Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Encyclopedia
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) is a professional association
based in the UK
. Its members, including people with and without medical degrees, work in the field of obstetrics
and gynaecology
, that is, pregnancy
, childbirth
, and female sexual
and reproductive health
. RCOG is dedicated to "improving sexual and reproductive healthcare worldwide." The College has over 12,000 members in over 100 countries, over half of these reside outside of the United Kingdom.
The college's primary object is given as "The encouragement of the study and the advancement of the science and practice of obstetrics and gynaecology", although its governing documents impose no specific restrictions on its operation. Its offices are near Regent's Park
in central London
.
on 21 March 1947. For the first three years, the office work was done from 20, St John Street, Manchester. In 1932, the office was shifted to London at 58, Queen Anne Street. The building was officially opened by the Duchess of York on December 5, 1932. With continuing expansion of the college activities, it had outgrown the Queen Anne Street premises and a decision was made in 1952 to move to larger premises.
The college moved to the present premises at 27 Sussex Place, Regent's Park in July 1960. The new building was formally opened by Her Majesty on the 13th of July.
RCOG has published many informational guides and studies, including thirty on contraception
, twenty-four on pregnancy complications
, and five on abortion
. Other topics covered include cancer
, breastfeeding
, diabetes in pregnancy, and neonatology
(resuscitation of the newborn, in which skill RCOG recommends that all professionals present at the time of birth are proficient). In addition, the College publishes books ranging from biographies of significant people in the profession, to textbooks for trainees, to results of research.
). The DRCOG examination is aimed at doctors, and especially General Practitioners, who wish to certificate their knowledge and interest in obsteterics and gynaecology.
The Membership examination, which were first held in 1931, is intended for those who wish to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology. The exam is a two-part examination, the Part 1 MRCOG is a written examination to evaluate basic and clinical sciences relevant to the subject and the Part 2 consists of separate written and clinical sections (OSCEs).
The award of the Fellowship is a mark of senior status and does not indicate completion of training. They are elected from the those who have been Members for at least 12 years. Fellows use the designatory letters FRCOG. Fellowship can also be awarded to those who are not been Members of the college, but have either contributed significantly to the advancement of the specialty (Fellows ad eundem); demonstrated exemplary work in the specialty (Fellows honoris causa) or distinguished people outside the medical profession (Honorary Fellows).
BJOG is an editorially independent peer reviewed journal owned by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists publishing work in all areas of obstetrics and gynaecology, including contraception, urogynaecology, fertility, oncology and clinical practice. It is one of the most widely read journals in obstetrics and gynaecology. It had an Impact Factor of 3.437 and ISI Journal Citation Reports Ranking of 6/70 (Gynaecology) in 2009. BJOG also release podcasts.
The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
TOG is the journal for continuing professional development from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The journal is known for its reviews and clinical governance articles.
Professional body
A professional association is usually a nonprofit organization seeking to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals engaged in that profession, and the public interest.The roles of these professional associations have been variously defined: "A group of people in a...
based in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Its members, including people with and without medical degrees, work in the field of obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
and gynaecology
Gynaecology
Gynaecology or gynecology is the medical practice dealing with the health of the female reproductive system . Literally, outside medicine, it means "the science of women"...
, that is, pregnancy
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
, childbirth
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
, and female sexual
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
and reproductive health
Reproductive health
Within the framework of the World Health Organization's definition of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, reproductive health, or sexual health/hygiene, addresses the reproductive processes, functions and system...
. RCOG is dedicated to "improving sexual and reproductive healthcare worldwide." The College has over 12,000 members in over 100 countries, over half of these reside outside of the United Kingdom.
The college's primary object is given as "The encouragement of the study and the advancement of the science and practice of obstetrics and gynaecology", although its governing documents impose no specific restrictions on its operation. Its offices are near Regent's Park
Regent's Park
Regent's Park is one of the Royal Parks of London. It is in the north-western part of central London, partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden...
in central London
Central London
Central London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...
.
History
Founded as the British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in September 1929 by Professor William Blair-Bell and Sir William Fletcher Shaw, RCOG was granted a Royal CharterRoyal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
on 21 March 1947. For the first three years, the office work was done from 20, St John Street, Manchester. In 1932, the office was shifted to London at 58, Queen Anne Street. The building was officially opened by the Duchess of York on December 5, 1932. With continuing expansion of the college activities, it had outgrown the Queen Anne Street premises and a decision was made in 1952 to move to larger premises.
The college moved to the present premises at 27 Sussex Place, Regent's Park in July 1960. The new building was formally opened by Her Majesty on the 13th of July.
Core activities and responsibilities
The College promotes standards of care in obstetrics and gynaecology by a programme of research, publication, and review. Areas of prenatal studies have included the effect of obesity of the expectant mother on frequency of birth defects. The College examines and evaluates other researchers' results, as in the 1999 claim that coffee could cause miscarriage, which they found to be unsupported, and the claimed connection between breast cancer and abortion, which RCOG also found unsupported.RCOG has published many informational guides and studies, including thirty on contraception
Contraception
Contraception is the prevention of the fusion of gametes during or after sexual activity. The term contraception is a contraction of contra, which means against, and the word conception, meaning fertilization...
, twenty-four on pregnancy complications
Complications of pregnancy
Complications of pregnancy are the symptoms and problems that are associated with pregnancy. There are both routine problems and serious, even potentially fatal problems. The routine problems are normal complications, and pose no significant danger to either the woman or the fetus...
, and five on abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
. Other topics covered include cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from female human breasts rather than from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. It is recommended that mothers breastfeed for six months or...
, diabetes in pregnancy, and neonatology
Neonatology
Neonatology is a subspecialty of pediatrics that consists of the medical care of newborn infants, especially the ill or premature newborn infant. It is a hospital-based specialty, and is usually practiced in neonatal intensive care units...
(resuscitation of the newborn, in which skill RCOG recommends that all professionals present at the time of birth are proficient). In addition, the College publishes books ranging from biographies of significant people in the profession, to textbooks for trainees, to results of research.
Examinations
The RCOG is responsible for developing the framework and curriculum of post graduate training in obsteterics and gynaecology in the United Kingdom. It conducts two principal examinations: the Membership examination (MRCOG) and the Diploma examination (DRCOGDObst RCOG
The medical post-nominal suffix DObst RCOG is awarded to obstetricians and gynaecologists who have gained the Diploma of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists...
). The DRCOG examination is aimed at doctors, and especially General Practitioners, who wish to certificate their knowledge and interest in obsteterics and gynaecology.
The Membership examination, which were first held in 1931, is intended for those who wish to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology. The exam is a two-part examination, the Part 1 MRCOG is a written examination to evaluate basic and clinical sciences relevant to the subject and the Part 2 consists of separate written and clinical sections (OSCEs).
Members and Fellows
Members use the designatory letters MRCOG. Membership is awarded at a meeting of Council to those who have passed all parts of the Membership examination. Membership without Examination can be awarded to doctors holding a NHS consultant or honorary post at consultant level in the British Isles for a minimum of one year. This is subject to fulfilling certain strict criteria.The award of the Fellowship is a mark of senior status and does not indicate completion of training. They are elected from the those who have been Members for at least 12 years. Fellows use the designatory letters FRCOG. Fellowship can also be awarded to those who are not been Members of the college, but have either contributed significantly to the advancement of the specialty (Fellows ad eundem); demonstrated exemplary work in the specialty (Fellows honoris causa) or distinguished people outside the medical profession (Honorary Fellows).
Journals
BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and GynaecologyBJOG is an editorially independent peer reviewed journal owned by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists publishing work in all areas of obstetrics and gynaecology, including contraception, urogynaecology, fertility, oncology and clinical practice. It is one of the most widely read journals in obstetrics and gynaecology. It had an Impact Factor of 3.437 and ISI Journal Citation Reports Ranking of 6/70 (Gynaecology) in 2009. BJOG also release podcasts.
The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
TOG is the journal for continuing professional development from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The journal is known for its reviews and clinical governance articles.
See also
- The Diploma of the Royal College of GynaecologistsDObst RCOGThe medical post-nominal suffix DObst RCOG is awarded to obstetricians and gynaecologists who have gained the Diploma of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists...
- Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive HealthcareFaculty of Sexual and Reproductive HealthcareThe Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare is a faculty of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. It is the standard-setting organisation for family planning and sexual health physicians in the United Kingdom...