Our obstetrician-gynecologists (ob-gyns) are experts in women’s health encompassing sexual and reproductive health, pregnancy and childbirth. Your ob-gyn will provide routine medical services, including sexual education, preventive screenings, treatment for your reproductive health needs, maternity care, postpartum care and pelvic health.

Regular visits to your ob-gyn can help you stay informed about your reproductive health, preventive care and more. A typical appointment starts with a health check, physical exam and a conversation about your medical history. From there, your ob-gyn will tailor his or her care guidelines to your needs, such as coming in for pregnancy-related care versus pelvic healthcare or menopausal care.

To find and book an appointment with a Novant Health ob-gyn near you, use our Physician Finder.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that girls start seeing an ob-gyn between 13 and 15. For women who’ve already had their first appointment, preventive care is the best way to stay informed and treat their medical needs.

We recommend a visit to your ob-gyn annually for routine screenings, checkups and tests — or if there are any unexpected changes in your menstrual cycle, including, but not limited to:

• Cramping and pain in the pelvic area
• Diminished sex drive
• Hormonal changes
• Menopause
• Pain during urination or intercourse
• Perimenopause
• Pregnancy
• Unusual changes in your menstrual bleeding

With our Physician Finder, you can schedule your routine annual checkup with an ob-gyn in minutes.

At Novant Health, our ob-gyns perform various services and procedures that help women like you stay healthy throughout your life, including:

• Breast exams
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• Pap tests
• Pregnancy-related treatment from confirmation to delivery
• Prescribing contraceptives
• Surgeries for pelvic organs*
• Testing for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and /HIV
• Treatment for pelvic-related issues such as incontinence
• Treatment for urinary tract infections
• Wellness tests and physical exams
• Yeast infection prevention and treatment

*A specialist referral may be needed in some cases.

Our ob-gyns treat a range of conditions that affect women at every stage of their lives, including:

• Chronic discomfort around your vagina (vulvodynia)
• Gynecological cancers, including cervical and ovarian
• Heavy bleeding and pelvic pressure
• Inability to control your bladder (urinary incontinence)
• Irregular periods due to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• Menopause and related symptoms
• Pain during sex or other sexual health concerns
• Painful periods due to endometriosis or ovarian cysts
• Pelvic floor discomfort and pains
• Pregnancy
• Unusual cramping

You can read more about the conditions treated by our women’s health specialists on our ob-gyns services page.

We’ve compiled a list of commonly asked patient questions to prepare you for your ob-gyn visit. Asking your ob-gyn these questions can help them provide you with the best resources and guidance.

Questions for first visits:

• How often should I be menstruating?
• Do I need to worry about irregular periods?
• What are my safe sex and contraception options?
• Are there any vaccinations I need?
• How do I know if I have a sexually transmitted infection, and how often should I get tested?

Questions for preconception and pregnancy:

• What can I do to increase my fertility?
• When should I stop using birth control?
• Are there any changes I should make to my diet?
• What is a realistic timeframe to get pregnant?
• What is a healthy amount of exercise during pregnancy?
• Are there any vitamins or health supplements you recommend I take?
• Can I continue taking my current medications?
• Do you recommend any type of prenatal screening or testing?
• Do you recommend any prenatal classes?
• When will my next appointment be?

Questions for breast cancer awareness and menopause:

• What can I do to reduce my risk of breast cancer?
• How often should I be tested or screened for breast cancer?
• Are my symptoms common?
• How do I prevent bladder leaks?
• How can I maintain my sexual health?
• What changes can I expect during perimenopause and menopause?

You can use these questions as a starting point, but we encourage you to add any that relate to the reason for your visit or that will help you manage your condition.