OBGYN and women’s health are crucial aspects of medicine, especially when it comes to caring for a pregnant patient. I enjoyed learning more about the physiologic processes that occur during pregnancy, and I like learning more about hormones and endocrinology, however, this rotation posed unique challenges as a male healthcare provider. Due to the very intimate nature of OBGYN medicine and the examinations that patients receive, many patients prefer to have a woman practitioner examine them or choose not to have men in the same room during the exam. Because of this, I had to make doubly sure everyone was amenable to having me observe or perform routine gynecologic exams and pap smears. I had to get accustomed to being turned away by patients and accepting their wishes, as I understand that they are in a vulnerable position and want to feel comfortable.

My time spent on the labor and delivery floor as well as being on grueling GYN on-call shifts from 4pm to 8am were also both exciting and exhausting. I saw several vaginal deliveries and saw first-hand how complications could arise. The first birth I observed was complicated by the baby’s hand clenching the umbilical cord, causing fetal distress and hypoxia. The baby was delivered and appeared completely blue and without much activity or crying. A team of pediatric physicians and PAs were stationed nearby and immediately began resuscitation, and they successfully returned an active, pink, screaming infant to his mother’s arms. It was nerve-wracking for me to watch during those few minutes where I couldn’t tell if the baby would make it through the procedure unharmed. There was an immense feeling of catharsis when everything was cleared by the attending physician and I could really appreciate the “miracle of life”.