Choosing best gynaecologist near me: 7 tips

A gynaecologist is a doctor who specializes in the health of the female organs. Many women start visiting a gynaecologist from their early teens and continue to attend a well-woman clinic for general health issues too. Women are advised to visit a gynaecologist annually for a check up, and any time they have symptoms that concern them.

You must have googled best gynaecologist near me to find a whole bunch of lists of gynaecologists. But who is the best for you? A gynaecologist should be certified and registered with a professional body, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG). A gynaecologist treats patients with female reproductive organs, whether or not they identify as women.

An obstetrician is a kind of gynaecologist who specializes in pregnancy and childbirth. To become a gynaecologist, a person must train first as a doctor for 4 years, then specialize for another 4 years in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology. Passing a further examination will enable them to be certified and registered.

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Conditions commonly treated by gynaecologists include:

• Problems related to pregnancy, fertility, periods, and menopause

• Family planning, including contraception, sterilization, and pregnancy termination

• Problems with tissues that support the pelvic organs, including ligaments and muscles

• STIs

• Polycystic ovary syndrome

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• Urinary and faecal incontinence

• Benign conditions like ovarian cysts, fibroids, breast tumours and other non-cancerous changes

• Premalignant conditions, such as endometrial hyperplasia, and cervical dysplasia

• Cancers of the reproductive tract and the breasts, and pregnancy-related tumours

• Emergency care relating to gynaecology

• Endometriosis

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• Pelvic inflammatory diseases, including abscesses

• Same-sex and bisexual relationship issues

• Sexual dysfunction

• Asthma

• Psychiatric conditions such as depression and personality disorders

• Cardiovascular disease

• Diabetes

• Thyroid disorders and other hormonal issues

• Domestic violence and sexual assault

• Osteoporosis

When searching for “best gynaecologist near me” these are some tips you must know to choose the best gynaecologist for you:

1. They’re highly recommended based on the reviews of trusted others

One of the best ways to tell whether a gynaecologist is worth seeing is if the people you trust like your primary care provider, female friends, and relatives vouch for them. When you ask for recommendations, find out about important factors like the doctor’s skills, experience and bedside manner to find the best gynaecologist for you.

Check out their reviews of the doctors based on their names on doctor rating websites as these websites ask patients to rate doctors based on measurements such as: Ease of scheduling appointments, office environment, average wait time, staff friendliness, trustworthiness and ability to explain the conditions well.

2. Certifications and experience of the doctor

Certification is an added level of education that indicates a doctor is an expert in a particular field of medical practice. The American Board of Medical Specialties provides a database of board-certified doctors you can search. When doctors maintain board-certified status, they are required to stay up to date on research and practice standards. Talk to Gytree’s certified and experienced gynaecologist for a non judgmental guidance in a safe space.

Board certification status is ongoing. You may also ask about your doctor’s subspecialties. Some gynaecologists do not deliver babies. Some are experts in menopause and perimenopause. Some specialize in treating cancers. As you think about what life stages are coming up in your future, to find the best gynaecologist for you, you should consider whether your doctor is equipped to provide the care you are going to need or not. So Check:

• Where the doctor went to medical school and completed their residency?

• If they are board certified by the American Board Of Obstetrics and Gynaecology?

• How many years they have practiced?

• Which hospital they are affiliated with?

• What their specialties are?

• Whether they have had any complaints, disciplinary actions or malpractice suits filed against them?

3. Consider your comfort 

To find the best gynaecologist, it is important for you to feel comfortable with the gender of your doctor because you will need to openly discuss personal information. Think about if gender matters to you as this is the doctor who will be performing your gynecologic exam and will ask you highly personal questions about your reproductive health.

You need to be completely comfortable with this person. Although many women may prefer it more comfortable being checked by a doctor of the same gender. Some cultural or religious backgrounds will direct a woman to a female doctor. But also consider which provider will give you the highest level of care and who is available, convenient, and in network.

4. Hospital Quality

Your doctor’s hospital is your hospital. For this reason, consider the quality of care at the hospital where the doctor can treat patients. Hospital quality matters to find the best gynaecologist, because patients at top rated hospitals have fewer complications and better survival rates. Additionally, consider whether the hospital’s location is important to you. Frequent trips back and forth to the hospital may mean you need a convenient location to make it manageable. It is recommended to check measures like: 

• The percentage of patients who developed infections or complications after surgery.

• Death rates for different conditions and medical procedures.

• Patients’ reviews of the care and service they received.

• Location of the hospital.

5. Doctor’s charges and insurance acceptance

• Part of your decision of which doctor to settle on with will depend on the doctor’s charges. Although you may find a difference in consultation charges from one doctor to the other, these differences will not be as much as the difference in delivery charges that from one doctor to another.

• If the gynaecologist is an obstetrician, find out already what her delivery charges are. You may find that all doctors affiliated with one hospital have similar charges. But the same doctor might have her own clinic where she charges less for appointments and delivery than she might charge in the big hospital. Explore Gytree’s affordable gynaecology packages here.

• Insurance schemes usually only cover hospitalisation and so they will not help with the consultation costs or the costs of the scans and tests you will need to take. Also, all insurance companies do not cover all hospitals. So check if your insurance policy covers the hospital in which the gynaecologist you have identified is working. Once you are hospitalised for your delivery, most schemes will have an upper limit that they will reimburse. Find out already what this upper limit is so you can choose a doctor and hospital that meets your budget.

• Cost is an important factors that comes into consideration while choosing any doctor. If the gynaecologist is out of your network, you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket for your care, which can add up quickly. Check with your insurance plan at the start of your search to see which gynaecologists in your area are included in your network.

6. The values and manners of a best gynaecologist

Your gynaecologist is going to advise you on topics like birth control and pregnancy so try to find out how they view these subjects. In this way, you don’t have to deal with an uncomfortable situation should they have an opposite standpoint from yours. A doctor may make you feel uncomfortable despite having years of experience.

You want a doctor who will both listen to you and respect what you have to say. The best gynaecologist don’t order or preach to their patients they engage in open two-way communication. Your doctor should be able to guide you with your mental health.

7. The one who caters your trust and individual needs can be the best gynaecologist

Here are some questions you can ask to yourself while looking for the best gynaecologist for you:

• Does the gynaecologist answer your questions willingly?

• Is he/she friendly and responsive?

• Do you feel comfortable asking him/her personal medical questions?

• Does he/she seem up-to-date in her knowledge?

• Is he/she listening to your concerns and answering accordingly?

• Is he/she gentle during her check-up?

• Does he/she seem to care about your comfort?

• How this gynaecologist deals with emergency calls?

• How quickly he/she gets back to people with non-emergency queries?

• How long you would usually have to wait for routine appointments?

• How long routine appointments usually take?

• How quickly you could be seen if you feel unwell?

• Does the doctor offers any evening or weekend hours

• Can you get in touch with an on-call doctor when the clinic is closed?

• Does the doctor offer telemedicine options that will allow you to have virtual visits?

• Does the doctor offer an online patient portal that allows you to communicate with them?

• How does your doctor view pain management?

• How open is your doctor to natural alternatives?

• How does your doctor view access to reliable birth control?

• Will your doctor perform a vaginal birth after C-section?

• Will your doctor perform an abortion if you need one? 

• How sex-positive is your doctor? 

While searching for “ best gynaecologist near me on the web, it’s important to keep these points in mind to find the best gynaecologist who can identify your personal needs and provide you with the right guidance.