February 2022
What do obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYNs) actually do? If you said that they provide pregnancy care and treat menstrual disorders, that’s true—but it’s only part of the answer.
OB-GYNs are the experts on women’s health and well-being at every age. That includes not only reproductive health concerns, but also menopause issues and overall health maintenance.
What your OB-GYN can do for you
These are some services that you may not have known your OB-GYN can provide.
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Well-woman visits are full checkups scheduled every year. This type of visit promotes health and wellness through preventive care. Among other things, you may:
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Answer questions about your health history
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Receive a physical exam, vaccines, and/or screenings (see below)
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Discuss your lifestyle habits, such as your diet and physical activity
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Learn about ways to improve your health
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Screening tests are designed to catch diseases early, when they may be easier to treat. Talk with your OB-GYN about how often you should be screened for cervical and breast cancer. Plus, your OB-GYN can advise you on screening for high blood pressure, diabetes, and osteoporosis.
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Menopause care includes learning how to manage the symptoms of menopause and discussing whether hormone therapy is right for you. You can also turn to your OB-GYN for advice on handling vaginal dryness or sexual changes. Plus, your OB-GYN can recommend steps for protecting your heart and bone health.
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Urinary incontinence care provides help for bladder control problems. Ask about exercises to help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.
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Sexual healthcare includes the management of issues such as painful sex or loss of sex drive. Your OB-GYN is also your go-to expert on birth control, safe sex practices, and testing for sexually transmitted infections and HIV.
Is this the same thing as primary care?
If you think this sounds a lot like what your primary care provider (PCP) does, you’re not wrong. There is some overlap in the services that PCPs and OB-GYNs provide.
However, there are also key differences, so many women have both an OB-GYN and a separate PCP who practices family medicine or internal medicine. Family medicine focuses on overall health for the whole family. Internal medicine focuses on health conditions that affect adults.
And obstetrics-gynecology? That focuses on a lot more than you probably realized. If you’re interested in any of the services listed above, ask your OB-GYN about them at your next visit.
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