How to Choose a Gynaecologist: What to Look For
How to read a specialist title when choosing an obstetrician-gynaecologist, how to work out which area fits your needs, questions you can ask at the first examination, and the warning signs to watch for.
Short answer: When choosing an obstetrician-gynaecologist, the first thing to check is the title "Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialist"; this is a legal title obtained through formal specialist training. After that, consider the area that fits your needs (such as pregnancy follow-up, the menopause, cervical screening or infertility), how easy the practice is to reach, and whether the doctor listens to you and clearly explains the options, risks and alternatives. Promises of results or pressure to decide quickly are warning signs.
As an obstetrics and gynaecology specialist, one of the questions I hear most often comes from women who have moved to a new city or are going for a gynaecological examination for the first time: "What should I base my choice of doctor on?" In this article I have brought together general criteria that will be useful whichever doctor you go to. The aim is not to recommend a particular doctor, but to offer a checklist so that you can make your choice according to your own needs.
Why Don't You See Doctor Rankings or Patients' Opinions Online?
In Türkiye, advertising in the field of health is governed by the Regulation on Advertising and Information Activities in Health Services, which came into force on 12 November 2025. Under this regulation, doctors:
- may not use expressions that present them as superior to other doctors,
- may not share patients' messages containing thanks or praise for advertising purposes,
- may not announce the charges for an examination or procedure or similar inducements,
- may not run sponsored (paid) advertising.
For this reason, it is normal not to see claims of superiority, patients' opinions or information on charges on a doctor's website or social media account. On the contrary, advertising in which such expressions are used freely should be approached with caution. It is healthier to make your choice not on the basis of advertising language, but on the concrete criteria below.
1. Read the Specialist Title Correctly
In the field of obstetrics and gynaecology, the legal specialist title is "Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialist" (in Turkish, Kadın Hastalıkları ve Doğum Uzmanı). This title is obtained through specialist training that follows medical school and ends with an examination. The prefix "Op. Dr." (operator doctor) also indicates doctors who have completed surgical specialist training.
An important distinction to know:
- Specialty: Defined by law and obtained through training that lasts several years.
- Certificate: A document from short-term training for a particular procedure (for example, a cosmetic procedure); on its own, it is not a specialist title.
Some titles used for cosmetic procedures and built with the word "specialist" are not legal specialist titles in Türkiye. You can ask separately which field the doctor is a specialist in and which procedures they hold certificates for.
2. Work Out Which Area Fits Your Needs
Obstetrics and gynaecology is a broad field. Every specialist deals with the core topics of this field; some topics, however, may require further training. This further training is called a sub-specialty:
- Perinatology: Follow-up of high-risk pregnancies (for example, when the mother has a pre-existing illness or a problem is suspected in the baby).
- Gynaecological oncology: Cancers of the female reproductive organs.
- Reproductive endocrinology and infertility: Hormone disorders, infertility and IVF.
Topics such as routine examinations, pregnancy follow-up, cervical screening (the smear and HPV test), irregular periods, the menopause and common infections are the everyday work of obstetrics and gynaecology specialists. If your situation requires a sub-specialty, your specialist will usually refer you to a doctor in the relevant sub-specialty.
Ask yourself this question: What do I need a doctor for most? If you are looking for pregnancy follow-up, the hospital where the birth will take place becomes important; if you are looking for help with the menopause, whether the doctor provides regular follow-up in this area matters.
3. Take Practical Matters into Account
A good doctor-patient relationship often means long-term follow-up. For this reason, practical matters are also part of the choice:
- Getting there: Being close to your home or workplace makes regular check-ups easier.
- Working hours: Whether you can be seen at times that suit you.
- Emergencies: Being told clearly where to go if a problem arises outside working hours.
- Pregnancy follow-up: The hospital where the birth will take place, and whether the doctor delivers babies at that hospital.
- Language: Being able to communicate in a language in which you can express yourself comfortably.
4. Questions You Can Ask at the First Examination
The first consultation is also an opportunity for you to get to know the doctor. Do not hesitate to ask the following questions:
- What are the possible causes of this condition?
- Which tests are needed, and why?
- What are the treatment options? What are the possible side effects and risks of each?
- What happens if I have no treatment at all? Is waiting an option?
- When should I come back for a check-up? With which symptoms should I seek care without waiting?
The doctor is expected to answer these questions in language you can understand, without rushing. Asking for an explanation when medical terms are used is entirely your right.
5. Know Your Patient Rights
Patient rights legislation gives every patient certain basic rights. For a gynaecological examination, the most relevant are:
- Information: Receiving information about your diagnosis, the proposed procedure, its risks and the alternatives.
- Consent: Agreeing to a procedure only after being informed; declining to give consent, or withdrawing it.
- Privacy: Having the examination carried out in a suitable setting and having your information kept confidential. You can ask for a relative or a healthcare worker to be present with you during the examination.
- Access to records: Being able to request your test results and reports.
If you are wondering what you should do before an examination, have a look at our article do you need to shave before a gynaecology appointment?
6. Warning Signs
The following situations may be a sign that you should stop and think before making your decision:
- Promises of results: In medicine, certainty cannot be promised for any procedure. The results of every procedure can vary from person to person.
- Pressure to decide quickly: Pressure such as "you must decide today" for a procedure that is not urgent.
- Risks not being discussed: Only the benefits are described, while possible side effects and alternatives are glossed over.
- Financial inducements: Advertising built around charges, and phrases such as "for a short period only".
- Questions being brushed aside: Your questions are left unanswered, or the doctor is uncomfortable with your wish to get a second opinion.
7. Getting a Second Opinion Is Normal
Especially when surgery is recommended, when cancer is suspected or when there is more than one treatment option, getting the opinion of another specialist is a common and reasonable step. When you go for a second opinion, taking your test results, ultrasound reports and pathology (tissue examination) results with you makes the assessment easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a difference between a gynaecologist and an obstetrician?
No. In everyday Turkish, the terms for "gynaecologist", "obstetrician-gynaecologist" and "women's doctor" all describe the same specialty, namely the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialist.
Should I choose a female or a male doctor?
This is entirely a personal preference. What matters is that you feel comfortable and can describe your complaints openly. You can always ask for a healthcare worker to be present with you during the examination.
When should I go for my first gynaecological examination?
Regular check-ups are recommended even when there are no complaints. The national cervical cancer screening programme in Türkiye starts from the age of 30; if there is a complaint such as irregular periods, pain, unusual discharge or bleeding, an examination is needed regardless of age.
If I want to change my doctor, can I get my previous results?
Yes. You can request your test results and reports; taking them to your new doctor avoids unnecessary repeat tests.
The information in this article is general. For follow-up and treatment suited to your own situation, you can consult your doctor.