Obstetricians and gynecologists bring new life into the world and care for the spectrum of women’s reproductive health. Obstetrics is the surgical field that deals in childbirth, whereas gynecology is the field of medicine concerned with women’s health, especially their reproductive health. One can be a gynecologist and not an obstetrician, though one cannot be an obstetrician without being a gynecologist. OB-GYNs see patients in physicians’ offices for routine "well-woman" exams, which could include contraceptive management and HPV screening. 

Mark S. DeFrancesco, former president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, writes in an email, "You cannot imagine what it feels like to deliver a baby – to be the first person to hold another new life in your hands and help create a new family!" 

They also assist patients who come to them with issues like abnormal bleeding. "To be able to accurately diagnose and successfully treat these problems is extremely gratifying," DeFrancesco says. And of course, OB-GYNs also work in the labor and delivery section of hospitals, monitoring mothers and babies during labor and – when things don’t go as planned – making medical decisions to protect the lives of both. 

Similar to other health care professions, obstetrics and gynecology is not without its stresses. According to DeFrancesco, OB-GYNs worry that they might have missed some problem or sign of illness, that an extremely rare tragedy will befall one of their labor and deliveries and that they might be sued for medical malpractice even if they made no mistakes. DeFrancesco says this field is especially vulnerable, since OB-GYN patients are predominantly young and presumably healthy. "When things go wrong, it is very unexpected," he says. 

Like other fields in medicine, DeFrancesco sees obstetrics and gynecology moving more toward preventing problems rather than just fixing them. "Studies show that the majority of women in childbearing years only see their OB-GYN on a regular basis and rarely seek out an otherwise designated primary care doctor," he explains.

So, who better to address health concerns than the OB-GYNs who see these patients regularly?

"We are poised to go beyond the Pap test and the pelvic exam and provide more comprehensive care for our patients," DeFrancesco says. "At least in terms of broader screening for other health conditions, as well as more directly addressing with our patients their weight and other lifestyle choices." 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.2% employment growth for obstetricians and gynecologists between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 500 jobs should open up.

By the time an obstetrician and gynecologist graduates, he or she will have completed at least 12 years of school. After a four-year undergraduate degree, students must take and pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Good grades and a strong score on the MCAT help ensure acceptance into medical school. Then, after graduating from four years of medical school, students have to take and pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Next comes a four-year residency, after which OB-GYNs have to pass a written board exam. After practicing for two years, a budding OB-GYN then must pass an oral board exam, which will then give him or her certification. 

According to DeFrancesco, many new OB-GYNs finish their residency and choose to subspecialize in a field such as infertility, high-risk pregnancy or gynecological oncology. Doing so tacks another three years onto training to complete a fellowship program. After that, the doctor would have to pass the subspecialty written board exam and a subspecialty oral board exam two years later.