Do you know what OBGYN is? Have you thought of how much it costs to become an OBGYN? (Xanax) Obstetricians and gynecologists (OBGYNs) diagnose are treat health issues related to the female reproductive system. Apparently, to become an OBGYN, you need the right amount of education and training.
However, this article will give you a full guide on how to become an OBGYN, the salary structure, and the education and training requirements.
Women experience a lot of biological functions such as menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, and childbirth. The obstetricians and gynecologists’ duty is to take up a patient’s medical history and information to show current diagnoses and recommend and design a plan of treatment. Read further to know the major work of an obgyn.
Table of contents
What is An OBGYN?
The acronym OBGYN refers to an obstetrician-gynecologist. It is the sciences that the doctor specializes in, which are obstetrics and gynecology.
However, obstetrics is the branch of medicine that involves caring for pregnant women, including delivering babies. Their duty also involves giving medical and surgical care before, during, and after a woman gives birth, leading to total maintenance of a woman’s overall health during maternity.
Also, gynecology is the branch of medicine that focuses on treating conditions such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and chronic pain. It also includes diagnosing, treating, and caring for a female reproductive organ.
Recently, as technology evolves, many new techniques have been developed, leading to many improvements in ultrasound, making the care of the baby in the womb a central focus.
As you read further, you will see the procedures OBGYNs can carry out, their qualifications, and their salary structure, and we will also discuss how a person can become an OBGYN.
OBGYN Education and Training
Just like all medical doctors, obstetricians, and gynecologists need a doctoral or professional degree, a degree from a medical school, which takes 4 years to complete, and 3 to 7 years in internship and residency programs and also obtain licensure to practice legally.
To become an OBGYN, you must follow the steps below.
Undergraduate Degree Program
The requirement to obtain admission into Medical schools varies from school to school and is highly competitive. However, most applicants must submit transcripts, scores from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and letters of recommendation.
Apparently, to pursue an undergraduate degree, you may consider taking courses in biology and chemistry, which are the basic foundation of education for medicine and health science.
According to the laws governing medicine and health, students are to spend the first 2 years of medical school in laboratories and classrooms, taking courses like biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, and psychology.
They also acquire practical skills such as taking medical histories, diagnosing illnesses, examine patients.
Medical School
At this stage, medical students work with patients in hospitals under experienced doctors’ supervision. Here students are exposed to obstetrics, gynecology, and surgery; they acquire a lot of experience in diverse areas of medicine.
Also, they learn about health-related issues in women including diagnosis, management, prevention, and treatment of illnesses.
In addition, students to a lot of medical equipment and tools that enable them to practice thorough clinical rotations to gain experience in OBGYN.
After completing all the training, students must write the Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology exam to get the certification. The exam is repeated every six years to uphold the certificate.
Internship
After completing medical school, the internship and residency in a hospital are next. The internship is a very important step to building a strong career.
However, medical graduates must complete one year in a recognized hospital before receiving full registration.
In addition, an internship is usually one year, while a medical residency is between three to seven years. During a medical residency, obstetrics and gynecology students are paid to examine patients and proffer treatment plans and follow-up patients.
Licensure
The last stage is to obtain a license. The process of acquiring licensure can be challenging. However, a medical license permits you to practice medicine legally.
To be issued a license, you must pass through a testing process conducted by the Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), which tests your ability to relate medical concepts and principles to their practice. To officially become an OBGYN, you must have a license.
Career and Responsibilities for OBGYN
The OBGYN career is not just restricted to treating illness; they also educate their clients by giving them healthcare awareness. However, their overall responsibility is listed below.
- Diagnosing illness and giving treatments for diseases.
- Recording medical histories.
- Conducting routine check-ups on patients.
- Offer childbirth, prenatal, and natal care to pregnant women.
- Keeping up to date with current innovations.
- Examine patients.
- Educating patients about disease prevention and reproductive health.
- Performing a wide range of tests, such as pap smears and breast exams.
- Counsel patients on diet and hygiene.
- Collaborating with other medical and non-medical personnel.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment opportunity for Medical practitioners is on a high, also an increase in employment of around 14% from 2014 to 2024.
OBGYN Salary Structure
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary of OBGYNs was $222,400 as of May 2015. However, the salary outlook of OBGYNs is shown below according to their level and year of experience.
Level
Entry-level OBGYN
Early level OBGYN
Mid-career OBGYN
Experience OBGYN
Late Career
Year of Experience
Less than 1year
1-4 years
5-9 years
10-19 years
20 years and above
Salary($)
200,717
203,338
230,837
248,712
249,437
Frequently Asked Questions
It takes about 12 years to become an obgyn. A bachelor’s degree is 4 years, and another 4 years for a medical degree. After 8 years in school, you will then do an internship and a residency in obstetrics and gynecology, making it 12 years of education.
The cost of obgyn education varies according to country and location. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), median debt of between $170,000 and $200,000 for 84% graduating class of 2014 rises 3% from the previous year.
Conclusion
OB is an abbreviation for obstetrics or an obstetrician, and GYN is for gynecology or a gynecologist.
An OBGYN is a medical physician with advanced knowledge and certification in obstetrics and gynecology. OBGYN provides healthcare services to women, and offers childbirth, prenatal, and natal care to pregnant women.
The OBGYN career also covers treating illness; they educate their clients by giving them healthcare awareness.
Reference
- OBSTETRICIAN & GYNECOLOGIST (OB/GYN): careergirls
- Become an OBGYN: Education Requirements and Career Information: study.com
- Physicians and Surgeons Occupational outlook: Bureau of Labour Statistics
- Faces of Healthcare: healthline.com
- Obtaining a medical license: AMA
- Average Obstetrician / Gynecologist (OB/GYN) Salary: PayScale
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