Common Obstetric and Gynecologic Emergencies

Anyone who is pursuing obstetrics and gynecology must have intensive knowledge of Gynecologic emergencies and treatments. In OBGYN emergencies, the reproductive system in women's bodies suffers complications that may or may not threaten the life of the person, present or future sexual activities, quality of life, and fertility. An aspirant pursuing a PG in gynecology and obstetrics, must recognize these symptoms of emergency and offer timely treatment and every other kind of aid to help the woman recover.

Some of the common complications during pregnancy and childbirth are discussed below- 

  1. Miscarriage- in this emergency, the baby, which is still in the gestation stage at or before 20 weeks, ends unexpectedly. Miscarriage can result from - inability of the fetus to grow, accidents, the inability of the uterus to support the pregnancy, complications from other diseases, etc.

Symptoms of emergency- 

  • Light bleeding that gradually gets heavy
  • Cramps and abdominal pain
  • Ache in the lower back
  • Pause in symptoms that are usual in pregnancy
  1. Ectopic pregnancy

In this kind of pregnancy, the egg fertilizes in the fallopian tube and starts forming the fetus in one of the fallopian tubes itself. The pregnancy cannot continue if the fetus does not grow in the ovary. An ectopic pregnancy can be detected within the first few weeks of pregnancy. Diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy are also integral parts. 
This emergency can be detected by a transvaginal ultrasound scan. A blood test is also necessary if the patient needs a transfusion of blood. Medications are prescribed to prevent life-threatening complications. There are also laparoscopic procedures, and abdominal incision surgeries performed. 


Symptoms of emergency-

  • Intensive bleeding of the vagina, often caused by rupturing of the fallopian tube
  • Extreme pain in the lower abdomen, pelvis, shoulders, and back
  • Fatigue and dizziness 
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Bowel problems or rectal pressure
  1. Eclampsia 

This emergency can be life-threatening for both mother and fetus. This condition is caused by high blood pressure. The risk of eclampsia increases due to diet and genetics.

Symptoms of emergency

  • Severe headache
  • Blurred vision
  • High BP
  • Seizure
  1. Fetal diseases

This includes abnormalities in the fetus that cause the death of the fetus or major birth defects. Some of the prevalent fetal diseases are – down syndrome, defects of the heart, kidneys, neural tube, lungs, and facial features. This emergency results from an inadequate supply of oxygen to the fetus.

Symptoms of emergency related to fetal distress are

  • Disruption in the heart rate of the fetus
  • Less movement of the fetus
  • Less amniotic fluid
  1. Preterm labor

In this case, the process of labor starts before 37 weeks. Preterm labor can be caused by infections, existing defects and disorders of the reproductive system, diabetes, high BP, etc.

Symptoms of emergency

  • Frequent contractions
  • Constant low backache
  • Pressure in the lower abdomen, often mild cramps
  • Vaginal spotting
  • Rupture of membranes
  • Change in type of vaginal discharge 
  1. Pelvic pain caused by non-pregnancy reasons

In this case, patients experience varied levels of pain in the lower abdomen. The likely causes can vary from lower lobe pneumonia, to gastric ulcers. 

Symptoms of emergency

  • Pelvic inflammation
  • Adnexal accidents
  • Genital bleeding
  • Painful urination
  • Bloating
  • Pain during sex
  • Fever or chills
  • Constipation
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Menstrual pain
  • Ovarian torsion

A PG student can subscribe to Online MD obstetrics and gynecology courses to learn and understand the OBGYN emergencies in detail. A good online course provides high-quality lecture notes for obstetrics and gynecology which are quite accessible. A lot more than the above-mentioned emergencies are discussed in detail for MD OBGYN students to make them prepare for their residency and competitive exams. If the student has subscribed to a renowned MD obstetrics and gynecology course, these conditions and symptoms are explained with the help of HD photographs, models, graphs, charts, illustrations, and super detailed diagrams, as well as demo practical classes where surgical methods for obstetric emergencies in OBGYN, and the handling of patients are taught by gold standard faculty who specialize in OBGYN.

Pursuing PG in gynecology and obstetrics is not only challenging, but also demanding in the sense that a student has to put in long toiling hours to study the discrepancies, disorders, and diseases of women’s reproductive systems. Staying updated with the latest technological and scientific developments in this field is necessary.

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