OB/GYN Subspecialists — Who They Are and When You Need One
A general OB/GYN is trained broadly across the whole field. Some situations call for someone who's done years of additional fellowship training in one specific area — here's who's who, and when each one gets involved.
Last updated August 2026
Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI)
Fertility specialists — REIs manage IVF and other fertility treatments, complex hormonal disorders, and recurrent pregnancy loss. If you've been referred out of a general OB/GYN's office for a fertility workup, this is usually where you land next. Our Fertility Evaluation is a reasonable starting point before that conversation.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM)
High-risk pregnancy specialists — MFMs manage pregnancies complicated by things like preeclampsia, multiples, fetal anomalies, or a pre-existing condition like diabetes or an autoimmune disease. Sometimes they co-manage alongside your regular OB/GYN rather than taking over entirely.
Urogynecology (Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery)
Pelvic floor disorders — incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and related pain — are this subspecialty's focus. Our Bladder Health Assessment can help you sort out your own pattern before that referral conversation.
Gynecologic Oncology
Cancers of the reproductive organs — ovarian, uterine, cervical, vulvar — are managed by gyn-oncologists, who handle both the surgical and medical (chemotherapy, etc.) sides of treatment.
Non-physician specialists you'll also hear about
Pelvic floor physical therapists (PFPTs) aren't physicians, but they're essential partners for pelvic pain, incontinence, and prolapse — often working alongside urogynecology, and frequently the actual first-line treatment rather than a last resort.
Urology, for the male-factor side of a fertility workup
Not a GYN subspecialty, but worth naming here since it comes up constantly in fertility conversations: a urologist with a male-infertility or andrology focus is the specialist who evaluates and treats male-factor infertility, typically after a semen analysis flags something worth a closer look. If a fertility workup is underway, it's worth asking for both partners to be seen from the start rather than only bringing in urology after everything on the female side has been checked.
Worth discussing with your provider
Educational information only — general patterns that vary by person. This is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a substitute for care from your own clinician.
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