I wish I would have been able to ask some of these questions last year at this time. I have been lurking this forum the past few months, mainly due to misgivings I am having about my career switch. Last year I did my intern year in ob/gyn. This year I am doing my intern year in another specialty, not one traditionally know as "easy" but which seems to have more options than ob/gyn. The thing is, I really miss ob/gyn. I feel passionately about women's rights, reproductive heath, and prenatal care. It's not that I didn't like the work last year, but it relentlessly wore me down. That as a single intern. I felt that I knew in my heart that once I had children I would never be able to do it. Never be able to put in the intensity that the career required. I saw my attendings working as many hours as I was, and I felt trapped. I felt like I was on a course that was going to lead me right into where they were. Add to that a touch of intern year depression and the usual harshness of a surgical residency, and I convinced myself that I was no good at the field and that the sacrifice wasn't worth it.

Now I don't know. I feel stuck again. I can't leave this new residency, because what if I am miserable once I go back (grass is greener mentality, etc). They won't let me keep switching forever! Then I think, well, maybe I'll do ob/gyn after this residency if I am still missing it in three years; then I can do comprehensive women's health (IM residency now). But once you start in ob/gyn, there seems to be no stopping. Can't do laborist without 3-5 years experience (and not that many of those jobs in my part of the country), so that is really commiting to 4 years residency PLUS 3-5 of equal to residency. Then if you want to change gears there are tails to deal with. GYN only seems the same as laborist (must pay the dues first.) So, do I really have any questions that can be answered by anyone else (questions other than, is this worth it to me?) Does anyone think Ob/gyn will ever split into inpatient and outpatient work like IM? For instance pre-natal doc and laborist? Does anyone think I could get certified in office gyn procedures like hysteroscopy or essure through IM (ob/gyn so teritorial). How hard is it to get a GYN only job? Does MFM offer a better lifestyle? Is the thought of going back to ob/gyn ridiculous?

I would recommend doing something you enjoy, whatever that is. It seems that more and more every specialty is becoming more compartmentalized due to quality of life issues and the complexity of medicine. It sounds like you would benefit from talking to a mentor who you can relate to and see yourself emulating.

Personally, I don't think going back to Ob/Gyn is ridiculous. It would be good to really make a commitment one way or another though, so you don't spend a lot of time without something to show for it in the end.

I'm curious why you chose IM instead of FM. It seems FM may fit your interests more. There are also women's health fellowships for FM. With this fellowship, the FM physicians can do C-sections and more advanced Ob/Gyn care.

I am not in FM, IM, or Ob/Gyn but these are my thoughts from what I do know.

I'm an OB/GYN who has don't gyn-only for 7 of the 9 years since residency. I kinda lucked out because the first practice I was with closed because the owner lost his malpractice insurance and I ended up being hired by a gyn-only practice in the area and was able to build the gyn base that way. There are more and more gyn-only jobs out there lately, it seems. Also, seems like lots of specialties are going the more compartmentalized route. Also, if you want to avoid tails, work for the gov't or a large group that covers your tail, or do locums. I had to pay a tail when I stopped OB, and if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have done private practice due to this. I personally wish I had switched from OB/GYN so can't really relate to the loving OB/GYN. Good luck.

Like DrEthiope i am also an ob/gyn. I have been out 2 years from residency. I am actively trying to get out of obstetrics, I can't stand it, the lifestyle is HORRIBLE and patients are extremely demanding (at least in private practice). I never see my family (when I do I am exhausted) and I do not like the person ob/gyn has turned me into (chronically tired, stressed, etc.). Be very careful about switching back to ob/gyn. i loved residency, but practice is NOT like residency at all. With the work-hour restrictions imposed now, you often work more once you are out in practice (my average work week is about 75-100 hours). I left my private practice job recently because I was completely burnt out and now do part-time locums but am considering another residency entirely.

Anyway, that's just me. Plenty of people love ob/gyn and that is great--we need more in the speciality who will stick with it over the long haul. But, if you already switched out of ob/gyn after just your intern year this is a HUGE red flag for disappointment within the speciality later on. Maybe you should consider family medicine? You could also focus on women's health in Internal medicine as well, although you won't be doing any procedures. When I was a resident we had one of our resident ob/gyn clinics staffed with an IM doc and she was fabulous, especially with all our high-risk MFM patients. (The lifestyle is also a lot better which is a big plus!).

Good luck with your decision!

hey obgyns. I am trying to get the real facts about what to expect in obgyn, once you are out of residency. I would really appreciate it if you would answer some questions, because all I've heard is the general "it's not family friendly" statements.

specifically, when you are on call, are you up all night, typically?

how many hours can you expect to work in one week? on non-call days, what time do you usually arrive and leave?

how many weeks of vacation/ year are typical?

I'm to the point I'm looking at other specialties, but I'd just like some actual numbers so I can truly decide for myself if it's "family friendly" for me. Thanks! =)

Hi nightowl, i replied to a thread you started earlier under a different heading. hope it helps a little bit to answer some of your questions.