Obstetrics and gynaecology 52963 220809420 2008-06-21T18:09:35Z 79.81.115.211 Fixed reference <!-- IMPORTANT NOTE TO EDITORS As per the discussion in the Talk page, there has been no consensus as to using the American (gynecology) or British (gynaecology) spelling for this article, BUT: * As per Nightstallion's reasoning (see the green box), the article will stick to the British spelling. * As per WP:MOS#National-varieties_of_English, the earliest available version of the article ( http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Obstetrics_and_Gynaecology&oldid=75573 ) used British spellings and was not a stub (note that an earlier version is unavailable because of the Phase III switch). You are therefore discouraged to move this article from its British spelling without first opening a move discussion in WP:RM . -- VodkaJazz (28 Aug 2006) --> {{worldview}} {{Magazine|date=December 2007}} '''[[Obstetrics]] and [[Gynaecology]]''' (often abbreviated to '''OB/GYN''', '''O&G''' or '''Obs & Gynae''') are the two [[surgery|surgical]] specialties dealing with the female reproductive organs, and as such are often combined to form a single [[medical speciality]] and postgraduate training program. This combined training prepares the practicing OB/GYN to be adept at the surgical management of the entire scope of clinical pathology involving female reproductive organs, and to provide care for both [[pregnancy|pregnant]] and non-pregnant patients. In rural areas of the United States, particularly in areas west of the [[Mississippi River]], it is not uncommon for [[general practitioners]] to offer obstetrical services to their patients. However, these generalists are most often not trained in the surgical aspects of [[obstetrics]], nor have they been trained in [[gynaecology]], and as such, they should not be confused with residency trained and board-certified OB/GYNs. All gynaecologists, therefore, are trained obstetricians, although the reverse is not necessarily true. However, some OB/GYNs may choose to drop the obstetric component of their practice and focus solely on [[gynaecology]], especially as they get older. This decision is often based on the double burden of very late hours and, depending on the country, high rates of [[malpractice|litigation]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}} ==Training== The training for physicians in this field is often quite arduous: in [[Australia]], for example, the [[medical residency|residency]] training period is among the longest at six years, matched only by [[neurosurgery]] and [[Oral and maxillofacial surgery|maxillofacil surgery]]. In the [[United States]], however, OB/GYN specialists require four years of [[tertiary education]] at an accredited [[college]] or [[university]], followed by four years of [[medical school]] and four years in [[residency (medicine)|residency]]. In [[India]], post graduate training in [[Obstetrics]] and [[Gynaecology]] is in the form of a two year diploma course [[DGO]] or a three year one ([[MD]] or [[MS]]).Some OB/GYN surgeons elect to do further subspecialty training in programs known as 'fellowships' after completing their residency training, although the majority choose to enter private or academic practice as general OB/GYNs. Fellowship training in an [[obstetrics|obstetric]] or [[gynaecology|gynaecologic]] subspeciality can range from one to four years in duration, and these 'fellowship' programs usually have a research component involved with the clinical and operative training. ==Subspecialities== Examples of subspecialty training available to physicians in the US are: *[[Maternal-fetal medicine|Maternal-Fetal Medicine]] - an [[Obstetrics|obstetrical]] subspecialty that focuses on the medical and surgical management of high-risk pregnancies *Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility - [[Gynaecology|gynaecologic]] subspecialty focusing on the medical and surgical evaluation of women with problems related to the [[menstrual cycle]] and [[fertility]] *Gynaecological Oncology - gynaecologic subspecialty focusing on the medical and surgical treatment of women with [[cancers]] of the reproductive organs *Urogynaecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery - gynaecologic subspecialty focusing on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of women with [[urinary incontinence]] and [[prolapse]] of the pelvic organs. Sometimes referred to (incorrectly) by laypersons as "Female [[Urology]]" *Advanced [[Laparoscopy|Laparoscopic Surgery]] *Family Planning - gynaecologic subspecialty offering training in [[contraception]] and (sometimes) pregnancy termination ([[abortion]]) *Pediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology *[[Menopause|Menopausal]] and [[Geriatrics|Geriatric]] Gynaecology Of these, only the first four are truly recognized sub-specialties by the Accredited Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ABOG.) The other sub-specialities are recognized as informal concentrations of practice. To be recognized as a board-certified subspecialist, a practitioner must have completed an ACGME-accredited fellowship and obtained a Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) which requires an additional standardized examination. <ref>[http://www.abog.org Welcome to the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology Web Site: Certification of Obstetricians and Gynecologists<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Recent shortage in US== In the last few years, [[medical malpractice]] suits and skyrocketing insurance premiums have forced many American obstetricians and gynaecologists to leave or limit their practice. From 2000 through 2004, American medical students were increasingly choosing not to specialize in obstetrics (see Bower 2003). This led to a critical shortage of obstetricians in some states and often, fewer health care options for women - although it did lead to higher average salaries, as an article by [[Health economics|Medical Economics]] points out. <ref>[http://www.medicaleconomics.com/memag/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=112482 Physicians' Earnings: Our exclusive survey]</ref> However, beginning in 2004, increasing state legislation mandating [[tort reform]] combined with the ACGME's decision to limit resident work hours lead to a gradual resurgence in the number of medical students choosing OB/GYN as a specialty. In the [[residency (medicine)|medical residency]] match for 2007, only six spots in OB/GYN training programs remained vacant throughout the entire [[United States]]; a record low number, and one that puts OB/GYN on-par in terms of competitiveness with other [[surgery|surgical]] specialties. <ref>[http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/data_tables.html NRMP: Selected Data Tables 2006<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> == Further reading == * [http://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/obgyn/ Contemporary Ob/Gyn] - a monthly magazine ==References== {{reflist}} * Llewellyn-Jones, Derek, ''Fundamentals of Obstetrics and Gynaecology'', 7th ed., Mosby, 1999. * Bower, Amanda, "Today’s Lesson: Switch Specialty." ''Time''. June 9, 2003. Vol. 161, Issue 23, p. 58, 1/2p, 1c. == See also == * [[Medical specialty]] ==External links== *[http://www.obgyn.net OBGYN.net] - Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Infertility, Pregnancy, Birth, & Women's Health top online resource * http://www.acog.org *[http://www.health.am/gyneco/pediatric-gynecology/ Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology] *[http://www.obgyn.net/women/women.asp?page=/women/articles/obgyn_dah Training information/requirements] *[http://www.obgyn-search.com/ OBGYN-Search.com : Search Engine for OBGYN Professionals in the USA] [[Category:Obstetrics]] [[Category:Gynecology]] [[fr:Gynécologie obstétrique]] [[ja:産婦人科学]] [[th:สูตินรีเวชวิทยา]] [[zh:婦產科學]]