The Role of a Gynecologist in Primary Care

Leading OB/GYN Practice in Texas

Dr. J. Gabriel Guajardo, an experienced, skilled, licensed, and award-winning gynecologist, directs his OB/GYN practice in Brownsville, TX, and serving Harlingen, TX, serving women in and surrounding areas and providing at least 12 services in this field of medicine. Our doctor explains the role of a GYN in primary care.

What Is a Gynecologist Versus a Primary Doctor

A GYN cares for women's reproductive and sexual health issues, diagnosing and treating various diseases such as the following.

• Uterus
• Fallopian tubes
• Ovaries
• Breasts

This OB/GYN practice mentions a few of their responsibilities, such as pelvic exams/Pap test/cancer screenings/vaginal infections/endometriosis/infertility/ovarian cysts/and pelvic pain/reproductive cancers/and more. 

Some gynecologists may have advanced educational training in obstetrics and care for pregnancies, labor, and delivery of babies. These specialists are known as OB/GYN specialty doctors.

Your primary care doctor is your first contact for common sickness, not your OB/GYN. Your primary doctor,

• Does physicals
• Immunizations
• Screenings
• Counseling
• Manages chronic/acute conditions
• Refers you to specialty doctors

You may wonder if you can combine your visits to your GYN as a primary care visit. While you could do this, it is best to have a primary care and GYN doctor. Each doctor has their field of expertise. 

While some responsibilities overlap, it is best to sort out the health issues you need help with. For example, you would not visit your GYN doctor if you have a sinus infection or a cold. If you visit one doctor or the other for a health issue and should be seeing the other, it is not of any great concern. However, your chosen doctor may not be the expert for your health complaint.

While your GYN can manage the onset of high blood pressure, there may be better doctors to control your hypertension, such as your primary or internal medicine doctor. While you are visiting your GYN, you ask for treatment for hives or a rash. Your GYN may refer you to a dermatologist.

Our doctor provides urinary incontinence and weight management care. You can appoint a specialty doctor for these overlap issues or see our doctor, and he will decide if he needs to refer you to a urologist or endocrinologist.

Sometimes, specialty tests overlap between doctors, so you need to speak to that doctor and find out the scope of services they provide. You can never guarantee your healthcare under one doctor because each specialty doctor has limited resources outside of their expertise.

OB/GYN Specialty

If you seek a quality, top-notch OB/GYN doctor, please give Dr. Guajardo at his practice in Brownsville, TX, and serving Harlingen, TX, a call at (956) 350-4821 today and schedule your appointment for a consultation for all of your women's healthcare issues.