How To Find The Right Gynecologist For You

Gynecologist is a women’s reproductive health doctor. From helping young females understand the physiology and working of their body at the onset of puberty with the menarche (the first menstrual cycle) to helping older women deal with overwhelming symptoms associated with menopause (The stage after which there is a decrease in reproductive hormones and monthly menstrual cycles do not occur), a gynecologist is a very important person that has a crucial role to play in women’s health.

In several countries, Obstetrics (A maternity care specialty that deals with pregnancy, labor, pre and post-natal care) and Gynecology often overlap and are practiced by someone specializing in OB-GYN, an Obstetrician, and Gynecologist.

Table of Contents

What does a gynecologist do

How to choose the right gynecologist

Take Away

What does a Gynecologist do?

Women’s Health is a specialty that is very vast and requires medical assistance at various levels such as the onset of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care. A gynecologist is a very important doctor for a healthy society as women’s health is often a very neglected healthcare specialty. To become a gynecologist, a person receives education and gets training for 5 and a half years including a compulsory rotatory internship to earn an MBBS degree, followed by a medical postgraduation degree in OBGYN and training to qualify as a gynecologist. Some gynecologists study further to gain specific training for certain procedures and experience.

Common conditions that are treated by a gynecologist are –

Menstrual Disorders — Women facing issues with their menstrual cycles such as irregular menstrual cycle, heavy menstrual cycle, abnormal uterine bleeding, PCOS, polyps, and fibroids seek a gynecologist’s consultation to diagnose menstrual disorders and seek the treatment. Additionally, a gynecologist also educates females about menstrual hygiene and the management of unpleasant symptoms. Our country is fighting rampant misinformation about periods and many menstruating persons face discrimination due to this. Gynecologists help dispel the taboos and ensure women receive appropriate menstrual support in the form of health advice.

Reproductive Tract health — A gynecologist treats several structural and physiological conditions associated with the female reproductive tract. Any symptoms of the female reproductive organs are to be resolved by a gynecologist after thorough examination and diagnosis.

Fertility Disorders — Couples facing infertility issues consult a gynecologist to understand what might be causing infertility — Structural anomalies, lifestyle choices, overall health, ovarian reserves, ovulation disorders, etc.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) — A gynecologist diagnosis and treats sexually transmitted infections. A gynecologist also makes people aware of appropriate sexual hygiene.

Pelvic Floor Health — A gynecologist takes care of pelvic floor health including issues such as vulvar health, uterine prolapse, urinary incontinence, and pelvic floor dysfunction.

Pregnancy — From pregnancy test to delivery, a gynecologist has a very important role to play. They monitor the development of the pregnancy with various tests and ultrasounds. Depending upon the nature of pregnancy, a gynecologist helps the couple decide if they should go for Vaginal delivery or a caesarian section. If a gynecologist thinks a couple would benefit from Infertility treatment and IVF treatment, a gynecologist might refer you to an IVF doctor.

Screening for cancers — A gynecologist can screen for various cancers that can occur in the reproductive system and refer to an oncologist accordingly.

Family Planning — A gynecologist can help with family planning by suggesting contraceptive methods, surgeries, and procedures.

A gynecologist has an important role to play not just for women but for families. Women who have received excellent care pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy, and post-pregnancy are not only healthy but their children also inherit the benefits of health. Additionally, regular visits to a gynecologist by women of reproductive age can help in the early diagnosis of several types of cancers, PCOS, Endometriosis, and other disorders that can be treated promptly.

How to Choose the Right Gynecologist?

While Looking for the Right Gynecologist for yourself, there are a few things you must consider. Often the best gynecologist for someone else may not be the best gynecologist for you. It is therefore important to have a clear understanding about what you are expecting from your gynecology consultation and the nature of your consultation. Some common things to keep in mind are –

What is the purpose of your consultation — Are you consulting for your general reproductive health, pregnancy, contraception, or family planning is important to consider while selecting a gynecologist.

The hospitals the gynecologist practices at — It is important to see the hospitals the gynecologist practices at, especially if you’re consulting a gynecologist for pregnancy and childbirth. The gynecologist is on call at the hospital they practice at and hence knowing if the hospital is in your vicinity, accessible, affordable and of your choice is important if you need to get any procedures done.

Are you comfortable with a male Gynecologist — Male and Female gynecologists receive the same level of training, but wanting a female gynecologist is a personal choice for some women to respect their comfort. It is also important to ask if a female or male covers for your gynecologist when they are busy or if you need to visit the hospital when your gynecologist isn’t able to see you.

The gynecologist’s affiliations and certifications — A gynecologist’s affiliations and certifications are very important credentials and can be checked out before choosing a gynecologist.

Visit the Gynecologist’s website and social media — Some gynecologists update their website and social media channels regularly and have a dedicated section for patient testimonials. While patient testimonials can give you a fair idea, it is important to consider that a majority of people do not go and update their testimonials instantly, hence other factors such as the gynecologist’s credentials and training should be prioritized.

Additional Training — some gynecologists receive additional training to handle cases of high-risk pregnancy, perform general procedures such as laparoscopy and hysteroscopy, etc. Choosing a gynecologist that has additional training gives you confidence that the gynecologist can handle any complications that might arise.

The expertise of the gynecologist — Experience is of very high value in the health sector. A gynecologist that has years of experience has spent a lot of time perfecting their clinical skills and acumen.

Availability — Do the hours of practice of the gynecologist match your schedule? It’s important to go for regular check-ups especially if you’re going to be consulting the gynecologist for pregnancy and childbirth. It’s important to choose a gynecologist who you would be able to consult in their visiting and consulting hours.

The approach of the gynecologist — Gynecological examinations are one of the most intimate consultations and hence you must feel safe and comfortable with your gynecologist. A gynecologist with a good approach must explain to you the details of the procedures, what to expect, and take your consent along every step. Most gynecologists are extremely particular about this and make sure their patient feels it’s a non-judgemental and safe space.

Good Listener — Most women feel there is a lot of stigma and taboo associated with everything that’ women’s health. Gynecologists are scientific individuals empowered by medical training to eradicate any stigma and apprehensions associated with seeking gynecological treatment for both pregnancy-related issues and general women’s health. A gynecologist who is a good listener would understand your concerns in detail and help with the right treatment.

It is important to consider all these parameters in order to choose a gynecologist. A gynecologist who you feel comfortable with would make you want to look forward to meeting them, as opposed to being dreaded about the gynecology consultation itself. We hope this post answered the question — What does a gynecologist do? and also made you aware that how a gynecologist treats you is very important too.

Take Away

There is misinformation everywhere — don’t do this while on your periods, don’t eat that while you’re pregnant, don’t use this contraception while you’re older, consume this for better reproductive health — This baseless chatter never seems to end if you’re a woman trying to have a discussion about anything related to your reproductive health and every person starts to act like an expert. Amongst such a claustrophobic space from where you have to elbow your way out to get to a doctor for credible answers — it’s pivotal you are treated with respect and kindness.

At IVF junction, we respect and salute your commitment to seeking credible answers. We have partnered with Doctors who have patient-centric and ethical practices. The IVF Junction Support Forum is welcoming queries of all kinds so you can submit any question about Reproductive health that you have. The IVF Junction knowledge Hub helps bring informative content from the experts.

We are there to support you through your journey — be it towards better reproductive health, IVF treatment, Infertility support, and financial preparation for treatments.

Source : https://ivfjunction.com/blog/right-gynecologist-for-you/