Obstetrics and Gynecology

Obstetrics and Gynaecology (often abbreviated OB/GYN) make for a single medical speciality and have a unified postgraduate training program.


Obstetrics is the surgical specialty dealing with the care and treatment of a woman and her offspring throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium or the period shortly after birth. Many obstetricians are also gynaecologists,Gynaecology or gynecology is the area of expertise concerning diseases of the female reproductive system (uterus, vagina and ovaries).

In antenatal care, the obstetrician will observe a pregnant woman on a regular basis to check the development of her pregnancy. These visits are necessary to keep a close watch for diseases and conditions during pregnancy like Pre-eclampsia (the blood pressure and urine of a woman is tested at every chance), Placenta praevia (the placenta is noticeable, blocking the birth canal), Abnormal presentation (where the fetus may be positioned feet-first or breech or side-on (transverse) and IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Restriction) (where the fetus is too tiny for is gestational age.