Looking for an obstetrician/gynecologist (ob-gyn) in San Diego?
Scripps Affiliated Medical Groups is your source for a list of compassionate physicians specializing in all aspects of women’s reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth. An obstetrician/gynecologist, commonly referred to as an ob-gyn, possesses special knowledge, skills, and professional capability in the medical and surgical care of female health matters and associated disorders.
How often should you or your daughter see an ob-gyn? The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that girls have their first ob-gyn visit when they’re 13 to 15 years old or when they become sexually active. Cervical cancer screening, which includes a Pap test and in some cases a human papillomavirus (HPV) test, should start at the age of 21. Women between the ages of 21-29 are recommended to have a Pap test every 3 years. Women between the ages of 30-65 years should have a Pap test and HPV test every 5 years. Women with a history of cervical cancer, those who are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or who have a weakened immune system will need to see their ob-gyn more frequently.
Women have different needs for ob-gyn care at every stage of their life. Some of the common reasons to see an ob-gyn include: annual cervical exams and preventative care, family planning and preconception counseling, pre- and post-natal care, procedures for abnormal pap smears, menopause care, cervical and breast cancer screening and prevention, treatment for overactive bladder or uterine fibroids, ultrasound services, and infertility evaluation and treatment. An ob-gyn may work in a multidisciplinary team of specialists including urologists, oncologists, radiologists, endocrinologists, and other specialists in order to provide the best possible care.
