An obstetrician-gynecologist, or OB-GYN for short, is a doctor who specializes in women's health and reproduction and can take care of you for both general gynecological needs as well as childbirth.

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These specialists play an important role in the care of women throughout their lives, not just during pregnancy. The American Pregnancy Association, a national organization that promotes pregnancy wellness, reports that OB-GYNs are medical doctors who specialize "in the management of pregnancy, labor and birth. They also receive specialized education in the area of the female reproductive system and surgical care. Much of their education focuses on the detection and management of obstetrical and gynecological problems."

Your gynecologist, OB-GYN or women’s health specialist screens you for diseases, helps you plan a family – whether that means assisting with or preventing pregnancies – troubleshoots below-the-belt problems and more. You may see an OB-GYN for routine gynecological care, such as pelvic exams, breast exams and Pap smears, as well as for infertility, abnormal bleeding, cancer, endometriosis, fibroids, menopause issues and many other women's health concerns. And whatever the reason for the visit, at the end of the day, there’s a good chance this person will throw on gloves, spread your legs and dive headfirst toward a very private part of your body. Because you’ll be discussing your most intimate and personal health issues with this doctor, you’ll want to find someone with experience who you can trust.

So how can you find the right doctor for you? "It's actually a very complicated question," says Dr. Jonathan Schaffir, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. This is because many factors may play into your decision, ranging from convenience and the doctor's subspecialty to cultural preference and the doctor's bedside manner.

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How do you find that OB-GYN who will truly get you? Who will celebrate with you in joy, comfort you in sorrow, answer all your pregnancy and perimenopause questions, hold your hand when needed – and get up close and personal without making it weird?

You discuss a lot of important and sensitive topics with your OB-GYN. Ideally, they should be able to deliver good and bad news as deftly as they deliver a baby. But your doctor also needs to have the ability to operate in an expert and occasionally emergent........

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