I need help: Can you tell me what different doctors (types) do?

I just need a general cheak-up & probably a Pap-Smear too. Im 21. Can you tell me which type is best for me?

My insurance company list these types:
Family Practice
General Practice
Obstertics & Gynecology -PCP
Geriactric
Pediatrics
Adolence Medicine

Obstertics & Gynecology -PCP is the one your looking for! as far as the pap goes, and examination of breasts, and what not.

However if you want a medical check up like a normal check-up I would suggest getting in with Family Practice, or General.

Good luck

Hi. I've been a Nurse for 10 years and I know how confusing Insurance companies can be. I hope this helps answer your question.
Depending on your insurance you will see a General Practice Doctor or an Obstetric & Gynecology Doctor. I believe the PCP following the "Obstertics & Gynecology-PCP" means you will be seen by your Primary Care Physician. Check with you insurance company to make sure you will not need a referral if it is an outside physician.

A general practitioner or family physician is a physician/medical doctor who provides primary care. A GP/FP treats acute and chronic illnesses, provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. Some also care for hospitalized patents, do minor surgery and obstetrics. The term general practitioner is common in the UK and some other Commonwealth countries, where the word "physician" is only used for certain specialists and not for GPs.

Gynecology literally means 'the science of women', but in medicine this is the specialty of diseases of the female reproductive system (uterus, vagina and ovaries). Obstetrics is the surgical specialty dealing with the care of a woman and her offspring during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (the period shortly after birth). Most gynecologists are also obstetricians and vice versa.

A primary care physician, or PCP, is a physician who generally does not specialize in the treatment of certain organ systems, such as neurology, cardiology, pulmonology or surgical specialties, but are trained in general medical types of patient care.
The most common types of PCPs are those in family practice, general practice, pediatrics and internal medicine. Some HMOs have considered gynecologists to equate to PCPs for the care of women, and on occasion have allowed certain subspecialists to assume PCP responsibilities for selected patient types, such as allergists caring for people with asthma and nephrologists acting as PCPs for patients on kidney dialysis.

Geriatrics is the branch of medicine that focuses on health promotion and the prevention and treatment of disease and disability in later life. In the USA, geriatricians are primary care physicians who are board-certified in either Family Practice or Internal Medicine and have also acquired the additional training necessary to obtain the Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Geriatric Medicine.

Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children and adolescents (from newborn to age 18-21).

Adolescence is the period of psychological and social trasition between childhood and adulthood. In common usage, "adolescent" and "teenager" may be considered synonyms, though the exact endpoints of each category don't always coincide depending on the definition of "adolescent" being used.

Depending on your insurance, they may let you see a gynecologist for both checkups that you need. I prefer seeing a PCP for my annual physical and an OB/GYN for my annual pap. You should be having annual paps now. It depends on your preference. Right now, I have a doctor I like and I wouldn't mind having him take care of my gynecological health issues, but I've had the same gyno for about 6 years now and the same nurse has seen me through all my problems down there and still talks to me despite the fact that I was paranoid when I was pregnant! She may not be my doctor's nurse, but she still takes care of me when I need it. Totally up to you though. Double check if you need to set a PCP with your insurance provider (you will if you have an HMO) and if you need a referral to see an OB/GYN. (I need neither since I have a PPO plan. I can see just about any doctor I want, whenever I want.)