How to become An OB Gyn In South Africa

An Obstetrician Gynecologist (often shortened to the term Ob Gyn) is a DO or MD doctor that specializes in the care of diseases and disorders of the female reproductive system. Ob Gyns treat health conditions in patients that affect menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, the pelvic floor, and the internal reproductive and external reproductive organs.

What does an Ob-Gyn do?

Obstetrician gynecologist doctors treat a wide range of health conditions that affect women both young and old. The specialty focuses on the care of female reproductive health, pregnancy and childbirth. Many Ob Gyn reproductive doctors split their time between taking care of women in the hospital unit and taking care of women in the clinic.

What is an Ob Gyn able to do in office?

In-office medical procedures are usually minor health procedures that a physicians performs in office that do not require the extensive medical care and oversight of a surgical center. There are several in-office health care procedures that obstetrician gynecologist physicians do. This includes:

Insertion and removal of intrauterine conception devices

Pap cancer smears

Breast exams

Biopsy sampling

Ultrasound health examinations

Insertion and removal of pessaries to treat pelvic floor dysfunction

Is an OB GYN a pelvic surgeon?

Yes, an Ob Gyn is a pelvic surgeon. The most frequent surgery that an Ob Gyn (that is not subspecialized) performs on patients is caesarian section (c section). Cesarian sections affect the health of the mother and are necessary for several reasons.

Can OB GYNs sub-specialize into medical areas such as Reproductive medicine?

Similar to other physician professions, Ob Gyns can choose to subspecialize into a certain facet of medicine. This requires the Ob Gyn doctor to spend at least a year studying the particular medical area they want to focus on.

This time is termed a fellowship. After completion of an Ob Gyn’s fellowship, they must pass a board certification exam in order to be fully accredited in that Medical subspecialty. A few of the Ob Gyn’s fellowship options includes:

Gynecologic oncology– This specialty (often shortened to the term gyn onc) allows for a gynecologist to focus on treating cancer of the female reproductive tract. Gynecologist oncology doctors perform surgery on gyn cancer tumors, oversee chemotherapy medications for gyn cancer, and work with other medical specialists such as radiation doctors to help manage cancer cases.

Maternal and Fetal Medicine– This specialty (often called MFM) focuses on providing care to women who are pregnant. Maternal and fetal medicine obstetricians provide care to women with high risk pregnancies and to women with pregnancy complications. They also provide care for women who are pregnant with more than one baby

Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility– In this specialty, Ob Gyns focuses on providing reproductive medical care to women who have difficulties getting pregnant. This includes treating endocrinology conditions that may affect reproductive fertility in women.

OBGYN Educational Requirements

Degree LevelDoctor of Medicine (MD) degree
ExperienceFour-year residency, optional three-year fellowship for further specialization
Licensure and CertificationState medical license, certification as an OBGYN by the American Board of Medical Specialties
Key SkillsStrong verbal and written communication skills, empathy, problem-solving skills, basic computer skills and familiarity with medical software
Salary R 3601753.54median)

Below are steps to become An OB Gyn In South Africa

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Medical schools tend to look for well-rounded individuals who are interested in helping people and have a strong desire for a career in medicine. They accept students from most majors, though they do require specific coursework in biology, chemistry, and statistics along with English, liberal arts, and social sciences.

Success Tips:

Prepare for the MCAT. The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required for entrance into accredited medical schools. The exam includes questions on physical and biological science and tests students’ verbal reasoning and cognitive abilities.

Some students take practice exams and form study groups to prepare; MCAT preparatory courses are available that can be taken in person or online.

Build leadership skills. Medical schools tend to look for individuals with leadership abilities. Students can lead projects in school, take leadership courses, or take on leadership roles in extracurricular or volunteer activities.

Step 2: Obtain a Medical Degree

The core curriculum of a medical school program generally lasts four years. In the first two years of most programs, students take courses in cells and tissues, immunology, infectious diseases, and the reproductive system, among other subjects.

During the second two years, students complete a series of clinical rotations, working with patients under the supervision of licensed physicians in various areas of practice, including obstetrics and gynecology. While there are some online OBGYN courses, typically medical school courses are taken in person.

Success Tip:

Review the state licensing requirements. Some states require that residents take parts of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) prior to beginning a residency, and some state boards issue residents’ licenses.

According to the USMLE website, most students take part one of the exam at the end of the second year of medical school and part two at the end of the fourth year of medical school, prior to beginning the residency.

Step 3: Complete a Residency

Doctors have a chance to immerse themselves in their specialties at the residency level. Obstetrician-gynecologists gain hands-on experience in obstetrics, gynecology, and emergency medicine, among other areas.

There is often a research and a didactic component to a residency. Students can find residencies through the National Resident Matching Program after obtaining their medical degrees. According to the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, gynecology residencies last four years.

Success Tip

Carefully consider your residency options. The American Medical Association points out that medical students should consider some key aspects when searching for a residency.

These include program stability, support from peers and superiors, schedules (whether they are flexible or include night, weekend and on-call hours), possibility for advancement, and location.

Step 4: Obtain a License

All medical doctors must be licensed by their state medical boards in order to practice. Although requirements vary by state, the licensing process generally involves taking the USMLE and submitting proof of education and training.

Find out the requirements for your state, and refer to the American Medical Association’s publication on state medical licensure requirements and statistics, which can help prospective doctors wade through this challenging process.

Step 5: Become Board-Certified

Many obstetrician-gynecologists become certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG). Applicants must submit proof of experience and pass both a written and an oral exam.

Obstetrician-gynecologists can be further certified in the subspecialties of reproductive endocrinology and fertility, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, maternal-fetal medicine, and gynecologic oncology.

Step 6: Complete a Fellowship

Further training in obstetrics and gynecology is available through three-year fellowship programs at teaching hospitals throughout the country.

While optional, fellowship programs provide doctors an opportunity to further specialize and conduct research in areas such as maternal-fetal medicine, pediatric and adolescent gynecology, gynecologic ontology, reproductive endocrinology, and family planning.

Fellows must already have completed a residency, be ABOG-certified and hold a valid medical license.

What education do you need to be an OB-GY NIn South Africa?

Education and training requirements

A doctor must first complete their bachelor’s degree and four years of medical school training to become an OB-GYN. After medical school, you must complete four years of graduate-level education as a resident focusing on obstetrics and gynecology.

How long does it take to become an OB-GYN In South Africa?

A bachelor’s degree usually takes four years to complete. Medical school takes four years, and residency takes another four years. This means a total of 12 years for the OB-GYN to complete their education and training, from the end of high school to the beginning of professional independent practice.

Where can I study OB-GYN in South Africa?

The department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University of Pretoria is a large academic department with service-learning sites at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital, Tembisa Hospital and Witbank Hospital.

Is it hard to become an Obgyn In South Africa?

Well, for one, their education is one of the hardest to go through; four years of medical school are followed by four or six years of residency (which is longer than in many other areas of medicine), says Howe. Because ob-gyns are also surgeons, the curriculum is especially rigorous.

Is Obgyn a good career?

At present, the gynecology is one of the highest paying job oriented career in medicine. You can be employed in various sectors such as clinics, hospitals, private practice, universities and government agencies, etc. This career option is respectable and lucrative too. You can open your own surgical clinic.

Do Obgyn get days off In South Africa?

Ob/gyns do no better than most Americans in amount of vacation time. Nearly one half of them take 2-4 weeks, and almost 25% take 1-2 weeks, which puts them in around the middle of the list for amount of time taken off by specialists who responded to our survey.

Are Obgyn doctors happy?

About 28% of ob. gyns. reported that they were very happy at work, and 54% said that they were very happy outside of work, according to the Medscape report. Dermatologists were most likely to be happy at work at 41%, and rheumatologists were most likely to be happy outside of work at 60%.

Can I shadow an Obgyn?

Take part in Obstetrics and Gynecologist shadowing as they explain in detail how they care for their pregnant and non-pregnant patients. Learn what Ob-Gyn specialists do to promote female health. While participating in Obstetrics and Gynecologist shadowing you will follow Delores Williams MD.

How many hours a week does an Obgyn work In South Africa?

Hours: Full-time workers spend around 53 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).

What skills do you need to be an OB GYN In South Africa?

An OB/GYN needs to be reliable, responsible and patient and a good communicator too. Your patient needs to know that they can depend on you and that you will be there when they need you. Your communication skills come into play when you have to explain health advice to your patients.