Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob-Gyn) Services

Ob-gyns, or obstetrician-gynecologists, are doctors who prevent, diagnose, and treat health problems involving the female reproductive system. They also treat problems related to female hormones.

UPMC's caring and compassionate ob-gyns provide cancer screening, help with family planning, and diagnose and treat gynecological problems of all types. We support you throughout the pregnancy journey with the highest standard of care.

What Does Ob-Gyn mean?

Ob-gyn stands for obstetrics-gynecology. This field of medicine focuses on female reproductive and sexual health. To become an ob-gyn, doctors complete medical school and a four-year training program.

What's the difference between a gynecologist and an ob?

A gynecologist specialist cares for women's health issues other than pregnancy. A gynecologist diagnoses and treats problems involving the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. They also treat many hormone-related issues.

An obstetrician, or ob for short, is someone who cares for people during pregnancy, birth, and during the postpartum period.

Your ob-gyn care team may include advanced practice providers who are experts in the care of women's health, including:

• Physicians.
• Physician assistants (PA-C).
• Nurse practitioners (CRNP).
• Nurse midwives (CNM).

These providers will be very involved in your pregnancy and gynecologic care. These practices use a team approach to providing patient-centered, evidence-based, quality care.

What conditions does an ob-gyn treat?

UPMC's ob-gyns treat pelvic pain, endometriosis, heavy or painful periods, sexually transmitted infections, perimenopause symptoms, and many other gynecological problems.

They also provide the full range of care for pregnancy.

What Ob-Gyn Services and Treatments Do You Offer?

UPMC's ob-gyns offer a wide variety of services, treatments, and procedures to treat all people with vaginas.

These include:

• Annual gynecological wellness exams for teenagers and adults. At a well-exam, you can discuss any sexual or reproductive health concerns and ensure you are up-to-date on screening tests.
• Assessments and treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding, irregular periods, and menstrual pain.
• Birth control, including counseling on which options may work best for you.
• Breast lump or pain evaluation and treatment or referral for further testing.
• Cervical cancer screening (Pap and HPV tests).
• Colposcopy and other procedures to examine the vagina, vulva, and cervix.
• Endometrial ablation to treat heavy bleeding and other health problems.
• Endometriosis evaluation and treatment.
• Fibroid evaluation and treatment.
• Gynecologic surgery, including minimally invasive and computer-assisted procedures.
• Hormone replacement therapy during perimenopause and after menopause.
• HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts.
• Hysteroscopy procedure to see inside the uterus.
• Infertility testing, counseling, and treatment.
• Obstetrical care during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
• Menopause and perimenopause support, including treatment of challenging symptoms.
• Osteoporosis testing and treatment.
• Pelvic and vaginal pain evaluation and treatment.
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) evaluation and treatment.
• Pregnancy testing and early pregnancy confirmation with ultrasound.
• Sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment.
• Surgical intervention related to fibroids, hysteroscopy, and other non-cancerous gynecologic conditions.  

When Should I See an Ob-Gyn?

Beginning in your teenage years, you should see an ob-gyn once a year to establish care. During your teen years, these visits help you understand your history, health, and symptoms to look out for.

Seeing an ob-gyn yearly ensures you get the cancer screenings and other tests you may need. You should also plan a visit with your ob-gyn if you're concerned about symptoms. These include heavy bleeding, unusual vaginal discharge, pain during sex, pelvic pain, irregular periods, and more.

If you plan to become pregnant or are pregnant, your ob-gyn can talk to you about supplements and other lifestyle changes you may want to make. In pregnancy, they can provide all the prenatal testing, education, and care to support the health of you and your baby.

Why Choose UPMC for Ob-Gyn Care?

UPMC is a National Center of Excellence in Women's Health. We listen to your concerns and provide nonjudgmental, compassionate, and empowering care. We take the time to explain your testing and treatment options so you can choose what's right for you.

As a major center for women's care, we attract top ob-gyns and other providers who research and innovate ways to improve women's health care. This allows us to offer advanced, less-invasive treatments that may not be available elsewhere. You can feel assured knowing we'll take your symptoms and concerns seriously.

By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2024-09-05.