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Tips for Talking with Your OB/GYN
Doctors sometimes seem to talk
a language all their own. But
to communicate with yours,
you don't have to learn "doctor-speak."
As Steven Morgan, M.D., FACOG,
a board certified OB/GYN at Jersey
Shore University Medical Center,
explains, "Just try to be as clear and
honest as you can. And don't be concerned
about bringing up embarrassing
topics — your doctor discusses
sensitive issues every day. You want a
doctor who listens to you and talks to
you in a two-way dialogue."
An OB/GYN is a physician who
specializes in the care of women of
all ages. They provide a wide range of
services, including:
- Screenings, such as pelvic exams
- Postmenopausal care
- Treatment of benign breast disease
- Help for vaginal dryness and vulvar or pelvic pain
- Surgery, including hysterectomy and minimally invasive techniques
While OB/GYNs are specialists,
many women choose them as their primary
care physicians. In fact, according
to a recent article in the Journal of
the American Board of Family Practice,
OB/GYNs spend, on average, almost
half of their time providing primary
care services.
Dr. Morgan adds that when you see
your OB/GYN, it's important to share
information about the following:
- Unusual symptoms — such as nipple
discharge, genital itching, painful
urination, or severe pelvic pain
— including when they started and
what, if anything, triggers them
- Your sexual habits
- What medicines you take
- Any other health care specialists you see
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