"Annual" ob/gyn bloodwork?

[sasywtch]

There was a time (and maybe it's still that way) that certain PPO insurance companies made you pick a primary care physician and that PCP had to refer you out for everything. After a time, they "let" women pick their OB/GYN as their primary because women (especially younger women) went to an OB/GYN more often than a PCP. During that time, I noticed that if you had that sort of plan, they GYN would offer to do those tests for you.

I never had that type of plan and so I always declined. Now they don't even offer it anymore because I think many insurance companies got away from that practice.

I honestly don't think my GYN is that good a knowing the ins and outs of that sort of bloodwork. I know when my friend asked her GYN to run a Vitamin D test, he picked the wrong one. They are very good with GYN-type tests but I would not want to rely on them for overall blood chemistry. I realize they are doctors and those tests are pretty basic but, let's face it, it's not their area of expertise once they get out of school.

This is kind of making me feel old : )
What I remember is most GP's did all exams. Then they didn't really want to do the yearlys anymore for females (or gyn's or someone figured out that gp's may not have speciality in that area) so you got to go to your GYN once a year with a referral from your GP for a yearly (unless they found something). If you became pregnant, you went to your OB/GYN without any referals.
Now I pretty much have 2 pcp. My gp and my gyn. GYN's no longer require referals. When I went to the ER last year with severe pains in the lower stomach area and had a cat scan, there were two issues. One colon, one tumor in the uterus. I had an appointment with my gp but emailed my gyn. gyn was able to read all the test results same as my gp. He wasn't concerned as it hadn't grown in a few years but was concerned about the other issues and told me to be sure to ask certain questions of my gp. He told me if I wanted to come talk to him about the tumor, I was welcome to. It was nice to have 2 "pcp" as specialists in their own arenas to be able to deal with instead of having to get referals.

 

[Jaime4004]

I see my PCP for everything. Internal med/family docs are more than capable of performing routine GYN care. Maybe the older ones got into the habit of not performing GYN care? Mine's in her 40's, and i'm almost there. Only ever saw OB for babies. Overall, I prefer to go as little as possible (usually once/year for annual physical unless something pops up that I can't treat myself) so I like one stop shopping. Definitely wouldn't want to go to a 2nd doctor for something the 1st can do. She would refer out if it were something she didn't deal with. Ours is actually internal med/peds so she sees my whole family. It's convenient to have someone who knows your whole family so well.

 

[mom2rtk]

I would trust my PCP (IM or FP) to do my well woman exam more than I would trust my GYN to do my annual physical.

 

[dizluvah]

question-do people go to two doctors for physicals? An ob doc AND a primary care?

I get everything done at my primary care. Never been to an OB. My pcp does all the test's and blood work. I guess she would be a general practitioner.

My PCP also does my pap so I don't see an OB/GYN but that is not the "norm" I think most people have a ob/gyn and a primary care doc (although reading through above posts I am learning some only have a OB/GYN....) I guess whatever works for each individual.

 

[mom2rtk]

My PCP also does my pap so I don't see an OB/GYN but that is not the "norm" I think most people have a ob/gyn and a primary care doc (although reading through above posts I am learning some only have a OB/GYN....) I guess whatever works for each individual.

I don't know anyone who keeps seeing their OB/GYN unless they are following an issue of some sort. I'm not even sure if most insurance covers 2 well exams per year.

 

[LilyWDW]

I use a gyn and a pcp. The gyn not only does my yearly "female" exams and gets me my birth control, but also works with my uro due to my IC. I only get paps every 3-5 years as I have never had an abnormal one and it is no longer suggested to get those yearly.

My pcp takes care of everything that the gyn and uro don't take care of PLUS keeps track of everything in general to make sure I am getting the full level of care I need. He's amazing!