Obstetrics and gynecology, << ob STEHT rihks and `gy` nuh KOL uh jee, >> are branches of medicine that deal with women’s health. Obstetrics is concerned with pregnancy, childbirth, and the six-week period following delivery. Doctors who practice obstetrics are called obstetricians. Gynecology deals with diseases of the female reproductive organs. Doctors who practice gynecology are called gynecologists.
During a woman’s pregnancy period, an obstetrician is responsible for the health of both the mother and the fetus (unborn child). The obstetrician must take special care to avoid harming the fetus when treating diseases in the mother. During childbirth, the obstetrician helps deliver the baby. Thereafter, the obstetrician examines the mother periodically to make sure she recovers from the changes that occurred in her body during pregnancy.
A gynecologist deals with disorders involving the uterus, the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, and other organs of the female reproductive system. Such disorders may be present at birth, or they may result from infections, tumors, injuries, or improper balances of hormones (body chemicals). The gynecologist may prescribe drugs, use radiation, or perform surgery to treat the patient.
