OB-GYNs, or Obstetricians and Gynecologists, are medical experts specializing in women's reproductive health and wellness. From the beginning of your adolescence to menopause, you'd have to visit your OB-GYN for regular checkups and gynecological surgery.
Today, in this blog, we'll discuss several procedures and surgeries performed by OB-GYN throughout a woman's life. Whether you're interested in routine check-ups, prenatal care, or gynecological procedures, this blog will provide you with a thorough grasp of the critical role OB-GYNs play in women's healthcare.
Colposcopy
A colposcopy is a non-surgical diagnostic technique used to look more carefully at the cervix, vagina, and vulva. It is occasionally utilized when a Pap smear is abnormal.
To do this procedure, obstetricians and gynecologists use a colposcope, a magnifying tool. If all goes well, you're good to go home, but if they find something disturbing, you'll be sent for a laboratory test.
Female Sterilization
If a woman wishes to get permanent birth control, the female sterilizing procedure can close or block the woman's fallopian tubes. The core function of your fallopian tube is to carry eggs from the ovary to the uterus. By closing the fallopian tubes, it prevents sperm from reaching your eggs.
There are 2 types of gynecological surgery for female sterilization:
Tubal Ligation, also known as "tube tied"- Tubal ligation, a surgical procedure, is typically done on an outpatient basis. It involves cutting, sealing, or closing the fallopian tubes, either through laparoscopy or a small abdominal incision (mini-laparotomy), and is performed in a hospital or outpatient clinic under anesthesia.
Hysteroscopic Sterilization: The doctor will insert a small spring-like coil into your fallopian tubes through the vagina. After the insertion, scar tissues will grow around the coils and automatically block the tubes. This female surgery can be done in the clinic as it doesn't require any incision.
LEEP Procedure
When there's an indication of abnormal cells on a PAP smear on the surface of your cervix, your OB-GYN will recommend a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). It is a thin-wired loop, electrically charged, to cut the abnormal cells from your cervix during gynecology surgeries. It's one of the gyn procedures done under local anesthesia.
Hysterectomy
A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the uterus from a woman. This women's surgery is performed for various medical reasons, including reducing the discomfort and problems caused by uterine fibroids, uterine prolapse, endometriosis, irregular vaginal bleeding, persistent pelvic pain, or adenomyosis (uterine thickness). A hysterectomy may also be required in uterine, cervical, or ovarian cancer situations. A hysterectomy for noncancerous illnesses is usually considered a last resort when all other treatment options have been attempted without yielding the desired outcomes.
Cervical Cryosurgery
When women get their routine Pap smear (screening for cervical cancer) done, the cervical cells often appear abnormal cells. It doesn't necessarily indicate cancer, but your OB-GYN will do follow-up tests and screenings for safety. They can also recommend cervical cryosurgery, also called cryotherapy. It's considered a highly effective procedure to freeze the cervix.
Precancerous cells are abnormal cervical cells that indicate alterations that might develop into cancer. Getting cryosurgery done on the abnormal cells stops them from developing into cancer.
Dilation and Curettage (D&C)
Dilation and curettage (D&C) are a very common GYN procedure in which an OB-GYN removes the portion of a woman's uterine lining with a suction device. They use a surgical instrument, which is also used for scraping.
By performing this procedure, the healthcare provider diagnoses:
Endometrial hyperplasia (an abnormally thick uterine lining)
Uterine cancer
Uterine polyps
Moreover, the D&C procedure is often done for abortion, weak pregnancy, miscarriage, and retained placenta.
Polypectomy
Polypectomy is a GYN surgery used to remove polyps. If you're not familiar with the polypectomy procedure, we'll brief you. Polyps are small fingerlike growths that build on the surface of the cervix. In some cases, polyps are noncancerous and benign. Polyp symptoms such as abnormal bleeding or severe menstrual flow can be relieved with a polypectomy. Your doctor will perform a hysteroscopy to remove polyps, which is a minimal approach to examining the cervix and uterus.
Fluid-Contrast Ultrasound (FCUS)
Not many people are aware of this procedure. Fluid-contrast ultrasound (FCUS) is a variation of a typical pelvic ultrasound. It is used to assess the uterine lining and the uterine cavity. This is done to measure the thickness of the uterine lining and see the texture of the surface to find any abnormalities, if there are any.
A small catheter is inserted through your cervix into an ultrasound wand placed in the vagina to perform this ultrasound. It is also called one of the vaginal procedures. A sterile fluid is progressively administered into the uterine cavity via the catheter, and the region is observed using ultrasonography.
Pelvic Surgery
Pelvic surgery is a gynecological surgery to restore normal female anatomy and help patients function normally in their routine life. This comprises evaluating and treating endometriosis, uterine fibroids, congenital defects, etc.
FAQs
Do obstetrics perform surgery?
Obstetricians perform surgeries like episiotomy and other pregnancy-related OBGYN procedures like labor and delivery.
What are the duties of an OB-GYN?
The core duties of OB-GYN are conducting examinations, screenings, diagnosing, and eventually treating. They treat problems regarding reproductive disorders, provide prenatal care, assist in childbirth, perform surgeries, educate patients about reproductive health, and stay updated with medical practices.
Does Obgyn perform a cesarean?
Cesarean, also known as c-section, helps pregnant women with complicated pregnancies that are taken for c-sections to avoid fatal risks and safe delivery via operation. Obstetricians (doctors who care for pregnant women before, during, and after birth) and certain family physicians do C-sections.
What is the best major for an OB-GYN?
People specializing in obstetrician/gynecology majors in medicine along with nursing and medical assisting services.
It’s A Wrap!
This may be a point of concern for women as to what will happen to them during any gynecological surgery by a top OBGYN. If you want to get gynecological surgery or any other procedure, then it's better to learn all about it.
Just know that you have all the right to ask relevant questions from your doctor and get all the information to help you get the picture clearer.