Becoming an Ob Gyn is a rewarding and challenging career. To become an Ob Gyn, you must first complete a bachelor’s degree in an area such as biology or chemistry. After your bachelor’s degree, you can then pursue coursework in obstetrics and gynecology to earn a medical degree. After completing your medical degree, you will be eligible to take the national board exams to become certified in your field.
Obstetrician-gynecologists have many responsibilities including providing care during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum care. Obstetrician-gynecologists also provide family planning services such as prescribing contraceptives or performing tubal ligations (tubal ligation).
In addition to providing primary care for women, obstetrician-gynecologists may specialize in areas such as adolescent medicine or maternal-fetal medicine.
How To Become An Ob Gyn
Obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYNs) provide care related to pregnancy, childbirth, and the female reproductive system.
They treat and counsel women throughout their pregnancy and deliver babies. They also diagnose and treat health issues specific to women, such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, hormonal disorders, and symptoms related to menopause.
Many obstetricians and gynecologists work long, irregular, and overnight hours. Obstetricians and gynecologists may travel between their offices and hospitals to care for their patients. While on call, they may need to address a patient’s concerns over the phone or make an emergency visit to a hospital or nursing home.
Some of the things obstetricians and gynecologists might do:
- Take a patient’s medical history
- Update charts and patient information to show current findings and treatments
- Perform preventative screenings for health issues
- Perform surgery and assist with labor and delivery of babies
- Order tests for nurses or other healthcare staff to perform
- Review test results to identify any abnormal findings
- Recommend and design a plan of treatment
- Address concerns or answer questions that patients have about their health and well-being
- Help patients take care of their health by discussing topics such as proper nutrition and hygiene
- Communication skills: Obstetricians and gynecologists need to be excellent communicators. They must communicate effectively with their patients and other healthcare support staff.
- Compassion: Patients who are sick or injured may be in extreme pain or distress. Obstetricians and gynecologists must treat patients and their families with compassion and understanding.
- Detail oriented: Patients must receive appropriate treatment and medications. Obstetricians and gynecologists must accurately monitor and record various pieces of information related to patient care.
- Dexterity: Obstetricians and gynecologists may work with very precise and sometimes sharp tools, and mistakes can have serious consequences.
- Leadership skills: Obstetricians and gynecologists who work in their own practice must manage a staff of other professionals.
- Organizational skills: Good recordkeeping and other organizational skills are critical in both medical and business settings.
- Patience. Obstetricians and gynecologists may work for long periods with patients who need special attention: Persons who fear medical treatment may require more patience.
- Physical stamina: Obstetricians and gynecologists should be comfortable lifting or turning disabled patients, or performing other physical tasks.
- Problem-solving skills: Obstetricians and gynecologists need to evaluate patients’ symptoms and administer the appropriate treatments. They need to do this quickly if a patient’s life is threatened.
The average pay for obstetricians and gynecologists in the United States is approximately $336,000 according to an annual Medscape survey in 2021.
The specific pay depends on factors such as level of experience, education and training, geographic location, and specific industry.
Overall employment of obstetricians and gynecologists is projected to decline 2 percent from 2020 to 2030.
Prospects should be especially good for obstetricians and gynecologists who are willing to practice in rural and low-income areas, because these areas tend to have difficulty attracting physicians.
Obstetricians and gynecologists typically need a bachelor’s degree, a degree from a medical school, which takes 4 years to complete, and, 3 to 7 years in internship and residency programs.
Medical schools are highly competitive. Most applicants must submit transcripts, scores from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and letters of recommendation. Schools also consider an applicant’s personality, leadership qualities, and participation in extracurricular activities. Most schools require applicants to interview with members of the admissions committee.
Students spend most of the first 2 years of medical school in laboratories and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, psychology, medical ethics, and in the laws governing medicine. They also gain practical skills; learning to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses.
During their last 2 years, medical students work with patients under the supervision of experienced physicians in hospitals and clinics. Through rotations in internal medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery, they gain experience in diagnosing and treating illnesses in a variety of areas.
Discover some of the courses you will take pursuing a popular pre-med degree such as Biology, Chemistry, or Sociology.
