Difference between Gynecologist and Obstetrician

Key Difference:  A Gynecologist is a doctor who looks after the women’s reproductive health. On the other hand, an Obstetrician is a doctor who provides care for women especially during pregnancy and after the birth of the child.

Gynecologist is a doctor looking into the problems of a woman’s reproductive system. They are primarily concerned in taking care of any issues related to ovaries, womb, cervix and vagina. They treat a number of conditions and disorders like irregular maturation cycle, inflection in the reproductive parts, etc.

They generally work as primarily long term physicians. Gynecologists also may specialize in fields like contraception, menopause, colposcopy, reproductive medicine, urogynaecology, etc.

Obstetrician is also a doctor who is concerned with health of women. They take care of women by managing issues arising during maternity care. They get involved to find solutions of any kind of complications (if any) during pregnancy and childbirth.

Their role may also include help in planning a pregnancy. They specialize in fields like fetal medicine, maternal medicine and labor care. Unlike a Gynecologist, an obstetrician specifically deals with the pregnant woman. It is important to mention that due to many crossover functions, both Obstetrician and Gynecologist work in similar domain and often takes each other’s role. Generally, an obstetrician work as Gynecologists but a Gynecologist may or may not work as obstetrician.

Unlike a Gynecologist, an Obstetrician usually does not provide treatment of diseases. They are involved in dealing with complications like ectopic pregnancy etc. In the case of a miscarriage, both Obstetricians and Gynecologists are able to provide help and care.

Comparison between Gynecologist and Obstetrician:

 

Gynecologist

Obstetrician

Definition

A Gynecologist is a doctor who looks after the women’s reproductive health.

An Obstetrician is a doctor who provides care for women especially during pregnancy and after the birth of the child.

Job Description

  • Diagnose and treat diseases and disorders related to the female reproductive system

Deals with issues like –

  • Menstrual problems
  • Vaginal discharge
  • Fertility problems
  • Breast inspection for lumps and STD’s
  • Deals with pregnancy and childbirth
  • Provide treatment to women during pregnancy and childbirth
  • They monitor pregnant woman and unborn babies
  • Analyze images obtained from ultrasound scan and x rays

Qualification

A candidate needs to earn a MD degree of D.O degree, and then finish a residency program in gynecology, which usually takes four years to complete.

A candidate needs to earn a MD degree of D.O degree, and then finish a residency program in obstetrics, which usually takes four years to complete.

Surgical Procedures

Hysterectomy, oophorectomy, tubal ligation, laproscopy, laprotomy, cystoscopy, etc.

Vaginal and Cesarean deliveries, episiotomy

Some specialization streams

  • Urogynaecology
  • Reproductive medicine
  • Colposcopy
  • Gynae-oncology
  • Fetal medicine
  • Maternal medicine
  • Labour care

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