Obstetricians and Gynecologists - What Is the Difference?

Obstetricians and Gynecologists – What Is the Difference?

Obstetricians and gynaecologists both work for women’s health but deal with specific problems. This guide will lead to the difference between obstetricians and gynaecologists.

Obstetricians: Who Are Those?

Obstetricians’ main focus remains on pregnancy and childbirth. This may include prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care. They also monitor the baby’s growth and development in the uterus.

Education

Obstetrician’s education includes 12 years of education and training. Understand here:

 

  • They require a bachelor’s degree in a pre-medical field like biology, chemistry or physics.
  • Then to earn a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree they need to go to medical school for four years.
  • The next step is four years of residency in OB/GYN. There they will get hands-on training in prenatal care, childbirth and gynaecological surgery.
  • Then they have to pass a speciality board certification exam.
  • A maintenance exam can be held for maintenance certification every six years.

Speciality

Obstetricians specialised in dealing with women’s reproductive health, pregnancy and childbirth. If you are someone who is expecting a baby then you have to visit obstetricians for total care of your pregnancy period.

Obstetricians help in prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care. They also monitor the baby’s growth and development in the uterus. The position of the baby in the uterus is checked by obstetricians during the appointments.

Gynaecologists: Who Are They

A gynaecologist will deal with issues regarding the general reproductive health of women. This will include the health of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tube.

Education

Here are some steps involved in reaching the position of gynaecologist:

 

  1. In high school, the main focus remains on physics, chemistry and biology (PCB). You need to get good grades to qualify for the entrance exam.
  2. You have to earn a medical degree to qualify for medical school. Completing a medical degree is the first step to becoming a gynaecologist.
  3. Now you have to complete an OBGYN residency program. During this program, you will get a chance to practically experience the life of gynaecologist.
  4. You will get in-depth training in a specific area of OB/GYN. Studies on reproductive endocrinology, maternal-fatal medicine and gynecologic oncology are provided.

In addition, a specialisation degree is needed and a licence to practice in the state. Move ahead with legal practices and don’t violate the norms. That is what a professional does.

Speciality

Gynaecologists are specialised in treating reproductive health issues of women. Here is what you need to know about the specialities of a gynaecologist:

  • Routine and preventive care is provided to the patients. They take care of reproductive health and conduct routine check-ups for the women.
  • General health care is also provided by a gynaecologist this includes headaches, low back pain, mood swings and acne.
  • Gynaecologists examine and treat the vagina, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and breasts.
  • They can also provide care during pregnancy like taking care and dealing with the issues of birth.

What Makes An Obstetrician And Gynaecologist Different?

An obstetrician specialises in pregnancy and childbirth but does not treat health issues beyond pregnancy. On the other hand, a gynaecologist deals with a variety of reproductive issues of a woman including taking care during pregnancy and childbirth.

So, if you want a full check-up including pregnancy check-ups you can visit a gynaecologist. Explore more in this guide. Check the more information here.

Gynaecologist: Surprising Issues They Deal With That An Obstetrician Cannot

Here are several issues that a gynaecologist deals with that an obstetrician cannot:

  • Your gynaecologist can deal with problems like irregular periods, heavy bleeding and absence of periods. These issues are not necessarily related to pregnancy so an obstetrician may lack the knowledge to deal with them,
  • Sexual health services are also provided by gynaecologists. These services may include screening and treating sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
  • A gynaecologist can manage the diagnosis and treatment of PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). This is a hormonal disorder that affects menstruation and fertility that can be out of reach of an obstetrician.
  • Gynaecologists can prevent or detect early-stage cancer by conducting screenings and treatment for cancer that an obstetrician cannot.

So, if you are a pregnant woman an obstetrician can be a better choice but if you want to get checked properly then a gynaecologist can be the best option.

Conclusion

A gynaecologist and an obstetrician both are important at some point in a woman’s life. They both deal in different departments. A gynaecologist is considered to be one of the most popular and suitable specialised figures for treating women’s health issues. Obstetrician also plays somewhere an important role when comes to treating pregnant women.

The best gynecologist in Dubai can treat you with the best treatment. Ensure your body is healthy and not dealing with any issues with regular visits to a gynaecologist.

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