What an OB-GYN Does and Why You Should Have One

No matter your life stage, all women can benefit from having an obstetrics and gynecology doctor (OB-GYN). This type of doctor is here to address all your women’s health needs and can be your partner in navigating womanhood from puberty to beyond menopause.

What’s the difference between an obstetrician and a gynecologist?

Obstetricians focus strictly on pregnancy care while gynecologists focus on women’s health overall. While some physicians may only practice one specialty, many practice both obstetrics and gynecology, and are often referred to as OB-GYNs.

If you are looking for pregnancy care, you will want to see an obstetrician, or a physician who practices both obstetrics and gynecology. Physicians who only practice gynecology are well-equipped to handle any women’s health care, screenings and concerns outside pregnancy.

Who should see an OB-GYN?

“Every woman should see an OB-GYN at some point in their life,” shares Alexis Waggoner-Noss, MD, a board-certified OB-GYN with ProMedica Physicians Sunforest Obstetrics | Gynecology. OB-GYNs provide care to women through every stage of life – from birthing a child to post-menopausal care.

“OB-GYNs are specialty trained and focus solely on women’s health. This allows them to take some of the load off a primary care provider,” Dr. Waggoner-Noss explains. “Primary care doctors are looking at the whole body, which can make it difficult for them to get into the details of everything.”

When your primary care provider knows that you regularly see an OB-GYN for women’s health care, they can focus on other aspects of your health while being confident that issues related to your reproductive system are being addressed.

OB-GYNs Provide Care for All Ages

No matter your life stage, seeking women’s health care from an OB-GYN is valuable. “OB-GYNs take care of women for their entire life,” Dr. Waggoner-Noss shares.

OB-GYNs can provide specialized women’s health care to help you improve your health and well-being, especially during these important times:

• Puberty: OB-GYNs can help girls understand the changes that are happening in their bodies during puberty. “The appointment doesn’t necessarily have to involve a pelvic exam,” Dr. Waggoner-Noss shares. “We can just discuss what’s going on with their body and address any questions or concerns they may have.” OB-GYNs can also help address painful or irregular menstrual cycles, or a period that hasn’t started yet, and recommend/prescribe contraception.
• Fertility/Pregnancy Care: OB-GYNs provide pregnancy care, as well as fertility and post-partum care. If you’re struggling to get pregnant, an OB-GYN can provide recommendations and guidance on what options are available. During pregnancy, your OB-GYN will monitor you and your baby’s health, and then help you adjust postpartum.
• Menopause: As women begin to approach menopause, OB-GYNs can provide education on what changes to expect, and provide recommendations and treatment to help make those changes easier. They can also help you address any menopausal health conditions that may arise.
• Post-menopause: Typically, women can stop receiving Pap tests at age 65, but that doesn’t mean that’s the last time you should go to the OB-GYN. They can still play a valuable role in helping you achieve overall health and longevity.

“There are a lot of ‘normal’ changes that occur throughout a woman’s lifespan,” Dr. Waggoner-Noss shares. OB-GYNs can address your questions about what you’re going through and if it’s normal.

What To Expect at an OB-GYN Appointment

Your appointment can look different based on your age, health status, questions or concerns that you may have. However, there are a few things you can almost always expect your OB-GYN to do:

• Collect your health history. At your first visit, your OB-GYN will collect your personal and family health history. Bring a list of any pre-existing conditions, medications, supplements and allergies. If possible, talk to your family about any history of women’s health conditions or diseases, such as breast or cervical cancer.
• Perform any preventive health screenings. Depending on your age and the time of your last screenings, your provider may perform a breast exam, pelvic exam, and screenings for cervical cancer, such as a Pap test and/or HPV test.
• Answer your questions. Your provider will likely give you a time to ask any questions or tell them about any concerns you have.
• Address any health issues. If you are experiencing any undesirable symptoms, such as pelvic pain, urinary dysfunction or urinary tract infections (UTIs), your provider can provide recommendations and treatment options.

Questions To Ask Your OB-GYN

Any question that you have related to your health as a woman is a good one to ask. You can ask your provider about:

• New or unexplained symptoms.
• Risk factors.
• Genetic testing.
• Sexual activity.
• Your menstrual period.
• Family planning.
• Birth control.
• Postpartum care.
• Menopause.

The list doesn’t end there. “Even if you’re embarrassed to ask, just know that I’ve probably been asked the same question before, and it’s probably not a weird question at all. It’s better to ask than spend time worrying about it,” Dr. Waggoner-Noss shares.

How Often You Should Visit the OB-GYN

Women should visit the OB-GYN once a year, beginning between ages 13 to 15, and continuing through the rest of life. These annual visits are an important part in preventive women’s health care.

During pregnancy, a woman will see their OB-GYN much more frequently. Typically once every four weeks during weeks 4 - 28 weeks of pregnancy, once every two weeks during weeks 28 – 36 of pregnancy, and once every week during weeks 36 – 40 of pregnancy.

As Needed Visits

Dr. Waggoner-Noss encourages you to schedule appointments as needed as concerns arise. “Many people don’t realize that while it may take an office awhile to get you in for an annual wellness exam, it typically will not take that long to get in for a visit if you have a concern. We hold time on our calendars specifically to see women who need to get in sooner to have a concern addressed.”

Don’t wait until your next annual visit if you have a concern that is negatively impacting your health.

Finding the Right OB-GYN for You

When looking for an OB-GYN, it’s important to consider your health needs and preferences; such as if you will need pregnancy care or would prefer a physician of a certain gender. It can also be beneficial to select a provider that is a part of a larger health system. This can help your care feel more connected, and the doctor will have access to a group of physicians should they need to refer you to receive more specialized care.

“It’s super important that you find a provider that you’re comfortable with enough to ask the uncomfortable questions,” Dr. Waggoner-Noss shares.

Learn more about how to find the right provider for you, and questions to ask the office when making an appointment.

Alexis Waggoner-Noss, MD
Dr. Waggoner-Noss is a board-certified OB-GYN with ProMedica Physicians Sunforest Obstetrics | Gynecology. View her profile.