How to choose an obstetrics and gynecology department?

For many women, the gynecological consultation is a source of anxiety, and recent testimonials of patients who claim to be victims of gynecological and obstetric violence even reflect a certain mistrust of the profession.

However, when we find the right practitioner and we are confident with it, speech is freer and consultation becomes more serene.

To choose the right doctor, the one who will listen to us without judging us, we asked the advice of the midwife Agnès Ledig and the gynecologist Teddy Linet, authors of " My guide gynéco" *.

When is a gynecologist consulted?

In general, the first visit to the gynecologist intervenes in adolescence and / or when one wishes to set up contraception or to change it.

This first meeting is often the most intimidating. Nevertheless, the coauthors of " My guide gynéco" specify that "consultation does not mean examination".

Agnès Ledig explains that when a young woman makes an appointment with her for a first consultation, she always says on the phone that apart from a few rare cases, she will not propose an examination, "thus, the patient arrives more relaxed and without fear ".

One consults therefore to manage its contraception, to carry out a smear of the cervix (which, contrary to certain received ideas is useless before 25 years and after 65, and should not take place systematically every year, or both when all is well), when you want to discuss with your practitioner the interest of further examinations (ultrasound, mammograms ...), when you change your partner, consider a pregnancy, when one is pregnant and one does not wish to continue the pregnancy, when one presents gynecological symptoms (rules painful or too abundant, presence of a ball in the breast ...).

We also consult when we encounter difficulties (after one year) to become pregnant or if we encounter sexual difficulties.

If each practitioner is able to conduct a general gynecological follow-up, gynecologists specialize in more specific areas: perinology, sexology, endocrine gynecology, reproductive medicine, etc. If your gynecologist is in difficulty to follow you, he will redirect you to one of his more specialized colleagues.

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The different practitioners who provide gynecological follow-up

Today there are fewer and fewer prevention gynecologists and most young interns in medicine who are moving towards gynecology are also learning obstetrics.

A gynecologist-obstetrician is trained to perform deliveries requiring technical procedures (caesarean, forceps ...), they are trained in surgery and in particular monitor pathological pregnancies.

You can also consult a midwife, who can provide gynecological prevention and contraception since July 2009, just like a doctor. If she tracks a pathology, she redirects the patient to a specialist. Midwives who provide gynecological consultations most often work in private, sometimes in hospitals or in Family Planning and Education Centers (CPEF) or in associative structures such as Family Planning.

If you prefer, you can also contact your doctor, who is able to do the gynecological monitoring and can prescribe some additional treatments compared to the midwife (antibiotics, hormonal treatments ...). However, it does not provide re-education of the perineum after childbirth for example.

Listen, respect ... The criteria to take into account when choosing your practitioner

You alone really know what suits you, especially in terms of contraception, remind Dr. Teddy Linet and Agnès Ledig. And it is essential to feel listened to and respected by his practitioner.

If a gynecologist refuses to put an IUD on you when you have enough confidence to say that this is what you need, he can not in any case impose his choice on him (and in this case, better is worth turning to a practitioner more attentive to your needs and desires). Because to be wrong is not serious - and even rather common.

The important thing to choose the professional who will ensure your gynecological follow-up, it is first, according to " My guide gynéco" , to feel you in confidence.

Thus, if you do not have a particular pathology, the doctor can be a simple choice, because he already knows you well. Some women, however, prefer to compartmentalize more and do not want to confide everything to their doctor. They can then turn to a midwife or gynecologist.

Another important criterion is the organization and habits of the practitioner. You will probably want to choose someone who does not make too many appointments and who will not wait for hours in the waiting room. The best way to educate yourself is to ask the question to your friends and family.

Finally, some women absolutely want a gynecologist because they feel more comfortable, others prefer men. Again, it's a question of personal choice.

* My gynecologist , Agnes Ledig and Dr. Teddy Linet, Pocket Evolution; available at 12-21 the digital publisher.