Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Browse 96 topics in obstetrics & gynaecology, including presentations, diagnoses, procedures, tools, and exam links.
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Use the filters below to move between emergency clusters, core pathways, exam topics, procedures, and the most relevant clinical atlas pages.
Adenomyosis
The condition predominantly affects multiparous women in their late reproductive years (40-50 years) , though increasing recognition through advanced imaging has identified cases in younger women and nulliparous...
Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE)
Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE) is a catastrophic, unpredictable obstetric emergency characterised by the sudden onset of ... MRCOG exam preparation.
Anaesthesia for Laparoscopic Surgery
Laparoscopic surgery presents unique physiological challenges: pneumoperitoneum (CO₂ insufflation 12-15 mmHg) increases intra-abdominal pressure causing cardiovascular effects (↓venous return initially, then ↑SVR and...
Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Diagnostic Pearl : Antiphospholipid antibodies must be positive on TWO separate occasions, at least 12 weeks apart, to confirm diagnosis. Transient aPL positivity is common following infections, medications, or...
Bacterial Vaginosis
While not strictly classified as a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), BV is sexually associated, with increased prevalence among women with new or multiple sexual partners, and particularly high concordance among...
Benign Breast Disease
Benign Breast Disease encompasses a heterogeneous spectrum of non-malignant conditions affecting the breast, accounting ... MRCS, MRCOG exam preparation.
Caesarean Section
Caesarean section (CS) is the surgical delivery of a baby through incisions in the abdominal wall and uterus. It is one ... MRCOG exam preparation.
Cervical Cancer
The overwhelming majority (99.7%) of cervical cancers are caused by persistent infection with high-risk Human Papillomavirus (hrHPV) , particularly types 16 and 18. The disease typically develops over 10-15 years...
Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia
CIN is typically asymptomatic and detected through organized cervical screening programmes using HPV testing and/or cervical cytology. The introduction of HPV-based primary screening has significantly improved...
Chlamydia trachomatis Infections
Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium that causes the most prevalent bacterial sexu... MRCP exam preparation.
Eclampsia
Comprehensive evidence-based guide to the diagnosis and emergency management of eclampsia in pregnancy
Ectopic Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is the implantation of a fertilized ovum outside the normal uterine endometrial cavity. Over 95% of ectopic pregnancies occur in the Fallopian tube, with the ampulla being the most common site....
Edwards Syndrome (Trisomy 18)
The condition carries a grave prognosis, with an estimated 50-95% of affected fetuses dying in utero, and median survival of liveborn infants ranging from 3-15 days depending on the study population. However, the...
Emergency Delivery
Emergency delivery (precipitous birth) occurs in 1-3% of births and carries 2-5 times higher neonatal mortality than pla... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Endometrial Cancer
This aphorism encapsulates the fundamental pathophysiology of Type I endometrial cancer, where prolonged exposure to estrogen without adequate progesterone opposition drives malignant transformation.
Endometriosis
Common anatomical sites include the ovaries (where it forms blood-filled cysts termed "endometriomas" or "chocolate cysts"), the pouch of Douglas, uterosacral ligaments, rectovaginal septum, and pelvic peritoneum....
Exomphalos (Omphalocele)
Exomphalos (also known as omphalocele) is a congenital anterior abdominal wall defect in which abdominal contents (bowel, liver, spleen, and occasionally other organs) herniate through the umbilical ring and are...
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
FASD represents the leading preventable cause of intellectual disability in the developed world. There is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy — the safest approach is complete abstinence. The...
Genital Herpes (HSV)
Genital herpes is a chronic, lifelong sexually transmitted infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2). It is characterized by painful genital ulceration during primary and recurrent...
Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM)
GSM encompasses vaginal, vulval, and urinary symptoms including vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, vulval irritation, recurre... MRCOG, DFSRH exam preparation.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
GDM is distinct from pre-existing diabetes mellitus (Type 1 or Type 2) diagnosed before pregnancy. The condition typically resolves within hours to days of placental delivery, as the primary driver of insulin...
Group B Streptococcus in Pregnancy
Group B Streptococcus (GBS, Streptococcus agalactiae ) is a gram-positive, β-hemolytic bacterium that colonizes the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts of approximately 18-20% of pregnant women worldwide. While...
HELLP Syndrome
Maternal stabilisation: Airway, breathing, circulation with blood product support... CICM Second Part Written, CICM Second Part Hot Case exam preparation.
Hirsutism
Key Facts Definition : Excessive terminal hair growth in androgen-sensitive areas in women, quantified by modified Ferriman-Gallwey score ≥8. Prevalence : 5-15% of women of reproductive age; varies significantly by...
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Protocols
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), also termed Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) , involves the administration of systemic Oestrogen (with or without Progestogen ) to replace declining ovarian hormones in...
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a double-stranded DNA virus of the Papillomaviridae family, representing the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide . Over 200 HPV genotypes have been identified, with...
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is a severe form of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) characterised by persistent intra... MRCOG, FRANZCOG exam preparation.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Affects 0.3-3% of pregnancies, peaks at 8-12 weeks gestation. Life-threatening complications include Wernicke encephalop... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
HIE represents the leading cause of acquired neonatal brain injury worldwide, accounting for 23% of the estimated 2.5 million global neonatal deaths annually and affecting 1-3 per 1000 live births in high-income...
Instrumental Delivery (Forceps and Ventouse)
Instrumental delivery (also termed Operative Vaginal Delivery [OVD] or Assisted Vaginal Delivery [AVD] ) refers to the use of forceps or ventouse (vacuum extractor) to expedite vaginal birth during the second stage of...
Interstitial Cystitis / Bladder Pain Syndrome
The pathophysiology remains incompletely understood but is thought to involve multifactorial mechanisms including: Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) layer deficiency leading to increased urothelial permeability Mast cell...
Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (Obstetric Cholestasis)
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), also known as obstetric cholestasis, is the most common pregnancy-specific liver disorder, characterised by pruritus and elevated serum bile acids. It typically presents in...
Large for Gestational Age (Macrosomia)
Large for Gestational Age (LGA) is defined as a fetal or neonatal weight exceeding the 90th centile for gestational age on standardized growth charts. Macrosomia is defined by absolute birthweight thresholds,...
Lichen Sclerosus
The disease presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge requiring long-term management and surveillance. Despite being a benign condition, LS profoundly impacts patients through intractable pruritus, dyspareunia,...
Magnesium Toxicity and Management in Obstetrics
One-liner : Magnesium toxicity in obstetrics is a potentially life-threatening iatrogenic complication of therapeutic magnesium sulfate administration, characterized by progressive neuromuscular and cardiovascular...
Mastitis (Lactational)
Lactational mastitis is an inflammatory condition of the breast tissue that occurs predominantly during breastfeeding, representing a clinical spectrum from non-infectious milk stasis (blocked duct) through infectious...
Maternal Cardiac Arrest
Maternal cardiac arrest requires immediate resuscitation with pregnancy-specific modifications: manual uterine displacem... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Maternal Sepsis
One-liner : Maternal sepsis is life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection during pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period, requiring early recognition using modified...
Maternal Sepsis (Puerperal Sepsis)
Maternal sepsis, also known as puerperal sepsis when occurring postpartum, is a life-threatening condition defined as or... MRCOG exam preparation.
Menopause Management
A comprehensive guide to Menopause management, covering HRT prescribing algorithms (Uterus vs No Uterus), risks (VTE, Breast Cancer), and managing Premature Ovarian Insufficiency.
Miscarriage (Early Pregnancy Loss)
Miscarriage (spontaneous abortion) is the spontaneous loss of pregnancy before 24 weeks of gestation, with the vast majo... MRCOG, MRCP exam preparation.
Miscarriage (Types and Management)
Miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of pregnancy before viability, defined as before 24 weeks gestation in the UK (befor... MRCOG, MRCP exam preparation.
Molar Pregnancy (Hydatidiform Mole)
A molar pregnancy (hydatidiform mole) is a form of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) characterised by abnormal pro... MRCOG exam preparation.
Neonatal Resuscitation
Neonatal resuscitation affects 2-10 per 1000 live births, with mortality reaching 20-30% without appropriate interventio... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Neuraxial Anaesthesia in Obstetrics
What is it? Neuraxial anaesthesia encompasses epidural, spinal, and combined spinal-epidural (CSE) techniques for labour analgesia and caesarean delivery. These techniques provide superior pain relief with minimal...
Obstetric Hemorrhage
Obstetric hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, representing one of the most crit... CICM Fellowship Written, CICM Fellow
Ovarian Cancer (Adult)
Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynaecological malignancy and the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women in developed countries. Despite accounting for only 3% of all female cancers, it causes more deaths than...
Ovarian Cysts
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled or semisolid structures within or on the surface of an ovary, representing one of the mos... MRCOG exam preparation.
Ovarian Torsion
The condition predominantly affects women of reproductive age (20-40 years) but can occur at any age from infancy to post-menopause. The presence of an ovarian mass—particularly cysts or tumours exceeding 5cm in...
Overactive Bladder Syndrome (OAB)
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a symptom syndrome characterised by urinary urgency, usually accompanied by increased daytime frequency and nocturia, with or without urgency urinary incontinence, in the absence of urinary...
Pelvic Anatomy (Obstetric Relevance)
Define/Describe - Overview of pelvic boundaries and contents... CICM First Part Written SAQ, CICM First Part Written MCQ exam preparation.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection and inflammation of the upper female genital tract, encompassing the u... MRCOG, MRCS exam preparation.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP)
The condition exists on a spectrum from asymptomatic anatomical findings to severe prolapse causing significant functional impairment and reduced quality of life. While not life-threatening in most cases, severe...
Perimortem Caesarean Section (Resuscitative Hysterotomy)
Maternal cardiac arrest occurs in approximately 1 in 30,000 deliveries with high mortality (60-70% if delayed). The grav... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Perineal Tears & OASI
Perineal trauma affects approximately 85% of women having a vaginal birth, making it one of the most common obstetric complications. While most tears are minor (1st/2nd degree), severe tears involving the anal...
Placenta Praevia
The RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 27a (2018) has modernized the classification system, moving away from outdated grading systems (Grade I–IV or major/minor) toward descriptive ultrasound-based terminology:
Placental Abruption
Placental abruption is a life-threatening obstetric emergency affecting 0.5-1% of pregnancies with perinatal mortality r... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, affecting approxi... MRCOG exam preparation.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is not simply an ovarian disorder but a systemic metabolic condition with far-reaching health implications. Women with PCOS face substantially elevated risks of type 2 diabetes mellitus (4-fold increase),...
Postnatal Depression (PND)
Postnatal depression (PND), also termed postpartum depression (PPD), is a non-psychotic depressive episode occurring wit... MRCOG, MRCPCH, MRCPsych exam prepara
Postpartum Endometritis
The condition is characterised by the classic triad : fever ( 38°C), uterine tenderness, and offensive lochia. Caesarean section is the single most important risk factor, increasing the risk 10-20 fold compared to...
Postpartum Haemorrhage
PPH is defined as blood loss ≥500ml following vaginal delivery or ≥1000ml following Caesarean section. However, these definitions are based on estimated blood loss, which is notoriously inaccurate—visual estimation...
Postpartum Haemorrhage
PPH affects 10-15% of deliveries and remains a leading cause of maternal mortality globally. The most common cause is ut... ACEM Primary Written, ACEM Primary V
Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH)
Comprehensive evidence-based guide to postpartum hemorrhage covering definition, classification, 4Ts etiology, quantitative blood loss, uterotonic management, tranexamic acid, surgical interventions, and massive...
Postpartum Mental Health
Perinatal mental health disorders represent a spectrum of psychiatric conditions occurring during pregnancy and the first year postpartum, ranging from the common, self-limiting Baby Blues to severe, life-threatening...
Pre-eclampsia
Key Facts: Definition : Hypertension ≥140/90 mmHg + proteinuria or end-organ dysfunction after 20 weeks Prevalence : 2-8% of pregnancies globally Incidence : 3-5% in developed countries, higher in developing countries...
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)
Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI), previously termed Premature Ovarian Failure (POF), is defined as the loss of norm... MRCOG, USMLE exam preparation.
Primary Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH)
Primary postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is defined as blood loss of ≥500ml following vaginal delivery or ≥1000ml following ... MRCOG exam preparation.
Prolactinoma (Adult)
A prolactinoma is a benign monoclonal adenoma arising from lactotroph cells of the anterior pituitary that autonomously ... MRCP exam preparation.
Recurrent Miscarriage
Despite comprehensive evaluation, approximately 50% of cases remain unexplained (idiopathic RM), yet even these couples have a 60-75% chance of successful pregnancy with supportive care alone in subsequent attempts....
Reduced Fetal Movements
Reduced fetal movements (RFM) represents maternal perception of decreased fetal activity compared to the established ind... MRCOG, FRANZCOG exam preparation.
Rhesus Isoimmunisation
Comprehensive evidence-based guide to Rhesus D Isoimmunisation and Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN), covering pathophysiology, Anti-D prophylaxis protocols, Kleihauer testing, MCA Doppler...
Rubella (German Measles)
Rubella, also known as German measles, is an acute viral infection caused by the rubella virus , a single-stranded RNA virus of the Togaviridae family. The clinical significance of rubella exists on two distinct...
Secondary Postpartum Haemorrhage
The condition poses unique clinical challenges: the postpartum uterus is soft and friable (increasing surgical perforation risk), diagnosis of RPOC by ultrasound is fraught with false positives (blood clots mimicking...
Shoulder Dystocia
The underlying mechanism in most cases is impaction of the anterior fetal shoulder behind the maternal pubic symphysis , creating a bony obstruction that cannot be relieved by episiotomy alone. This is fundamentally a...
Shoulder Dystocia
This is a time-critical emergency occurring in 0.2-3% of vaginal deliveries, characterized by the pathognomonic "turtle ... ACEM Fellowship Written, ACEM Fellow
Slapped Cheek Syndrome (Fifth Disease/Parvovirus B19)
Slapped Cheek Syndrome (Erythema Infectiosum), historically termed "Fifth Disease" as the fifth described childhood exanthem, is a common viral infection caused by Human Parvovirus B19 (B19V). This small,...
Small for Gestational Age (SGA) & Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR)
Small for Gestational Age (SGA) refers to a fetus or neonate with an Estimated Fetal Weight (EFW) or birthweight below t... MRCOG exam preparation.
Spina Bifida (Myelomeningocele)
Spina bifida represents a spectrum of neural tube defects (NTDs) arising from incomplete closure of the embryonic neural tube during the fourth week of gestation (days 21-28). The term encompasses a range from...
Stress Urinary Incontinence
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is defined by the International Continence Society (ICS) as the involuntary leakage of... MRCOG exam preparation.