For many women, their OB-GYN is their primarycare doctor. After all, this is the person you see for annual well-woman checkups and perhaps even the one who delivered your children. But can she truly function as your all-around medical "gatekeeper"?

The answer, in short, is no. "OB-GYNs are wonderful at what they do" — care for women's reproductive and gynecological health — "but they don't have the training required to treat the whole person," says physician and author Kevin Soden.

Most gynecologists don't do general health exams, and they aren't necessarily on the lookout for global health issues that fall outside their expertise. "Heart disease, for instance, is the leading killer of women in the country." Soden says. "And the last time I checked, the heart was still above the waist."

Bottom line: If you're looking for a doctor who can do it all, consider a family practitioner, who's trained to provide general as well as routine gynecological and obstetrical care. Otherwise, think of your OB-GYN as a vital part of your medical team and see another doctor for general checkups.