Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph.D., CRNP — Written by Kellie Walsh — Updated on May 27, 2016


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Share on PinterestAn OB-GYN, or obstetrician-gynecologist, is a doctor who specializes in women’s health. The female body experiences many different biological functions, including menstruation, childbirth, & menopause. OB-GYNs provide care for all of this & more. Here’s a look at what they do và when you should consider seeing one.Bạn đã xem: Gynaecology là gì

An obstetrician-gynecologist, or OB-GYN, has expertise in female reproductive health, pregnancy, và childbirth. Some OB-GYNs offer a wide range of general health services similar to your primary care doctor. Others focus on the medical care of the female reproductive system.

Bạn đang xem: Gynaecology là gì

OB-GYNs also provide routine medical services & preventive screenings. This type of doctor has studied obstetrics & gynecology.

The term “OB-GYN” can refer to lớn the doctor, an obstetrician-gynecologist, or to the sciences that the doctor specializes in, which are obstetrics & gynecology.

What is obstetrics?

Obstetrics is the branch of medicine related to lớn medical & surgical care before, during, và after a woman gives birth. Obstetrics focuses on caring for and maintaining a woman’s overall health during maternity.

This includes:

pregnancylaborchildbirththe postpartum period

OB-GYNs can conduct office visits, perform surgery, và assist with labor và delivery. Some OB-GYNs provide services through a solo or private practice. Others do so as part of a larger medical group or hospital.

What is gynecology?

Gynecology is the branch of medicine that focuses on women’s bodies và their reproductive health. It includes the diagnosis, treatment, và care of women’s reproductive system.

This includes the:

vaginauterusovariesfallopian tubes

Gynecology is the overarching field of women’s health from puberty through adulthood. It represents most of the reproductive care you’ll receive during your lifetime. If you become pregnant, you’ll need to lớn go khổng lồ an obstetrician.

What are the specialty areas?

Approximately 90 percent of OB-GYNs are generalists. This means they work across a wide range of OB-GYN services. Some choose khổng lồ specialize in one or more different subspecialties. These may include:

Maternal-fetal medicine

These specialists care for patients with high-risk pregnancies & related medical conditions. You might see a maternal-fetal medicine specialist if you have:

chronic or gestational high blood pressuregestational diabetesblood-clotting disorderspremature labor

Reproductive endocrinology & infertility

These endocrinologists address issues related khổng lồ infertility và the glands & hormones of the endocrine system. If you wish khổng lồ become pregnant but are having trouble conceiving, you can go lớn a reproductive endocrinologist. They perform assisted reproduction procedures, such as:

in vitro fertilizationgamete intrafallopian transferzygote intrafallopian transferembryo transfer

Gynecologic oncology

These oncologists specialize in diagnosing & treating cancers of the female reproductive system. This includes cancers of the:

uteruscervixovariesvulva

Female pelvic medicine & reproductive surgery

These surgeons focus on treating women with urinary tract disorders. They also focus on disorders of the muscle và connective tissue located just beneath a woman’s pelvis. This area is called the pelvic floor.

The pelvic floor may become weak as a result of pregnancy, age, or certain medical conditions. These specialists address:

urinary or fecal incontinencevaginal or urinary tract infectionsoveractive bladderbladder painpelvic organ prolapse

A doctor must first complete their bachelor’s degree và four years of medical school training to become an OB-GYN.

After medical school, you must complete four years of graduate-level education as a resident focusing on obstetrics and gynecology. During this period, doctors learn about reproductive issues và other health-related issues in women. In particular, they learn about:

diagnosistreatmentmanagementprevention

Doctors complete their residency under the supervision of an attending doctor in a medical setting, such as in a hospital.

You must complete an additional three years of training after you finish your residency to lớn specialize in a certain area.

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OB-GYNs must take a maintenance exam every six years lớn uphold their certification.