Obstetrics and Gynecology Overview

Definition: Branch of medicine that deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
Major Areas:
- Antenatal Care: Monitoring the health of the mother and fetus during pregnancy.
- Labor and Delivery: Management of the birthing process, including techniques for pain relief and delivery methods.
- Postpartum Care: Follow-up care for the mother and newborn after delivery.
Common Procedures:
- Ultrasound: Imaging to monitor fetal development.
- Amniocentesis: Testing for genetic abnormalities in the fetus.
- C-Section: Surgical delivery of the baby when vaginal delivery is not safe.
Complications:
- Gestational Diabetes: Diabetes that develops during pregnancy.
- Preeclampsia: High blood pressure that occurs during pregnancy.
- Preterm Labor: Labor that begins before 37 weeks of gestation.

Definition: Branch of medicine that focuses on women's reproductive health beyond pregnancy.
Major Areas:
- Menstrual Disorders: Issues such as irregular cycles, heavy bleeding, or amenorrhea.
- Reproductive Disorders: Conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
- Sexual Health: Addressing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexual dysfunction.
Preventive Care:
- Pap Smear: Screening for cervical cancer.
- Mammography: Screening for breast cancer.
- HPV Vaccination: Protects against human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical cancer.
Common Procedures:
- Hysterectomy: Surgical removal of the uterus.
- Laparoscopy: Minimally invasive surgery for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
- Colposcopy: Detailed examination of the cervix.

Obstetricians: Physicians specializing in obstetrics.
Gynecologists: Physicians specifically focused on gynecological health.
Certified Nurse Midwives: Provide care and support during pregnancy and childbirth, emphasizing natural processes.

Trimesters: Three-month periods dividing pregnancy; each has specific developmental milestones.
Surrogate Motherhood: An arrangement where a woman carries and gives birth to a child for another individual or couple.
Fertility Treatments: Interventions like in vitro fertilization (IVF) to assist with conception.

Preconception Care: Recommendations for optimizing health before pregnancy, including lifestyle changes and management of pre-existing conditions.
Nutritional Needs: Emphasis on balanced diet and appropriate supplementation (e.g., folic acid) during pregnancy and lactation.
Mental Health: Importance of addressing mental health issues related to pregnancy and postpartum (e.g., postpartum depression).

Telehealth: Increasing use of technology for remote consultations in obstetrics and gynecology.
Minimally Invasive Techniques: Advancements in surgical methods reducing recovery times and complications.

Focuses on pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period.
Antenatal care monitors mother and fetal health throughout pregnancy.
Labor and delivery manages the birthing process, including pain relief and delivery methods.
Postpartum care provides follow-up for mother and newborn.
Common procedures include ultrasounds for fetal monitoring, amniocentesis for genetic testing, and Cesarean sections (C-sections) for surgical delivery.
Potential complications include gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and preterm labor.

Concentrates on women's reproductive health beyond pregnancy.
Addresses menstrual disorders (irregular cycles, heavy bleeding, amenorrhea).
Manages reproductive disorders like endometriosis, fibroids, and PCOS.
Deals with sexual health issues, including STIs and sexual dysfunction.
Preventive care includes Pap smears for cervical cancer screening, mammograms for breast cancer screening, and HPV vaccination.
Common procedures involve hysterectomies (uterus removal), laparoscopies (minimally invasive surgery), and colposcopies (cervical examinations).

Obstetricians specialize in pregnancy and childbirth.
Gynecologists focus on women's reproductive health.
Certified Nurse Midwives provide care during pregnancy and childbirth, emphasizing natural approaches.

Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters, each with unique developmental milestones.
Surrogate motherhood involves a woman carrying a child for another person or couple.
Fertility treatments, such as IVF, assist with conception.

Preconception care optimizes health before pregnancy, involving lifestyle adjustments and managing pre-existing conditions.
Nutritional needs emphasize balanced diets and supplements (e.g., folic acid) during pregnancy and lactation.
Mental health addresses pregnancy and postpartum-related issues like postpartum depression.