talk to friends, research online and schedule an initial appointment to decide which OB/GYN is the right fit for you.
Seeing a dentist is just as important as seeing an obstetrician during pregnancy. |
Do prenatal vitamins help with hair growth, or is it simply hormones and genetics? |
Even if your OBGYN has been sued for malpractice, it may not be cause for alarm. |
Getting enough folate is important, even before you get pregnant. |
The best prenatal vitamins are the ones that are most essential for your developing baby. |
Learn about the dangers of caffeine and pregnancy for women in order to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy. |
These medical checkup guidelines can help women maintain good health. |
Prenatal vitamins are a good idea for many pregnant women because it's difficult to get some required nutrients from diet alone. |
Find out when to start with prenatal vitamins to get the greatest benefit. |
Find out why a perinatologist is a better choice than an obstetrician for a complicated pregnancy. |
Great care and consideration should be taken when choosing obstetricians who will be sharing your delivery experience. |
Get ready to choose an obstetrician with these questions to ask before, during and after your first meeting. |
Find out what to expect at a regular OBGYN exam. |
Some 50 to 90 percent of women who have babies get stretch marks during pregnancy. Find out how to prevent them. |
Every pregnancy requires prenatal care-the earlier the better. Find great advice on prenatal vitamins, tips to interviewing an obstetrician, how to prevent stretch marks and more. |
Learn how to manage a high risk pregnancy with an obstetrician who can meet your particular needs. |
It's important to learn how to get to sleep while you are pregnant. Along with morning sickness, cravings and emotions, pregnancy brings with it a frustrating irony. You badly need your sleep but can't seem to get enough. |
A vegetarian pregnancy diet can work, but don't forget the vitamin supplements. |
Find out when to schedule appointments with your OBGYN to get the best care during your pregnancy. |
One of the first things a woman should do when she plans to become pregnant is talk to her doctor about prenatal vitamins. |
