Medical science comprises many specialties that take care of different parts of the human body. Head and neck specialists specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases of the head and neighboring structures. Other specialties include pediatrics which is concerned with child health, Ophthalmology for the eyes, and radiology for images of the human body. In the same light, OBGYN practitioners work in a distinct medical specialty known as obstetrics and gynecology. This part of medicine deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of women’s health concerns. In this article, we shall be looking at the roles and functions of these sets of professionals.
Who Are They?
As we noted above, OBGYN is concerned primarily with women’s health. They have training on obstetrics (pregnancy-related) and gynecology, which handles female reproductive system issues. As such, they are in charge of two interrelated medical specialties. These professionals can answer your queries about sexually transmitted diseases, infertility, and other pressing women’s health issues.
Because these people are experts, many women see their primary care physician for some issues they could’ve consulted a specialist for. However, your primary physician will give you a prompt referral if they think you need expert care.
To become an OBGYN, one has to pass through medical school. Usually, this takes up to four years after a pre-med program. On graduation, one will proceed to an accredited facility for a four-year residency program in obstetrics and gynecology. This part is usually after an internship program and is under the supervision of a senior colleague. One becomes a licensed obstetrician or gynecologist at the successful completion of the residency program.
What Can They Do?
They are trained physicians and surgeons and can perform a wide variety of medical and surgical procedures. Their roles can be summarized as follows:
- Diagnosis of Various Ailments
These specialists take care of pregnant women right from the preconception period till delivery and postnatal stages. They advise women on necessary preconception care and regular antenatal visitation. They also diagnose any antenatal issues promptly to prevent birth complications. Gynecologists are also trained to identify many reproductive concerns like infections and infertility.
- Treatment of Diseases
OBGYN is also qualified to treat a wide variety of diseases using medical or surgical means. They carry out necessary investigations before making a definitive diagnosis and carry out screening tests against deadly conditions. They receive training to prescribe proper medication if your ailment requires you to take certain drugs.
- Carrying Out Surgical Procedures
These highly-trained professionals carry out surgical procedures if your condition necessitates any. Standard procedures include cesarean sections for child delivery and surgical uterus removal in malignancies. They also repair any part of the female reproductive tract and carry out surgical investigations like laparotomy in ectopic pregnancies. Another standard procedure they do is myomectomy which is the removal of fibroids.
Other screening procedures include pap smears for cervical malignancies, mammary gland examination for lumps and masses, ultrasound scans for reproductive tract abnormalities, and surgical treatment of infertility, including in-vitro fertilization techniques. They can also conduct a wide variety of tests for sexually transmitted diseases.
Other Roles
They are also involved in holistic medicine, which is the diagnosis and treatment of patients in a broader context and not from disease alone. They take care of their patient’s behavioral health. They are also qualified to fill investigations and prescriptions for their clients. These specialists are the first point of call for getting undiluted advice concerning the best lifestyle as a woman of reproductive age. They are not just concerned with the morbid aspect of their patients; they also monitor the socioeconomic growth of women and how it affects their health. Besides, they also offer palliative and preventive services for many health challenges among women.
Many OB-GYNs specialize in other aspects of the specialty such as oncology, endocrine disorders, or fetomaternal medicine. Like other medical specialties, these professionals also carry out further research in their respective domains to better understand the diagnosis and treatment of their patients. They publish papers in reputable journals and carry out experimental designs and controlled clinical trials.
A qualified OBGYN is someone you should see when you have any medical condition affecting your reproductive system as a woman. However, many experts believe that screening for all women should begin as early as thirteen years old to identify any healthy reproductive life threat quickly.
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