Dr. Brian Glymph, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialist - Nacogdoches, TX | Sharecare (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between OB and Gyn doctor? ›

What Is Obstetrics? The "OB" involves care during pre-conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and immediately after delivery. What Is Gynecology? The "GYN" involves care of all women's health issues.

An obstetrician provides care during pregnancy and delivers babies. A gynecologist doesn't treat people who are pregnant or deliver babies, but specializes in the female reproductive system. It's common for healthcare providers to combine these two areas of medicine. This is called obstetrics and gynecology or Ob/Gyn.

What Does a Gynecologist Do? Gynecologists give reproductive and sexual health services that include pelvic exams, Pap tests, cancer screenings, and testing and treatment for vagin*l infections. They diagnose and treat reproductive system disorders such as endometriosis, infertility, ovarian cysts, and pelvic pain.

Physicians who specialize in men's sexual and reproductive health care — including the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the male sex and reproductive organs — are called urologists.

An OB-GYN can handle pregnancy complications, such as signs of fetal distress, preeclampsia, placenta issues, and ectopic pregnancies. They are trained to make deliveries via Cesarean section as well as vagin*l births. For all other health-care concerns related to women's health, a gynecologist is a good choice.

Anxiety medication can be prescribed by a provider trained in medicine and mental health, like a physician, psychiatrist, or OBGYN.

“Ozempic can be prescribed by any licensed clinician including physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants,” says Dr. Johnson.

They can prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. Make sure to ask about preventative measures, too.

Appearances don't matter. Whether you choose to groom your pubic area or not, or if you forgot to shave your legs and your armpits before the appointment, your gynecologist couldn't care less. Their focus is purely on your health and well-being. They won't even notice.

Pain or pressure in your pelvis that differs from menstrual cramps. Itching, burning, swelling, redness, or soreness in the vagin*l area. Sores or lumps in the genital area. vagin*l discharge with an unpleasant or unusual odor, or of an unusual color.

What happens on your first gynecologist appointment? ›

The first visit may be just a talk between you and your doctor. You can find out what to expect at future visits and get information about how to stay healthy. You can ask questions about your body, growing up, and sex. You may also have certain exams and vaccinations.

Women over age 65 can stop getting screened if they've had at least three consecutive negative Pap tests or at least two negative HPV tests within the previous 10 years, according to the guidelines. But women who have a history of a more advanced precancer diagnosis should continue to be screened for at least 20 years.

Most of the time, a doctor can't tell if a girl has had sex just from a pelvic exam (and doctors don't usually do a pelvic exam unless there's a sign of a problem). But you should let your doctor know if you've had sex anyway. Why? Having sex puts a person at risk for STDs as well as unplanned pregnancy.

Without regular pelvic exams, issues such as endometriosis, a painful disorder in which tissue that usually lines the inside of your uterus grows outside of it, can go undiagnosed. Similarly, benign growths like lumps or cysts could go unnoticed, leading to potential complications later on.

One can be a gynecologist and not an obstetrician, though one cannot be an obstetrician without being a gynecologist. OB-GYNs see patients in physicians' offices for routine "well-woman" exams, which could include contraceptive management and HPV screening.

The specialty of OB/GYN covers a variety of health care for women. As such an OB/GYN can perform primary care, have continuity of care, and provide surgical services.

High-risk vs. low-risk pregnancies – OB-GYNs can manage high-risk or complicated pregnancies such as women who are expecting twins or have preexisting medical conditions. Midwives, on the other hand, can manage low-risk pregnancies and births, but can coordinate care with other specialists like OB-GYNs if necessary.

OB stands for obstetrics or obstetrician. That is a physician who cares for women and their babies during pregnancy and childbirth. GYN stands for gynecology or gynecologist. That is a physician who specializes in treating female reproductive conditions.