Almost all women will find themselves needing to visit a gynecologist at some point during their life, either because they are going for a regular check-up, or because they have a particular women’s health problem which they think requires medical attention. But, with a large number of consultants available globally, deciding which top gynecologist is best for you can seem rather overwhelming.
Choosing a new or first gynecologist can be very stressful for women. This health care provider consults us about some of the most intimate areas of our health. It's our Ob-gyn's who see us through some of the most emotional transitions in our lives with conversations including contraception, conception, childbirth, PMS, and menopause. For many women, the gynecologist is their primary or only physician and, therefore, needs to be someone with whom she feels comfortable sharing a lot of information. I know in any health crisis, the Ob-gyn physician is the first doctor most women turn to, so trust is critical.
The gynecological exam is a highly private and personal experience that can leave women feeling very vulnerable, so women need to decide if a male or female doctor will be more appropriate for them. One of the best ways to find a good Ob-gyn is to ask friends or family or get a referral from another doctor you've known and trusted. You can ask them questions ahead of time about the Ob-gyn and you may feel more confident knowing they have had a good experience with their doctor.
However, you choose your new Ob-gyn, always remember to prepare for the visit before the day of the exam. Make a list of questions that you need to ask, and prepare to review what tests you need to do and how often you should have them done. Just remember, your Ob-gyn knows it is a stressful exam and expects you to have questions. If you don't ask then it is assumed you are OK, with no questions. But, no question is too silly to ask. If you are worried about it, then it is important.
Read more to understand the key factors you should take into account when deciding which private gynecologist is right for you.
The gynecological exam is a highly private and personal experience that can leave women feeling very vulnerable, so women need to decide if a male or female doctor will be more appropriate for them. One of the best ways to find a good Ob-gyn is to ask friends or family or get a referral from another doctor you've known and trusted. You can ask them questions ahead of time about the Ob-gyn and you may feel more confident knowing they have had a good experience with their doctor.
However, you choose your new Ob-gyn, always remember to prepare for the visit before the day of the exam. Make a list of questions that you need to ask, and prepare to review what tests you need to do and how often you should have them done. Just remember, your Ob-gyn knows it is a stressful exam and expects you to have questions. If you don't ask then it is assumed you are OK, with no questions. But, no question is too silly to ask. If you are worried about it, then it is important.
How to choose a Top Gynaecologist
Read more to understand the key factors you should take into account when deciding which private gynecologist is right for you.
Relationship to you
Women’s health issues are often a sensitive matter and some patients may feel uncomfortable or embarrassed when talking about their specific problems. To help overcome these feelings, it’s wise to find a consultant with whom you can build a good rapport and one with who you feel confident confiding regarding your personal issues. As such, your gynecologist should be approachable, accessible and someone with whom you can develop a good relationship over time.
Professional experience
Taking care of our health is important, which is why most people will want to guarantee that the treatment they are going to receive is of high quality. As such, professional experience is a key factor to consider when choosing your consultant gynecologist.
Things to look out for include the doctor’s seniority and how many years they’ve been working in the job. This is particularly relevant if you are being seen by a specialist within a certain area of expertise, as you’ll want to ensure they are the best person to deal with that particular health condition.
You can also find out which hospitals, medical practices, and clinics the consultant have worked at throughout their career and do some further research as to how well these clinics have performed and the overall patient satisfaction.
Areas of specialism
All gynecologists undergo the same basic training, after which some will go on to continue their training in special areas of interest and the associated surgical skills. If your doctor suspects or knows that you have a certain gynecological condition, they may refer you to a specialist in that particular area. For example, women with suspected endometriosis may be referred to a consultant gynecologist with expertise in the disease, including carrying out surgical diagnosis procedures like laparoscopy.
Patients will want to ensure they are receiving the best treatment, which is why it’s important to ask the right questions and check that the specialist is the right person to treat you. If surgery is necessary, you can ask specific questions like how many surgical procedures they carry out each year and what their patient success rate and rate of possible complications are.
Patient testimonies
Patients are welcome to choose which gynecologist they see, ensuring that the medical professional treating them is someone they are happy with. Thanks to the internet, there are now many more ways to decide whether the gynecologist is right for you.
Popular forums and treatment or condition-specific forums provide an easy, free way to ask real people questions about specific consultants or private clinics, meaning you get advice and recommendations from other women who have been through or are experiencing the same problems as you.
Similarly, there are plenty of healthcare review sites, online patient testimonies, and now Google My Business, which allows patients to read and assess other local people’s experiences of a certain clinic or specific gynecologist. However, people need to be cautious of online reviews and patient testimonies, as they can essentially be written by anyone and it is, therefore, a good idea to seek advice from multiple sources before deciding which clinic to visit.
Language preferences
Undergoing medical treatment can be daunting, so it’s understandable that you’ll want to feel as comfortable as possible, which is why it is certainly worthwhile to find out whether there is a consultant in your area who speaks your mother tongue, particularly if English is not your first language.
Likewise, if you only require a translator for difficult medical jargon, there are many clinics that can arrange that for you, though you’ll need to give them a reasonable amount of notice so that they can locate a suitable person for the job.