A gynecologist is a medical doctor who has specialized in issues regarding a woman’s reproductive system (ovaries, uterus, vagina) and often in conditions regarding urinary tract issues, such as stress incontinence. This second specialization may overlap the work a urologist does. Gynecologists are trained to evaluate, recognize and treat potential disease of the reproductive system, and are also trained surgically to perform surgeries like hysterectomies, (removal of the uterus). Women who are eighteen, or younger if they are sexually active, should see a gynecologist yearly to be evaluated for conditions like cervical cancer.

Many gynecologists are not only expert in women’s health issues but are also obstetricians. This means they may help women who are having reproductive issues and also oversee the care of pregnant women, and are present for the birth of children. They not only aid in labor and delivery, but can perform cesarean sections, induce labor, halt premature labor, or perform any other treatment required before, during or immediately after a woman has given birth. Some obstetricians specialize in working with women who have high-risk pregnancies, and others are trained in neonatology so they can address the needs of newborns and pregnant moms.

Some people choose not to practice obstetrics and stick primarily to being a gynecologist. The obstetrician tends to work long and unpredictable hours, since births or pregnancy complications may occur at any time of the day or night. A few people who have worked as both a gynecologist and an obstetrician give up their obstetric practice later when they find these hours too challenging, or simply want to reduce their work schedule.

In the US, in order to call yourself a gynecologist, you must be board certified. This means you take additional training and specialization after completing medical school and residency, and take tests to prove your aptitude in this area. Numerous family practice physicians may choose to take board certification in gynecology and/or obstetrics, to be able to offer their patients more services. Furthermore, a recent trend in health insurance companies is to allow women to name their obstetricians/gynecologists (OB/GYN) as their primary care physicians. In this case, they might see their OB/GYN to treat any type of illness, not just those specific to the reproductive system. If the illness seems beyond the capabilities of the primary care physicians or gynecologists who are primary care physicians, specialists would be recommended for additional treatment or diagnosis.

The gynecologist may work in a medical clinic, a hospital, a clinic devoted to birth control or abortion, or birthing centers. Many in this specialty also work in research-oriented positions, attempting to improve care for diseases of the reproductive system or to help develop better medications and equipment for use as birth control. Many of these doctors work in a variety of locations; for instance, most gynecologists who have a regular medical office would also practice medicine in hospitals or surgery centers since some of their work is surgical in nature.

There are both men and women who choose to be gynecologists, though some women express greater confidence in seeing female doctors for what are essentially “female” concerns. This has led to trends where gynecology and/or obstetrics clinics hire only female gynecologists. This doesn’t make the male gynecologist any less adept at his work; yet some women would rather see a woman who may be able to empathize with things like cramps during menstruation, and feel less embarrassed when seeing a female doctor for very intimate examinations.

One of the main jobs in a medical clinic devoted to gynecology is performing yearly exams: physical examinations of the uterus, vagina and pelvis. Gynecologists also use these yearly check-ins to help educate women about reproductive health and concerns, and to listen to any concerns a woman might have regarding menstrual cycles, birth control methods, beginning menopause or other.