OBGYNs vs. Gynecologists

When it comes to women’s health care, having access to an experienced gynecologist or obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) is essential.

If you are trying to find a women’s health provider, you may see some who are listed as gynecologists and some who are listed as OBGYNs. So what is the difference between the two?

The primary difference is that OBGYNs deliver babies, while gynecologists choose not to. Both types of providers receive identical training, and they:

• Provide preventive and prenatal care
• Perform breast, cervical and endometrial cancer screenings
• Advise you on family planning
• Diagnose sexually transmitted infections
• Perform surgery when necessary

“My practice treats all women, and I have a special interest in adolescent patients and women going through menopause,” says Dr. Eve Ashby, gynecologist at Beaufort Memorial Lowcountry Medical Group who also sees patients at the Okatie Medical Pavilion. “I consult on hormone replacement therapy in menopause and sometimes prescribe compounded bioidentical hormones depending on a woman’s medical history.”

Read More: Managing Menopause

The Importance of Annual Well-Woman Exams

Regardless of whether you choose to see a gynecologist or an OBGYN, your women’s health provider can offer a spectrum of care throughout your life. Teenage girls should see a women’s health provider if they are having menstrual or chronic urinary tract problems. If girls don’t have these issues, they can start seeing a provider when they need contraception. Girls who are sexually active should have annual screenings for sexually transmitted diseases. At age 21, women who are sexually active start getting Pap tests, which screen for cervical cancer, as well as pelvic exams.

“A pelvic exam can detect early changes, such as ovarian or uterine masses, as well as changes in the vagina or on the outside areas of the female genitalia,” Dr. Ashby says. “Sometimes a Pap test is still needed long after menstrual cycles stop, especially if there has been a history of abnormal tests in the past or if there is a new sexual partner.”

Read More: Sexually Transmitted Diseases – The Unspoken Truth

Your provider can also offer guidance as you move through menopause and beyond.

You now have choices in the Bluffton/Okatie area!

In addition to Dr. Ashby in the Lowcountry Medical Group – Okatie office, Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists has an office at the Okatie Medical Pavilion.