An obstetrician is a doctor who has completed successfully specialized training and education for managing pregnancy, child birth and post partum care. A gynecologist is a medical specialist who has completed successfully specialized training and education in the health of the reproductive system of women including diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders.
Since the areas of both specialties overlap, training for both specialties is nowadays conducted concurrently. Gynecology India surgeons are also trained as obstetricians.
An OB/GYN specialist is a physician who provides medical and surgical care to women and is expert in child birth, pregnancy and malfunctions of the female reproductive system. Included under these are preventive care, pre-natal care, diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases, cancer (pap smear) testing, family planning etc.
An OB/ GYN specialist can function as a primary physician and also serve as consultants to physicians of other medical fields .OB/GYNs can work in private practice, in clinic or hospital settings and undertake teaching positions in university hospitals. These specialists can also work in preventive medicine and public health programs.
OB/ GYNS have a wide arena of knowledge and training and can focus on different areas. Many of them develop unique practices, providing care of high quality to women. OB/ GYNS can specialize in the following fields:
- Adolescent gynecology
- Chronic and acute medical conditions
- Cancer
- Behavioral problems
- Endocrinology
- Health during pregnancy
- Operative gynecology
- Infertility
- Pregnancy and child birth
- Preventive health
- Disorders of urinary tract
Subspecialties
There are four recognized sub-specialties in OB/GYN.
Gynecological Oncology
- Deals with consultation and management of patients with gynecological cancer
- Needs knowledge of major treatments of cancer, diagnosis and complications associated with oncology.
Maternal/ Fetal Medicine
- Deals with care and consultation of patients with pregnancy complications
- Needs knowledge of obstetrics, surgical and medical complications of fetus and mother, present approaches to treatment and diagnosis and adaptation of newborn.
Reproductive Infertility and Endocrinology
- Deals with complex problems connected to infertility and reproductive endocrinology.
- Needs skills in diagnosis and treatment of infertility and endocrinology disorders.
Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery/Urogynecology
- It is a surgical sub specialty.
- Deals with health of urinary tract of females and surgery as treatment.
- Needs knowledge of benign but complex pelvic conditions, disorders of the lower urinary tract, dysfunction of pelvic floor and pelvic reconstructive surgery.
Concerns Of Ob/ Gyn Specialist:
Pre-natal care
OB/ GYNS provide prenatal care to women and fetus before birth. This includes monitoring of health of fetus via ultrasounds, checking heart rate of fetus etc. in case of high risk pregnancies, the doctor also provides testing of amniotic fluid and genetic testing. She also checks health status of mother such as blood pressure and weight gain.
Birth and Labor
OB/ GYNs assist in child birth like inducing labor, performing Caesarian sections and emergency surgery. She monitors child and mother throughout labor. She watches out for complications like maternal bleeding and breathing problems of baby.
Fertility
OB/ GYN doctors work with women who are not able to conceive. They do tests to identify the cause of infertility. She might offer treatment options like dietary changes, medication or referral to alternative medicine like acupuncture or other doctors like infertility specialists.
Best gynecology surgeons in india also work as obstetricians as the dividing line between the two specialties is fading. OB/ GYN doctors focus on health of females, particularly their reproductive systems.
