In OBGYN, OB refers to Obstetrics or Obstetrician, a doctor who specializes in the care of women and their babies during pregnancy and childbirth. GYN stands for Gynecology or Gynecologist, a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of female reproductive disorders. OBGYN is a branch of medicine that deals with the entire female reproductive health of pregnant as well as non-pregnant females.

OBGYNs diagnose and treat diseases of the female reproductive organs. They treat various other women’s health issues such as hormonal problems, menstruation issues, contraception, infertility, and reproductive tract infections. They also hold the responsibility of childbirth via normal delivery, cesarian sections, pregnancy complications, fetal signs, and growth and also help women with psychological distress and counseling.

ADMISSION PROCEDURE

The following steps are undertaken by students who aspire to become an OBGYN:

• From the beginning, aspirants must complete the senior secondary education with the PCB stream with at least 50% marks.
• Further, they should crack the NEET UG exam to get admission to medical college (Government/ Private).
• After obtaining an MBBS degree, they need to appear for the NEET- PG entrance examination.
• A good score in NEET-PG gives a push to admission to the medical college for the OBGYN PG course.
• Aspirants must complete a junior resident responsibility to gain a post-graduation degree.
• After the successful completion, they must obtain a license and become board certified.

ELIGIBILITY FOR BECOMING AN OBGYN DOCTOR

• Candidates should have completed an MBBS degree from a college/institution recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI) with a minimum of 55% marks.
• They must have undergone the one-year compulsory internship after completing the course.
• Candidates must clear the NEET PG exam to be eligible for admission to recognized universities/colleges.
• For the general category, the candidate must obtain at least 50^th percentile marks in NEET PG for admission to MD/MS courses. For SC, ST, and OBC, the minimum percentage requirement is the 40^th
• For the candidate with benchmark disability specified under the Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2016, for the GEN-EWS and unreserved category 45^th percentile is required. For, SC/ST/OBC-NCL candidates, the minimum marks shall be 40^th
• In some cases, admission to post-graduate medical courses may also include a group discussion/personal interview after the entrance examination depending on the college.
• Final confirmation of admission depends on the cut-off marks and the counseling procedure.

OBGYN IN MBBS

MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) is an undergraduate medical sciences course with a duration of 5.5 years including an internship. Admission to the MBBS is solely based on an entrance examination. The NEET (UG) entrance examination is the only valid examination to get admission in MBBS in government or private medical colleges recognized by MCI (Medical Council of India). A student needs to get into the merit list and undergo the counseling procedure for admission to MBBS successfully.

After getting admission to medical college, a student needs to learn various subjects like microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, medicine, pediatrics, OBGYN, community medicine, surgery, and more.

Undergraduate students study OBGYN in their 4^th prof, where they go through case discussions in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Along with this, a medico needs to complete a one-month OBGYN internship. During this internship, they get training in Obstetrics & Gynaecology OPD’s Wards and OTs, Labour Room, and Family Planning OPD and OT.

PG OBGYN AFTER MBBS

OBGYN is a three-year full-time postgraduate course in medical sciences. The course consists of a comprehensive, superior examination of the complete medical pathology related to the female reproductive organs, and provision of care to each non-pregnant and pregnant patient.

Admission to OBGYN MD is done through national-level entrance examinations like NEET-PG, and INI-CET. In PG OBGYN, students get familiar with the latest society guidelines, benchmark trials, and recent advancements in PCOS, Robotic Surgery, and performing clinical examinations. They are asked for pertinent tests, decipher the results, and implement medical/surgical management in the specialty clinics, OPD, wards, labor room, and operating rooms. They learn to use medical capabilities to evaluate troubles in pregnancy and discover techniques and relevant prognoses.
Watch this video to understand this important topic of OBGYN through case-based discussion

ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS FOR PURSUING PG OBGYN 

MBBS students need to undergo and crack the NEET-PG entrance examination for admission to medical college for PG OBGYN. The NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is a national-level entrance examination for admission to pursue medical sciences; NEET UG for the undergraduate medical courses (MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS), and NEET PG for the doctors to get admitted to various postgraduate courses (MD/MS) and diploma courses.

Admission for PG to government and private colleges depends on the ranking of the medicos in the NEET-PG entrance Examination. The examination body of NEET PG is the National Board of Examinations and further, the Directorate General of Health Services conducts the counselling and seat allotment process.

Institutes that are exempted from admission via the NEET PG exam are:

1. AIIMSs
2. PGIMER
3. JIPMER
4. NIMHANS
5. SCTIMST

These institutes come under the INI (Institute of National Importance).

To get admission to INI (Institute of National Importance) institutions, medicos must get into the merit of the INI-CET (Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test).

INI- CET is a combined entrance examination to the INI institutes for PG courses in medical Sciences [MD, MS, DM (6 years), MCh (6 years), and MDS]

List of Participating INI Institutes for INI-CET:

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda, Punjab
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bibinagar, Telangana
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Deoghar, Jharkhand
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur, Maharashtra
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, Chhattisgarh
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
• Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry
• Postgraduate Institute of Medical Science and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh
• National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, Karnataka
• Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananathapuram, Kerala

NOTE:

MRCOG Examination:

This examination is specially designed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for OBGYN doctors to assess their skills, knowledge, and competencies. This exam comprises three parts- MRCOG Part 1, MRCOG Part 2 & MRCOG Part 3. Membership of RCOGs is awarded upon the successful completion of all three stages of the exam.

TOP COLLEGES FOR PG IN OBGYN

Some of the colleges for admission to PG-OBGYN are listed below:

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
• Armed Forces Medical College, Pune
• IMS BHU- Indian Institute of Medical Sciences- Banaras Hindu University, Banaras
• Bangalore Medical College, Bangalore
• Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi
• Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi
• JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research), Puducherry
• Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh
• King George Medical College, Lucknow
• Madras Medical College, Chennai
• Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu
• Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi
• VMMC College, New Delhi
• Goa Medical College, Panaji

COURSE STRUCTURE OF PG OBGYN

There are four papers:

PAPER I: Applied Basic sciences: Physiology and anatomy of the female reproductive system, pharmacological and hormonal roles, obstetric and gynecological markers – non-neoplastic and neoplastic, medical genetics, anatomical and physiological changes in the female reproductive tract during pregnancy, pharmacology of drugs used during labor and after birth

PAPER II: Obstetrics including Social Obstetrics & Diseases of Newborn: Prenatal Care: Risky Pregnancy, Obstetrics: Postpartum, Vaginal delivery, caesarean section, Hysterectomy, Destructive Surgery, Manipulation (external/internal pod version, manual placental removal, etc.), Medical Abortion – Safe Abortion – Case Selection, Complication Techniques, and Treatment, MTP, newborn.

PAPER Ill: Gynecology: Clinical gynecology, Family Welfare, and demography, Male and female infertility.

PAPER IV: Recent Advances in Obstetrics & Gynaecology

• Along with four theory papers, doctors pursuing MD OBGYN have to do Practical Examinations in Obstetrics and Gynecology:

Clinical long case and short case including viva of:

• Instruments
• Pathological specimen,
• Medicines and X-rays, ultrasounds, etc.
• Dummy Pelvis
• Family planning
  THESIS:
• Students identify relevant research questions
• Conduct a critical literature review
• Hypothesize
• Determine the most appropriate study design
• State the purpose of the research
• Preparation of test protocols
• Conduct the study according to the protocol
• Analyze and interpret research data and draw conclusions
• Write a research paper
• PG OBGYN students are also required to complete their OBGYN residency and postings.

Watch this video to learn the right way to approach OBGYN MD

SCOPE/JOB OPPORTUNITIES AFTER MD IN GYNECOLOGY & OBSTETRICS

Undoubtedly, the course is highly respected, job oriented, and lucrative. This opens doors to a variety of job prospects such as Maternal-fetal medicine specialists, Reproductive endocrinologists, Gynecologic oncologists, Female pelvic specialists, critical care medicine specialists, professors, clinical associates, junior consultants, senior residents, consultants, general physicians, researchers, private practitioners, govt. doctors, and private clinicians. Moreover, the OBGYN can go for research and higher studies in research centres and universities.

FAQs (Frequently asked questions)

Q1.What is the difference between an Obstetrician and a Gynecologist?

Ans. A gynecologist is mainly trained in female reproductive care whereas an obstetrician cares for pregnant women and newborns.

Q2. Who is the first female Surgeon General in India?

Ans. Mary Poonen Lukose was an Indian gynecologist, obstetrician, and the first female Surgeon General in India.

Q3. Can a person pursue OBGYN without an MBBS degree?

Ans. Yes, one can pursue a career in OBGYN after a BAMS degree if not MBBS. A diploma course in OBGYN can be done as well after a BAMS degree.

Q4. How can I enter the OBGYN field?

Ans. You can undergo a three-year postgraduate course in OBGYN (MS/MD) after doing MBBS or a two-year diploma program of postgraduate training in Obstetrics and gynecology.