Gynecology is the area of medicine that involves the treatment of womens diseases, especially those of the reproductive organs. A gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in female reproductive health, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and breasts. They diagnose and treat issues related to the female reproductive tract, and anyone with female organs may see a gynecologist. Gynecology comprises both medicine and surgical fields, and while many gynecological illnesses need hormonal and other pharmacological management, cancers, fibroids, etc. require surgical removal.
Some of the procedures that are widely used in gynecology include hysterectomy or removal of the uterus, ovary removal, diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, uterus, or ovary, along with a team of physicians and surgeons, including an oncologist or cancer specialist. Gynecologists use many different tools during an exam and treatment, and the most widely known tool is called a speculum. A speculum is a duck-bill-shaped device used to open the vaginal walls, which allows the gynecologist to see the entire area and collect cells from the cervix to test for infections like HPV (human papillomavirus) .
In the United States, residency programs and the certification process cover obstetrics and gynecology in combination. Most gynecologists are also obstetricians, and an obstetrician is a specialist in the care of women during pregnancy and childbirth.
