THE REAL WEALTH

Identifying and selecting the right OBGYN is a very important decision for both young women and older women past menopause. Traditional OBGYN doctors practice both Obstetrics and Gynecology, but it should be noted that some doctors only specialize in one or the other. Obstetrics focuses on female reproduction while Gynecology deals with the more general aspects and conditions of women’s health.

Establishing a good relationship with an OBGYN can be of great service to you and your overall health for all the seasons of your life from your first exams to pregnancy and through menopause. Depending on where you live you may have dozens of OBGYN’s to choose from or you may be more limited to a few, but it is very important that you understand how an OBGYN can help you maintain optimal women’s health and support you in the important decisions.

Yearly Exams

An OBGYN can help you with your annual exams and other exams you may need periodically. They can help you with Pap smear, cervical cancer exams, breast exams and other exams specific to your health needs. Ask your doctor which services they offer.

Pregnancy

If you are planning to become pregnant an OBGYN can help with your pre-natal appointments, child birthing classes, and the delivery of your baby. Your doctor will also discuss with you whether or not you can have a natural child birth or if they recommend a cesarean section, also known as a C-Section. Once you have become pregnant your doctor and his or her staff will help to monitor the growth and development of the pregnancy by performing regular sonograms to evaluate the heart rate, vital signs and other important factors to monitor during pregnancy. This monitoring is very important because it can indicate the health of your baby and sometimes they can recommend changes in lifestyle and medications that can help improve the baby’s development. If you have existing conditions that define you as a high-risk pregnancy you will need to see an OBGYN who specializes in high risk pregnancies and deliveries. Not all OBGYN’s practice with high risk pregnancies so if you think going into your pregnancy that you are high risk this is an important question to ask your doctor.

Birth Control

Your OBGYN can also play an important role in educating you about your options when it comes to birth control. They can discuss the pros and cons of the different methods available to you and help you make the right decision whether you are considering birth control pills, IUD’s, implants or other options available to you.

Testing

An OBGYN is also a great resource to have different types of testing and discuss the results of your tests. They can test for pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases like HIV and others, and as previously mentioned they can perform breast exams. Choosing the right OBGYN can be one of the most important decisions you make in your lifetime. It is important to ask around and find the right doctor for your needs and if you don’t find that doctor on your first try that is okay. Continue to ask around and interview other doctors until you find the one you are comfortable with.