How to Find a Gynecologist
Finding an OBGYN can feel like a daunting process, especially if you are doing it for the first time. Finding an OBGYN you feel comfortable, safe, and confident with can feel overwhelming, too. Navigating the healthcare system and finding an OBGYN whom you can partner with when it comes to your health needs and preferences can be challenging! Whether you are visiting one for an annual exam, a birth control consultation, pregnancy care, menopause, or preventative screenings, it is important to find someone who is the right fit for you.
At New Age Women’s Health, we know how important yet personal women’s healthcare is, so we want you to feel equipped to choose the right OBGYN clinic and physician for your needs. If you find yourself searching for “the best gynecologists near me,” you will find these tips about finding a gynecologist, how to choose an OBGYN, how to find a gynecologist and OB-GYN clinic, and more incredibly helpful!
Finding an OB-GYN in Your Insurance Network
One of the first things to keep in mind when considering how to choose an OBGYN is finding one and an OB-GYN clinic in-network with your insurance. Most insurance plans cover your annual preventative care appointments, which includes women’s healthcare, so finding a provider in-network means your visit will usually just come at the cost of a small copay, if applicable.
Finding an ob gyn in your network can also give you ease when it comes to unexpected surprises and bills down the line. Most insurance providers have a website that can guide you with how to find a specialist, or finding an OBGYN. You can often put in a distance maximum in the search filters, which better helps to find best gynocologists. Another option is to call the member services telephone number, which can be found on your insurance card, and a customer service agent can send you a list of providers covered by your insurance plan.
Ask Around
When it comes to finding an OBGYN and how to choose a gynecologist, nothing feels better than getting a direct recommendation from someone you know and trust, like a good friend or family member. Ask your friends or family about the doctor and OB-GYN clinic – do they like the office? The physician? Is the office clean and inviting? Is the staff helpful and kind to their patients? All of these aspects can help you to feel more at ease when seeing a new doctor for the first time. If the recommendation sounds good, call their office to get more details, such as insurance coverage, and set up an appointment to get you on track with your preventative care!
It is also helpful to consider what is important to you. Do you value a warmer, gentler bedside manner, or do you prefer a physician who is more cut-and-dry in their care? Think of what personality matches best with yours! It is also very important to check their board certifications, education, history, specialties, and location. You may want a physician who specializes in treating menstrual disorders, or an obstetrician who can guide you through gestational diabetes. See if the OBGYN clinic is conveniently located for you if that is a factor, which may be the case if you are pregnant and may be seeking someone in obstetrics, or need to access the clinic off of a particular train or bus.
Read Reviews
While one review may not be the end all be all of a provider’s care, reading a collection of reviews online for “best gynecologists near me” can give insight into the patient-doctor experience at a particular OBGYN clinic. Patient reviews and satisfaction surveys can further articulate appointment scheduling and availability, billing, the overall environment of the office or clinic, bedside manner, and the doctor’s personality and care approach, and more that can all be incredibly helpful when choosing, or avoiding, a new physician or clinic. In addition to this, reviews can highlight things such as weekend or extended office hours, parking, accessibility, telemedicine care, and more!
The Choice is Yours
It may feel like there is a lot of pressure on picking the “right” gynecologist on your first try, but the reality is that you are never stuck with your decision! You are in full control of your health care, so if something does not feel right, voice your concerns. If your initial choice no longer feels like the right fit or you want to transition to specialized care, do not feel guilty – you can always switch providers.
Here are some factors to consider before making your appointment:
- Is my doctor open to natural, alternative medicine options?
- Does my doctor specialize in menstrual disorders or pain management?
- Can my doctor help me access reliable, low-cost birth control?
- Will this obstetrician perform a vaginal birth if I have had a C-section?
- If needed, can and will my doctor perform an abortion?
- Is my doctor sex-positive, and is that important to me?
- Is my doctor sensitive to women with different medical needs and histories?
How to Choose an OB-GYN While Pregnant
If you are expecting or thinking of becoming pregnant in the near future, you may feel especially overwhelmed with how to choose an OBGYN. After confirming that the provider you are interested in is in-network with your insurance, the next step would be to check for hospital affiliation, if a hospital delivery is applicable for you. Many women already have a hospital in mind when planning their pregnancy, and others prefer to choose their provider then see where they can deliver.
Whatever you decide, be sure that your OBGYN or midwife has an outstanding reputation, proper degrees and certifications, high neonatal standards, and so on. It is important to ask questions like whether or not you will be able to consistently see your care provider, how they handle after-hours questions or concerns, and what their network looks like in case you need to be connected to other women’s health specialists. By asking these questions, you can be best equipped to decide on your care.
Care with Compassion
For many women, gynecological exams can trigger physical and emotional distress, especially if you are a survivor of sexual abuse, assault, domestic violence, or trauma. Many Women of Color and Transgender individuals can also be subjected to this distress due to medical prejudice they have experienced. If you have a history similar to this and feel that a physical, gynecological exam may provoke an intense or adverse reaction for you, it can be helpful to speak to your doctor prior to the exam (in person, over the phone, or in a video visit) to best determine what your doctor can do to make you feel safer and more comfortable at your visit.
New Age Women’s Health
Overall, finding an OBGYN you like and trust is important to your emotional, physical, reproductive, and sexual health. At New Age Women’s Health, it is our priority to make you feel at ease and comfortable in your hormonal, sexual, and reproductive healthcare. Our team of highly trained, skilled, and compassionate physicians strives to build healthy, strong, and long-lasting relationships with their patients. Give us a call or visit our website today to schedule an appointment with our office and start receiving the OBGYN care you have been dreaming of!
