Obstetrician-gynecologist

An obstetrician-gynecologist is a specialist in problems of conception, gestation and birth. A doctor of this specialization helps with pregnancy planning, monitors a woman during the period of gestation and after the baby is born.

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Who is an obstetrician-gynecologist?

The main task of obstetrics and gynecology centers is to preserve or restore the normal functioning of the female reproductive system. The question: "Who is an obstetrician-gynecologist?" has a clear answer - this is a medical worker responsible for the health of the future child and its mother.

Obstetricians and gynecologists play an important role – prolonging life on Earth. It is this specialist who must confirm the onset of pregnancy, regardless of all possible tests and the manifestation of external signs of pregnancy.

The chief obstetrician-gynecologist is the doctor who helps the woman during the birth process. It is very important to have a trusting relationship with the doctor who is the first to see and take your child into his or her arms.

When should you see an obstetrician/gynecologist?

List of problems and symptoms when you should contact an obstetrician-gynecologist:

• menstruation has not started by the age of 15;
• menstruation is accompanied by severe pain;
• the duration of menstruation exceeds 7 days, menstruation is characterized by heavy bleeding, bloody discharge was noted at other times;
• if you experience itching, burning, pain in the abdomen (especially the lower abdomen), as well as discharge with an unpleasant odor;
• there is pain during intercourse, accompanied by signs of respiratory disease;
• menstruation stopped with regular sexual activity;
• the last three menstrual periods were absent while abstaining from intimacy;
• burning sensation during urination;
• changes were detected in the genital area - abrasions, roughness, convex neoplasms, etc.

What tests should you take when visiting an obstetrician-gynecologist?

If pregnancy is confirmed, a laboratory test should be performed to rule out infectious diseases, any disorders or pathologies. It is best when both parents prepare for conception in advance – take tests and undergo appropriate treatment.

What tests should you take when visiting an obstetrician-gynecologist:

• tests for infectious diseases;
• studies that determine the presence of antibodies to viruses/bacteria;
• tests that detect infections spread through sexual contact (chlamydia, mycoplasma, etc.);
• conclusion on the state of the endocrine system;
• hormonal and genetic studies;
• general blood/urine analysis;
• blood test for biochemistry;
• immunological study.

What diagnostic methods does an obstetrician-gynecologist use?

You should visit a gynecologist annually (preferably twice a year), even if there are no complaints. The course of some diseases often occurs without pronounced symptoms. This may concern tumors and infectious diseases.

During the initial examination, the specialist conducts an examination using a gynecological mirror and takes the necessary smears. During the consultation, the obstetrician-gynecologist will ask about the menstrual cycle, sexual intercourse, the presence of pain, and the nature of the discharge.

What diagnostic methods does an obstetrician-gynecologist use to detect cervical pathology? Firstly, a palpation method is used to exclude inflammation in the uterus and appendages. Secondly, a gynecologist uses a colposcope to detect/study erosion and dysplasia of the cervix. Thirdly, if necessary, an ultrasound diagnosis of the uterus, ovaries, and mammary glands is also performed.

What does an obstetrician-gynecologist do?

The scope of activity of an obstetrician-gynecologist:

• detection and treatment of gynecological diseases of specific/non-specific etiology;
• resolving problems with the menstrual cycle, including hormonal disorders;
• diagnosis of pregnancy, including ectopic pregnancy;
• observation of the physiological and pathological (with a number of complications) course of pregnancy;
• obstetrics;
• conducting preventive examinations aimed at detecting asymptomatic diseases (erosion, dysplasia, etc.);
• infertility treatment, resolving issues of miscarriage;
• diagnosis and prescription of therapeutic interventions for tumor processes of a benign or malignant nature.

It should be noted that a gynecologist-endocrinologist is not included in the list of medical specializations. Studying changes in hormonal levels is part of the duties of an obstetrician-gynecologist.

What diseases does an obstetrician-gynecologist treat?

Timely diagnosis and application of therapeutic intervention to the source of inflammatory diseases of the female reproductive system is the most important task of an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Inflammatory processes by etiology are divided into:

• specific – for example, chlamydia, ureaplasmosis;
• non-specific – thrush, colpitis, adnexitis, cervicitis.

One of the common diseases, such as inflammation of the appendages, can cause infertility if not treated properly. Therefore, an obstetrician-gynecologist must be a real specialist, constantly improving his/her qualifications and studying the latest trends in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.

Besides sexually transmitted infections, what diseases does an obstetrician-gynecologist treat? The following diseases are under the jurisdiction of this specialist:

• diseases of the cervix (presence of polyps, erosion, etc.);
• salpingitis (inflammatory process in the fallopian tubes);
• endometritis (damage to the inner lining of the uterus)/endometriosis (a condition in which the inner lining of the uterus grows outward);
• uterine fibroids;
• ovarian cyst.

Tips from an obstetrician-gynecologist to take note of

The recommendations of an obstetrician-gynecologist concern, first of all, the issue of planning conception. During pregnancy, diseases may worsen or be discovered. Therefore, before conception, you should visit a number of specialists, take tests, prepare the body for bearing a baby with preventive, cleansing and therapeutic methods.

General advice from an obstetrician-gynecologist:

• expectant parents need to see a general practitioner who can detect a number of diseases and refer them to a specialist to solve the problem;
• If you have a chronic illness that requires regular medication, you should find out what medications you can use while expecting a baby;
• Be sure to have a dental check-up - during pregnancy, it is forbidden to take X-rays, and the presence of caries can serve as a source of infection in the body;
• a consultation with an ophthalmologist is necessary - in case of progressive myopia, obstetricians and gynecologists recommend a Caesarean section;
• if you have genetic diseases, you need to visit a geneticist;
• examination by a gynecologist for a woman, and by an andrologist for a man.

These specialists will help to eliminate all obstacles on the way to conception. Future parents will be confident in their health, which will have a positive effect on the development of pregnancy and the physical condition of the newborn.

The obstetrician-gynecologist will definitely check the hemoglobin level, if necessary, prescribe iron-containing substances before the pregnancy. The spouses are also recommended to undergo fluorography. The woman, if she has not had rubella, is better to get vaccinated. A few months after the vaccination, you can plan a pregnancy.