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Obstetrician and Gynecologist

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AVG. SALARY

$264,620

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EDUCATION

First professional degree

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JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What They Do

Obstetricians and Gynecologists Career Video

Insider Info

Obstetricians deal with human birth, long considered to be the most ancient medical art. Obstetricians diagnose and monitor pregnancies and tend to the health of both the fetuses and the expectant mothers. They look for -- and respond to -- any abnormal conditions during pregnancy and deliver babies. Then a pediatrician enters the picture.

Many parents create birth plans before the big event, a written agreement with the delivering obstetrician about what kind of birth they'd like to have. Some choose a minimal amount of drugs or no painkiller at all. Some want the company of a husband, friend, sister or midwife. It's an agreement on how things will go before the hard work really begins.

Most budding obstetricians will want to consider becoming an OB/GYN -- the GYN denoting gynecology. Gynecology is the branch of medicine that treats female organs -- everything from Pap smears to cervical cancers to routine checkups to hysterectomies. While many doctors specialize in obstetrics, it's hard to only focus on delivering babies.

"Virtually all residencies are in OB/GYN," says Dr. Lori Levi.

It's also possible to specialize within the field of OB/GYN. Dr. John Anderson practices in a small community -- dealing with high-risk obstetrics and complicated gynecology. Anderson looks after infertility, pelvic pain and excessive bleeding. He performs little of the primary care that would be common in a larger urban practice.

OB/GYNs will be in demand as the female side of the baby boom population hits menopause.

But take into account the burdens of carrying malpractice insurance and shrinking payments from HMOs and other managed care facilities. Some say the financial rewards of obstetric medicine -- and other health fields -- are diminishing.

Dr. Margaret Craig runs her own practice. She worries that we will see more indifferent physicians and practices.

"I also see fewer programs to help women without insurance provide their babies a healthy start. Business doesn't see the profit in raising healthy kids. It's too far in the future."

Nonetheless, Craig advocates that medical students do all they can to hang on to their idealism. The bottom line is that an OB/GYN's work is to help women produce healthy babies for our future.

There's no such thing as an average working day for any physician, especially not for an OB/GYN. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), more than a third of all physicians work at least 60 hours a week. And since they're sometimes on call, the hours can change daily.

"The hours are horrible. But this is a wonderful profession and I wouldn't do anything else. The best sound in the whole world is a baby's first cry," says Anderson.

Craig became a nurse-midwife first. "I had 500 deliveries before I was admitted to medical school," she notes. Craig can't recommend strongly enough the accumulation of life experience for any prospective MD. "Anyone going into OB should at least have sat with a laboring woman or delivered a litter of puppies."

Just the Facts

Want a quick overview of what this career is about?Check out Just the Facts for simple lists of characteristics.

At a Glance

Specialize in women's medicine

  • Demand for OB/GYNs is rising
  • Salaries can be quite high
  • You need a medical degree plus additional training

Contact

  • Email Support

  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900

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