OB/GYN - Dignity Health - Santa Maria, CA

A gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in the female reproductive system. They treat issues related to menstruation, hormones, fertility, menopause and general reproductive health.

You may see a gynecologist for:

• Annual exams, which may include Pap tests and pelvic exams

• Care for conditions like fibroids or endometriosis

• Menopause management

• Painful sex

• Sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment

• Treatment for irregular or painful periods

An obstetrician-gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care, as well as routine reproductive health care. They care for you before, during and after your baby is born, offering medical and surgical services.

You may see an obstetrician for: 

• Cesarean sections (C-sections)

• High-risk pregnancy management

• Labor and delivery care

• Prenatal checkups

• Postpartum care

• Routine well-woman care

• Ultrasounds and fetal monitoring

If your doctor is an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN), they can provide both pregnancy care and routine reproductive health care. An OB/GYN is a doctor trained in both obstetrics and gynecology. However, if your doctor for routine care is a gynecologist, you’ll need to see an obstetrician or an OB/GYN for pregnancy care.

The OB/GYN team in Santa Maria diagnoses and treats a range of conditions. We’re here for you through all stages of life, from adolescence to menopause and beyond.

You’ll find care for conditions and symptoms such as:

• Abnormal bleeding evaluation and treatment

• Endometrial polyps

• Endometriosis

• Fibroid evaluation and treatment

• Hormone therapy and bioidentical hormone replacement

• Hysterectomy and alternatives

• Incontinence evaluation and treatment

• Menopause and perimenopause treatment and counseling

• ​Prenatal care

• Postpartum care

• Routine well-woman gynecology care and annual examinations

• Uterine polyps evaluation and treatment

• Uterine prolapse evaluation and treatment

Yes, you can still see your OB/GYN while on your period. Menstrual bleeding will not interfere with a pelvic exam.

Your doctor might recommend a C-section for several common reasons, including:

• Cephalopelvic disproportion: Your baby is too large for your pelvis

• Fetal distress: Your baby is not tolerating labor, and a cesarean section is the safest option

• Failure to progress: Your contractions are not strong enough to fully dilate your cervix

The Santa Maria Women's Health Center offers a weekly gynecology clinic focused solely on gynecological concerns. The clinic – held on Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  – is staffed by resident physicians under the  supervision of board-certified OB/GYNs. 

At Santa Maria Women's Health Center, we welcome women for all aspects of their routine physical and mental health. This includes well-woman care and cancer screenings such as Pap tests and mammograms. We also see patients experiencing gynecological problems, such as painful or heavy periods, prolonged or irregular vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, leaking urine with coughing or sneezing, endometriosis, fibroids or pelvic organ prolapse. 

Our physicians will evaluate your concerns and discuss recommendations to address the problem. If surgery is needed, our doctors offer a full range of options. These range from traditional open surgery to minimally invasive procedures like laparoscopy and robotic approaches.

We offer translation services to assist our Spanish and Mixtec patients.