What kind of Dr?

Question

I'm in my 20's and just got health insurance and I need to choose a Dr and get a physical and birth control. What type of Dr do I want? A general primary care? or an ob-gyn? GYN? I'm really confussed. Any help? What's the difference between the 3?

Answer 1

You can get the physical from a general primary care doc or an OB/GYN. The OB/GYN is the same essentially, the OB part means obstetrician which means he/she can deliver babies. As far as the birth control, once again both can prescribe this for you it depends on who you would like to see. Consider other needs you might have or questions. I personally go to a female internal medicine doc who can do pap smears, exams, and prescribe what I need, insurance will pay for either visit. Good Luck, I know it can get confusing!

Answer 2

Choose an OB/GYN or family doctor. The difference is a family dr can for sure help you out unless you have female problems then they will want you to go to a OB/GYN. They are not seperate, but one speciality that is obstrictics (babies!)/gynocology (female reproductive organs). So, really you have 2 choices....an OB/GYN or Fam. Dr. Since your in your 20s and it doesn't sound like you have kids (otherwise you'd know this stuff :)) chose a family dr. They are much easier to make an appointment with because they are not delivery babies all the time. Also, you may want to ease into seeing an OB/GYN when you are ready to have kids or have female problems (pretty common). Good luck!!

Answer 3

An OB/GYN would be the best choice. A GP (general practice) would be okay for things like colds, flu, unexplained illness or discomfort because they will do the regular check up stuff. A Gynecologist will be good for now if you don't mind changing to an OB/Gyn later if you should decide to have children. An OB/Gyn treats women's issues/illnesses and handles pregnancies as well. A Gyn only treats women's issues and illness but does not handle pregnancies.

Answer 4

for your general doctor, you either want a family practice doctor or an internist (those will be the labels they'll have in your physician directory) my aunts are doctors, and they recommend internists over family practice docs, but either would be fine. then you would also want an ob/gyn (there is no "gyn" - just ob/gyn) for your yearly exam and pap smear, but he/she would not be your primary care physician.

it sounds like your with an HMO - so am I. Your "primary care physician" will be the person you go to for physicals or if you get sick with a cold/etc.

the people above me who say you should "kill two birds with one stone" are wrong. you need both - both a primary care doc, and, if you're a woman, an ob/gyn for your gynecological health. yes, i'm sure primary care docs do pelvic exams, but you're better off going to a specialist once a year just to make sure you're getting the best care in that area. picking a primary care doc is no big deal - just choose one for the form you have to fill out, and then make an appointment to "establish care." if you don't like him or her, you can always change later, but just make sure you go through your HMO to do so, so that the paper work is all in order.

you might need other specialty doctors as well: for example, i also see a dermatologist once a year because i have a lot of moles that need to be checked out.

Answer 5

I would go to either a GYN or an OB/GYN either of those will be fine.

A primary care physician provides first contact for individual with undiagnosed medical conditions, as well as continued care of varied medical systems and conditions.

An OB/GYN is a physician who specializes in the medical and surgical care of women, and has particular expertise in pregnancy, child birth, and disorders of the reproductive system.

A GYN is a physician who has a successfully completed specialized education and training in the health of the female reproductive system, including the diagnosis and treatment of disorders and diseases.

Hope this helps. :-)

Answer 6

you would want to get a familt doctor. The differecne is that an family doctor can help you regardless of what your needing to have looked at but an Ob-gyn can only help you in the women area. A family doctor can give you birth control so ur best bet is the family doctor

Answer 7

General Primary or Family Physician treats most everyday ailments and can usually handle most of your health care. If you were to need a specialist he would refer you to another doctor that specializes in what ever that need is....

OB/GYN specializes in obstetrics and gynecology, treatment of pregnant women and women's health.

At this time you can probably just use a PCP or Family Physician

Answer 8

Typically, and Ob-GYN is in the business of babies, gyn only handles the girly parts, my suggestion would be to start with a family or general practice doctor. They work on everything, and if it is something that it out of their realm of expertise, they will refer you to a specialist who can help you.

Hope this helps.

Answer 9

Either one. Gyn and General Physician can both prescribe birth control, althouhg the gyn may know much more ont he subject matter.
If I were you, I'd go to the Gyn but know that this checkup will only be of your reproductive organs (breasts, vagina).

Answer 10

You need to find a general doctor. An ob-gyn takes care of pregnant women, a gyno takes care of women's lower areas and a family doc takes care of it all. Why not kill two birds with one stone?