For many women, the annual trip to the OB-GYN is the one non-negotiable item on the health calendar. You get your Pap smear, renew your birth control, and check “see the doctor” off your to-do list for the year. However, some women miss the critical step of also seeing their PCP each year for an annual exam.
This raises the question: Just how important is it to have both an OB-GYN and a PCP?
The answer: It depends.
While your OB-GYN is the expert on your reproductive health, they aren’t necessarily looking at your cholesterol levels, monitoring your skin for suspicious moles, tracking your long-term heart health, or managing chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, or arthritis.
“At an annual exam, I’m looking at the whole picture,” said Noah Wiggins, NP at McLaren Greater Lansing Family Medicine North. “In primary care, we manage overall health and prevention while also addressing many routine and acute gynecologic concerns, like Pap smears, breast and pelvic exams, contraception, STI testing, and common vaginal or urinary issues. The goal is to address both day-to-day gynecologic needs and long-term health and wellness in a single visit.”
On the other hand, a primary care physician (PCP) is the one-stop shop for overall wellness, but they may not have the specialized tools to manage complex hormonal issues, reproductive care, pelvic floor disorders, and urinary issues.
“As your primary care team, our goal is to be your first line of support for your overall health,” said Dr. Kristin Clark, primary care physician at McLaren Greater Lansing Primary Care Grand Ledge. “While there are many concerns we can manage, we refer patients to a gynecologic specialist for complex needs such as fertility challenges, abnormal screenings, or pelvic floor issues. Our goal is to ensure you receive specialized care the moment your symptoms require it.”
The truth is, whether you need both a PCP and an OB-GYN depends on your individual medical status and stage of life. Most of the primary care providers at McLaren Greater Lansing manage routine breast and pelvic exams, Pap smears, STI testing, UTI/yeast infections, and birth control prescriptions as part of your annual exam/routine care.
However, if you are hoping to start a family or struggling with pelvic pain, endometriosis, infertility, or heavy periods that require surgical intervention or advanced hormonal management, you should schedule an appointment with an OB-GYN.
If you are looking for a new primary care provider or OB-GYN who is accepting new patients, click here to view a list and schedule an appointment.
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