Health Care Choosing your Ob-gyn

Choosing your ob-gyn is one of the most important health care decisions you can make, so you’ll want to select an ob-gyn who is qualified and with whom you feel comfortable.

Ob-gyns are the only physicians who specialize in the care of women. They are trained in all aspects of women’s reproductive health, including surgery, in addition to general primary and preventive care. That is why most women rely on their ob-gyns for many of their health care needs throughout their lives, not just during the reproductive years.

All ob-gyns have earned their undergraduate college degree and have completed an additional four years of medical school. After receiving their medical degree, ob-gyns complete four years of residency training in obstetrics and gynecology.

Look for an ob-gyn who is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The distinction of board certification is obtained only after successful completion of two separate tests, a written test and an oral exam, given by a panel of experts, to determine the doctor’s skills, knowledge and ability to treat many conditions.

If the letters FACOG appear after your ob-gyn’s name , it means that he or she is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and is board certified, since that is required to become an ACOG Fellow. By choosing an ACOG Fellow as your physician, you can feel confident that you will receive the highest quality health care. Choosing an ACOG Fellow as your physician ensures that your ob-gyn is being kept abreast of the latest medical guidelines, treatments and techniques in women’s health care today.