Obstetrics and Gynecology, often abbreviated as OB/GYN, is a medical specialty that focuses on the care of women's reproductive health, encompassing both obstetrics (pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period) and gynecology (women's reproductive health outside of pregnancy).
This branch of medicine deals with the management of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Obstetricians are medical professionals who specialize in providing care to pregnant women and their unborn babies. Their responsibilities include prenatal care, monitoring the health and development of the fetus, managing labor and delivery, and providing postpartum care to new mothers and newborns.
Gynecology focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of disorders and conditions related to the female reproductive system, including the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, and vagina. Gynecologists provide a wide range of services, including routine gynecological exams, Pap smears, contraception counseling, management of menstrual disorders, treatment of reproductive system infections, and care for reproductive system cancers.
Pregnancy is the period during which a fetus develops inside a woman’s uterus, typically lasting about 40 weeks from the last menstrual period (LMP) to birth.
Definition: A high-risk pregnancy is one in which the mother, fetus, or both are at increased risk of complications during pregnancy, labor, or after delivery.
Definition: Painless delivery typically refers to labor and delivery where pain is managed effectively, often through the use of epidural anesthesia.
Definition: VBAC refers to delivering a baby vaginally after a previous cesarean section.
A routine examination of the reproductive organs, including the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, and vagina, to assess their health.
A screening test to detect abnormal cells on the cervix, which may indicate cervical cancer or precancerous changes.
A procedure that allows a closer examination of the cervix, vagina, and vulva using a magnifying instrument called a colposcope, often performed after an abnormal Pap smear result.
A minimally invasive procedure that involves inserting a thin, lighted tube called a hysteroscope through the vagina and cervix to examine the inside of the uterus for abnormalities or perform treatments such as removing polyps or fibroids.
A procedure to obtain a small sample of tissue from the lining of the uterus (endometrium) for analysis, often performed to diagnose conditions such as abnormal uterine bleeding or endometrial cancer.
A diagnostic imaging technique that uses sound waves to create images of the pelvic organs, such as the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes, to evaluate conditions such as ovarian cysts or uterine fibroids.
A minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves inserting a thin, flexible tube with a camera (laparoscope) through a small incision in the abdomen to visualize and treat conditions such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, or ectopic pregnancy.
Surgical removal of the uterus, either partially or completely, which may be performed to treat conditions such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or certain types of cancer.