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What Your OB/GYN Actually Offers

Most people think of their OB/GYN as “the pap smear doctor” or “the pregnancy doctor.” The actual scope is much wider — and knowing it means you can ask for more of what you're already paying for.

Last updated August 2026

Well-woman & preventive care

The annual visit can include a pelvic exam, pap smear/HPV testing on current screening intervals (not necessarily every year — ask what interval applies to you), a breast exam, STI testing, contraception counseling, and often same-visit placement of methods like IUDs or the implant. Vaccines like HPV and Tdap are frequently offered here too.

Managing symptoms, not just screening

Heavy or irregular periods, pelvic pain, PMOS, and menopause symptoms are all legitimate reasons to book a visit on their own — not just things to mention if there's time left over at the end of an annual exam.

Pregnancy & postpartum care

Prenatal visits, delivery, and postpartum follow-up (the six-week check and beyond) are all part of standard OB/GYN scope. Our Maternity Companion is built to support that same fourth-trimester window alongside your actual care team, not instead of it.

In-office procedures

Many things get handled in a routine office visit rather than requiring a separate specialist or surgery center: IUD/implant placement and removal, endometrial biopsy, colposcopy, and some in-office ultrasounds are all common examples.

When they refer you onward

A general OB/GYN is often the first stop, but will refer to a subspecialist for genuinely complex cases — high-risk pregnancy, complex infertility, pelvic floor disorders, or gynecologic cancer. See our guide to subspecialists for who's who.

Worth discussing with your provider

Whether a symptom you've been managing on your own actually warrants its own visit

What's covered in your annual visit versus what needs to be scheduled separately

Whether same-visit procedures, like IUD placement, are available at their practice

OB/GYN Subspecialists, Explained →Find a specialist →

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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