USA - how do I find a good gynaecologist?

[howdoo]

I am in CT and I need to have a pap test, but have no idea how to find a good gynae - I don't want to just pick one out of the phone book! I have asked all the women that I know (not v. many!) and they either don't have one or they are too far away. Don't fancy asking my MIL! Is there a list or something of good ones?
The UK is so much easier on this kind of thing - you just ring up your local surgery!

[SofiaAmes]

Look on www.Yelp.com for reviews. But just to remind you....the HUGE difference between the usa and the uk is that you have choice. In the usa, if you don't like the person you go to, you can change right away. You can also interview doctors to see if you like them.

[GrimmaTheNome]

When I was there, I did just pick one out of the phone book. I really only wanted one for repeat prescription of the pill, but they insisted on doing the pap too (covering their own liabilities, I suppose ). Maybe I was just lucky but it worked out fine - but then again, as there was nothing actually wrong with me and I wasn't ttc or anything like that, I wasn't overly fussed.

[SuperBunny]

If you have a local mamasource.com you could ask on there. I managed to never see a dr of any sort while I was in CT

[SuperBunny]

Also, you could ask on the Living-in-the US thread

[scienceteacher]

Find a practice that has a midwife on staff, and get her to give you a smear. It's one of the things midwives do - routine women's health, not just pregnancy stuff.

[howdoo]

Our health insurance is one where you can choose any dr, apparently, not one where you get a list to choose from. Which is great, but makes it more complicated! Since my post, I've found out that there is such a thing as a primary care physician - I am so unaware I hadn't even realised this! DH is hopeless on this, even though he is American - goes to SuperBunny's school of never seeing a doctor I think!
Think I will get a PCP - I have been given a name - and will then try to work out the rest of it. I've also got the name of a good gynae, even though it's miles away.
Thanks for everyone's help!

[loppylou]

Try www.ratemds.com this is how I found my gyn in canada

[SofiaAmes]

Howdoo, your insurance will absolutely have a list of participating doctors if it is a PPO. If it is an HMO, then you will probably need to go to a Primary Care Physician for referrals, but probably not for a pap (or other obgyn items). The norm in the USA for women is to have a OBGYN in addition to a GP who you see for an annual checkup. Pap smears are normally given annually from puberty. And mammograms are normally given annually from age 35 or 40. As part of your annual checkup with your GP you will be tested for a battery of things depending on your age. They will always take blood and urine and check your blood pressure and pulse and weight. GP's and OBGYN's will not prescribe things (like birth control and antibiotics) unless they have seen you within the last year (if you are a regular patient you may get a grace period). In general people use their GP's and OBGYN's as a first stop and let them recommend specialists, but if you have a PPO insurance, you don't have to do that..you can go directly to the specialist of your choice. Once you are in your mid 30's you are also strongly encouraged to see annually a dermatologist (for a skin cancer check) and an optometrist (even if you don't wear glasses...for a glaucoma check). Americans take their preventative medicine really really seriously.

[MKG]

Depends, some PCP will give you your annual, but don't do prenatal, while others will do both, but not C-sections and some will do none. Ask your PCP if they do pap smears or if they can recommend a good OB/GYN. A lot of hospitals also have info on the OB/GYNs/midwives on staff and you could pick from that list.

Good luck, finding someone you like can be such a pain.