What is obstetrics and gynaecology, and what does the RCOG do?

Updated

Obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) is the medical specialty covering pregnancy and childbirth (obstetrics) and the female reproductive system (gynaecology). The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) is the UK professional body for doctors in this field; it publishes clinical guidance, sets training and examination standards, runs membership, and produces patient information leaflets. It is a professional membership organisation, not a clinic, so its guidance supports rather than replaces advice from your own clinician.

Obstetrics and gynaecology: two areas, one specialty

Obstetrics

Obstetrics covers care during pregnancy, labour and birth, and the postnatal period. That includes antenatal monitoring, managing complications of pregnancy, delivery care, and follow-up after birth.

Gynaecology

Gynaecology covers non-pregnant reproductive health — for example menstrual problems, menopause, and other conditions of the female reproductive tract. The RCOG site reflects this breadth: its patient information section includes topics such as menopause and later life alongside pregnancy-related material.

Why they are combined

The two areas share anatomy, physiology and much of the same clinical workforce. Many doctors train across both before subspecialising, which is why "O&G" is treated as a single specialty in training and professional structures.

What the RCOG does

The RCOG describes its mission as improving women's health care through guidance, training, membership, patient information and professional support. Its main activities:

Function What it provides
Clinical guidance Green-top Guidelines, Scientific Impact Papers, Consent Advice
Training and exams Support for trainees, exams, Trainee ePortfolio, CPD and revalidation, RCOG Learning
Membership A professional community of O&G practitioners, with member benefits and fees that fund the College's work
Public information Patient information leaflets, an A-Z of medical terms, and topic pages such as coronavirus and pregnancy
Events and policy World Congress (2027 theme: "Shaping women's health: Global collaboration – local impact"), plus workforce and policy statements

The College also publishes news and commentary on workforce pressures — for example, responses on maternity patient safety and data on gynaecology waiting lists in England — and runs support resources for doctors, including confidential peer support and wellbeing material.

Who the RCOG serves

  • Doctors and trainees in O&G — guidance, exams, ePortfolio, CPD and revalidation, and peer support.
  • The wider professional community — membership, events such as World Congress, and careers resources.
  • The public — plain-language patient information leaflets and medical-term definitions for anyone seeking reliable women's health information.

Finding the right resource on the RCOG site

The site separates professional and public content, so start by deciding which you need:

  • If you are a patient or family member: use the patient information leaflets section (browsable by topic or via search), or the A-Z of medical terms.
  • If you are a clinician or trainee: use the guidance section (Green-top Guidelines, Scientific Impact Papers, Consent Advice) or the careers and training pages for exams, ePortfolio and CPD.

Both areas have their own search box, which is quicker than browsing when you know the topic.

A practical caveat

The RCOG is a UK professional body. Its guidance is written for UK practice and for clinicians exercising judgement; it is not a substitute for local clinical advice or for the protocol of your own hospital or health system. If you are reading guidance from outside the UK, check how it maps onto your local standards before applying it.