Obstetrics and gynaecology (often abbreviated Ob-Gyn in the US and O&G elsewhere) form a single medical specialty and have a combined postgraduate training program. This is quite arduous: (in Australia, for example, it is among the longest, six years, matched only by neurosurgery). Some generalists can work as obstetricians, mainly in rural areas. All gynaecologists, therefore, are trained obstetricians, and vice versa. However, some doctors drop their obstetric practice, especially as they get older. This is often due to the double burden of very late hours and high rates of litigation.

See Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Reference

• Llewellyn-Jones, Derek, Fundamentals of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 7th ed., Mosby, 1999.