Obstetrics and gynaecology are medical specialties that focus on two different aspects of the female reproductive system.Obstetrics deals with the care of the pregnant women, the foetus, labor and delivery and the immediate period following childbirth. The obstetrician ensures that mother and child get the best prenatal care to ensure that the labor and delivery is accomplished without complications and that should intervention be needed, it is done quickly and safely.

These specialists are trained to handle a variety of potential complications or situations that may occur during pregnancy and labor including:

• Ectopic pregnancy: a pregnancy in which the foetus grows outside of the uterus
• Foetal distress: signs before and during labor that may indicate that the foetus may not be doing well
• Placenta issues
• High blood pressure: often a precursor to pre-eclampsia, a potentially serious condition
• Cesarean section

An obstetrician is also able to guide a mother safely through the entire experience from conception to delivery to the postpartum period. Other services offered by obstetricians include:

• Fertility treatment
• Fetal diagnostic procedures
• NICU care (this may also be handled by a paediatrician)

Gynaecology deals with any ailment concerning the reproductive organs; 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.

Gynaecologists perform standard examinations, such as Pap smears and pelvic examination. They also give diagnosis and treatment of a variety of conditions, including:

• Cancer of the ovaries, uterus, cervix, vagina and fallopian tubes
• Prolapse: a condition in which the pelvic organs slip forward or downward within the body, often after menopause in women
• Yeast or bacterial infections
• Painful sexual intercourse
• Irregular menstruation or pain during menstruation.
• Other menopause-related diseases
• Endometriosis: a condition in which uterine tissue grows outside the uterus
• Cervical and vaginal polyps
• Fibroids: compact tumors that develop in the uterus
• Ovarian cysts

In addition, a gynaecologist can perform surgical procedures on reproductive organs. Some of the most common procedures include:

• Hysterectomy: Removal of the uterus
• Oophorectomy: Removal of the ovaries
• Salpingectomy: Removal of the fallopian tubes
• Tubal ligation: Permanent birth control surgery
• Cone biopsy: Removal of precancerous cells from the cervix after a Pap test
• Labiaplasty: Surgical reshaping of external genitalia