An OB/GYN is a healthcare professional who specializes in female reproductive health. The term OB/GYN stands for obstetrics and gynecology, which are two closely related disciplines. Obstetrics is the branch of medicine that deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, while gynecology is the branch of medicine that deals with the female reproductive system and its disorders. OB/GYNs provide a wide range of preventive care services, including pap smears, STI testing, pelvic exams, ultrasounds, and blood work. They can also answer questions about pregnancy, sex, reproductive health, infertility, and numerous other topics. OB/GYNs are trained surgeons who can perform a wide range of procedures, including cesarean sections, hysterectomies, removing growths such as ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids, and surgery to repair pelvic organ injuries. They can also perform a wide range of routine and in-office procedures, including pap smears to test for cervical cancer, STI tests, and fertility treatments such as egg retrievals for IVF or egg-freezing. OB/GYNs can monitor a womans health throughout pregnancy, deliver her baby, and take care of her after delivery. They also see patients outside of pregnancy for preventative care, fertility issues, bleeding concerns, and gynecologic procedures. To become an OB/GYN, one must complete medical school to receive an MD or DO degree, followed by a four-year OB/GYN residency program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) .