Obstetrics and Gynecology

Sophie Baldwin, 11/28/23

See our interview with Dr. King for firsthand insight into OBGYN!

Obstetrics and gynecology is a combination of two specialties; obstetrics, which focuses on the care of pregnant women, and gynecology, which focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the female reproductive system. This field is predominately made up of female doctors, but male physicians are allowed to enter the field as well. OB-GYN doctors often form long-term connections with patients. For example, many will see a patient through their entire pregnancy, from diagnosis to childbirth. While delivering babies is rewarding to doctors, it can also be very stressful, making obstetrics a high-stress specialty. OB-GYN physicians perform some surgical procedures, such as the C-section. Following the completion of an OB-GYN residency, physicians can choose to practice either obstetrics, gynecology, or a blend of both specialties.

Fast Facts

• Salary: $309,000

• DO friendly? Medium

• IMG friendly? No

• Competitiveness: Medium

• Match rate (2015): 91%

• Average step-one: 248

• Surgical? Yes (procedural)

Becoming an OB-GYN

• 4 years of undergraduate

• 4 years of medical school

• 4 years of OB-GYN residency

• 1-3 years of fellowship (optional)

Work-life Balance

OB-GYN doctors typically have difficult work-life balances. Because there are many emergencies that can occur during pregnancy, OB-GYN doctors are commonly called into the hospital. Physicians who choose to specialize in gynecology only typically have more flexible schedules, and many gynecologists run their own practices. While OB-GYNs are compensated fairly well (around average within medical specialties), many believe they should be paid more for the amount of work they do. This specialty is for those who thrive in high-pressure environments and who want to make an immediate impact on their patients' lives.

Fellowships

• Family Planning (3 years)

• GYN Oncology (3 years)

• Maternal-Fetal Medicine (3 years)

• Reproductive Endocrinology (3 years)

• Urogynecology (3 years)

• Pediatric/Adolescent GYN (1-2 years)

Job Satisfaction and Outlook

• 59% are satisfied with their career (US News)

• 40-75% report burnout (2022) (Health eCareers)

• 1.7% projected job growth (2021-2031) (US News)

Sources

https://www.prospectivedoctor.com/how-competitive-is-an-obstetrics-and-gynecology-residency/

https://residency.wustl.edu/choosing-a-specialty/specialty-descriptions/obstetrics-gynecology/

https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/obstetrician-and-gynecologist#:~:text=The%20Bureau%20of%20Labor%20Statistics,gynecologists%20between%202021%20and%202031.

https://www.healthecareers.com/career-resources/on-the-job/top-challenges-impacting-ob-gyn