Health Care Providers: Obstetricians & Gynecologists

What Is Obstetrics & Gynecology?

Obstetrics (ahb-STEH-triks) & gynecology (guy-nuh-KAHL-uh-jee) is the area of medicine that treats conditions and problems related to female reproductive health. It is one medical field, with two specialty areas:

Obstetrics is medical care before and during pregnancy, childbirth, and right after a baby is born.
Gynecology is medical care of all female health issues.

What Is an Obstetrician-Gynecologist?

An obstetrician-gynecologist (ahb-steh-TRIH-shun guy-nuh-KOL-uh-jist), often called an OB-GYN, is a doctor who specializes in female health before, during, and after the childbearing years.

Gynecologists specialize in female reproductive health.
Obstetricians give care during and after pregnancy and deliver babies.
OB-GYNs provide medical care in both areas.

After medical training in both obstetrics and gynecology, a doctor may focus on just one field or practice both as an OB-GYN.

Why Would Someone Need One?

Obstetrician-gynecologists provide care for:

early puberty or delayed puberty
eating disorders
gender and sexuality concerns
menstrual problems (irregular, absent, painful, or heavy periods)
ovarian cysts and pelvic masses
yeast infections
polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
pregnancy
puberty concerns
STDs
vaginal or uterine abnormalities

OB-GYNs can:

give birth control counseling and care
put in or remove an IUD
give the HPV vaccine
do gynecology surgical services
do pregnancy testing, diagnosis, and referrals for services
do rapid HIV testing
offer sexuality/reproduction health education and adolescent sexual health counseling (including for kids and teens with special needs)

What Is Their Training?

Obstetrician-gynecologist training includes:

4 years of pre-medical education at a college or university
4 years of medical school — a medical degree (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) degree
4 years of training in an obstetrics and gynecology residency

They also might have:

expertise in a subspecialty area (for example, pediatric obstetrics-gynecology) from training in a fellowship program. A “fellow” is a doctor who undergoes more specialty training after completing medical school and residency training.

Good to Know

A women's health nurse practitioner (WHNP) is another good option for this kind of care. A WHNP is an advanced-practice nurse who focuses on reproductive, obstetric, and gynecological health. They can do exams, diagnose conditions, prescribe medicines (including birth control), create a treatment plan, and provide counseling.