It's very important for a woman to receive the services a gynecologist provides, and many of these services can be provided by a primary care physician, but not all. Often a physician will refer a patient to a gynecologist anyways. This is because a gynecologist is especially qualified to provide the services, like screening for cancer. Also, many women just prefer to have a gynecologist they can trust and speak with about intimate health issues. A gynecologist is the most qualified and understanding professional to see about such issues.