Help for Choosing the Physician Who’s Right for You
Everything is in place for your wedding–the most exquisite gown, the tastiest cake, beautiful flowers, the perfect man; but one critical piece of the puzzle is missing – who will be your physician once you are married? With all the excitement happening all around you, maybe you have not considered this very important question.
Whether you will be relocating to a new area after your marriage or if you have never been to see an obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) and feel nervous about your first visit, most local hospitals can help you. Physician Referral Service is a great resource for finding a doctor. You can easily and quickly find a physician according to your specific wants and needs by either calling the Physician Referral Service or by going to that hospital’s website.
“The first OB-GYN visit may be a bit uncomfortable, but most physicians realize that and try their best to put you at ease,” explained Ob/Gyn Erica Ory, MD, of the Woman’s Clinic and Baptist Medical Center. “One way to find a physician is by explaining each step of the visit before it occurs. Patients are able to relax and concentrate on what’s important–getting the care and the information needed to manage your health as you begin marriage.”
In discussing an initial Ob/Gyn visit, Dr. Ory said, “This visit will include a consultation with the physician to discuss patient history and any concerns or questions the patient may have. Also during this visit vital signs (temperature, pulse, and blood pressure), a urine sample, and a blood sample will be taken, and the physician will perform a pelvic exam, as well as a pap smear.” Your first Ob/Gyn visit should be at least three to six months before your wedding to ensure there are no complications.
Your Ob/Gyn is the best person to discuss with you the various options for birth control. Birth control comes in different forms:
- The pill, the patch, and the ring–all combination hormonal birth control.
- A birth control shot, which may cause irregular or no cycles.
- An intrauterine device, which is inserted for long-term contraception for approximately three to ten years.
- A reversible implant that is placed under the skin
- Condoms and diaphragms (old “tried and true” methods)
Another topic you might want to discuss with your OB/GYN is vaccinations. A new vaccine to consider is the HPV vaccine. It can protect against four specific strains of the human papillomavirus that cause up to 95% of cervical cancer and is administered in a series of three injections over six months.
As of October 2012, Baptist Medical Center is one of six hospitals in the nation that has earned two prestigious Joint Commission recognitions for our Birthplace services, the Disease Specific Certification in Preterm Labor and in Prematurity. You may not even be thinking about pregnancy at this time, but choosing the right Ob/Gyn and the hospital they practice at is a very important decision that you want to make now.
Source: Baptist Medical Center: 601-948-6262 or 1-800-948-6262