UPSC CMSE Gynecology and Obstetrics Syllabus

Gynecology and Obstetrics syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Gynecology and Obstetrics in UPSC CMSE, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Obstetrics

   6 topics

   • Antenatal Care
   • Labor and Delivery
   • Postpartum Care
   • High-Risk Pregnancy
   • Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia
   • Gestational Diabetes
2. 2

   Gynecology

   6 topics

   • Menstrual Disorders
   • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
   • Endometriosis
   • Uterine Fibroids
   • Ovarian Cysts
   • Gynecologic Cancers
3. 3

   Reproductive Endocrinology

   6 topics

   • Infertility
   • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
   • Menopause
   • Hormone Replacement Therapy
   • Contraception
   • Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Gynecology and Obstetrics flashcards for UPSC CMSE

24 of 67 cards from the Gynecology and Obstetrics deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the recommended minimum number of antenatal care (ANC) visits per WHO 2016 guidelines?

   At least 8 ANC contacts during pregnancy (first by 12 weeks, then at 20, 26, 30, 34, 36, 38, and 40 weeks).

2. By what gestational age should the first antenatal visit ideally occur?

   Within the first trimester, ideally before 12 weeks of gestation.

3. What is the recommended daily dose of folic acid before conception and in early pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects?

   400 micrograms (0.4 mg) daily; 5 mg daily for high-risk women (e.g., previous NTD-affected pregnancy).

4. What is the expected total weight gain in pregnancy for a woman of normal pre-pregnancy BMI?

   11.5 to 16 kg (approximately 25 to 35 lb).

5. By Naegele's rule, how is the estimated due date (EDD) calculated from the last menstrual period (LMP)?

   EDD = first day of LMP minus 3 months plus 7 days plus 1 year (assumes a 28-day cycle).

6. What are the three stages of labor?

   First stage: onset of regular contractions to full cervical dilation (10 cm). Second stage: full dilation to delivery of the baby. Third stage: delivery of baby to delivery of the placenta.

7. What distinguishes the latent from the active phase of the first stage of labor?

   Latent phase: cervix dilates from 0 to about 6 cm with slow progress; active phase: from about 6 cm to full dilation (10 cm) with faster, more regular contractions.

8. What are the cardinal movements of labor in order?

   Engagement, descent, flexion, internal rotation, extension, external rotation (restitution), and expulsion.

9. What defines prolonged third stage of labor and what is its main risk?

   Placenta not delivered within 30 minutes of birth; main risk is postpartum hemorrhage.

10. What are the components of active management of the third stage of labor (AMTSL)?

    Administration of a uterotonic (e.g., oxytocin) after delivery, controlled cord traction, and uterine massage after placental delivery.

11. What is the most common cause of primary postpartum hemorrhage?

    Uterine atony (failure of the uterus to contract), accounting for about 70-80% of cases.

12. How is primary versus secondary postpartum hemorrhage defined by timing?

    Primary PPH occurs within 24 hours of delivery; secondary PPH occurs from 24 hours to 12 weeks postpartum.

13. What blood loss thresholds define postpartum hemorrhage for vaginal and cesarean deliveries?

    More than 500 mL after vaginal delivery and more than 1000 mL after cesarean delivery.

14. What are the '4 Ts' causes of postpartum hemorrhage?

    Tone (uterine atony), Trauma (lacerations/rupture), Tissue (retained placenta), and Thrombin (coagulopathy).

15. What is the normal duration of postpartum lochia and its color progression?

    Lochia lasts up to 4-6 weeks, progressing from lochia rubra (red) to lochia serosa (pink-brown) to lochia alba (yellow-white).

16. What hormone, suppressed during pregnancy, surges after delivery to initiate lactation, and which triggers milk ejection?

    Prolactin drives milk production (rises as placental estrogen/progesterone fall); oxytocin triggers the milk ejection (let-down) reflex.

17. How is postpartum blues distinguished from postpartum depression?

    Postpartum blues is mild, self-limiting mood disturbance peaking around days 3-5 and resolving within 2 weeks; postpartum depression is more severe, persists beyond 2 weeks, and requires treatment.

18. Name three common conditions that classify a pregnancy as high-risk.

    Chronic hypertension or pre-eclampsia, pre-existing or gestational diabetes, and advanced maternal age (35 years or older); others include multiple gestation and prior cesarean.

19. What is the diagnostic blood pressure threshold for hypertension in pregnancy?

    Systolic 140 mmHg or higher and/or diastolic 90 mmHg or higher, on two occasions at least 4 hours apart.

20. What criteria define pre-eclampsia?

    New-onset hypertension (BP greater than or equal to 140/90) after 20 weeks gestation plus proteinuria or evidence of end-organ dysfunction (e.g., renal, hepatic, neurological, hematological, or fetal growth restriction).

21. What distinguishes eclampsia from pre-eclampsia?

    Eclampsia is the occurrence of new-onset generalized tonic-clonic seizures in a woman with pre-eclampsia, not attributable to other causes.

22. What is the drug of choice for preventing and treating eclamptic seizures?

    Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4).

23. What are the clinical signs of magnesium sulfate toxicity and the antidote?

    Loss of deep tendon reflexes, respiratory depression, and reduced urine output; antidote is intravenous calcium gluconate.

24. What does the HELLP syndrome acronym stand for?

    Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets — a severe variant of pre-eclampsia.

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