Obstetrician and Gynaecologists (OB/GYN) are physicians or doctors who have different knowledge, skills and professional capability within the medical and surgical care of the female reproductive system and related disorders, such that it differentiates them from other physicians or doctors and permits them to serve as consultants to other physicians or doctors and as primary physicians or doctors for women.
Over the years of practice, each and every obstetrician-gynaecologist develops upon this broad base of knowledge and skills and should develop a rare kind of practice and changing professional focus. Such variety contributes to excellent health care for ladies.
Resident training in obstetrics-gynaecology should include four years of accredited, clinically-oriented graduate medical education, which should be focused on reproductive health care and ambulatory primary health care for women, consisting of health maintenance, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, consultation, and referral.
There are four important sub-speciality fellowships in OB/GYN: gynaecologic oncology, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, maternal-fetal medicine, and feminine pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery.
There are also subspecialties in obstetrics and gynaecology, which needs extra training: maternal-fetal medicine specialists are obstetricians and gynaecologists who are ready to care for, and to consult on, patients with high-risk pregnancies and reproductive endocrinologists are talented of managing complex problems associated to reproductive endocrinology and fruitlessness, which includes aspects of assisted reproduction, like in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
Gynaecologic oncology offers especially with neoplasias of the uterus, ovary, cervix, and vulva. Reproductive endocrinology and infertility encompass the complete field of infertility with procedures like IVF, GIFT, ZIFT and embryo transfer.
The field of female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery estimates and treats ladies with pelvic organ prolapse, faecal/urinary incontinence, and additional urinary disorders. MFM specialists treat pregnant women with complicated medical conditions like HTN, DM, renal disease, preterm labour and coagulopathies.
Approximately 90 per cent of OB/GYNs are generalists and start practice after finishing a four-year residency in OB/GYN. Private practice typically involves office hours two to four days a week, surgery one to one- and one-half days a week, and management of labour and delivery. Generalists most usually practice in small or large groups. A small range of OB/GYNs is in solo practice.