How to Find OB/GYN Physicians by Zip Code

By the getdork research team — we build and maintain the NPI/physician-search tooling at getdork.com — Published June 13, 2026

Data sourced from live CMS NPI Registry API v2.1 queries, run June 13, 2026. All provider counts are real API responses, not estimates. Raw query results are available for download. See methodology below.

To find licensed OB/GYN physicians near a zip code, query the federal NPI registry with taxonomy_description=Obstetrics+%26+Gynecology — the ampersand (&) and spaces on either side are significant. OB/GYN returns zero results. OBGYN returns zero results. Both confirmed June 13, 2026. The Memphis dataset reveals a subspecialty structure more complex than many reps expect: of 65 records, 16 were Maternal & Fetal Medicine specialists (perinatologists) and only 3 were plain OB/GYN generalists. Gynecologic Oncology (10 records) and Nurse Practitioner OB/GYN (10 records) also dominated. This guide covers the exact taxonomy string, 9-market real counts, the subspecialty taxonomy table with NUCC codes, and how to build a product-appropriate call list from the mixed result set.
OB/GYN and OBGYN both return zero results — the ampersand is required: taxonomy_description=OB/GYN → 0 results. taxonomy_description=OBGYN → 0 results. Both confirmed June 13, 2026. The CMS taxonomy string is Obstetrics & Gynecology — with spaces around the ampersand. In API calls, encode the ampersand as %26: taxonomy_description=Obstetrics+%26+Gynecology. Any pipeline that uses the common abbreviation OB/GYN or omits the ampersand silently returns nothing.

Obstetrics & Gynecology in the NPI registry: real counts from 9 markets

We queried the CMS NPI API v2.1 on June 13, 2026 with taxonomy_description=Obstetrics+%26+Gynecology.

Market Query scope NPI records returned At 200-record cap?
New York, NYCity filter200+Yes (more exist)
Los Angeles, CACity filter200+Yes (more exist)
Chicago, ILCity filter200+Yes (more exist)
Houston, TXCity filter200+Yes (more exist)
Phoenix, AZCity filter200+Yes (more exist)
Nashville, TNCity filter163No (complete)
Memphis, TNCity filter65No (complete)
Vermont (statewide)State filter64No (complete)
Wyoming (statewide)State filter32No (complete)

Source: CMS NPI Registry API v2.1, taxonomy_description=Obstetrics+%26+Gynecology, limit=200. Queried June 13, 2026. Counts include NPI-1 individual providers and NPI-2 organization records. Nurse Practitioners registered under this taxonomy are included in the totals.

Memphis, TN drill-down — what 65 OB/GYN records look like: 53 NPI-1 (individual providers), 12 NPI-2 (organizations). Primary taxonomy breakdown: 16 Obstetrics & Gynecology, Maternal & Fetal Medicine (perinatologists), 12 Obstetrics & Gynecology, Gynecology (gyn-only subspecialty), 10 Nurse Practitioner, Obstetrics & Gynecology, 10 Obstetrics & Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology, 5 Obstetrics & Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology, 3 plain Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2 Obstetrics & Gynecology, Urogynecology, 7 other (Nurse Practitioner Family, etc.). Credentials: 18 "MD," 16 "M.D.," 4 APN, 2 M.D, 2 NP, 1 DO, and others. Note: MFM specialists outnumbered plain OB/GYN generalists 16 to 3 in this Memphis dataset. Raw data: npi-obgyn-memphis-tn-raw.json.

OB/GYN subspecialties: the taxonomy table

Subspecialty taxonomy_description value NUCC code National June 2026
General OB/GYN Obstetrics & Gynecology 207V00000X 200+ (capped)
Maternal & Fetal Medicine (perinatologist) Maternal & Fetal Medicine 207VM0101X 200+ (capped) — separate query
Gynecologic Oncology Gynecologic Oncology 207VX0201X 200+ (capped) — separate query
Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Reproductive Endocrinology 207VE0102X 200+ (capped) — separate query
Gynecology (gyn-only, no obstetrics) Gynecology 207VG0400X Partial-match returns (see warn-box)
"OB/GYN" (abbreviation) Invalid — returns 0 None 0 — use Obstetrics & Gynecology
"OBGYN" (abbreviation) Invalid — returns 0 None 0 — use Obstetrics & Gynecology

How to search for OB/GYN physicians by zip code (5 steps)

Choose your search method

  • NPI registry directly at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov — free, no account, city or state filter only. No radius.
  • getdork Physician Search — same CMS API with zip-radius filtering, ampersand-encoded taxonomy pre-mapped, CSV export. Search OB/GYN by ZIP →

Use the exact taxonomy string with ampersand

The exact API parameter is taxonomy_description=Obstetrics+%26+Gynecology. "OB/GYN" and "OBGYN" both return zero. The numeric NUCC code 207V00000X is silently ignored. In getdork, selecting OB/GYN from the dropdown sends the correct ampersand-encoded string automatically.

Expect a subspecialized, mixed dataset — not a clean generalist list

A standard OB/GYN query returns a highly mixed dataset. In Memphis, Maternal & Fetal Medicine specialists (16) and Gynecologic Oncology physicians (10) together outnumbered plain OB/GYN generalists (3) by more than 8 to 1. Plan to segment the taxonomy column in your exported CSV before routing to product-line-appropriate reps.

Filter Nurse Practitioners if your call plan targets physicians only

In Memphis, 10 of 65 records were NP-level providers (Nurse Practitioner, Obstetrics & Gynecology). NPs can prescribe but are not MD or DO physicians. If your call plan is physician-only — for device detailing, surgical consumables, or physician-dispensed injectables — filter out records where taxonomy description contains "Nurse Practitioner."

Export to CSV (Pro) and segment by subspecialty before CRM import

Pro users export the complete result set. Column headers: NPI, Name, Credential, Address, City, State, Zip, Phone, Entity Type. Route MFM specialists to perinatal device reps, gynecologic oncologists to oncology pharma reps, REI physicians to fertility product reps, and general OB/GYNs to contraceptive and women's health product reps.

Direct API queries

# OB/GYN physicians in Memphis, TN — returned 65 records (June 2026)
https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/api/?
  version=2.1
  &taxonomy_description=Obstetrics+%26+Gynecology
  &city=Memphis
  &state=TN
  &limit=200

# FAILS — OB/GYN abbreviation returns zero results
https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/api/?
  version=2.1
  &taxonomy_description=OB%2FGYN
  &city=Memphis
  &state=TN
  &limit=200

# Maternal & Fetal Medicine (perinatologists) — separate taxonomy, 200+ nationally
https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/api/?
  version=2.1
  &taxonomy_description=Maternal+%26+Fetal+Medicine
  &state=TN
  &limit=200

# Gynecologic Oncology — separate subspecialty taxonomy
https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/api/?
  version=2.1
  &taxonomy_description=Gynecologic+Oncology
  &state=TN
  &limit=200

Radius guidance for OB/GYN territories

Market type Recommended starting radius Rationale
Dense urban (NYC, Chicago, LA, Houston) 10–15 miles All four metros hit the 200-cap; OB/GYN is well-distributed in cities with large hospital systems and academic medical centers
Mid-metro (Memphis, Nashville, Phoenix) 25 miles Memphis: 65 records (complete); Nashville: 163 (complete); Phoenix: 200+ (capped). 25 miles captures suburban OB/GYN practices and hospital-employed physicians.
Rural (Wyoming, Vermont) 50 miles Wyoming: 32 statewide; Vermont: 64 statewide. OB/GYN has better rural coverage than rheumatology or nephrology because maternal care is a fundamental healthcare service in rural hospital systems.
Your OB/GYN territory from the federal source of record.
getdork sends the ampersand-encoded Obstetrics & Gynecology taxonomy string and handles the zip-radius math. The exported CSV includes the subspecialty taxonomy column so you can segment MFM specialists, gynecologic oncologists, reproductive endocrinologists, and Nurse Practitioners before your CRM import. Free to preview; Pro for the full list and CSV export.

Search OB/GYN physicians by ZIP code — free →

Frequently asked questions

Why do "OB/GYN" and "OBGYN" return zero results in the NPI API?

The CMS NPI API requires an exact match on the taxonomy_description field. "OB/GYN" and "OBGYN" are not recognized CMS taxonomy strings — both return zero results, confirmed June 13, 2026. The correct string is Obstetrics & Gynecology with a space, an ampersand, and another space. URL-encoded: Obstetrics+%26+Gynecology. Any pipeline using the abbreviation produces a silent zero-result failure with no error message.

What subspecialty groups appear in a standard Obstetrics & Gynecology NPI query?

In Memphis (65 records, June 2026): 16 Maternal & Fetal Medicine (perinatologists), 12 Gynecology-only, 10 Nurse Practitioner OB/GYN, 10 Gynecologic Oncology, 5 Reproductive Endocrinology, 3 plain OB/GYN generalists, 2 Urogynecology, 7 other. MFM specialists outnumbered plain generalists more than 5 to 1 in this academic-medical-center-heavy market.

Do Nurse Practitioners appear in an Obstetrics & Gynecology NPI query?

Yes. In Memphis, 10 of 65 OB/GYN records showed Nurse Practitioner, Obstetrics & Gynecology as primary taxonomy. NPs are mid-level providers who prescribe but are not MD/DO physicians. Filter records where the taxonomy description contains "Nurse Practitioner" if your call plan targets physician prescribers only.

What is the difference between Obstetrics & Gynecology and Gynecology as NPI taxonomy strings?

Obstetrics & Gynecology (207V00000X) is the broad parent taxonomy. Gynecology (207VG0400X) is a narrower subspecialty for physicians practicing gynecology only, without obstetrics — typically senior OB/GYNs who have phased out obstetric call. Obstetrics (207VX0000X) also exists as an obstetrics-only narrower taxonomy. In Memphis, 12 of 65 records showed Gynecology as primary taxonomy.

Which OB/GYN subspecialty has the highest NPI count nationally?

All major subspecialties hit the 200-cap nationally in June 2026: Maternal & Fetal Medicine (207VM0101X), Gynecologic Oncology (207VX0201X), and Reproductive Endocrinology (207VE0102X). In the Memphis dataset, MFM was the largest single group (16 of 65), reflecting Memphis's academic medical center concentration and the regional perinatal referral role of large tertiary hospitals.

What pharma and device products use an OB/GYN call list?

General OB/GYN: oral contraceptives, IUDs, injectable contraceptives, prenatal vitamins, vaginal atrophy treatments (local estrogen, ospemifene), PCOS therapies, urinary incontinence drugs. MFM specialists: fetal monitoring devices, 17-OHPC progesterone for preterm prevention. Gynecologic oncologists: PARP inhibitors (olaparib, niraparib, rucaparib), bevacizumab, laparoscopy/hysteroscopy capital equipment. Reproductive endocrinologists: IVF consumables, gonadotropin injectables, embryo transfer catheters.

Data methodology

All provider counts come from direct queries to the CMS NPI Registry API v2.1, run on June 13, 2026. We used taxonomy_description=Obstetrics+%26+Gynecology and limit=200. No authentication required. Result_count reflects records returned on that page; when equal to 200 the actual total exceeds 200. Counts below 200 are exact.

We confirmed: OB/GYN → 0 results; OBGYN → 0 results. Maternal & Fetal Medicine, Gynecologic Oncology, and Reproductive Endocrinology each returned 200+ nationally (confirmed as active separate taxonomy strings).

Raw responses: npi-obgyn-memphis-tn-raw.json, npi-obgyn-wyoming-raw.json. Collection script: _data/npi-counts-obgyn.ps1.

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