All you need to know Gynecology and Gynecologist

What is gynecology?

Gynecology is a sub-branch of medicine that deals with the study of function and diseases of the female reproductive system, including breast, vagina, ovaries, and uterus. The gynecology field is closely related to obstetrics (specialty in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period). Modern gynecologists are commonly called OB-GYN (obs & gyne), and most of them are obstetricians.

“Gynecology” comes from the Greek words: γυνή (gyne), meaning “woman,” and -logia, meaning “study.”

Who is a gynecologist?

A medical physician who has obtained a specialized degree in gynecology is known as a gynecologist. As such, gynecologists thus specialize in managing and treating problems and diseases of the female reproductive system.

Oncology is the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer. Oncology comes from the Greek words: ὄγκος (óngkos), meaning “burden, volume, mass” and λόγος (logos), meaning “study.”

Which specialists treats diseases related to gynecology?

The field of gynecology is a wide field, including care, management, diagnosis, and treatment of female patients. Various sub-specialties obtained by physicians undergoing additional fellowship training include gynecologic oncology, reproductive infertility and endocrinology, maternal/fetal medicine, female reconstructive pelvic surgery, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, breast disease, pediatric and adolescent gynecology, and global women’s health.

What is the scope of Gynecology? What are the treatments offered?

There has been a considerable amount of increase in awareness about female reproductive health. Thus, the requirement of gynecologists has been on the rise. Additionally, the employment scope is diverse (hospitals, private clinics, universities, government agencies, and research).

There exist a diverse pool of diseases and disorders that gynecologists manage. Some of the common diseases encountered upon clinical examination include –

1. Pre-cancerous/ Cancerous diseases of the female reproductive organs
2. Urinary incontinence
3. Infertility
4. Amenorrhea (no menstrual periods)
5. Dysmenorrhea (pain during menstrual periods)
6. Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual periods)
7. Pelvic organ prolapse.
8. UTI and pelvic inflammatory diseases
9. Vaginal infections
10. Premenstrual syndrome
11. PCOD/PCOS
12. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
13. Adenomyosis
14. Endometriosis
15. Miscellaneous reproductive complications

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Gynecology/ Women Health Care

What are the comorbidities, complications, organs affected, signs, and symptoms of gynecological problems?

Comorbidities associated with different gynecological disorders are different. However, some of the common comorbidities seen in multiple problems include – metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, liver dysfunction, thyroid disorders, psychological distress, and cardiovascular diseases. The underlying reason for these comorbidities is usually common. The common effect of hormonal dysfunction and error in patients’ metabolism is usually the most common underlying cause.

Complications with gynecological disorders may arise if the problems are ignored. As such, the complications are different for different disorders and may vary from patient to patient.

The major organs affected include the organs of the female reproductive system. Additionally, the severity of problems may affect the overall physiology. Very specifically, the liver and kidney are also affected.

The knowledge of common signs and symptoms is essential to prevent complications through early diagnosis and treatment. While it is essential to get clinically examined by a trained physician, the patient should know when to address it. The common signs and symptoms include –

1. Sores/lumps in the vaginal area
2. Increased vaginal discharge.
3. Unpleasant odor, unusual color of vaginal discharge
4. A feeling of burn, itch, redness, or soreness in the vaginal area
5. Unusual pain in the pelvis region
6. Post-menopausal bleeding
7. Abnormal vaginal bleeding
8. Inter period bleeding (bleeding between menstrual periods)
9. Frequent urge to urinate, burning sensation during urination.
10. Discomfort in the vaginal area

Any of these persisting problems should be taken seriously. 

What are the different diagnostic tests?

There are a wide variety of invasive/non-invasive tests that are done. The primary step for diagnosis is to get the patient’s history (developmental history, sexual history, menstrual history, and obstetric history). Further, routine physical examination is mostly followed by specific tests for suspected problems or diseases.

Physical examination

• General – vital stats (weight, heart rate, BP, etc.)
• Abdominal – auscultation, palpation for tenderness/enlargement, suprapubic to examine uterus, ovary, or bladder size.
• Pelvic examination – for pubic lice, dermatitis, lesions
• Vaginal examination – for discharge, color, lesions
• Bimanual examination – shape, and structure of female reproductive organs
• Rectovaginal examination – for irregularities in the rectum, endometriosis along with uterosacral ligaments

Diagnostic tests

• Test for vaginal infections
• Fern test for ovulation
• Schiller test or acetic acid test for neoplasia
• Biopsy of vagina, cervix, and endometrium

Laboratory procedures

• Routine biochemical parameters – CBC, urine analysis, thyroid, lipid profile
• Cultures for STD/ vaginal infections
• Pregnancy test
• Specific tests – herpes virus culture, chlamydial and gonorrheal test, uncommon venereal disease (hepatitis B and C)
• Papanicolaou smear test for cervix – to diagnose carcinoma
• Colposcopy – microscopic evaluation for direct cervix visualization
• Hysteroscopy – visual examination of the uterine cavity

Radiographic diagnostic procedures

• Hysterography
• Sonohysterography
• Angiography
• Computed tomography
• Ultrasonography
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

What is the consultation cost for a Gynecologist?

The average cost for consulting an oncologist in India ranges between INR 500-1000.

The cost of consultation in major cities of India are as follows –

• New Delhi – INR 500-1500
• Mumbai – INR 1000-2000
• Chennai – INR 500-750
• Bengaluru – INR 300-600
• Hyderabad – INR 300-500