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THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION
Types of Questions
The basic written examination is offered toapproved candidates once each year on the last Monday in June. The examination consists of objective, single-best answer, multiple-choice questions. Many of the questions are constructed to be thought provoking and/or problem solving in contrast to "recall" type questions. They contain a continuum of answers. Specifically, all possible answers may be correct, but only one answer is the MOST correct.
Topics Covered in Examination
Approximately 30% of the questions are from topics listed under each of the general headings of gynecology, obstetrics and office practice-preventive/primary care. The remaining 10% of the questions are based on cross-content topics such as, genetics, immunology and pharmacology.
An individual disease process might be considered under multiple topics such as inclusion of endometriosis under acute pelvic pain, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, laparoscopy, major gynecologic surgery and several others.
Listed below are major areas of emphasis on the examination. Please note the examples included in parentheses are not meant to be all-inclusive. The listing of topics under a major heading is arbitrary and does not reflect the relative emphasis of that specific topic in the examination.
Obstetrics Blue Print
1. Preconception care and counseling (e.g. folic acid, genetic screening,
teratogenesis)
2. Antepartum care and complications (e.g. hyperemesis, second
trimester loss)
3. Intrapartum care and complications (e.g. fetal monitoring, group B
streptococcus, uterine rupture)
4. Postpartum care and complications (e.g. lactation, vulvar hematoma)
5. Fetal assessment (e.g. well-being, fetal growth restriction)
6. Prenatal diagnosis
7. Preterm labor
8. Premature rupture of membranes (e.g. preterm, term)
9. Obstetric hemorrhage (e.g. placenta previa, abruption, postpartum
hemorrhage)
10. Dystocia and abnormalities of fetal lie and presentation
11. Postterm pregnancy
12. Induction of labor
13. Operative obstetrics (e.g. forceps, cesarean, cesarean hysterectomy)
14. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (e.g. chronic hypertension,
preeclampsia, thrombocytopenia)
15. Cardiovascular and/or pulmonary diseases coexisting with pregnancy
16. Renal, dermatologic, and/or neurologic diseases coexisting with
pregnancy
17. Hematologic, neoplastic and/or endocrine diseases coexisting with
pregnancy
18. Infections coexisting with pregnancy (e.g. pyelonephritis, HIV,
varicella)
19. Abnormal fetal growth
20. Diabetes and pregnancy
21. Multifetal gestation
22. Ultrasound, Doppler and other imaging techniques
23. Surgical conditions coexisting with pregnancy (e.g. acute abdomen,
adnexal mass, breast mass)
24. Psychiatric disorders during pregnancy and postpartum
25. Care of the neonate
26. Intrapartum and postpartum infection (e.g. chorioamnionitis, mastitis)
Gynecology Blue Print
1. Ectopic pregnancy
2. Endometriosis
3. Uterine myomas
4. Operations for infertility
5. Abnormal uterine bleeding
6. Abnormal cytology
7. Congenital abnormalities of the reproductive tract
8. Pelvic relaxation and defects in pelvic floor
9. Urinary and fecal incontinence
10. Benign conditions of the reproductive tract (e.g. ovarian cysts,
adenomyosis, vulvar and vaginal ulcers)
11. Sexually transmitted infections
12. Pelvic inflammatory diseases (e.g. salpingitis, tubo-ovarian abscess,
tuberculosis)
13. Acute pelvic pain (e.g. adnexal torsion, appendicitis)
14. Chronic pelvic pain
15. Diagnostic procedures (e.g. colposcopy, endometrial biopsy)
16. Hysteroscopy (e.g. diagnostic and operative)
17. Laparoscopy (e.g. diagnostic and operative)
18. Ultrasound
19. Preoperative evaluation and preparation
20. Minor gynecologic surgery (e.g. tubal sterilization, excision of Bartholin
gland)
21. Major gynecologic surgery (e.g. colpocleisis, myomectomy)
22. Postoperative care, complications and problems (e.g. pulmonary
embolus, ileus)
23. Emergency care (e.g. vulvar hematoma, hemoperitoneum)
24. Premalignant conditions of the reproductive tract and breasts (e.g.
endometrial hyperplasia, cervical dysplasia)
25. Invasive neoplasia of the reproductive tract and breasts
26. Trophoblastic diseases
27. Coexisting medical diseases (e.g. diabetes, asthma, thrombophilias)
28. Concurrent surgical conditions (e.g. necrotizing fasciitis, small bowel
obstruction)
29. Coexisting psychiatric conditions (e.g. depression, personality
disorders)
Office Practice
Preventive/Primary Care Blue Print
1. Age-appropriate periodic assessment, preventive care and health
maintenance (e.g. mammography, colonoscopy, blood pressure
monitoring, hematocrit, immunizations, counseling for proper diet,
calcium, folic acid and exercise)
2. Family planning (e.g. contraception, sterilization, complications of
pregnancy termination)
3. Life style modification (e.g. smoking cessation, weight loss,
substance abuse treatment)
4. Diagnosis and treatment of uncomplicated medical diseases and
disorders (e.g. headache, bronchitis, low back pain, irritable bowel,
arthritis, acne)
5. Benign breast disorders
6. Urinary tract infections
7. Diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorders
8. Cardiovascular diseases (e.g. hypertension, hyperlipidemia,
atherosclerosis)
9. Perimenopause and menopause
10. Osteoporosis
11. Polycystic ovary syndrome
12. Primary and secondary amenorrhea
13. Abnormal uterine bleeding
14. Disorders of reproductive physiology and gynecologic endocrinology
(e.g. galactorrhea, hirsutism, anovulation, hyperandrogenism)
15. Early pregnancy loss (e.g. spontaneous abortion, recurrent abortion)
16. Psychiatric conditions (e.g. depression, anxiety)
17. Domestic violence and sexual assault
18. Sexuality and sexual dysfunction
19. Problems relating to physiology of menstruation (e.g. premenstrual
syndrome, menstrual migraine, primary dysmenorrhea)
20. Office surgery
21. Vulvar disease (e.g. ulcers, dermatologic conditions, cysts, masses)
22. Vaginal discharge
23. Pediatric and adolescent gynecology
24. Geriatric gynecology
25. Chronic pelvic and vulvar pain
26. Ultrasound
27. Sexually transmitted infections
28. Lesbian health issues
Cross Content Areas Blue Print
1. Basic science (maternal and fetal physiology, physiology of
reproductive endocrinology, pathology, immunology, microbiology,
pharmacology, anatomy, embryology)
2. Genetics
3. Ethics and professionalism
4. Epidemiology and evidence-based medicine
5. Systems-based practice and patient safety
6. Communications
The candidate will be expected to demonstrate skills necessary to apply basic knowledge to the management of clinical problems. These skills include:
1. obtaining needed information;
2. interpretation and use of data obtained;
3. selection, instituting and implementing care;
4. management of complications;
5. following and continuing care.
The areas of information and skills which are examined are described in further detail in the manual "Educational Objectives for Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology", published by the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Next: THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION - Requirements
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