What Type Of Gynecologist Do You Need?

When a woman needs a gynecologist, she will have to decide which kind she needs. While all gynecologists treat female patients, some of them are general GYNs while others specialize in areas such as oncology, obstetrics or reproductive health. In addition to considering where a medical practice is located, what their hours of operation are, whether they accept your healthcare insurance policy, whether they are male or female and whether you like their style, you'll also have to take specialties into consideration. There are a number of important factors to consider when choosing your doctor:

Location: It's helpful to have a doctor who is close to either your home or place of employment in order to make it convenient and reduce travel time to and fro.

Hours of Operation: It's also important that the practice be open when you can get there. If you have a hard time taking off from work, finding a gynecologist's office that aligns with your time off will be helpful.

Insurance Accepted: Before making an appointment with a new doc, it's important to make sure they accept your form of health insurance. Some insurance providers can give insured individuals lists of practitioners to select from. You don't want to find out that a new MD doesn't take your coverage after spending hundreds of dollars on appointments and lab tests.

Gender: Some women prefer a male GYN while others prefer a female. If gender is important, it's important to find out in advance. Some first names can be either/or such as Marion, Del or Terry.

Style: Having an aligning communication style and philosophical bent will be important. If you are more comfortable with a casual communication style and an alternative holistic approach, select your doctor accordingly. This is where the initial interview will come in handy.

Specialties: There are different specialties in the gynecological field of medicine. Which one do you need?

- Oncology: If you have some sort of cancer such as uterine or cervical, you will need a doctor who specializes in oncology, the treatment of cancer. There may be surgical intervention, chemotherapeutic treatment or radiation needed, at which this MD would be adept.

- Obstetrics: If you plan to become pregnant, you'll need a GYN who is also an OB. The initials that a combined doc goes by are OB-GYN. An OB-GYN performs gynecology and delivers babies.

- Reproductive Specialist: In case of infertility issues, a reproductive specialist should be seen. There are multiple methods for enhancing fertility including medications, operations, in vitro procedures, egg or sperm donation, egg freezing and more.

- General GYN: A general GYN takes care of a woman's overall reproductive health including PAP tests, blood tests, urinalyses, STD treatment and more. These doctors prescribe birth control devices as well.

When a patient needs to find a gynecologist, she will need to consider multiple things before making a selection. Where the medical practice is located, what the hours of operation are, whether they take your health insurance, the doctor's gender, style, and specialization are all important criteria for making a decision.