1. General Practitioner vs. Endocrinologist
The endocrine system is the complex assortment of glands that regulate your hormones. They are located throughout your body and include the hypothalamus, pancreas, ovaries, testes, pituitary and thyroid glands. An endocrinologist specializes in treating the glands and the associated diseases and complications that occur in the glands. The specialist will treat everything from obesity to infertility. While these glands are important to your overall health, all doctors, including a general practitioner will have some knowledge about how to check and treat gland disorders. But as with any body function, why take a chance that something might be missed when you can have access to a doctor who spends all her time treating your specific problems. An endocrinologist sees so many different gland conditions, that she might see a solution that has worked with other patients and could be the right treatment for your condition.
2. Get a Referral
Most general practitioners keep a list of specialists whom they have worked with in the past and trust to take care of their patients. Ask your doctor for a referral if she indicates that your condition may be related to your glands. In addition to knowing about the track record of the physicians she works with, many doctors have reciprocal agreements and all your charts and test results will be forwarded to your family doctor to fill out your chart. Your family doctor should be aware of any specialists you are seeing, whether she referred you to them or not. Friends and family can be a good source of referrals if they have experience with an endocrinologist and have had good results. Always ask around before you resort to the phone book to find a specialist. You may not even be aware of the kinds of conditions your acquaintances have encountered.
3. Go Online
If you prefer to keep your medical conditions private and do not have a family doctor with whom you can confide and who knows your healthy history, then you may need to rely on other sources to choose an endocrinologist. The Hormone Society is the professional group that keeps a database of endocrinologists. They keep up with and provide continuing education for their members and maintain up-to-date information important to the specialty. Currently the association at endo-society.org has a list of 3,000 practicing endocrinologists in the United States. Another good source is the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists at aace.com.
