Obstetrics and gynaecology
- This article is part of the SM-201 Macropedia
Obstetrics and gynaecology (also spelled asobstetrics and gynecology; abbreviated as Obst and Gynae, O&G, OB-GYN, and OB/GYN) is the medical specialty that encompasses the two subspecialties of obstetrics (covering pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period) and gynaecology (focusing on the health of the female reproductive system – vagina, uterus, ovaries, and breasts). This specialization plays an important role in women's health care.
Postgraduate training programs for both fields are usually combined, preparing the practising obstetrician-gynecologist to be adept both at the care of female reproductive organs' health and at the management of pregnancy, although many doctors go on to develop subspecialty interests in one field or the other.
Scope
United States
According to the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG), which is responsible for issuing OB-GYN certifications in the United States, the first step to OB-GYN certification is completing medical school to obtain an MD or DO degree. Following that, doctors must finish a four-year OB-GYN residency program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). For the 2021 Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) match, there were 277 OB-GYN residency programs accepting applicants.
In their fourth year of residency, and with an affidavit from their director confirming program completion, OB-GYN residents can choose to either begin the board certification process by applying to take the ABOG Qualifying Exam, a written test. If residents pass the Qualifying Exam, which demonstrates that they possess the knowledge and skills necessary to potentially become certified OB-GYNs, they become eligible to sit for the oral Certification Exam. Before the Certification Exam, residents must also compile a list of patient cases they have worked on throughout their residency to demonstrate their competence and experience in OB-GYN patient care.
Residents then take the three-hour oral exam at ABOG's test center, and if they pass, they earn the title of "board certified" OB-GYNs. Since 2013, at least 82% of all Certifying Exam examinees have passed. In total, this amounts to 11–14 years of education and practical experience, with the first 7–9 years dedicated to general medical training.
Experienced OB-GYN professionals can pursue certifications in sub-specialty areas, including maternal and fetal medicine.
United Kingdom
All doctors must first complete medical school and obtain an MBBS or equivalent certification. This portion typically takes five years. Following this, they become eligible for provisional registration with the General Medical Council. They must then complete two years of foundation training. After the first year of training is complete, trainees are eligible for full registration with the General Medical Council. After the foundation training is finished, applicants take the Part 1 MRCOG examination administered by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. There are an additional seven years of training after this, along with two more exams (Part 2 and Part 3 MRCOG exams), which adds up to a minimum of nine years in total training, although some trainees may take longer.
Subspecialties
Examples of subspecialty training available to physicians in the US are:
- Maternal-fetal medicine: an obstetrical subspecialty, sometimes referred to as perinatology, that focuses on the medical and surgical management of high-risk pregnancies and surgery on the fetus with the goal of reducing morbidity and mortality.
- Reproductive endocrinology and infertility: a subspecialty that focuses on the biological causes and interventional treatment of infertility
- Gynecological oncology: a gynaecologic subspecialty focusing on the medical and surgical treatment of women with cancers of the reproductive organs
- Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery: a gynaecologic subspecialty focusing on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of women with urinary incontinence and prolapse of the pelvic organs. Sometimes referred to by laypersons as "female urology"
- Advanced laparoscopic surgery
- Family planning: a gynaecologic subspecialty offering training in contraception and pregnancy termination (abortion)
- Pediatric and adolescent gynaecology
- Menopausal and geriatric gynaecology
Etymology
The term "Obstetrics and Gynaecology," often abbreviated as OB-GYN, stems from Greek roots: "gynē" meaning "woman" and "-logy" meaning "study of," while "obstetrics" comes from the Latin "obstetrix" meaning "midwife" or "one who stands opposite".
| Paraphilia related topics |
|---|
| Abasiophilia • Adipophilia • Age disparity in sexual relationships • Amaurophilia • Andromimetophilia • Autogynephilia • Autassassinophilia • Biastophilia • Bondage • Canine interests • Chronophilia • Coprophilia • Dacryphilia • Emetophilia • Erotic asphyxiation • Erotic lactation • Exhibitionism • Fat fetishism • Food play • Frotteurism • Hebephilia • Homeovestism • Human animal roleplay • Hybristophilia • Infantilism • Katoptronophilia • Klismaphilia • Macrophilia • Microphilia • Mysophilia • Necrophilia • Nyotaimori • Olfactophilia • Omorashi • Osmolagnia • Paraphilic infantilism • Pedophilia • Pyrophilia • Raptophilia • Sadism and masochism • Salirophilia • Sexual fetishism • Somnophilia • Statuephilia • Sthenolagnia • Tamakeri • Teratophilia • Tightlacing • Transvestic Fetishism • Trichophilia • Troilism • Urolagnia • Vorarephilia • Voyeurism • Wakamezake • Xenophily • Zoophilia |
| Also see: List of Paraphilias |
What links here • References and Sources • Contact info • Category:Root ⤴