Medical School

Before becoming an OB/GYN, you will attend and complete medical school. This video contains medical students who react to the medical school environment. They explain what they did and didn't expect and how the first week of medical school is. They say that everything is difficult when in medical school and what everyone says about it's difficulty is true. This post is similar to the Residency post because it shows students in training and helps future students understand what they are doing later on in their career.

Shortage of OB/GYN's

In the United States, there are only around 33,000 OB/GYNs. This is a problem because there are thousands of babies delivered each year. There isn't enough OB/GYNs to match up to the women having babies every year. You are needed!!! This article tells more about the shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists, and what they found in their surveys over the years. This article also includes comments from doctors about the shortage of OB/GYNs. This article differs from the rest of the posts because it explains why America is in need of students training to become an OB/GYN, rather than informing you on what an OB/GYN does.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/05/08/half-of-us-counties-have-no-ob-gyn-study

How to Perform a Pelvic Exam

All OB/GYN's have to know how to examine a patient in order to maintain the reproductive health of that woman. This website goes through each step you need to take in order to thoroughly examine a patient's pelvic area. It talks about getting the patient's permission, preparing the exam room, the examination itself, and concluded the procedure. I chose this website because the procedures are easy to understand and it is a great step-by-step instruction manual for others to learn from. For a more in-depth analysis of a pelvic examination, visit the link provided:

http://www.whccc.org/pelvic_exam.cfm

Contraception

OB/GYN's need to know the different types of contraception in order to answer questions patients may have. This website offers a brief summary of the many contraceptions available. There are patches, IUDs, pills, shots, and many others. Knowing what to prescribe a certain patient can be important when providing quality care. More information can be found at the link below:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contraception

Knowing What Pre-eclampsia Is

OB/GYN's see cases of pre-eclampsia often in their lives. Pre-eclampsia is a, "medical condition characterized by high blood pressure and significant amounts of protein in the urine of a pregnant woman." If this condition goes untreated, then a woman can develop seizures during pregnancy, also known as eclampsia. This can be life-threatening to the mother and the baby. Swelling of the hands and face are symptoms of Pre-eclampsia, as well as hypertension. This webpage goes into depth on information about Pre-eclampsia: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-eclampsia

Surgical Practice for Reproductive Health

This video shows and explains the different types of surgery that is performed by an OB/GYN. The doctors use a robotic surgery to make surgery a bit easier. This kind of surgery calls for a quicker recovery and precise incisions. This type of surgery also takes less time to complete the operation. I chose this video because it shows a technology that is new to me. I was very interested in learning how to maneuver this piece of equipment and show others how to as well.

Fibroids: Why I am Pursuing This Career

I am becoming an OB/GYN because my mother and aunt were diagnosed with having fibroids in the uterus. According to the Harvard Health Publications, "Fibroids are noncancerous lumps that can be found anywhere in or near the uterus." This can be a complication because it can cause infertility. Fibroids are also very painful, especially during the woman's menstrual cycle. I want to help women who have fibroids; I want to make them a healthier and happier person. This is what fibroids in the uterus look like:

They can range in size: they can be as small as a pea or as big as a basketball. If you think you may have fibroids in your uterus, don't hesitate to ask your OB/GYN. Image retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/health-guide/fibroids.html

Schedule of an OB/GYN

An OB/GYN works hours that are unpredictable. This article by Veritas Prep explains one day in the life of an OB/GYN. She goes into detail when explaining what she did that specific day. There are many deliveries that could happen in one day or none at all. It can be rough when entering this field of study. This article may get you closer to the decision of becoming an OB/GYN or not. This article stood out to me because the author goes into great detail when explaining this one specific day that she has. It makes me think that I could have a day like this as well.

http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/medical-school-admissions-doctor/2012/05/29/follow-a-day-in-the-life-of-an-ob-gyn

The MCAT

In order to become an OB/GYN you will have to get into medical school. To do so, you will have to pass the MCAT with a score of 28 or higher. The test in composed of three sections: Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, and Biological Sciences. The test is timed, so for the first and third section you will have 70 minutes to answer the questions. For the second section, you will have 60 minutes to complete the questions. The test is taken online and it should take about 30-35 days to receive the test results. Good luck!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_College_Admission_Test

Residency

This is a video of an example of completing residency when becoming an OB/GYN. These doctors talk about their training and research in the field. They state what they will be learning during their residency and how they feel about residency. Residency is a period where you are paid for training in your field. You aren't quite an OB/GYN yet, but you learn something everyday that can help you become an official OB/GYN.

The Gynecologist Side of Things

According to superscholar.org, a gynecologists is a, "physician who trains in the health of the female reproductive system and organs. A gynecologist diagnoses, tests, and provides medical treatment for a variety of female disorders and diseases." A gynecologist is different from an obstetrician because a gyno maintains a women's reproductive health when the woman is not pregnant. This doctor deals with more of the surgical side of the uterus. They remove cancer, fibroids, and help with problems of infertility. For more information, visit the link below: 

http://www.superscholar.org/careers/health-care/gynecologist-obgyn/

The Obstetrician Side of Things

According to this article on healthcommunites.com, an obstetrician is, "a physician who has successfully completed specialized education and training in the management of pregnancy, labor, and pueperium (the time-period directly following childbirth)." This is the OB in OB/GYN. This doctor helps the woman through her pregnancy and delivery. An obstetrician's job is to ensure a healthy and fast delivery of an expectant mother. This webpage seems to have reliable information and specific definitions, which is why I chose this website. More info can be found at the link below: 

http://www.healthcommunities.com/pregnancy/what-is-obgyn.shtml

Delivering a Baby

There is a certain technique to delivering a baby to ensure the mother and the baby's health is well. This video will show how a baby is delivered. This video also explains what the mother's body is doing during the time of labor. The mother's body has natural contractions which help push the baby out of the mother's body as shown in the video. I chose this video because it is not as gruesome as a live birth. It goes into depth when explaining the process of childbirth. This video may contain scenes that may be unsuitable for some viewers.

How to Become an OB/GYN

To become an OB/GYN there are many things you have to accomplish. Education Portal explains what a student would need to do in order to become an OB/GYN. First, you must complete a four-year undergraduate degree. After doing this, you have to pass the MCAT which is a test students take to get into medical school. Then, once accepted, you have to complete four years of medical school. After medical school, you have to complete an internship and residency in a hospital which may take from 3-7 years. Finally, you can obtain  your licensure to become an official OB/GYN.

http://education-portal.com/become_an_obgyn.html

The Work Environment

Hospitals are where most OB/GYNs are found, but they can branch off into different sections. Teaching hospitals is a section that an OB/GYN can go into, as well as family planning. It depends on the kind of environment you are willing to work in. This webpage gives a brief description of the different work environments that OB/GYNs may be placed in. An OB/GYN may work extensive hours, usually 60 hours or more a week, due to the high birthing rate. Labors are unpredictable so expect your hours to be unknown as well.

http://www.innerbody.com/careers-in-health/how-to-become-an-obgyn-doctor.html

Cord Clamping: A Procedure Every OB/GYN has to Perform

Nicholas Fogelson, MD has various podcasts where he interviews OB/GYN's. In these podcasts, the doctors explain what they have found in their many years of research. In the specific podcast I selected, Dr. Fogelson has a conversation with Dr. Judith Mercer about clamping the umbilical too late or too early. This procedure needs to be done correctly in order to keep the baby and the mother healthy. A common symptom of clamping the cord too quickly is jaundice which is a yellowing of the skin and eyes. They also point out that humans are the only species that do not delay the cord clamping. Animals may wait for a period of time before biting off the cord.

Podcast #5 Feb. 26, 2011: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/academic-ob-gyn-academic-ob/id215781900

What is the Average Income of an OB/GYN?

Fred Decker states in his blog that on average the salary for an OB/GYN is $218,610. His blog contains surveyed salaries ranging from $220,000 to $420,000 per year. This field rakes in a five-figure salary and Decker briefly explains why, "Women of the baby boom generation will still require the services of gynecologists as they age." (Decker, 2007) Women will always need doctors to keep their lady parts monitored no matter what age they are.

http://work.chron.com/average-obgyn-salary-6923.html

What Do OB/GYN's Wear?

Typically an OB/GYN will wear something like this to work:

A lab coat may be worn, but scrubs are necessary in this field. Some hospitals do not allow doctors to wear solid black or red because they can be confused with gang colors. Depending on which hospital you work at, there may be restrictions on what you can and cannot wear. Close toe shoes are necessary, and some hospitals may require you to pull your hair back at all times.

Image retrieved from http://www.scrubpoint.com/2009/04/01/embroidered-lab-coats-your-personalized-hospital-uniforms/

A Day in the Life of an OB/GYN

Being an OB/GYN is not easy work. This career choice requires many years of education. If you want to pursue this career, you need dedication and time. This video gives a brief description of the life an OB/GYN lives. It explains what this specific doctor does and what you need to become an OB/GYN. This career will always be one in demand because every woman needs to monitor her reproductive health in order to have children and live a healthy life. I chose this video because it informed me on the tasks an OB/GYN must accomplish on a day to day basis.

What is an OB/GYN?

An OB/GYN is a woman's reproductive doctor; one who specializes in the care of the reproductive organs in women. These doctors perform extensive tests to detect cancer in the female organs and check the patient for sexually transmitted infections. They provide information on any questions a woman may have about her reproductive health. These doctors are in high demand, and women need these doctors in order to deliver a baby the safe way. An OB/GYN may also remove the contents of the uterus due to cancer or fibroids. These are serious health complications that need to be treated immediately by a professional. To learn more about what an OB/GYN is, visit the link provided below:

http://womenshealth.about.com/od/gynecologicalhealthissues/g/obgyn.htm