What do Obstetricians & Gynaecologists do?
Obstetrics and gynaecology are specialist branches of medicine and although they are each concerned with separate aspects of the health care of women, they are usually merged into the one service.
Obstetricians provide medical care before, during and after childbirth. Gynaecologists diagnose, treat and aid in the prevention of disorders of the female reproductive system.
Obstetricians and gynaecologists perform the following tasks:
- carry out gynaecological examinations, diagnosis and operations on women referred to them by general practitioners, discuss contraceptive methods with their patients and prescribe suitable contraception;
- examine pregnant women throughout their pregnancies to ensure that they are progressing well and that good health is maintained, and advise and treat pregnant women for special health conditions brought about by their pregnancy;
- deliver babies through normal procedures or by caesarean section;
- examine mothers and babies after childbirth to ensure there are no complications or, if there are, refer them to other specialists, such as to paediatricians (children's doctors); and
- treat infertility by chemical or operative measures.
More Information About O & G
Of all the medical specialties, obstetrics and gynaecology offers the greatest range of potential interests. It offers not only the chance to practise one of the few arts of medicine (manipulative obstetrics), but the surgical skills of operative gynaecology (including minimally invasive surgery), the practice of internal medicine, endocrinology, neonatal paediatrics, oncology and medical imaging, to mention the major areas involved in the day to day practice of an obstetrician and gynaecologist.
Want to find out more? Download the PDF below which contains
- an introduction to O&G
- discusses the level of practice available
- general practitioner obstetrics and office gynaecology
- specialist obstetrics and gynaecology
- subspecialist obstetrics and gynaecology
- outlines the practicalities of establishing a practice.
Don't miss the chapter entitled - 'Look / try before you buy' !
Flexible Learning Program (156.28 kB)
Membership/Fellowship Training
The RANZCOG Training Program is a 72 - month structured postgraduate program which leads first to certification as a Member (MRANZCOG) of the College and then to elevation to Fellowship of the College (FRANZCOG). Fellowship of RANZCOG is the only postgraduate qualification which leads to recognition as a specialist obstetrician/gynaecologist in Australia or New Zealand.
