Vernita Tucker , M.D., FACOG

Black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women in the United States (CDC, 2023). The disparity exists across income and education levels and is largely driven by systemic bias in clinical care, including delayed recognition of warning signs, dismissed pain, and undertreated hypertension. A landmark study in PNAS (Greenwood et al., 2020) found Black newborns are half as likely to die when cared for by Black physicians. Black OB-GYNs provide the full scope: prenatal and birth care, gynecologic surgery, contraception, fibroid management, menopause.

What OB-GYNs cover

• Prenatal, birth, and postpartum care
• Fibroids (3 times more common in Black women)
• Endometriosis
• Contraception, including LARCs
• Gynecologic surgery, hysterectomy alternatives
• Menopause care

When to book

• Planning pregnancy or newly pregnant
• Heavy bleeding or suspected fibroids
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Abnormal Pap or HPV result
• Menopause symptoms affecting quality of life

Advocacy prompts

• What are my non-surgical options for fibroids before we discuss hysterectomy?
• What's your C-section rate, and why would I need one?
• Do you have a doula-friendly birth policy?