Obstetrics and gynecology deals with disorders of a woman’s reproductive system. An obstetrician/gynecologist is sometimes a primary physician for women. The gynecologist treats women and their reproductive systems, but is also concerned with women’s menstrual problems, disorders of pelvic organs, infertility, or cancer of the reproductive organs. Some tests a gynecologist will order or administer are blood tests, a vaginal swab, or X-rays or ultrasound of the pelvic region. An obstetrician can be a gynecologist, and the two practices are closely related.

The obstetrician deals with problems of the woman and fetus during pregnancy and childbirth, and can act as a consultant to other physicians regarding the care of a patient. An obstetrician will see a pregnant woman regularly to check on her health and progress of her pregnancy. Risk factors in a pregnancy include the mother’s diabetes, a previous pregnancy complication, high blood pressure, or heart disease, and will require an obstetrician to check on a woman’s condition more often.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Alabama has 528 practicing obstetricians & gynecologists. Broken out by city, obstetrics & gynecology doctor density in Alabaster is 15, in Albertville is 2, in Alexander City is 5, in Andalusia is 6, in Anniston is 13, in Arab is 1, in Athens is 11, in Atmore is 2, in Auburn is 10, in Bay Minette is 2, in Bayou La Batre is 1, in Bessemer is 7, in Birmingham is 147, in Boaz is 5, in Brewton is 3, in Centre is 2, in Centreville is 1, in Childersburg is 1, in Clanton is 4, in Cullman is 12, in Daphne is 1, in Decatur is 14, in Demopolis is 1, in Dothan is 28, in Double Springs is 4, in Enterprise is 7, in Evergreen is 2, in Fairfield is 2, in Fairhope is 11, in Florence is 14, in Foley is 8, in Fort Payne is 5, in Gadsden is 9, in Gardendale is 8, in Geneva is 1, in Greensboro is 1, in Greenville is 1, in Grove Hill is 1, in Guntersville is 2, in Huntsville is 41, in Jacksonville is 2, in Jasper is 9, in Leeds is 1, in Los Angeles is 1, in Madison is 8, in Mobile is 71, in Monroeville is 1, in Montgomery is 48, in Mount Vernon is 1, in Mountain Brook is 1, in Muscle Shoals is 2, in Northport is 9, in Oneonta is 1, in Opelika is 12, in Opp is 4, in Orange Beach is 1, in Ozark is 4, in Phenix City is 5, in Pinson is 1, in Prattville is 10, in Rainbow City is 2, in Rainsville is 2, in Red Bay is 1, in Red Level is 1, in Russellville is 3, in Scottsboro is 3, in Selma is 6, in Semmes is 1, in Sheffield is 7, in Smiths is 8, in Spanish Fort is 1, in Sulligent is 1, in Sylacauga is 7, in Talladega is 4, in Tallassee is 2, in Troy is 1, in Trussville is 1, in Tuscaloosa is 18, in Valley is 2, and in Winfield is 5.

Montgomery is the capital city of this southern state, though Birmingham is its largest city. Population in 2005 was 4,557,808. Alabama is the birthplace of historical figures Hank Aaron, Helen Keller, and George Washington Carver. Take an airboat tour on the Mobile river delta, see the Alabama Civil Rights museum in Mantua, or tour the Jazz Hall of Fame in Birmingham. Visit the Shakespeare Festival Theater Complex in Montgomery, or play a round of golf at one of Alabama’s many acclaimed courses. From the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the state’s north to the Gulf coast beaches in the south, Alabama’s scenery includes a varied and diverse landscape.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Alabama has a population of 4,557,808. Of this population, 1,074,627 are under the age of 18 and 600,258 are at or above the age of 65.