Beginning when a girl hits puberty and then journeying through
physical maturity, pregnancy, and menopause, the changes a woman’s body goes
through are substantial; and you need a trained professional to be there
through those stages - sometimes you need a gynecologist, others you need an
obstetrician. And sometimes (more frequently today), the same doctor is both -
an OB-GYN.
What’s the difference between a Gynecologist and an Obstetrician?
A gynecologist
focusses on a woman’s reproductive care; you go to him/her for routine checkups
of your reproductive system (vagina, ovaries and uterus), infections
and fertility-related issues, mammograms and pap-smears, consultations on birth
control ann menopause, etc. Women ideally start seeing a gynecologist from 13-15
years or once they become sexually active.
An obstetrician’s
focus is on pregnant women and the fetus itself. They take care of the pre-,
during, and post-natal care of the mother and baby.
The most essential difference is that gynecologists treat diseases
in reproductive organs while obstetricians do not. In most cases however,
training in gynecology and obstetrics go together, resulting in a combined
specialization - an OB-GYN.
What can you expect in an OB-GYN appointment?
For a first appointment, the nurse/doctor will take your basic
medical history and conduct a general health check for their records. This will
be followed by a physical exterior and interior examination of your
reproductive system for overall health, abnormalities, and indications of any
diseases, infections and cancers. Any routine appointment will include these
checks, along with a pap-smear, breast check and mammogram, at the required
intervals.
If you’re pregnant, your appointment will vary to include
sonograms, etc. to keep track of your and your baby’s health and development.
Find your OB-GYN
For such a personal (and long-term) doctor, you don’t want to
just pick a name out of a book...you want someone you know is good and reliable. Take personal and professional
recommendations into account while choosing. Another point to consider when
choosing is whether your OB-GYN offers both services or sticks with one
speciality.
OB-GYN in San Antonio
The largest OB-GYN practice in the San Antonio area, the Institute
for Women’s Health is every woman’s answer to health care. With a
comprehensive list of services and a staff of fully qualified professionals,
they work to keep every woman in the best health through every stage of their
lives.
