Mastering the cognitive knowledge within a field such as obstetrics and gynecology is a formidable task. It is even more difficult to draw on that knowledge, to procure and filter through the clinical and laboratory data, to develop a differential diagnosis, and finally to make a rational treatment plan. To gain these skills, the student often learns best at the bedside, guided and instructed by experienced teachers, and inspired toward self-directed, diligent reading. Clearly, there is no replacement for education at the bedside. Unfortunately, clinical situations usually do not encompass the breadth of the specialty. Perhaps the best alternative is a carefully crafted patient case designed to stimulate the clinical approach and decision making. In an attempt to achieve that goal, we have constructed a collection of clinical vignettes to teach diagnostic or therapeutic approaches relevant to obstetrics and gynecology. Most importantly, the explanations for the cases emphasize the mechanisms and underlying principles, rather than merely rote questions and answers.

This book is organized for versatility: It allows the student “in a rush” to go quickly through the scenarios and check the corresponding answers, and it provides more detailed information for the student who wants thought-provoking explanations. The answers are arranged from simple to complex: a summary of the pertinent points, the bare answers, an analysis of the case, an approach to the topic, a comprehension test at the end for reinforcement and emphasis, and a list of resources for further reading. The clinical vignettes have been arranged as Obstetrical in the first half, and Gynecology in the second half, and related cases grouped together. Section III contains Review Questions designed to require higher level integration of information. A listing of cases is included in Section IV to aid the students who desire to test their knowledge of a specific area, or who want to review a topic including basic definitions. Finally, we intentionally did not use a multiple-choice question (MCQ) format in our clinical case scenarios, since clues (or distractions) are not available in the real world. Nevertheless, several MCQs are included at the end of each case discussion (Comprehension Questions) to reinforce concepts or introduce related topics.