There are no Knowledge Centres for this area
We are currently seeking suitable partners to assist in providing an educational Knowledge Centres for this section.
Click here to suggest a disease topic and/or partner
Women's Health and Obs/Gyn Topic Homepage
Women's Health and Obs/Gyn Overview
The specialty of gynaecology encompasses the study, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the female reproductive organs. Obstetrics specifically includes pregnancy, labour and birth.
Menstruation is a natural process in post-pubescent and pre-menopausal women, with the average menstrual cycle lasting 28 days.1 Menstrual disorders include: premenstrual syndrome (PMS),2 dysmenorrhea,1...
... amenorrhea,1 and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).3 PCOS is a common and perplexing endocrine disorder of women in their reproductive years, with a prevalence of up to 10%.4
Other non-cancerous gynaecological disorders include endometriosis, 5 fibroids,6 pelvic floor hernias1 (rectocele, enterocele, cystocele, prolapse of the uterus, and prolapse of the vagina), and infertility.7
Cancers of the female reproductive system, including uterine, ovarian, cervical and vaginal cancers, have high morbidity and mortality rates. Ovarian cancer accounts for 4% of all cancers in women, and it is the leading cause of death of all gynaecological malignancies.8 The asymptomatic nature of early-stage ovarian cancer means that the majority of diagnosed cases are late-stage, and subsequently have a much lower survival rate.8 Cervical cancer is thought, in some cases, to be caused by the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV).9 In 2006, a HPV vaccine was licensed and has since been administered to young women across the world in order to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in the future.9
1. Beers M.H. et al. The Merck manual of medical information. Merck research laboratories. Second home edition. 2003 : 1341-1480.
2. Derman O. et al. Premenstrual Syndrome and Associated Symptoms in Adult Girls. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. October 2004 ; 116 (2) : 201-206.
3. Franks S. Diagnosing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Women's Health Medicine. May 2006 ; 3 (3) : 103-105.
4. Hart R. Definitions, Prevalence, and Symptoms of Polycystic Ovaries and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Best Practice and Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology. October 2004 : ; 18 (5) : 671-183.
5. Vigano P. et al. Endometriosis: Epidemiology and Aetiological Factors. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. April 2004 ; 18 (2) : 177-200.
6. Gupta S. et al. Clinical Presentation of Fibroids. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. August 2008 ; 22 (4) : 615-626.
7. Zegers-Hochschild F. et al. Infertility. International Encyclopaedia of Public Health. Elsevier Inc. 2008 : 576-587.
8. Colombo N. et al. Ovarian Cancer. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Haematology. November 2006 ; 60 (2) : 159-179.
9. Markowitz L. et al. Post-licensure monitoring of HPV vaccine in the United States. Vaccine. July 2010 ; 28 (30) : 4731–4737.
Content on this page
Advert for Healthcare Professionals only
Drug News
EU approves Octava Pink test (Eventus Diagnostics) for detecting Breast Cancer
10-05-2013The EU have awarded CE mark approval to the Octava Pink breast cancer test, from Eventus Diagnostics. The test is one of a new class of rapid, accurate and cost-effective blood tests that measure cancer-specific autoantibodies to detect the presence or absence of Breast Cancer. The Octava confirmatory tests are designed to be used in conjunction with annual screening mammograms.
They...
FDA approves Diclegis (Duchesnay USA) for treatment of Nausea in pregnancy
10-04-2013The FDA has approved Diclegis (doxylamine succinate/pyridoxine hydrochloride) delayed-release tablets, from Duchesnay USA, for the treatment of Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) in women who do not respond to conservative management. The NDA submission was based on a 15-day double-blind, randomized, multi-center placebo-controlled trial studying pregnant women 18 years of age or older, 7...
US Court removes age limits on Plan B One Step contraceptive
08-04-2013
A U.S. District Judge Edward Korman in Brooklyn, NY, ruled the refusal by the FDA to remove age limits for the Plan B One Step morning after contraceptive pill had been "arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable,". He ordered that the "morning after" birth control pill be made freely available to girls of all ages without a prescription.
...Women's Health and Obs/Gyn Drug Data - A-Z
Possible searches include drugs or medicines (by brand, generic ingredient or drug class), diseases, conditions and more.
Advert for Healthcare Professionals only
Recent Drug Updates
GYNO-DAKTARIN
10-05-2013For the local treatment of vulvovaginal candidosis and superinfections due to gram-positive bacteria. ...
Yentreve 20mg and 40mg hard gastro-resistant capsules
08-05-2013YENTREVE is indicated for women for the treatment of moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence (SUI)....
TOVIAZ Tablets
30-04-2013Treatment of the symptoms (increased urinary frequency and/or urgency and/or urgency incontinence) that may occur in patients with overactive bladder syndrome. ...
Clinical Guidelines
Bevacizumab in combination with capecitabine for the first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer
Aug 2012Bevacizumab (Avastin, Roche) is a humanised anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)..
... monoclonal antibody that inhibits VEGF-induced signalling and inhibits VEGF-driven angiogenesis. This reduces vascularisation of tumours, thereby inhibiting tumour growth. Bevacizumab is administered by intravenous infusion.
The Initial Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain
May 2012The purpose of this guideline is to provide an evidence-based summary for the generalist to..
... facilitate appropriate investigation and management of women presenting for the first time with chronic pelvic pain.
Online CME
Clinical Review - Postnatal Depression
Apr 2013
... depression, as well as a summary of up-to-date management protocols and the evidence base.
The Basics - Dyspareunia
Apr 2013
... experienced at intercourse and emphasises the importance of understanding the psychological issues involved.
Clinical Trials
Short-term Investigation of Resveratrol on Fat Metabolism in Morbidly Obese Women Undergoing Gastric Bypass Surgery
03-04-2013The purpose of this study is to investigate potential metabolic effects of resveratrol in morbidly obese women undergoing gastric bypass surgery.
Bone Healing in Healthy and Post-menopausal Osteoporotic Women
26-03-2013Both the pathogenesis and the treatment of osteoporosis may potentially interfere at different levels on the multi-stage complex cascade of events involved in bone healing/regeneration. To our knowledge no human studies have been performed to clarify the potential effect of osteoporosis on post-extraction alveolar..
... healing. The primary outcome of the study is to compare alveolar bone changes in width and height 3 months after tooth extraction in 15 post-menopausal osteoporotic women and 15 healthy pre or post menopausal women by the use of cone-beam computer tomography (CBCT) images. As secondary outcome the investigators put: changes in the external contour of the ridge together with periodontal parameters in the neighbouring teeth, tissue blood perfusion changes during the initial healing (assessed by laser doppler flowmetry) and levels of serum bone resorption/formation markers.
Medical Videos
Medical Journal Abstracts
Efficacy and safety of intraoperative intravenous methadone during general anaesthesia for caesarean delivery: a retrospective case-control study
International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia
Dec 2012
Background: Most patients undergoing caesarean delivery with general anaesthesia require systemic opioid administration. Due to its rapid onset and long duration of action, intravenous methadone may make it suitable for analgesia after caesarean delivery. Intraoperative methadone combined with postoperative intravenous..
Insertion of an intrathecal catheter following accidental dural puncture: a meta-analysis
International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia
Dec 2012
Background: Inserting an intrathecal catheter after accidental dural puncture in parturients to prevent postdural puncture headache is becoming increasingly popular. We aimed to identify relevant published articles investigating this intervention and subject data to a meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic literature..
Medical Apps
Obstetics and Gynecology On Call - £0.69
Women's Health - Free
Menstrual Calendar Premium - £2.69
Obstetics and Gynecology - Free
Social Media
Frailty. Is it an important clinical syndrome?
on doc2doc... s decision, and possibly the family´s, more. This is of course difficult, many people have unrealistic expectations, so additional guidelines ...
What's the most ridiculous rule your hospital has enforced?
on doc2docWhat's the most ridiculous rule your hospital has enforced? In Response to Re: What's the most ridiculous rule your hospital has enforced?:This ...
Should we do CO breath tests to identify pregnant women who are smoking?
on doc2doc... to identify pregnant women who are smoking? Proposed NICE guidance on smoking cessation for pregnant women suggests all women attending antenatal ...
Advert for Healthcare Professionals only