Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
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Gynaecologists and obstetricians
Gynaecologists and obstetricians are doctors who specialise in women’s health. Obstetricians specialise in pregnancy and childbirth. Gynaecologists deal with disorders and conditions of the female reproductive system. These include conditions such as acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), cancers of the female reproductive organs, and procedures such as sterilisation and abortion. A doctor will often specialise in both these areas.
To become a gynaecologist or obstetrician, a doctor must pass examinations that are set by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). They are then a member of the College and can put the letters MRCOG after their name. Your GP might have the letters DRCOG after their name; this means they have passed a diploma set by the College showing that they have a specialist interest in women’s health, but it is not a specialist qualification.
Gynaecologists and obstetricians usually work in specialist departments in hospitals, or in private clinics.
