WHAT THE BLEEP?

Obstetrics and gynaecology is an exciting area with the variety and opportunity to get a mix of both medicine and surgery. In Obstetrics you spend a lot of time looking after women who are not ill, but going through a life event. In gynaecology, you can make a real difference to women with range of problems including menorrhagia, prolapse and urinary incontinence. Many new techniques and procedures have been developed over the past 30 years, and transformed the health of women and babies. Working in O&G you get the chance to work in a one of the most rewarding speciality that is constantly evolving.

PERSONALITY

• Emotional resilience and able to cope under pressure

• Great communication skills

• Manual dexterity

• Good problem-solving and decision-making skills

• Patient

AVERAGE WEEK

The normal week is made up of antenatal, gynaecology clinics and operating theatre lists; with morning or afternoon ward rounds and sessions for scanning or specialist clinics. On-call shifts are spent on labour ward with additional emergency gynaecology work assessing and managing acute gynaecology admissions. Teaching and training is an important part of a consultant’s working week, with additional time for admin and research opportunities.

BEST BITS

• Delivering a healthy baby after a complicated labour or emergency caesarean section is the most rewarding part of the job.

• Both medical and surgical work.

• Acute work is exciting and unpredictable.

CHALLENGES

• Premature deliveries, complications or still births are emotionally draining.

• Pelvic inflammatory disease, managing the patient's expectations can be difficult.

• Dealing with miscarriages and terminations of pregnancy can be challenging.