Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Obstetrics and Gynaecology (pronounced: ob-stet-riks and gyn-uh-kol-uh-jee) is a branch of medicine that specializes in the care of women during pregnancy and childbirth and in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the female reproductive organs. It also specializes in other women’s health issues such as menopause, hormone problems, contraception (birth control), and infertility.
Etymology
The term "Obstetrics" comes from the Latin word "obstare," which means "to stand by." This term is a reference to the practice of having a midwife or doctor stand by the woman during childbirth. "Gynaecology" comes from the Greek words "gyne" meaning woman and "logia" meaning study, thus it is the study of women.
Related Terms
- Obstetrician: A doctor who specializes in pregnancy and childbirth.
- Gynaecologist: A doctor who specializes in the female reproductive system.
- Midwife: A health professional who cares for mothers and newborns around childbirth, a specialization known as midwifery.
- Pregnancy: The period from conception to birth when a woman carries a developing fetus in her uterus.
- Menopause: The time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop; it is also called the "change of life."
- Contraception: Methods of preventing pregnancy.
- Infertility: A condition of the reproductive system that prevents the conception of children.
See Also
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