Forgot to add that if you do choose FM with OB then go to a program that is OB heavy-- there are a lot of programs like this both in the inner city and rural areas. Preferably go to a program that is not Catholic- no offense to anyone, but your education in reproductive health is severely limited by it. Do electives at other hospitals in L&D, etc. and lastly consider an extra year of women's health fellowship post residency-- not necessary, but some find it helpful.

Asunshine - I totally forgot you were considering OB last year at this point. This thread is a year old now, and I like seeing it resurrected. It's interesting to see that a year later - I have been pining away for months to go back to my community medicine rotation with this OB and get back to it. I have literally been looking forward to going back to it for a year now. And I still have to keep waiting til June.

You may have ruled out OB, but I may end up being one of those OBs that the world still needs (as someone puts it - someone has to become one). Interested to see what third -year brings. It probably won't help that people LOVE the OB rotation at my school. It it supposedly not malignant and really amazing. And although I love the babies born, I am still more interested in the stitching up and what is going on with the placenta.

A reread of this thread was enlightening....

Ok, I think if you like Ob/gyn, you should do it. I always knew I wanted to see women only and went back and forth between FP and Ob and of course at the heart of this issue is life style. Well, you CAN have a life style, it's called shift work and yeah, I know that is not popular with many of the older (male) docs, but that is our reality. When I go home, I go home, I am NOT on call from home so my attention can be 100% focused on my home and family and when I'm at work, I'm at work. I love it and would never have survived in another specialty- I would be too bored. There is never a dull moment on L&D! The best thing about ob/gyn is that you can really tailor it to what you want, if you want to do just clinic, you can, if you want to be a surgeon only, you can, if you want to be a hospitalist on L&D, you can! I see a lot of adolescents, which I love, I run a colpo clinic and then rest of time I'm in the OR or L&D with the residents (I told you- I can't get bored!!) Please don't reject ob/gyn bc you think the hours are too much, things are changing and getting better! Oh and where I work on the border in Texas, getting sued is unheard of since 2003. Email if more questions.

Southern, in my area there are several mom OB's whose husbands stay home with the kids...they make enough that this is possible. This would be less possible if you were in primary care, the salaries are less. So if you are going to work FT, might as well pick a specialty you can afford to have your significant other spend more time home with the kids...

That's a really good point, and we really like having him with the baby, because it makes it easier for me to emotionally deal with being away. Thanks for all the feedback in this thread that I hijacked from asunshine! I don't think she minds!

asunshine, in Pediatrics you can do a lot of gyn if you want to. Most OBGyn's won't see women until 16 years old. This means the Gyn care of younger girls is up to the Pediatrician (unless you have a Pediatric Gyn in your area, not everyone does, and even if you do it may be impossible to get in with her). I know many Pediatricians who do gyn care for ALL their patients, even their older teens, as long as it is straightforward. If you have an interest and ability in this area, you would be very marketable as a Pediatrician! Plus ... no geriatrics! Good luck with your decision, and let us know how you are doing...

This is the BEST post I possibly could have read this morning!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Ob/Gyn but I always try to talk myself into doing something else. 1) because of lifestyle concerns and 2) because everyone tells me how miserable Ob/Gyns are. I am nearing the end of my third year and looking forward to applying to residency this summer. This is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you!

bootlegger - you are a year ahead of me. You'll have to post back on the forum next year after match and let us know what programs you found to come off as family-friendly and non-malignant. Good luck finishing out third year! You're on the homestretch - I'm so jealous!

Bootlegger-good for you-do what you love, and the rest should fall into place-good luck!

So I am going to find out where I matched into an OB/GYN residency and I am both very excited and scared out of my mind. Never in a million years did I see myself as an OB, but here I am. I love the constant motion, the variety of procedures and while I like most things fairly well scripted, I also like the level of uncertainty that each day as an OB brings. I love surgery, but I really needed something that lets me get to know my patients. What I am afraid of is becoming the bitter, hateful people that some of the residents can be. I am a fun loving person and just don't see the need to make others miserable because I am short on sleep or am struggling to keep my head above water. I am also afraid of what will happen to my family. My children are the best thing that ever happened to me and I love them and the time I have with them. I am scared about missing all of their ball games and important events. My goal is to make the best of the time I have with them during residency and hope that is enough. I just couldn't not do OB because I really loved it and because I believe women deserve to have someone who actually cares about them, but I pray and vow that I won't be sacrificing my family in the process.