For many of us out there (mostly the men), an obstetrician and a gynecologist may seem interchangeable. After all, the phrase OB/GYN all but guarantees that, right? However, there are many important differences between the two lines of work, so let’s take a moment to have a closer look.
Gynecologist
A gynecologist specializes in caring for female reproductive systems. Obstetricians’ specialization is focused on caring for women and their children and they handle any surgical care that is needed during the initial stages of pregnancy, as well as any issues that arise during childbirth and post natal care.
They each deal with differing concerns during their appointments with patients. While an obstetrician handles all pregnancy related issues once the gynecologist has successfully confirmed that the patient is expecting, a gynecologist takes care of pap smears, treatment for infections in the uterus or vagina, hysterectomies and any problems associated with fertility or conceiving a child.
Obstetrician
When the obstetrician spends time with the patient, they are focused on seeing them through the pregnancy and ensuring a smooth delivery. During the pregnancy’s first trimester, they perform ultrasounds on a regular basis, in order to ensure that the child is healthy and that the pregnancy is going according to plan. Any potential complications are identified by the obstetrician and they also determine the gestational period.
While both of these professions receive an education in Obstetrics and Gynecology, they perform different surgical procedures. A gynecologist is qualified to perform hysterectomies, laproscopies, cystoscopies, tubal ligation, as well as an oophorectomy.
Meanwhile, the obstetrician handles surgical procedures that are more closely associated with pregnancy, such as Cesarean deliveries and vaginal deliveries. They are also qualified to perform an episiotomy.
A gynecologist is responsible for treating a number of diseases that women contract in their reproductive organs. The uterus, ovaries, vulva, Fallopian tubes, and cervix are all areas where the gynecologist can treat a patient who is showing signs of disease. Any bacterial and/or fungal infections of the genitals can also be treated by a gynecologist.
Conversely, an obstetrician does not have the ability to cure any diseases that a woman may experience. Their job is more focused on ensuring women make it through their pregnancies without any sort of complication that leads to health problems for the baby. If there is fetal distress, a prolapsed cord, placental abrupt-ion or obstetrical hemorrhage, the obstetrician provides a solution.
An obstetrician and a gynecologist may perform entirely different duties, but they are both pivotal to the health and wellness of mother and child. A gynecologist is responsible for ensuring the health of the reproductive organs and determining whether a woman is expecting. It is the obstetrician’s job to deliver the child and they each serve a crucial purpose.