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Surgical specialties

Obstetrics and Gynaecology Diploma

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An evidence-led diploma in obstetrics and gynaecology: how to make safe decisions in early pregnancy, antenatal care, labour and obstetric emergencies, and in gynaecological conditions, surgery and cancer, following current UK and European guidance and the US differences that matter.

Twenty-five weekly sessions across five modules take you from miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and high-risk antenatal care, through labour, birth and obstetric emergencies, to fibroids, endometriosis, prolapse surgery, gynaecological cancer and fertility, taught live by practising specialists you can question.

Course director
To be announced
Format
25 live weekly sessions on Zoom, in 5 modules
Dates
Confirmed when enrolment opens

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Sepia three-dimensional ultrasound of a fetus in the womb, showing the face in profile with a small hand raised in front of it.
Image: 3D obstetric ultrasound by Havelbaude at de.wikipedia via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Who it is for

Senior trainees, fellows and early-career consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology, and specialists who care for women in pregnancy and with gynaecological conditions, worldwide.

The programme

25 one-hour sessions in 5 modules, each with its learning objectives. This is the draft programme: the course director reviews and refines it before enrolment opens, so session titles may change.

Module 1 · Sessions 1 to 5Early pregnancy and antenatal care

  1. 1. Miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy

    • Diagnose miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy using ultrasound and serial blood tests
    • Offer expectant, medical or surgical management of miscarriage
    • Select women with tubal ectopic pregnancy for methotrexate or surgery
    • Manage a pregnancy of unknown location safely with clear follow-up

  2. 2. Antenatal care and risk assessment

    • Complete a booking risk assessment and plan the right model of antenatal care
    • Identify women who should take aspirin to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia
    • Counsel couples on screening choices for chromosomal and structural anomalies
    • Apply the elements of a national care bundle to reduce stillbirth

  3. 3. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

    • Classify hypertension in pregnancy and set treatment targets
    • Use placental growth factor testing to rule pre-eclampsia in or out
    • Manage severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, including magnesium sulfate
    • Plan the timing of birth and postnatal blood pressure follow-up

  4. 4. Diabetes and other medical disorders in pregnancy

    • Plan preconception and antenatal care for women with pre-existing diabetes
    • Diagnose gestational diabetes and start diet, metformin or insulin
    • Plan the timing and mode of birth for women with diabetes
    • Coordinate joint care for thyroid disease and epilepsy in pregnancy

  5. 5. Fetal growth restriction and reduced fetal movements

    • Identify women who need serial growth scans
    • Interpret umbilical and middle cerebral artery Doppler in a growth restricted fetus
    • Plan the timing of birth for early and late fetal growth restriction
    • Manage reduced fetal movements in line with the national care bundle
Module 2 · Sessions 6 to 10Preterm birth, labour and birth

  1. 6. Preterm labour and preterm prelabour rupture of membranes

    • Offer progesterone or cerclage to women at risk of preterm birth
    • Use diagnostic tests to decide whether a woman is in preterm labour
    • Give corticosteroids and magnesium sulfate at the right gestations
    • Manage preterm prelabour rupture of membranes, including the choice of antibiotic

  2. 7. Induction of labour

    • Discuss the timing of induction for prolonged pregnancy and respect the woman's choice
    • Choose a method of induction, including outpatient options
    • Induce labour safely after a previous caesarean birth
    • Manage a failed or prolonged induction

  3. 8. Intrapartum care and fetal monitoring

    • Choose intermittent auscultation or continuous monitoring for each woman
    • Interpret a cardiotocograph in the clinical context and act on it
    • Diagnose and manage delay in the first and second stages of labour
    • Escalate concerns on the labour ward using a structured handover

  4. 9. Assisted vaginal birth and caesarean birth

    • Select women for assisted vaginal birth and choose the instrument
    • Manage an impacted fetal head at caesarean birth
    • Counsel a woman requesting caesarean birth with balanced information
    • Advise on vaginal birth after a previous caesarean

  5. 10. Perineal trauma and obstetric anal sphincter injury

    • Classify perineal trauma after examination that includes a rectal examination
    • Repair an obstetric anal sphincter injury using a recognised technique
    • Apply preventive measures to reduce sphincter injury
    • Advise a woman on mode of birth in a future pregnancy after a sphincter injury
Module 3 · Sessions 11 to 15Obstetric emergencies and complex pregnancy

  1. 11. Postpartum haemorrhage

    • Prevent postpartum haemorrhage with the right uterotonic for each woman
    • Measure blood loss and escalate early using a structured protocol
    • Lead the team through massive postpartum haemorrhage, including tranexamic acid and blood products
    • Choose between balloon tamponade, compression sutures, embolisation and hysterectomy

  2. 12. Labour ward emergencies: shoulder dystocia, cord prolapse and maternal collapse

    • Lead the manoeuvres for shoulder dystocia in a structured sequence
    • Relieve cord compression and expedite birth after cord prolapse
    • Lead resuscitation of a collapsed pregnant woman, including perimortem caesarean birth
    • Run multiprofessional emergency drills on the labour ward

  3. 13. Placenta praevia and placenta accreta spectrum

    • Diagnose placenta praevia and plan follow-up scans
    • Identify women at risk of placenta accreta spectrum and arrange specialist imaging
    • Plan birth for placenta accreta spectrum with a multidisciplinary team
    • Recognise vasa praevia and plan the timing of birth

  4. 14. Sepsis and venous thromboembolism in pregnancy

    • Recognise maternal sepsis early and start treatment within the first hour
    • Assess venous thromboembolism risk at booking, on admission and after birth
    • Prescribe thromboprophylaxis for the right duration
    • Investigate suspected pulmonary embolism in pregnancy safely

  5. 15. Twin and multiple pregnancy

    • Determine chorionicity and amnionicity in the first trimester
    • Plan monitoring for monochorionic twins to detect feto-fetal transfusion syndrome
    • Refer complicated twin pregnancies to a fetal medicine centre
    • Plan the timing and mode of birth for twins
Module 4 · Sessions 16 to 20Gynaecological conditions and surgery

  1. 16. Heavy menstrual bleeding and fibroids

    • Assess heavy menstrual bleeding and choose the right investigations
    • Offer medical treatment in steps that respect the woman's priorities
    • Choose between myomectomy, embolisation and hysterectomy for fibroids
    • Counsel a woman on endometrial ablation versus hysterectomy

  2. 17. Endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain

    • Diagnose endometriosis without unnecessary delay using examination and ultrasound
    • Select women for hormonal treatment or surgery
    • Refer deep endometriosis involving bowel, bladder or ureter to a specialist centre
    • Advise women with endometriosis who want to conceive

  3. 18. Acute gynaecology

    • Recognise ovarian torsion and operate without delay to save the ovary
    • Treat pelvic inflammatory disease and drain a tubo-ovarian abscess when needed
    • Manage ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome with the fertility team
    • Stabilise a woman with acute heavy uterine bleeding

  4. 19. Prolapse and stress urinary incontinence: surgical decisions

    • Confirm that conservative treatment has been tried before offering surgery
    • Choose a prolapse operation for the compartment affected
    • Counsel a woman on surgery for stress incontinence, including mesh-free options
    • Recognise mesh complications and refer to a regional specialist team

  5. 20. Safe gynaecological surgery: laparoscopy and hysterectomy

    • Choose a safe laparoscopic entry technique for each patient
    • Choose vaginal, laparoscopic or abdominal hysterectomy for a given case
    • Recognise bowel and urinary tract injury during and after surgery
    • Consent a woman for hysterectomy covering the alternatives and material risks
Module 5 · Sessions 21 to 25Gynaecological cancer, fertility and professional practice

  1. 21. Ovarian masses and suspected ovarian cancer

    • Identify women whose symptoms need testing for ovarian cancer
    • Calculate the risk of malignancy index and refer at the right threshold
    • Manage a benign-looking ovarian cyst in a premenopausal woman
    • Refer suspected ovarian cancer to a gynaecological oncology team

  2. 22. Postmenopausal bleeding and endometrial cancer

    • Investigate postmenopausal bleeding with ultrasound, biopsy and hysteroscopy
    • Manage endometrial hyperplasia with and without atypia
    • Explain how molecular classification changes treatment in endometrial cancer
    • Arrange testing for Lynch syndrome in women with endometrial cancer

  3. 23. Cervical screening, colposcopy and cervical cancer

    • Explain the results of primary human papillomavirus screening and the next steps
    • Plan colposcopy and treatment of cervical precancer
    • Balance treatment of cervical precancer against the risk of preterm birth
    • Outline the options for early cervical cancer, including fertility-sparing surgery

  4. 24. Subfertility and recurrent miscarriage

    • Investigate a couple with subfertility in a structured order
    • Induce ovulation in polycystic ovary syndrome and monitor it safely
    • Decide when to refer for assisted conception
    • Investigate recurrent miscarriage and treat antiphospholipid syndrome

  5. 25. Complex case review and professional practice

    • Apply the course to complex obstetric and gynaecological cases in a panel discussion
    • Use national maternal and perinatal mortality findings to improve local care
    • Fulfil the professional duty of candour after harm
    • Plan your own development towards general or subspecialty practice

What the diploma includes

  • 25 live sessions on Zoom, one evening a week, with recordings for the weeks you miss.
  • Practising specialists teaching live, so you can put your questions to them.
  • Weekly MCQs and a final written assessment.
  • A digital certificate carrying your final classification.

Lead or teach the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Diploma

We are looking for a course director and faculty from the specialty. Sessions are one hour in the UK evening, live on Zoom, and paid.

Apply to teach