Tag: obgyn

What do you look for in an obgyn?

This question actually has multiple answers and is a more complicated process than selecting a primary care physician. The usual selection criteria apply of course: 1) Is the doctor in your network? 2) Are they local and easy to get to? 3) Does their availability(office hours) fit your availability? 4) Do they have good reviews? 5) Do you know anyone personally in your family or friend group that already sees them so that you can get firsthand feedback?

These are good to go by when attempting to select any physician, bearing in mind that reviews on google can be written by anyone anywhere, even if they have never been in the office in question. Having family feedback is good as well, provided that you know the whole story surrounding their comments. ( i.e Grandma Martha hates Dr. X, but also has multiple no show appointments and owes the office a lot of money that they are rightfully trying to collect) You see what I mean? Even the seemingly best source of information does not compare to your own personal experience.

Having clarified all that, I feel that selecting an obgyn adds yet an additional level in selection complexity. Finding the right obgyn means finding someone with a communication style and listening skills that make you feel comfortable enough to discuss some of your most personal and potentially embarrassing issues. I mean, you can’t go discussing your vagina and hormones with just anybody. Hopefully you are able to find somebody that listens and “gets you” at the same time.

This is the kind of thing I strive for the most….the listening part I mean. It is so so important. Many of the women that I see are frustrated because they have spent years dealing with unresolved issues because they either did not feel comfortable mentioning them to their previous physicians or they were dismissed. This should never happen. Every single patient deserves to be listened to and, in my opinion, if they have an issue that you are not prepared to deal with, they should be referred onward to someone that can. The patient should never have to suffer due to your lack of comfort or familiarity with their particular problem.

I received a compliment once from a patient that I did not understand at first, but now I consider it one of the best compliments I have ever gotten. She said that coming to my office was like coming to a girlfriend’s house. At first I thought, what the heck does she do at her girlfriend’s house? My face must have registered my confusion for a minute because she went on to explain what she meant. She meant that I was able to make her so comfortable at my office that she was able to disclose and discuss anything and everything that she wanted to. That is my job, my sacred mission, and what it’s all about. Have a great night everybody!

Take care of yourselves!

Dr. Katz

Don’t you wish your gyno was hot like mine?

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Initial disclaimer: Before you read this, please understand that this is intended for humor only.

So, I hear from men all the time that I must have the greatest job in the world! This leads me to believe that, in their mind, I spend my days with hot, sexy, naked women and their perfect bodies and private parts all day long to my heart’s desire. In addition, I am sure that these same fine gentleman wish that they were a hot, male gynecologist like in the 1989 SNL sketch Mel Gibson: Dream Gynecologist. (Yes it’s real. Look it up. )

I hate to burst your bubble gentleman, but first of all…Ewww….and COME ON! These kind of comments just exemplify ignorance regarding what I actually do and what attracts women to a particular physician. First of all, let me clear up what I do all day long. I see women of all body types, ages and colors for every kind of health and pelvic issue that you could imagine from incontinence to infections to cancer. Yes that’s right gentleman. It is much harder to get them in for routine maintenance when everything is perfect ” down there” like the vaginas you are dreaming about as opposed to when something is “amiss.” That includes elderly women who bring me their crusty underwear, wondering what that discharge is all about and women with STDs that have gone untreated for a long time. It’s not all fun and games gentleman. This is a serious job, not some endless beauty pageant of genitalia. You may not believe this, but once you stare at anything consistently for a long time, day in and day out, the excitement wains. I guarantee it.

Now let’s deconstruct the hot male gynecologist ideal. Be prepared to have your mind blown. Did you know that multiple patient surveys have been conducted regarding possible gender bias in patient selection of a gynecologist? Most patients said that they picked their gynecologist based upon experience, not gender. Those that did pick based on gender usually picked a female because they felt that a female would be better capable of understanding what they were going through. There were still a few that picked a male, yearning back for the days of 1950’s patriarchal medicine, but they were not the majority. Now add on top of that the fact that patients have said that they would feel too intimidated if they picked a gynecologist that was too good looking. In other words, the odds may be ever NOT in your favor if you are a hottie. Sorry.

Well, I hope that I was able to clear up some of your misconceptions about the real world of gynecology. For now, I will just keep on keepin on with my frumpy, female badass self. Cheers!

Have a great day all!

Dr. Katz