OBGYN vs. IM please help!

[gordyfish41]

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Hello everyone! I have been going crazy over this decision and would really appreciate your guys’ help.

Im a 4th yr DO (F) preparing for boards rn (Step 1 P, planning on taking Step 2). Fell in love with my IM rotation last Fall and was sold (or so I thought). I was alr liking some more of the procedural aspects of other rotations later on, but had OBGYN 2 mo ago and am utterly confused. I love everything gyn even the surgeries and am not the type of person who is afraid to jump in to help. A lot of my med school experiences involve advocating and raising awareness for marginalized communities and women experiencing SA, things Im truly passionate about. One of my school requirements is a rural rotation and it ended up being an OBGYN outpt rotation so I have been on that for 2 months; it’s the only outpt i actually like. However, I am not in love with OB, even though deliveries were cool and I did found myself tearing up, OB f/u visits and just OB in general felt more like manual labor than practicing medicine. Also the lifestyle seems strenuous. I want to be able to have somewhat of a balanced lifestyle and am scared my body wont keep up with OBGYN esp in residency. And I dont want to sell my soul to be on call to deliver babies. I was told that I could have whatever life I wanted in OBGYN after residency including part-time, but I am just not sure what to do.

What I love about IM is that it challenges me and I feel like im helping actual sick people, and I am interested in some of the specialties as well (heme/onc, pcc, endo). The lifestyle seems awesome 7on7off, Id have time to do the things I care about (working out, have a family etc), but am also worried about the 6 years potentially including fellowship. The best of both worlds would be these IM women’s health focused tracks but there are only a few and at more prestigious programs and idk how attainable that would be.

I have all my auditions scheduled in IM and subspecialties and idk how I would even get OBGYN auditions atp (I had applied to a couple when I thought I might do it, but didnt hear back). My attending said she can get me an audition at a prestigious program but that is only 1 and Im not sure if that is fine for my odds of matching if I decide to apply. I passed with honors the comat though. I feel like I cant know for sure what specialty until I do my IM audition in July-Aug bc it has been so long since I have experienced it, but thats cutting it so close!

For additional context I am planning on couples matching with a US MD (IM) hoping to stay on the East coast.

Wanted to ask if anyone had any insight on choosing a specialty?
What are my odds of matching OBGYN if I did end up pursuing it and boards go well?
Any other advice/recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Angus Avagadro]

What is the end game? Where do you want to live? Rural? Midwest? East or West Coast? Couples matching adds another level of risk. Is your program choice the main goal, or are you OK training at Uni affiliates or community programs. These are questions that Imo should have clear answers before setting up auditions and choosing a specialty.I think much of it will depend on what kind of applicant you and your sig other are. I think this will be the main determinant of where you match. I think IM and specialties can offer a better lifestyle for couples. That is something to consider if you want to have kids. When I chose my specialty, I looked at what medical journals I found interesting and what articles I was reading. Face it. You will be practicing for a long time, so you better find the specialty interesting. Anyway, good luck and best wishes on whatever path you choose.

 

[Espressso]

Based on your post, I would say you should do IM. I was dead set on IM and then almost changed my mind to OB last minute. I'm a guy though and really enjoyed ob gyn rotations and think the pathology is really cool. However for me, I wanted to do critical care so that was a big part. Also IM gives you flexibility that you don't really get in many other fields. Plus, you couples matching with a partner who is IM would make you both very flexible. The other benefit of IM over OB is that you get to also take care of men and not only females. that's not a slight at ob at all but that it just opens more doors and you get to take care a wide range of spectrum of diseases. Plus with fellowships, you have much more to choose from with IM. You also have primary care/outpatient to fall back on if you don't do that first. There's so much to love about IM.