Urogynecology

[DrCoreyOSU]

Hey folks,

I've been looking around the web, and I can't seem to find out if Urogynecology is an OB/GYN sub, or a Uro sub. Could someone please shed some light on this issue?

Thanks!
-Corey

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[DoctorDoom]

Ob/GYN subspecialty. Several friends and former classmates in that field for some reason. Urologists don't often deal with the gynecology population.

 

[Apollyon]

When I was on Ob last month, one of the attendings was talking about vulval cosmesis post delivery, and she said that, when she was a resident, they polled the female ob/gyn residents as to whom they would want to fix it up, and the unanimous reply was urogyn. She said that they do the pelvic exenterations, slings, and all that, and are near-miracle workers "down there".

 

[DoctorDoom]

That's almost all urogyn isn't it? Very few plastics and certainly not urology...

 

[aboo-ali-sina]

That's almost all urogyn isn't it? Very few plastics and certainly not urology...

although urology gets called in to fix their almost inevitable complications like ligating ureters and urethras....

 

[maxheadroom]

Joke told to me by an OB/Gyn attending . . .

What's the only known predator of the ureter?

The Obstetrician/Gynecologist.

 

[dingiswayo]

there's some overlap between female urology and uro-gynecology. both handle incontinence and pelvic outlet relaxation issues.

athough female urology is a newer field than uro-gyn, i'd probably send a friend with incontinence problems to a urologist with fellowship training in female urology. female urologists simply have more surgical experience.

 

[neilc]

there's some overlap between female urology and uro-gynecology. both handle incontinence and pelvic outlet relaxation issues.

athough female urology is a newer field than uro-gyn, i'd probably send a friend with incontinence problems to a urologist with fellowship training in female urology. female urologists simply have more surgical experience.

urologists have more surgical experience, but not neccessarily on this type of procedure. in the urogyn clinic here, these guys are BUSY, and operate all the time, specifically on pelvic floor/incontenince pathology. i would pick urogyn for a family member over uro for sure, at least for pelvic floor and incontinence surgery.

urologists operate more, but i think the urogyns do these specific procedures more.

 

[DoctorDoom]

although urology gets called in to fix their almost inevitable complications like ligating ureters and urethras....

Hopefully not as a result of vulvoplasty!

 

[DoctorDoom]

urologists have more surgical experience, but not neccessarily on this type of procedure. in the urogyn clinic here, these guys are BUSY, and operate all the time, specifically on pelvic floor/incontenince pathology. i would pick urogyn for a family member over uro for sure, at least for pelvic floor and incontinence surgery.

urologists operate more, but i think the urogyns do these specific procedures more.

Agreed, incontinence and prolapse surgery is all that urogyn does in their training, far more specific and relevant than female urology, in the diseases mentioned.

 

[DrCoreyOSU]

Anyone have any idea how hard it is to get a fellowship? Also, any idea on the hours, lifestyle, etc?

 

[skb21]

Agreed, incontinence and prolapse surgery is all that urogyn does in their training, far more specific and relevant than female urology, in the diseases mentioned.

Hmmm. It sounds like urogyn is similar to a sports medicine fellowship in the sense that you do it only to get the title of uro-gynecologist or sports medicine doctor. All of the gynecologists I work with do the surgeries for incontinence and prolapse. A&P repairs, sub-urethral slings, MMK's, and Burch's.

 

[DoctorDoom]

Subspecialty training has it's advantages. But no it doesn't preclude the non-fellowship trained practicioner from performing those procedures. I wouldn't say that it's ONLY for a title.

 

[Gerota]

Most of the responses here do not seem to be from actual residents or people in the know, so take them with a grain of salt.

As a urology resident, i can tell you that "female" urologists and Urogynecologists both perform incontinence procedures and repair of pelvic organ prolapse in addition to urodynamic testing. Who performs these procedures depends on the hierarchy of an academic institution as it is a turf war now. Who gets the patient is dependent on referals, many internists recognize that urologist are very adept at urethral procedures and do get general surgical training and refer to them. however as most women see Gyns, they refer within their community.

Despite what the above posters lead you to believe, the urology community invented many of these procedures. In fact the godfather of female incontinence procedures including pubovaginal slings and TVT is a urologist at UCLA. Shlomo Raz has several tools named after him and is regarded as the foremost leader in this field
http://www.urology.medsch.ucla.edu/raz.html

If you are interested in this field, you could go into it through both residencies. After a 5-6 yr residency in Uro you need to perform a 1 year clinical fellowship. After 4 yrs of Ob-Gyn you need to complete a 2 yr fellowship. Decide which specialty interests you more and rotate through both fields.

If you have more questions, goto www.urologymatch.com
That site is where the urology student community hangs out and gets most of their questions answered.