Course info

The major goals, which we expect our students will achieve during this clerkship rotation, are:

1. To become skillful in obstetrical and gynecologic history taking and in the physical examination of

women.

2. To learn the principles and practice of normal antenatal care, intrapartum and postpartum care.  

This includes knowledge of maternal physiologic changes in pregnancy, the management of

normal labour, normal vaginal delivery, and normal postpartum care.

3. To recognize common obstetrical complications, and understand the interaction between

pregnancy and common medical disorders. To recognize patients who require referral for

specialist care due to increased risk of maternal or fetal morbidity and mortality. To become

effective in the diagnosis and management of labour abnormalities, and to know the indications

and requirements for assisted vaginal delivery, and indications for and complications of cesarean

section. To recognize and develop management plans for complications in the postpartum period.   

4. To be able to diagnose, through skilled history taking and examination, and appropriate use of

laboratory and imaging modalities, common gynecologic disorders.  To be able to develop a

comprehensive plan for diagnosis and management for patients presenting with abnormal uterine

bleeding, pelvic or abdominal pain, pelvic mass, vaginal discharge or itching, amenorrhea,

infertility, vulvar lesions, hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms, and abnormal PAP smear.

5. To become familiar with all aspects of contraception, sterilization and abortion.  To be capable of

effectively counseling patients seeking advice on contraception, sterilization and abortion.  To

identify and develop a management plans for complications of the above.

6. To read about and know in depth all medical and surgical problems that affect those patients

assigned to the student.

7. To acquire clinical and surgical skills, including:

 Diagnosis of pregnancy and correct assignment of expected date of delivery

 Management of postpartum hemorrhage

 Management of shoulder dystocia

 Diagnosis of failure to progress in labour

 Aseptic technique in the operating and delivery room,8

 Performance of a speculum examination for taking cervical cytology, assessing vaginal bleeding or

discharge, or assessing for ruptured membranes in pregnancy

 Assessment of fetal position during third trimester using Leopold’s maneuvers  

 Interpretation of fetal heart‐rate patterns

 Assessment of cervical dilation, effacement, and station during labour

 Performance of uncomplicated vaginal delivery

 Surgical knot tying

 Ability to suture an episiotomy on a model

 Interpretation of selected ultrasounds and x‐rays

 Identification of common gynecologic lesions (benign and malignant, infectious)