What is Obstetrics and Gynaecology?
Obstetrics is a medical specialty dealing with the care of pregnant women, the unborn baby, labor and delivery, and the immediate period following childbirth. The role of an Obstetrician is to ensure that mother and child get the best prenatal care to ensure labor and delivery are accomplished without complications and that should intervention be needed, it is done quickly and safely.
Gynaecology deals with any ailment or diseases concerning the reproductive organs of a female human; uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix, ovaries, and vagina. A gynaecologist may also treat related problems in the bowel, bladder, and urinary system since these are closely related to female reproductive organs.
Simply put, an Obstetrician-Gynaecologist or OB-GYN, is a healthcare professional that specializes in female reproductive health.
What 3rd level courses are available?
Universities and colleges in Ireland are offering Obstetrics and Gynaecology courses in the following subject areas:
- MSc in Obstetrics and Gynaecology – The study of the specialty of obstetrics and gynaecology.
- Obstetrics-Gynaecology – The study of the care of female reproductive health, pregnancy, and childbirth.
- Basic Specialist Training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology – Completion of BST in Obstetrics and Gynaecology is the first step towards becoming an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist in Ireland.
- Higher Specialist Training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology – The final step towards becoming an obstetrician/gynaecologist
- BSc (Hons) In Midwifery – Develop the professional knowledge, skills, and understanding needed to fulfill the role of a midwife.
Studying Obstetrics and Gynaecology in college
There are many Obstetrics and Gynaecology courses that take place over 1 year to 4 years depending on the course and modules selected. There are also part-time courses and night courses available so you can be sure to fit in your studies no matter what your schedule is like.
Courses will cover theory work through lectures, assignments, tutorials, and taught modules. Assessments will take place continuously with written examinations and practical assignments combined to achieve a qualification. You could also consider work experience or placement in a caring or healthy environment. This is to show that you have an understanding of what working in medicine is like and that you appreciate the emotional and physical demands, as well as the skills required.
Relevant work experience can be carried out in hospitals and GP practices, hospices and care homes, or any other environment that involves caring for people. If possible, try to get experience that involves contact with patients and doctors or other healthcare professionals. Varied experience is particularly useful.
Work Experience will not only allow you to obtain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the industry, but it will also give you a chance to do some essential networking with other industry professionals and gain valuable contacts for the future
Career options
After completing a course in Obstetrics and Gynaecology you will be able to get started in a career that uses specific knowledge of the female reproductive system and functions.
OB-GYN in practice provides continuing medical care for patients in the community. They’re usually a patient’s first point of contact, seeing them in their practice, at their home, or within other settings such as care homes.
As a hospital doctor, you’ll apply your specialist medical knowledge and skills to the diagnosis, prevention, and management of disease. As well as treating patients, you’ll refer them to a range of other healthcare professionals including nurses, radiographers, pharmacists, and physiotherapists. You will work in a team with other healthcare professionals to discuss care options for patients and their families, helping patients to take responsibility for their health.
Working hours will depend on whether you are employed by a facility with set business hours or if you are in private practice. Office hours are usually full-time, Monday to Friday. You may be expected to work outside these hours as surgeries, clinics or hospitals may be open on a Saturday morning or late evenings. In these instances, you’ll likely work on a rota system to cover the appointments.
Expect to work long and sometimes unsocial hours, including weekends and nights (usually on a rota basis), although working hours vary according to specialty. Many roles involve being on-call for certain periods for babies to be delivered at any time of the day or night.
Related jobs include:
- Practice doctor
- Hospital doctor
- Surgeon
- Adult nurse
- Children’s nurse
- Clinical scientist
- Epidemiologist
- Higher education lecturer
- Medical sales representative
- Medical science liaison
- Midwife
- Naturopath
- Paramedic
- Physician associate
- Research scientist
- Science writer
Further study
After completing a course in Obstetrics and Gynaecology you may choose to pursue further study in a specialist field to increase your knowledge base and skillset. Postgraduate study can also be used as a means to change career focus or to gain professional qualifications required to practice in certain career areas such as General Practice, Paediatrics, and Paediatric Surgery, or Neonatal practice.
If you want to enter a career outside of medicine you may need to complete other further training. This could be in an area such as teaching or scientific research, journalism, or management.
FAQ
When should I see an Obstetrician or Gynaecologist?
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommend that a person should first visit an OB-GYN between the ages of 13 and 15. This visit will establish a relationship between the teenager and the doctor. The doctor will not typically perform a pelvic exam if the individual has no medical problems and is not sexually active.
A person should have their first pelvic exam and pap test around the age of 21 or when they first become sexually active.
It is also recommended that all women see their gynaecologist annually for a wellness visit. The specific tests a person needs at each visit vary with age, lifestyle, and health risk factors. People should see their OB-GYN if they think they might be pregnant or for any reproductive system issues, including:
· STD testing
· Suspected pregnancy or miscarriage
· Pregnancy complications
· Pain during sex
· Pain or other symptoms associated with urination
· Suspected infertility
· To ask questions about sexual or reproductive health
What are the different specialties within obstetrics and gynaecology?
· Gynaecologic Oncology: This specialty is focused on the consultation and comprehensive management of patients with gynaecologic cancer.
· Maternal/Foetal Medicine: This specialty focuses on the care of patients during their pregnancy and consultation of patients with complications of pregnancy, both benign and otherwise.
· Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility: This specialty is all about the management of complex problems relating to reproductive endocrinology and infertility.
· Urogynaecology/Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery: This specialty is concerned with the health of the female urinary tract and surgery as treatment.
Where can I study Obstetrics and Gynaecology?
Explore your options here
Did You Know?
· The first female to graduate from medical school was Elizabeth Blackwell back in 1821, although it took more than a century and a half for female doctors to be considered “normal.” While obstetrics is still a male-dominated field, the tides are turning and women are beginning to outnumber men when it comes to choosing obstetrics as a specialty.
· There are texts dating back from the time of Hippocrates (5th-century b.c.) that discuss obstetrics in detail, including best practices for childbirth and postpartum care.
· Midwives are the ones who have assisted women during labor for thousands of years. Without them, and their copious amount of knowledge, the first rung of obstetrics would never have been climbed. In fact, until the 20th century, the science of obstetrics was still referred to as midwifery in medical schools – and obstetrix is the Latin word for a midwife.
· Before pregnancy, a woman’s uterus is typically the size of an orange. By the third trimester, it can be about the size of a watermelon. It can expand up to 500 times the size during pregnancy.
· The earliest premature baby to survive was in the womb for just 21 weeks and four days. The child, who started preschool last year, apparently has no health or developmental problems as a result of being born early.
Comments