Obstetrics and Gynecology

“Obstetrics and Gynecology” is a medical specialty that includes two different subspecialties devoted to the medical and surgical care of the female reproductive system and associated disorders. Obstetrics covers pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period (maternal–fetal medicine). Gynecology covers benign and malignant diseases of the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, and also includes the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, family planning (including contraception and pregnancy termination), sexual medicine, pediatric and adolescent gynecology, and menopausal gynecology. Most obstetrician–gynecologists are generalists and see a variety of medical conditions in the office, perform surgery, and manage labor and delivery. These physicians usually perform both diagnostic procedures (not only by office ultrasound but also by hysteroscopy or colposcopy) and treatments (either medical or surgical). As a consequence, obstetrician–gynecologists require both a broad field of knowledge and procedural skills.

Some obstetrician–gynecologists develop an interest in one of the following fields: gynecologic oncology, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, maternal fetal medicine, and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery.

The section “Obstetrics and Gynecology” of the journal Medicina is devoted to the propagation of novel findings and state-of-the-art knowledge in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Its primary aim is to advance the knowledge of high-quality care.

• obstetrics
• obstetrics ultrasonography
• gynecological imaging
• gynecological surgery
• gynecological oncology
• infertility
• family planning
• sexual medicine
• adolescent gynecology
• menopause
• maternal–fetal medicine