A Reluctant Critic: Why Gynecologic Surgery Needs Reform

The majority of obstetrician-gynecologists in practice operate very infrequently. Most residents graduate with strong surgical skill sets, given residency requirements. Nonetheless, their practices become dominated by obstetrics, and their gynecologic surgical skills deteriorate. While cesarean sections are surgical in nature, the skill sets needed in these surgeries differ from the skills used in general gynecologic surgery. As gynecology has taken a back seat to obstetrics in our specialty, not only surgical skills but also diagnostic and management skills have deteriorated.