How to Become a Gynecologist
Gynecologists are significant health care providers and many people get interested in becoming one.
There is an increasing need for gynecologists. Statistical data on women worldwide showed that 31% of the women visited a gynecologist at least once a year.
You might want to know about “How to become a gynecologist.” You can follow certain steps and procedures to be eligible to become one.
However, becoming a gynecologist requires extensive education and adequate training.
A Gynecologist specializes in carrying out surgeries that are both medical and surgical including:
- Gynecology for female health issues
- Obstetrics for delivery and pregnancy process
- Reproductive medicine
Gynecologists assist women during their pregnancy process, making it the most respected profession. We will explain in detail everything you should know about how to become a gynecologist.
The Responsibilities of a Gynecologist
A gynecologist’s focus is evaluating, diagnosing and treating reproductive and sexual health issues for female patients.
They work with patients of different ages and provide medical care treatment for various medical conditions.
The Responsibilities of a Gynecologist
They perform routine evaluations, offer well-care services, and regular upkeep to prevent disease. Several more responsibilities of a gynecologist include:
- Administering pap tests well-care evaluations to monitor women’s health
- Diagnosing and treating reproductive issues, fibrosis, cysts, infertility and tumors
- Perform sexual health screening to treat STIs and other medical conditions.
- Counseling patients on family planning, birth control, proper hygiene, disease prevention and medical procedures
- Perform invasive surgeries to treat reproductive health diseases, cysts and fibroids
- Taking care and monitoring patients
- Supervising along with managing a team of gynecological nurses and staff
- Leading health care teams in providing exceptional patient care
- Organizing patient medical records, recording patients’ medical history, and maintaining patient files in a clinical office setting
The Eligibility
Future gynecologists should meet all the below-required eligibility criteria.
- A minimum of 60% in High school from a reputed organization
- Attend the counseling process to get admission and complete Medical Doctorate, a 6-year program including a 1-year internship program
- Get admission in MS or MD and choose your specialization in gynecology. It is required to do a three-year internship. After completing the MS or MD, you can start your independent practice at any hospital or your clinic.
So let’s take a brief tour of the process of how to become a gynecologist and go for further studies like DM.
It would be best to have an MBBS, a medical doctorate and specialized training to get a good job or start your clinic. MBBS, a 5-year degree, and MD or MS are required to become a gynecologist.
Popular Courses and Institutes to Become a Gynecologist:
The best medical schools for OB/GYN are
- Harvard University
- The University of Pennsylvania (Perelman)
- Johns Hopkins University
- The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- The University of California, San Francisco
Some popular courses offered are:
- PG Diploma in Gynecology & Obstetrics (D. G. O.) – 2 years
- Doctor of Medicine (MD) in Gynecology & Obstetrics – 3 years
- Master of Surgery (MS) in Gynecology & Obstetrics – 3 years
5 Steps to Become A Gynecologist
The following are the required steps to outline when you have a question of how to become a gynecologist:
How to Become a Gynecologist – 5 Steps To Become a Gynecologist
1. Get Bachelor’s Degree
The journey will start by completing and obtaining a bachelor’s degree, where most students choose prospective medical pre-med courses, focusing on biology, human anatomy, physiology, microbiology and mathematics.
It would be best to prepare for MCAT or the Medical College Admission Test. MCAT is a must for applying to and enrolling in a medical degree program.
2. Appear And Clear MCAT
The MCAT covers 4 sections that include:
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (MCAT CARS)
As a part of the MCAT, these sections are the prerequisites for getting into any medical school. Medical schools may require exceptional scores for acceptance apart from an MCAT certificate.
3. Get Your Medical Degree
Assuming that you have cleared your MCAT and now studying medicine. The degree program is divided into 2 halves.
The 1st half requires your focus on biological systems, immunology, infectious diseases, etc., apart from other core academic coursework.
The 2nd half is a bit more practical, you complete clinical rotations with patients under the supervision of senior physicians in gynecology or any field of medicine. As soon as you pass and obtain your degree, you’re eligible to attend a residency program.
4. Complete Your Residency
After completing your medical school, you must complete a 4-year OBGYN residency. You will be supervised by senior professionals to get training and confidence to allow you independent practice.
During your residency, you can work in a medical environment to hone your skills and build upon your knowledge.
There, you will gain experience in preventive and primary care, patient diagnosis and surgical procedures.
As a resident OBGYN, your responsibilities and duties will increase year upon year until you can fulfill all the responsibilities of an OBGYN independently.
During this period, you’ll likely spend long hours at the hospital or clinic and respond to unexpected emergencies, such as births, at all hours of the night.
5. Get Your Medical License
Your state may require you to take the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) first part before completing your residency.
Most medical students typically complete this during the medical school program. Medical school graduates can appear in the first part of USMLE and during the first half of their medical degree program.
In the second half, they appear in the second part of the exam. Medical licensing takes around 7 years of exhaustive study for completing all aspects of the medical licensing examination.
It is a lengthy written exam to appear immediately after your residency. As you pass this exam, you will be required to practice in women’s health care for some time before appearing in an oral exam in front of a panel of professors.
You may consider a fellowship and certification in a subspecialty like maternal-fetal medicine or gynecologic oncology.
Conclusion
After 3 to 7 years of residency, many gynecologists enter their careers specifically focusing on women’s health. There are sub-specialties of gynecology like fertility, adolescent gynecology, gynecological oncology, etc.
You can join any of these after finishing your fellowship training. There are advanced certifications available to gynecologists who dedicate additional time to pursuing advanced education and training.
Hope this article allows you to get all information on how to become a gynecologist.
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