There are around 18,900 OBGYNs in the United States, so it can be difficult to know how to choose the right one.
When choosing a women’s health professional, you will need to consider a few factors, including comfortability and practicality.
Keep reading for a full guide of what to consider when choosing a women’s health specialist.
Comfort
When choosing an OBGYN, the most important factor is if you’re comfortable around them. They should be respectful and passionate, especially if they’re going to be treating a sensitive area of your body.
They’ll be the ones to consult when it comes to fears, sex, and family planning. However, they’re also important for your overall health. You should feel comfortable talking about all of these topics with them, and they should seem like they’re listening and caring.
If they come across as judgmental or like they don’t have time for you, you might want to keep searching for a new one. A good doctor will engage in a dialogue with you, but they’ll also listen to you.
Your doctor should be there to talk about all of your concerns for you. They shouldn’t try to sway you in one decision or the other but give you all the information so that you can make your own decision.
Even if the doctor has a lot of credentials and experience, you’ll still need a doctor who will sit with you and listen to you and make you feel comfortable.
Ask For Referrals
To get started on your search, you should ask for referrals. You can ask your primary doctor for some recommendations, but you can also ask your trusted friends or family.
Once you get referrals, you’ll need to make sure that you can do your own research or even schedule consultations with the doctors.
Do Research
For research, you’ll want to make sure that you know what you need. If you need a certain specialist, then you should start doing research.
You can read reviews online, but keep in mind that you should take every review with a grain of salt. You might want to look at other types of websites like Healthgrades or Vitals as well.
This might show information about their specialties, years of practice, patient reviews, education, any malpractices, and certifications.
Insurance
Another important practical factor is your health insurance. You should check to see which OBGYNs are in-network for your specific plan.
There are different networks even within the healthcare system, so you’ll have to deal with either Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) or Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs).
If you have Medicaid or Medicare as a plan, then you might want to check the Physician Compare tool. You’ll be able to search by specialty as well.
You should try and choose a doctor that is in-network so that you don’t have to spend extra money on appointments that are really expensive.
Ask About Experience And Credentials
Regardless of if you’re facing a high-risk pregnancy or just need a quick checkup, the experience of the doctor will be important.
If they have more experience, you’ll likely have a better outcome or result. Some OBGYNs have different specialties, which can be more suited to treat any condition you have.
For example, if you’re dealing with gynecologic cancer, then you’ll find someone who specializes in that treatment. You should also ask how many patients the doctor has treated.
You’ll also want to make sure that they have all of the proper education as well. Most OBGYNs need to be certified by the board as well. This shows that they have the knowledge needed to treat you.
Individual Needs
You’ll also have to consider what you want out of an OBGYN. Having the right one can make sure that you have good sexual healthcare, which can improve the quality of your life.
However, if you’re someone who has anxiety and embarrassment from the doctor, choosing someone you’re comfortable with is even more important.
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, racism, domestic violence, or some other type of trauma, it’ll be even more important when choosing the right OBGYN.
Hospital
You should also consider which hospital the OBGYN is associated with. Sometimes you may not even think about it, but if you’re going to be going there a lot and having children with this OBGYN, then you should consider the hospital as well.
If you’re going for delivery, you probably won’t be in the hospital for more than a few days.
So you should focus on which hospitals are in the network. Do you need one that has a NICU?
Do you need prenatal education classes? Does the hospital offer these?
What other services does the hospital offer? Do they offer ones that you might need further on in your health journey?
Health History
You’ll need to consider your own health history as well. If you have chronic medical problems, you could have complications with women’s health as well.
If that’s the case, you might need a higher level of care or someone who specializes in something. For example, you might need to find a maternal-fetal medicine practice.
Discover More About How To Choose A Women’s Health Professional
We know that choosing a women’s health professional can be overwhelming, but we’re here to help you out.
We know that choosing any family doctor or primary care physician can also be stressful, which is why we’re here to help you out.
If you found this information helpful, explore our website to find even more healthcare articles like this one.